Category Archives: nutritional facts

Target those problem spots with superfoods!!!

Posted on March 10, 2012 by The Food Junkie

So today i have decided to do a little something about health and well-being, as its very important to maintain a health body to keep you going for longer.To maintain a healthy body you need to eat the right fruit and vegetables in moderation with physical excerise but today we will be focusing on the food and not physical fitness since its a food blog.

By eating fruit and vegetables you can target those spots under those arms, legs and……….. read below to find out more!:)

Eat those vegetables and fruit!!! They good for you:)

TRIM HIPS AND THIGHS

Reducing your oestrogen levels will help reduce the weight from the hips and thighs.

How is this possible???

By adapting your diet with 2 -3 portions of cabbage, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower , rocket and watercress daily.
Add half 1/2 a cup of grapejuice or orange juice to your breakfast.
Drink 3 cups of green tea with a day.

TONE UP YOUR TUMMY

Tone those stomach by replacing the carbohydrate portion of your evening meal with extra vegetables.

Here are some suggestions.

In a carb-based meals-

swap the pasta for a carrot or courgettes shredded into long thin strips
Instead of rice/couscous add 100g of fish or lean red meat.
Have of 125g of low fat yoghurt and fruit as an afternoon snack.

FIRM THOSE FLABBY ARMS

Experts say that fatty arms are due to a low level of male horemones in the body .By consuming more vitamin B you cand help strenghten the adrenal glands, where these hormones are produced.

Adapt your diet by :

– including 2 portions of green vegetables a day.

– choose bran /rye based breakfast 3 times a week

– eat a handful of walnuts/hazelnuts a day.

LAVENDER and all its wonders…

Posted on February 29, 2012 by The Food Junkie

Surprisingly lavender is a herb that I don’t use each and every day maybe rosemary, fennel or mint but not lavender. It is so versatile and has so many great qualities. Beautiful and appealing to look at, like a flower, which is not very typical when looking at herbs such as mint, fennel or parsley. I thought I should inspire you with some lavender fact, tips, and uses and even spice it up by adding a recipe with use of lavender. Have a good read all food lovers.

Lavender is one of the well known herbs that there is. It is small with grey, downy, linear leaves withblue to violet flower petals and grows compact.

A wide variety of lavender exists but consists of two main types:-Angustifolia most popular produces harsh camphoraceous oiland L. Stoechas, not usually planted becuase it is very hard but has a high camphor oil content.

When making use of lavender for cooking, health or wellbeing the fresh and dried flower tops are used.

It is aromatic, tonic herb with a sweet scent. It relaxes spasms, benefits the digestion, and stimulates the uterus and lower fever. It has an anti septic and depression effect.

How to grow it

By lavender from a garden centre or grow it from slips.
Lavender grows best in temperatures ranging from cool to how, but does not like humidity
Grow in full sun in a position protected from the wind.
The soil needs to be well drained, with good compost content and a pH balance of between 6, 5 and 7, 5.
Lavender is water wise, but should be watered in dry weather conditions.
Lavender is fully grown after 3 years. Cut back each year after flowering, to ensure the plants last longer.

Uses for lavender

Lavender is an excellent insect repellent. Scatters bunches on your windowsills or hang near doors.
Drink lavender tea for a good night’s sleep or to settle a stomach. Infuse a heaped table spoon of fresh or dried flowers for 10 minutes. Strain and sweeten, if you prefer.
Use a strained infusion as a hair rinse to reduce dandruff.
Wrap two tablespoons of lavender flowers and oatmeal in a piece of muslin cloth and tie tightly. Attach this to your bath tap so the water runs over it into the bath.

Lavender bath salts

It’s always more exciting and fulfilling to make your own home remedies try this homemade bath salts. This would make a perfect homemade gift, if packaged in a nice glass jar with a ribbon.

Mix together one cup of Epsom salts, half a cup coarse sea salt, two table spoons of bicarbonate of soda and a handful of dried lavender flowers. Add one teaspoon of glycerine and a few drops of lavender oil and mix well. Pack in an airtight container and use within weeks. It also makes a good body scrub, but don’t use on open wounds.

Cooking with lavender

Use common lavender and other types of lavender when cooking.
Chopping or bruising leaves will help to release the flavour. Once the lavender is chopped you can store it in an airtight container in a cupboard.
Use the stems of the lavender sprigs to throw on the braai to add a hint of lavender to your grilled meat or chicken.
Put lavender flowers into a small jar with sugar and leave to infuse for a week. Use the lavender sugar to sprinkle onto a biscuit or desserts.

LAVENDER SCONES

Makes: 10

Preparation time: 25 minutes

Baking time: 10 minutes

Oven Temperature: 220°C

Ingredients:

80ml (75g) cold butter, cubed

410ml self-raising flour

45ml castor sugar

10ml chopped fresh parsley

1 large egg

30ml buttermilk

Berry or cherry jam and cream to serve.

Method:

1. Rub the butter into the flour. Add the castor sugar and lavender flowers.

2. Mix in the egg and buttermilk, don’t over mix. If dough is too dry, add a little more buttermilk.

3. Roll out to a 2,5cm thickness onto a lightly floured board. Cut out scone shapes with a scone cutter.

4. Place onto a greased baking and dusted baking sheet. Brush with a little extra buttermilk and dust with flour.

5. Bake in a preheated oven for 10-12 minutes.

6. Leave to cool then serve with jam and cream.

Hello world!

Posted on February 7, 2012 by The Food Junkie

Hi everybody

So this is my very first blog post! Daunting, nerve wrecking but hugely excited to say the least. I’ve finally joined the bloggers blogger sphere! Heck it’s the 21st century ….it’s about time I joined the virtual world. So for those who don’t know me…and haven’t yet read my “about me” page, my name is Deirdre and I am the food Junkie!

The aim of this blog will be to showcase the latest food trends, share a few recipes that I come across and a few that have been in my family and for the fun of it throw in some nutritious facts as well.

So like there is a start/beginning to everything, this marks the beginning of the food junkie journal. And where do we start….with breakfast of course!

It is said “breakfast is the most important meal of the day” and most of us tend to skip breakfast, including me! I must confess i am guilty too yes you heard right me..

Though many of us take breakfast for granted because we don’t have time to prepare meals, if we had to wake up earlier to prepare the meal we rather sleep a little longer and then there are of us who say they don’t feel hungry.

So before considering on skipping breakfast take a look at these facts on why breakfast is so important:

• It is the breaking of the fast of the nights rest

• It provides you with energy, gives you that needed vooma for the day!

• Improves your mental performance

• Improves your cognitive performance

• And helps with moods, you’re just in a better state of mind.

These are just a few facts on why breakfast is important for us there are loads and load of more the, list just keeps going. So let’s try and give breakfast another go!!

I have found a few recipes that everyone can try out, they are simple-easy to prepare and even little kids can join in and help.