Because Nutella delights CANNOT just be for Dublin… Get ready, Cork

Nov 10, 2015

Do you remember the news that rocked the world of any and all chocolates fans last month?

When Brown Thomas announced that they would be introducing a personalisation service for our favourite chocolate spread, the internet went absolutely wild.

The "ultimate stocking filler" has proven to be a massive success in Brown Thomas Dublin. So much so that Brown Thomas Cork are opening up their own personalisation station too.

Hurrah!

Chocolate lovers (or very good gift-givers) will have the opportunity to personalise a jar of Nutella with up to 9 characters.

Individual personalised jars will be priced at €5.50, there is also the option to purchase a personalised jar in a presentation box for €7.50.

Once again, Caoimhe can finally have her own personalised treat, but those Christophers and Blaithnaids will still be left waiting, unfortunately.

The Nutella Personalisation service is available exclusively at Brown Thomas Cork from Tuesday 17^th November.

YES! These healthy muffins are tasty breakfast game changers

Nov 10, 2015

by Amber Saunders

Have you ever reached that stage in the day when all you want to do is dunk your head in the biscuit tin and never resurface?

Yeah, we’ve all been there so there’s no judgement.

Luckily, we found this amazing recipe for exactly the type of sweet treat we need when the hanger pains become unbearable.

The best about these banana pecan muffins, aside from the levels of deliciousness- they are totally healthy!

The light and fluffy muffins are made with honey, not sugar, and whole-wheat flour to help avoid the dreaded sugar crash.They are ridiculously easy to put together.

Plus, if you substitute maple syrup for honey in the recipe along with including flax eggs then the muffins are vegan friendly too.

You find the recipe here and thank us later.

Bread out on the counter? 8 ways your kitchen is making you FAT

Nov 4, 2015

by Amber Saunders

We all know that what’s inside our fridges, freezers, and cupboards is going to have a fairly significant impact on our health.

But now new research has suggested that how your kitchen is laid-out is just as influential when it comes to keeping trim.

Yes, following an in-depth study at the Food And Brand Lab at Cornell University, scientists have announced: “The food on our counters, the smells in the kitchen, the lighting in the room and even the colour of the walls can contribute to obesity.”

So, what can we do? Well, the university also has tops tips that makes for some rather interesting reading…

1) Keep your blender or juicer out on the counter:

“When you have that craving for something sweet, the blender might just serve as a reminder that healthy fruit smoothies can satisfy that urge.”

2) Keep bread in fridge

“Bread can be a healthy snack, but if eaten too frequently, it will lead to extra pounds. Keep the fruit on the counter and put the bread away so the lower calorie snacks are easier to grab.”

3) Cover high-calorie items with tinfoil and the more nutritious items with cling-film

“Hiding temptations can help you remember to eat fruits and vegetables. This can keep you from eating 120 extra calories a day.”

4) Keep a jug of flavoured water

“Water infused with fruit can satisfy our craving without loading us down with extra calories. Compared to soda, drinking water can save you 100 calories per 8 fluid ounce glass.”

5) Serve up your dinner before you put the plates on the table

“People who use this strategy eat 19 percent less food, which can be beneficial to the waistline in the long run.

6) Dim your kitchen lights

Doing so can help you “eat more mindfully, resulting in 175 fewer calories per meal.”

7) Paint your kitchen in neutral tones

“Brighter tones cause us to feel anxious so we eat faster; darker tones relax us so we take more time to eat and might eat more. A neutral colour can help avoid either extreme.”

8) Use air fresheners

“Clean, fresh scents most likely will not trigger our memories of delicious foods or spark a craving for something sweet — helping us avoid unnecessary snacking.”

Eating in moderation… We find out what it ACTUALLY means for us

Nov 2, 2015

by Amber Saunders

We've all been told since we were young to eat in moderation – but for so many women, eating in moderation is something completely different.

For one woman, moderation might mean having just one can of Coke per week. For another it could mean ordering a medium pizza instead of a large; and for another it could mean putting down the fork when full.

And according to Women's Health, technically they're all right.

While telling someone to eat in moderation may be non-specific, it could actually enable you to watch what you eat without a food diary or nutrition tracker.

No two women have the exact same calorie count or nutritional needs, nutritionist Jamie Mass tells Women's Health.

"We all come to understand what moderate eating is from a different starting point. How you grew up, your family and friends, and even the messages you get from advertisements impact what overeating and moderate eating mean to you."

And Jamie believes that eating in moderation trumps any other dieting habit.

"When women focus on eating the correct portion size – whether it's indicated by a nutritional label or a diet plan – they ignore their body's personal needs."

"That been said, moderation should be the result, not the focus, of every meal. Otherwise moderation can become restriction."

And we all know that restricting ourselves from eating our favourite foods NEVER last in the long run.

"Deprivation isn't good for our mental health and can lead to not-so-moderate food choices later on," says Jamie.

She suggests that we take time with our meals and ask ourselves, 'Am I really hungry? Or just bored, tired or stressed?'

Then check back in half-way through our meals and think, 'Do I need anymore? Do I feel satisfied?'

These questions will automatically help you to eat in moderation – and reach your ideal weight.

NO! Bacon and burgers are just as bad for your health as smoking

Oct 23, 2015

by Amber Saunders

Just when we thought that we had a handle on the healthy and unhealthy foods, this study came along to blow everyone’s minds.

You might have thought that including some bacon in your diet, or indeed a burger from time to time, was a step up from other bad health habits- you were wrong.

Bacon, and plenty of other processed meats are just as bad for you as smoking.

The World Health Organisation is set to make the announcement on Monday that processed meat is amongst the most deadly, the Daily Mail reports.

“Fresh red meat is also due to join the ‘encyclopaedia of carcinogens’ and is likely to be ranked as only slightly less dangerous than the preserved products.”

A photo posted by @eater on Oct 7, 2015 at 6:41pm PDT

These findings have come after scientists from 10 nations reviewed all attainable evidence.

Sausages are also included in the list of food that apparently pose a massive threat to our health. So maybe rethink that Sunday fry-up.

The Mail is reporting that WHO will rank processed meat in the top five most likely things to give people cancer, among the likes of cigarettes and alcohol.

Processed meat is said to be labelled as ‘carcinogenic to humans’, which is the highest of five possible rankings, shared with alcohol, asbestos, arsenic and cigarettes.

Processed meat is made by smoking, curing, salting, or adding chemicals which are believed to be cancer-causing.

While all things in moderation is suggested, removing processed meat from your diet entirely is recommended by the World Cancer Research Fund.

Could this mean that bacon packages will have warning labels in the future?

OMG! This is why people are obsessed with the cheese emoji

Oct 23, 2015

by Amber Saunders

Yesterday, the new iOS software update allowed iPhone owners and emoji enthusiasts to express their love of all things burrito, unicorn and cheese.

There was a lot of cheese loving happening. People were more excited about the cheese than the Bank Holiday weekend it seemed.

Now, we feel like there could be an explanation behind this worldwide cheese addiction.

There is a god. It is the cheese emoji.

— Jono Yates (@jonoBLITZ) October 21, 2015

A study recently published in the US National Library of Medicine has examined why certain foods are more addictive than others.

Surprisingly (or perhaps not if you’re a cheese freak), cheese was found to have the same addictive properties as many drugs.

There is a cheese emoji! RT to save a life! pic.twitter.com/aHJHiqCFSb

— IWOOT (@iwoot) October 22, 2015

According to the LA Times: “certain foods are addictive because of the way they are processed. The more processed and fatty the food, the more it was associated with addictive eating behaviours.”

An ingredient in cheese called casein makes cheese particularly addictive because of the way this is broken down into an opiate called casomorphin during digestion. The property has led Dr. Neal Barnard, founder of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, to call cheese “dairy crack.”

This is not a joke by the way, your cheese addiction is now validated. Thank you science!

"[Casomorphins] really play with the dopamine receptors and trigger that addictive element," registered dietitian Cameron Wells told Mic.

Pizza was the food which was crowned the most addictive, which is thought to be as a result of the cheese topping.

So, now that we know there’s an actually explanation behind our love of cheesy food, who wants to try the Pizza Diet?

Cheesecake! Cupcakes! Five of the best healthy dessert recipes

Oct 22, 2015

by Amber Saunders

We love avocados and we also loved baked. We really love when we can combine two things which we absolutely love and end up with something even more delicious.

There is also the added bonus of knowing that by incorporating avocados into our baked goods, we’re technically being healthy.

Avocados are the good kind of fat you need, and that makes us happy. So here’s a list of some the best ways to incorporate avocados into your baking routine. Trust us, you won’t even realise you’re eating healthy because these desserts are magical.

Double chocolate avocado cookies

Try the recipe here.

Chocolate avocado mousse

‘Cheat clean’ as they say. The recipe is here.

Red velvet mini cupcakes with honey frosting

OK, so these may be a little bit tricky, but so delicious you need to try them.

Avocado cheesecake

Cheesecake on fleek

Chocolate biscuit sandwiches

Everything about this recipe is excellent.

Subway have settled a MASSIVE lawsuit surrounding sandwich size

Oct 22, 2015

by Amber Saunders

That feeling of sitting down to tuck into your long awaited lunch time meal is mostly one we associate with happiness, because who doesn’t enjoy a tasty lunch.

However, the feeling of sitting down and realising that there is something seriously wrong with your sandwich is quite distressing. Especially if you know that it is supposed to be twice the size.

Why would the food gods be so cruel?

Well, apparently some Subway customers were sick and tired of forking out for a foot-long sub (the brand’s signature) and took the company to court about it.

In 2013, nine separate law suits concerning foot-long sandwiches being shorter than advertised were merged into one case in the US.

The law suit claimed that the franchise has been:

“disseminating false and misleading information via television commercials, Internet websites and postings, point of purchase advertisements and national print advertisements, all of which are intended to trick unsuspecting consumers.”

Basically, stop giving us false hope about the size of the sandwiches.

The company has agreed this week to settle the lawsuit and make changes to how they bake bread in order to stop any inconsistencies from occurring.

It was also agreed that Subway are to pay lawyers’ fees and damages to nine people named in the lawsuit, and also:

“All persons in the United States who purchased a Six inch or Footlong sandwich at a Subway® restaurant any time between January 1, 2003 and [2 October, 2015].”

These people would have to provide proof of purchase and would not receive compensation but can have their names attached to the formal lawsuit.

So, next time you go to Subway bring your ruler to ensure consistency, and that levels of deliciousness are on point, obviously.

So THIS is how people effectively count calories and not hate all food

Oct 21, 2015

by Amber Saunders

The calorie counting debate has been raging for quite some time now.

It can be confusing and often trying to Google your way to new information can leave you in more of a heap than anything else. If we eat the cheesecake, can we eat anything else all day? How does one calculate calories correctly? What the hell is #IIFYM anyway?

We have a lot of questions.

So, in an effort to help people discover that calorie counting can be done effectively and without making you hate everything and celery, five editors spent a week counting their calories.

This is what they learned:

Not everyone should even count calories:

Buzzfeed Health editors consulted the creator of the 30 Days to Body Love programme. She advised that not everyone should count calories.

If: you have a history of disordered eating, or attaching your own self-worth or confidence to your eating habits, or consider restricting yourself to an exact number of calories as “punishment” for eating too much, or are prone to becoming obsessive about aspects of your life, you probably shouldn't be counting calories.

Not all calories are created equally:

Calorie counting puts emphasis on numbers as opposed to nutrients. So while something may be low in calories, it may not actually have anything nutritious in there.

There's an app for everything:

There are a number of calorie counting apps out there so do some research and find out which one will best suit your goals. Otherwise you may be inclined to forget to record certain meals.

Record calories after you eat:

Certainly not during your meal, and definitely not before you tuck in. Counting calories before you eat can make some people feel guilty about the amount they consume, which is not good. Instead, snap a photo before you eat to use as a reference when you record your calories later.

If you want to do this effectively, you have to be accountable:

Honesty is truly the best policy. If you're frustrating because you don't see any results, it could have something to do with the cheeseburger and milkshake you ate yesterday but logged in your app as an apple.

Counting calories alone may not actually help you lose weight:

Yes, if you want to lose weight you need to burn more calories than you consume, so counting calories is a good place to start. However, there are lots of other things that can slow down you metabolism such as stress, your sleeping patterns, etc. So, keep that in mind before embarking on a calorie counting journey.

Foodie fact Vs foodie fiction… TEN metabolism myths totally BUSTED

Oct 18, 2015

by Amber Saunders

Most of us know by now that not all foods were created equally.

Yup, some are adept at getting our metabolism REALLY fired up – while others do little except slow everything down.

Still, with (whisper it!) Monday morning now looming once again, we're frankly eager to kick-start the week in the best possible way: and that means getting our diets in order.

But did you know that there are a load of metabolic rate rumours that continue to fly despite having somewhat questionable origins?

Here, SHEmazing! examines the cold-hard evidence so you can separate foodie fact from foodie fiction… shedding excess bloat without going hungry. Hurrah!

1) Sleep keeps you slim: FACT

Just one night of bad sleep can slow down your metabolism the next morning, reducing the energy you expend for tasks such as breathing or digestion by up to 20 percent, according to one US study.

On top of that, disturbed shuteye can throw off hunger hormones leptin and ghrelin, which means you'll be hankering for junk food by lunchtime.

2) Breakfast is the most important meal of the day: FICTION

This is definitely a healthy habit – but those who eat breakfast are not necessarily thinner than those who skip it.

Actually, research has shown that there’s no difference in the metabolic rates between those who eat breakfast every day and those who fast until noon.

3) Chillis burn calories: FACT (sorta)

Adding in lots of spice to your food is seen by many as a great way to burn calories and fat. And it's true – the spice does help… though not by very much.

Indeed, studies in the area show that even a lot of chilli only eliminates about 50 extra calories a day.

4) Weight-training trumps cardio: FACT

Since pumping iron increases your calorie burn long after you stop working out, it's by far the best thing you can do for your metabolism.

In fact, one study showed you can actually burn up to an incredible 450 additional calories in just 24 hours after lifting weights.

5) Eat little meals throughout the day: FICTION

This trend has really taken off in recent years, but there is no evidence to suggest that eating your calories throughout the day is necessarily better than sticking to three meals.

In fact, some dieticians say the former is only a sure-fire way to over-eat and pack on the pounds.

6) Green tea helps you stay slim: FACT

Ever since Victoria Beckham was cited as a fan more than a decade ago, dieters have eagerly been tucking into green tea.

And with good reason: although it only burns around 50 calories a day, there is research that proves it also keeps it fuller for longer – which is great for cutting out snacking.

7) B12 supplements are requisite: FICTION

Lately a load of celeb-types (Rita Ora being just one) have been singing the virtues of B12 pills – or even injections.

But there’s no evidence that B12 actually has the power to rev up your metabolism. In fact, unless you have a deficiency as identified by a blood-test, you're wasting your money.

8) Black coffee ftw: FACT

Caffeine raises your heart rate so your metabolism actually starts burning calories immediately.

Better still, sipping on any source of caffeine an hour before your workout has been shown to help you burn around 15 percent more calories once you finish up in the gym.

9) Protein-loading is better than calorie-counting: FACT

The likes of chicken breast or fish is tough to beat, primarily because they take far more energy to digest than carbs or fat.

And that means you end up burning more energy while digesting. Plus high-protein foods contain amino acids that lean muscle needs to grow.

10) Eating late at night makes you fat: FICTION

Sure – if you're munching on fatty snacks late into the evening in addition to your usual meals, you're not going to be slim. But if you're just the type who prefers to dine at 9pm rather than 6pm?

Our slimmer Mediterranean neighbours confirm that alone will not cause excess weight gain.

Constantly hungry? These five foods are what you should eat!

Oct 18, 2015

by Amber Saunders

Do you ever have those days when you are so hungry, you could eat everything in the fridge?

When nothing seems to keep you full, or satisfied you can quickly find yourself developing a dreaded 'hangry' tantrum. It could be because you aren't eating the right types of food during the day.

According to Australian fitness guru Kayla Itsines instead of reaching straight for the junk food to cure your grumbling tummy, we should try these 5 foods that are known to keep you feeling full for longer!

Berries

Strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries – any will do the job! They contain belly-filling fibre, are low in calories and they contain phytonutrients that increase fat metabolism.

Minestrone Soup

The broth fills your stomach with lots of liquid while the vegetables fill your stomach with fibre which slows digestion so you won't feel hungry straight after. If you can find or make one with beans in it – even better! Kayla notes to stay away from the soups with white pasta in them as refined carbs spike your blood sugar levels up and leave you wanting more.

Eggs

Eggs are packed with protein, which will keep you satisfied and help avoid binging. Eating two eggs for breakfast can help keep you full for a good portion of the day. Hard-boiling eggs in advance are also great for snacking on later during the day.

Olives

Now, most people either love or absolutely HATE olives. However, they are a source of good-for-you unsaturated fat, meaning they will take longer to digest and leave you feeling fuller for longer. You can add a couple of teaspoons of chopped olives to salads and sandwiches at lunch to kiss afternoon hunger pains goodbye.

Spinach

Research has shown that people who consume spinach during a meal feel much more satisfied than those who don’t. This might be because spinach is a veggie that helps to fill the stomach. You can add spinach to almost anything and you can enjoy it fresh or wilted.