Orzo Caffeine Free Coffee - Product Review

Orzo Caffeine Free Coffee - Product Review

Keep Calm & Drink Orzo is what they say... but is it true?! Well, I think it is.. I'd never heard of Orzo before until they followed me on twitter and I have to admit that I was rather 'hesistent' at first about trying their product.. Organic Instant Soluble Barley.. 'Italy's favourite alternative to coffee'.. I needn't have been though!! If you're trying to cut down on your caffeine intake, or indeed just want a new healthy hot drink to enjoy during the day then read on to find out about this fantastic new drink.. !

 

 

For the majority of healthy adults, caffeine in moderation (about 4 cups of coffee or 8 cups of tea a day) isn't harmful. Sometimes though, drinking too much caffeine can cause insomnia, increased heart rate, stomach upset, restlessness and irritability. If you can relate to these symptoms then you may want to gradually cut down on your caffeine intake (don't cut it out completely as you may experience withdrawal effects!).

 

I often recommend alternating between caffeinated and non-caffeinated drinks, and Orzo Coffee is ideal! Orzo (Italian for barley) is 100% organic instant soluble Italian barley and can be enjoyed by both adults and children.. it is:

• 100% naturally Caffeine-Free
• Vegetarian & Vegan friendly
• Dairy, Lactose & Yeast Free 

 

As I said before, I was hesitant at trying my first mug of this coffee however I really didn't need to be! After I'd tasted it I instantly loved it and poured another cup! This is how I personally like my Orzo Coffee...

 

1) Mix 2 level teaspoons of Orzo in a mug with 1 tsp of stevia (natural sweetener)

2) Add freshly boiled water

3) Top with skimmed milk or soya milk and stir well

 

 You can also make this coffee completely with milk (giving more calories, but also more protein and calcium too!).

 

If you want to buy Orzo Coffee then you can do so either online  via Goodness Direct at one of a selected number of stores across the UK.

 

I hope you found this product review useful!

 

 Nic x

Strawberry Ice Cubes!

Strawberry Ice Cubes!

Summer is officially here in England!! As ever, we're not sure how long this glorious weather will last, but what us Brits do know is that we need to make the most of it whilst it's here! Keeping hydrated in the sun is a must and what better way to quench your thirst than with a tall glass of chilled water topped with nutrient-bursting, colourful strawberry ice-cubes!

I first saw these ice-cubes on Pinterest and couldn't wait to make them.. added to water they add a delicate fruity flavour and smell divine with every sip!

To make your own strawberry ice-cubes simply fill an ice-cube tray with water and pop in small strawberry halves (having cut the tops off first!) .. I chilled mine over night before popping into water (or your favourite summer cordial) and enjoying!

Summer Fruits Cordial.. *yum*

You also have the fun of eating the strawberries once your glass is finished! *bonus* !! Anti-oxidant boost here we come!

Enjoy the summer sun everyone! - oh and don't forget the sun cream ;)

Nutrition Per Ice-cube: 2 kcal, 0.1g Protein, 0.4g Carbs, 0g Fat, 0.1g FIbre

(You actually burn more calories eating ice-cubes than these provide!)

 
Nutritional Benefits: Antioxidants, Vitamin C

To read more about keeping hydrated [click here] .. bottoms up!

Nic x

Hydration

Hydration

I get asked a lot of questions about keeping hydrated and so I thought I'd share with you my top 'Questions & Answers' to help you to be as healthy as you can be (from an hydration point of view!). Bottoms up!

Why is keeping hydrated so important?

Keeping hydrated is possibly one of the easiest and most beneficial things you can do for your body. Drinking enough fluids helps to: keep hair and nails in good condition, keep bowels moving, maintain bodily functions and physical performance, and prevents headaches and urinary tract infections (cystitis). Drinking enough fluids can also help to keep hunger at bay and prevent excessive eating - this is because the body can often confuse hunger/thirst signals.. so next time you're hungry try having a glass of water first to check that you don't just need more fluids!

How much water should I drink?

It is generally recommended to drink 8 x 240ml glasses or 1.5 to 2 litres of fluid a day. These values are however only estimates and you will need to drink more if you are exercising or if it's hot (i.e. if you are sweating more).

How can I tell if I'm drinking enough?

An easy way to tell if you're drinking enough is to see if you're thirsty or not! Thirst is unfortunately however a sign that you are already dehydrated.. which means you need to up your daily fluid intake. Another way to tell is by checking the colour of your urine (sorry to have to mention this...!) - the darker it is the more dehydrated you are (and so you need to drink more to flush out your body's toxins that are naturally produced).

How can I drink more water?

Now, I have to admit that I am not a big fan of water (on its own)... sometimes if it's really hot I will be forced to drink bottled water but other than that it just doesn't seem to agree with me! I.e. I have no passion for drinking plain water.. that's why I like to encourage the use of 'no added sugar' squash or cordial to flavour water and sugar-free flavoured waters (still or sparkling). An easy way to keep your fluid levels topped up is to carry a 500ml bottle of water with you.. aim to drink and refill it 3-4 times a day.. in the morning, afternoon and evening (adding squash if desired!). Keeping water in the fridge can also help you to drink more if you prefer chilled water.. and you could make it more interesting by adding cucumber pieces or lemon slices for flavour. Food can also be hydrating and do count towards your fluid intake e.g. fruits such as watermelon, soups and jelly.

Do tea and coffee count towards my fluid intake?

The simple answer is yes! It's a myth that moderate amounts of tea and coffee de-hydrate you.. and that's a fact. It is true that caffeine has a slight diuretic effect however overall there is always a net fluid gain. I like to encourage people to have a mixture of different types of teas and coffees.. e.g. alternating decaffeinated with caffeinated and trying different herbal teas (I do love my honey and lemon green teas and of course chai tea - lovely!). All teas are a fantastic source of anti-oxidants... so what are you waiting for, put the kettle on :)

Hummm, maybe I should edit the above picture to say.. 'Drink water, tea, coffee, squash, sugar-free fizzy water... and feel AND look great!'.. not quite as catchy though!

Have a lovely weekend.. bottles at the ready!

Nic x

Weekly Discoveries

Weekly Discoveries

This week I seem to have discovered lots of 'new things' in the world of food & nutrition and I was eager to share them with you all. All of these pictures were taken whilst I was 'out & about' .

Chai Tea. If you follow me on twitter then you will know that I am a BIG fan of Chai Tea Lattes (it's the only hot drink I order at a coffee shop... ask for it 'skinny'), so I was extremely excited to see these Chai tea bags in the shops. Chai tea is described as being 'rich & spicy' and is a refreshing tea infused with the flavour of indian spices. I prefer to drink my Chai tea with a dash of skimmed milk. Mmmm.

I actually bought this Reduced Alcohol wine by accident - I didn't even know this product existed! I was planning on buying a mini bottle of wine (for portion control) and mixing it with diet-lemonade (spritzer!!) and picked up this one by chance (it looked pretty). ANYWAY.. This 'reduced alcohol' wine would be perfect for those who enjoy a glass of wine but want to cut down alcohol intake. Click [here] for more info on alcohol.

Innocent Smoothies. I love these and although they weren't a totally new discovery I haven't bought one in a LONG time. I was in the shops and needed something quick to see me through the morning.. I grabbed this bottle as I was most impressed with the contents counting to '2' of my '5 a day' and it tasted delicious. I will most certainly be re-purchasing!

Mini-Avocados. I don't actually think I've ever bought an avocado before (confession of a dietitian). I mean I've eaten them in salads, but I've never actually bought one myself! This week my mini-avocados finally became ripe and after pealing off a bit of the skin I scooped out the flesh and enjoyed on rye crackers.. delicious. Avocados are full of vitamin E and good fats for hair, skin and nails.. you could call them a beauty 'power' fruit.

No Added Sugar Jam. One word.. yum. I used to buy these jams all the time but then forgot about them (as you do) and it wasn't until I popped around to my friend's house that I saw a jar on the side! These jams not only taste good but have 'no added sugar'. The jam is sweetened using grape juice and is packed with the natural goodness of real fruit (wild blueberry is my favourite!)

I hope you've enjoyed reading my 'weekly discoveries' blog.. and hope that I have inspired you to look out for new foods and drinks next time your at the supermarket or shops!

Have a lovely weekend!

Nichola x

Can I take your Coffee Order?

Can I take your Coffee Order?

Coffee shops are everywhere, but what do you ask for if you are trying to 'be healthy'? Black tea has zero calories and black fresh filter coffee only 4 calories.. but what about the more interesting drinks (the one we go to coffee shops to buy!).. here are my top tips for having a delicious (yet healthy) hot drink..

1) Skip the Cream - Cream is one of the most calorific foods around. Saying no to whipped cream can save you up to 100 calories and 10 grams of fat (the equivalent of a small chocolate bar).

2) Ask for it to be Skinny - Asking for skimmed milk can save around 150 calories and 15 grams of fat. Some coffee shops automatically use full-fat milk so don't be afraid to ask about a lighter option.

3) Ask for Sugar-Free Syrups - These do exist.. Not it all coffee shops but in the main high-street ones they do. Each pump of syrup adds 20 calories and 5 grams of sugar (if they don't have the sugar-free ones then ask for just one pump).

4) Sweeten the Calorie-Free way - If you prefer your drink sweeter then instead of adding sugar add sweeteners. This will save not only calories but also reduce the risks of dental caries.

5) Share a cake - If you can't resist the temptation of treats on offer then why not share one? Sharing means you'll only consume 1/2 the calories but won't be missing out on taste & experience. So you can have your cake and eat it.. if you do however prefer to have a cake to yourself, read my 80:20 rule blog for damage limitation..!

So there you have it.. just follow these simple tips and you'll be sipping your coffee safe in the knowledge that it contains no more calories than it needs to. Happy Friday!

Nichola x