MAY SOURCEDBOX | SLIMMING WORLD

I've always been a lover of subscription boxes and have recently started to subscribe to food boxes. I am currently subscribed to Graze on a 2 week basis and receive the lighter box (this is a lower calorie alternative box with the punnets having under 150cals each)

SourcedBox is a healthier monthly subscription box that costs £18.95 (postal included) and includes snacks that are naturally sourced or have health benefits to your regular snacks. Since starting Slimming World, I've wanted to try different snacks and usually bought Weight Watchers cake bars to get my chocolate fix but I wanted something more natural, healthier and different.

MAYS BOX

This box included 11 items ranging from fruit bars, chips and fruity snacks. With this being my first box I am hugely impressed with each and every item!

Matcha Green Tea Drink (Teapigs) - 5syns
This tasted amazing! It was so refreshing and different as I have never had matcha tea and the thought of it put me off trying.

https://www.teapigs.co.uk


Lime and Chia Truffles (Sweet Virtues) - 4syns per truffle
These little balls of goodness provide you with a zesty flavour as well as a little chocolate fix. They come in a small pack of two but tasted amazing.

http://www.sweetvirtues.co.uk


Salted Plantain Crisps (Chika's) - 8syns
Plantain seems to have become the new thing for an alternative to crisps and that's a great thing! They tasted different but I like them and I've gone out and bought some Cajun Plaintain Crisps from M&S!

http://chikas.co.uk


Green TNT Bar (Dynabites) - 8syns
This little bar was gorgeous and surprisingly filling! The amount of protein in this bar stunned me but for 8syns it was definitely worth it. The only downfall I had about this product was when I crunched on a small pebble and nearly broke my tooth! (Suppose it shows it's made naturally!)

http://www.missnutritionist.com/dynabites/


Coconut Chips (Coconut Merchant) - 4.5syns per 20g
I LOVE coconut chips! These are fantastic to add to your breakfast for an extra crunch or flavour that tastes of summer! I will definitely be buying more coconut chips in the future to add to my meals and breakfasts.

https://coconut-merchant.com/product/coconut-snack-chips/


Smashing Strawberry Snack Pack (Urban Fruit) - 5syns
These little dehydrated strawberries retain all the gorgeous flavours of a strawberry and even their goodness. I absolutely loved these and they do a variety of other flavours too! These are a definite repurchase!

http://www.urbanfruit.co.uk


Cranky Cocoa Bar (Hangry Food Co.) - 8.5syns
This was the first item I tried out of my box because I was Hangry! These bars are of a similar concept to the Nakd bars that everyone is going crazy over! All the ingredients in this bar are all natural and filling. I enjoyed this bar and will be looking for these in my local supermarkets!

http://www.hangryfood.co.uk


Tomato & Oregano Kale Crisps (Leafy) - 2syns
I have still got to try these but I love kale crisps and these are perfect for a low syn alternative to your regular crisps.

http://www.leafyfoods.co.uk/#

Fruit Bites (Holland & Barrett) - 6.5syns
These little bites are little pieces of fruit with millet pieces. An alternative to other snacks but these are very different to others I've tried. I love Holland & Barrett's snacks and will definitely be repurchasing these.

http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/holland-barrett-merry-millet-berry-fruit-bites-60003662

Whole Chia Seeds (Chia Bia) - 3syns
His little pack of goodness is perfect to add to your yogurt, cereal, porridge, what ever you want to add that little pack of healthy vitamins that chia seeds contain.

http://www.chiabia.com/products/chia-product-range/


My overall views on this box are great. I've enjoyed the products and love trying we items and currently can't wait to try June's box. The box is definitely worth it's money as all the sizes of the products are generous, affordable and generally have a great health benefit.

Did you subscribe to this box? What were your overall thoughts!

Hayley xxx

FIBRE ONE BARS | SLIMMING WORLD

If you love something sweet, cake like and something that's low in calories/syns then these are for you!

After seeing these being posted around on other Instagrams, everyone rated them on how lovely and like the real thing they were, I just had to try some. I was desperate to get my hands on some and boy did it take a while finding them!

In the UK these are limited in the amount of places that sell them in store and I found mine in one of my local Tescos in the biscuit aisle.

The bars themselves come in a pack of 5 and come in 2 flavours, a lemon drizzle and a chocolate brownie. Now, they are small (what do you expect for only 90cals?) but they are full of flavour and great if you have a sweet tooth that you need to kick.

They're not the cheapest but they can be bought on the Internet for a higher price if you were willing to pay extra. I got mine on a 2 for £4 offer during April which may have now finished but it would be worth having a look!

What are your thoughts on the Fibre One Bars?

Hayley xxx

2.5 SYN - CREAMY MUSTARD SAUSAGES

Hi guys, another fantastic low syn recipe that serves 4 people and tastes amazing! Per portion this works out around 2.5syns but can be made lowers syns by replacing some of the ingredients which I will add below.

Ingredients
Dried pasta ribbons (Tagliatelle or Pappardelle)
8 low fat sausages (I used Weight Watchers Cumberland Sausages - 0.5syn per sausage)
1 garlic clove (chopped finely)
250g mushrooms (sliced)
2 tablespoons Dijon Mustard or Wholegrain Mustard (mine was 3syns - check the syns as they vary)
Juice of one lemon
2 tablespoons half-fat crème fraiche (3syns - you could use Quark to lower the syns)
Fresh parsley (chopped)
Salt and pepper to taste

Recipe

1. Cook your pasta according to its instructions.

2. Whilst your pasta is cooking, remove the meat from the sausages and add to a frying pan.

3. Brown the sausage meat and add the garlic, mushrooms and seasoning.

4. When the mushrooms are cooked add the mustard, lemon juice, 2 tablespoons of water and stir.

5. Remove from the heat and stir in your crème fraiche (or quark). Check for seasoning.

Serve your cooked pasta and sprinkle with parsley.


You can add more speed food to this dish and make it EESP by swapping your pasta for vegetables.

Remember you can add or change a recipe to make it your own!

I hope you enjoy! Let me know what you think!

Hayley xxx

HELLO MAY, HELLO SPRING,

Today marks a new month, a new season and also my birthday! (Turning 24 is not a good look!)

During this bank holiday weekend I have had a few treats (half an Easter egg, chocolate and silly little syns that I shouldn't have eaten). Recently I just can't seem to stop picking at the stupidest things? So this month I've decided to focus on the right foods, use my syns properly and fill myself with plenty of speed food.

Since being at target I seem to care less of what goes into my mouth, which could have major consequences and sabotage my weight loss. My meals are always on plan but it's just my snacking that I need to control and that what May is going to be about!

At the beginning of each month I reflect on the goals set in the previous month and move forward with the new month in mind. Now I already know that this month is going to be hectic. It's my birthday, my partners birthday (which we are going to a holiday home for), and my parents going away at the end of the month.

I already know that on Thursday I'm going to be having a birthday treat (Dixy Chicken) so I will be using flexible syns for then. Starting tomorrow I'm back on plan 100% up until Thursday, on plan Friday, off plan on Saturday then back on plan until James birthday.

Now the holiday home we've booked for the weekend has a local Tesco and Heron which allows me to plan meals and snacks for throughout the holiday.

My goals for this month are as follows;

1. Increase my fitness levels
2. Maintain my weight or be at the bottom end of my target (without going under like before)
3. Use my syns wisely and fill up on speed food

What are your goals for this month? Are you looking forward to the month ahead?

Hayley xxx

1.5 SYNS - CHICKEN CACCIATORE

Chicken Cacciatore
This recipe is filling, tasty and even low in syns! This is for 4 people but I had leftover sauce which will do perfect for freezing!

(Note - This can be made syn free by swapping the white wine for 150ml of water! It's up to you!)

Ingredients 

Fry Light
4 chicken breasts (skinless and on the bone. You could just do chicken breast pieces)
4 rashers of lean back bacon (cut into strips, fat removed)
2 onions (finely sliced)
2 garlic cloves (finely sliced)
150ml of dry white wine (6syns but this depends on the wine you use, syn accordingly)
2 x 400g cans of chopped tomatoes
1 bay leaf
2 tsp dried oregano
225g button mushrooms
1 red pepper (diced)
150g broccoli florets
100g baby sweetcorn
1 tsp sugar (1syn)
240g pasta ribbons
salt and pepper to taste

Recipe

1. Spray a large pan with the Fry Light and add your chicken. Cook on a high heat to brown all sides of the chicken and season. (Remove from the pan to a plate)

2. Reduce the heat and add your bacon, onions, garlic and stir fry for 4 minutes or until the onions are starting to soften.

3. Add your wine and increase to a high heat for 2 minutes whilst stirring continuously. Now add the rest of the ingredients (apart from the pasta) to the pan with the chicken and simmer for 15 minutes covered with a lid.

4. Uncover and simmer for a further 20minutes or until the sauce has thickened. Meanwhile cook your pasta according to the instructions and serve with your chicken and sauce.

Serve immediately! Let me know your thoughts!

Hayley xxx

4 SYN - BEEF TERIYAKI NOODLES

Hello guys!

Quick recipe here for you! This recipe is from a Weight Watchers book that my partners parents use often. This recipe is based on 4 servings and works at around 4syns per serving! 

Ingredients

400g rump steak (all fat trimmed and cut into thin strips)

For the Marinade
2 garlic cloves, crushed
2 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp rice wine (0.5syn)
2 tbsp honey (5syns)

For the Stir Fry
FryLight
150g broccoli (cut into florets)
2 red peppers (sliced)
Pack of spring onions (cut diagonally into 2.5cm lengths)
200g of bean sprouts
1 fresh chilli (de-seeded and sliced)
250g of cooked noodles (I use the dry rice noodles and precook them)
4 tbsp of Teriyaki Sauce (ingredients below for this or you could buy a premade one and syn accordingly)
Salt and black pepper

For the Teriyaki Sauce (Mix these ingredients in a small bowl)
(You'll have some sauce left over so this reduces the syns)
1/2 cup of soy sauce
2 tbsp of water
2 tbsp of rice wine (0.5syn)
2 tbsp brown sugar (5syns)
3 tbsp of honey (7.5syns)
1 garlic clove, grated
1 tsp fresh ginger, grated

Recipe

1. Mix all of the marinade ingredients together in a large bowl and add your beef (allow this to marinate in the fridge for up to 2 hours or 10 mins if your in a hurry)

2. Spray a large frying pan with the Fry Light and add your beef but keeping the marinade in the bowl. Stir fry your beef on a high heat until cooked then set aside on a plate and keep warm.

3. Now add your broccoli with 6 tbsp of water and stir fry for 5 minutes. Then add your pepper and onions and cook for a further 3 minutes. 

4. Add your teriyaki sauce and the remaining marinade you set aside earlier. Now add your beef, beansprouts, chilli and cooked noodles into the pan and cook on high heat for 2 minutes or until the beef is hot again. 

5. Check for seasoning and serve immediately!

This is such a quick and tasty recipe! I hope you enjoy!

Hayley xxxx