New Year, New Way of Living!

Today's radio show departed from my usual love of all things sweet and sUCCulent! Considering it's a new year, and while being inundated with diet tips and regimes on tv (which I am not a fan of!!) I am aware that I need a boost. I can feel my energy slacking, have serious sugar cravings and didn't really know what to do about it! So, to beat the lethargy that I bet some of you may be feeling too, I set about researching fun means of getting healthier without sacrificing anything!



I ran a little over time on the show so didn't get to mention a few things!...

• Don't forget about veg! Nothing beats carrot sticks for a healthy snack, but be inventive!
• Instead of having chips or fries with your dinner try thinly slicing sweet potato, rubbing with olive oil and baking for 20 mins! So delicious!!
• When baking, make room for some lighter varieties of ingredients! Philadelphia light is a great alternative for desserts, especially cheesecakes. 
• Greek yoghurt with some oat cookies and fruit would be a fab pick-me-up dessert at the end of a long day too!
• Banana sliced on toast is one of the most delicious snacks and is a great alternative to cookies!
• Don't disregard Nutella, or hazlenut spread on toast as it's a great way to kick cocoa cravings to the kerb!

I'd love to hear some of your suggestions for healthier alternatives to your favourite foods! 
I think the main thing is not to overly focus on the dreaded d word, and make fun changes to everyday! Don't berate yourself for not going to the gym, but go for a brisk walk after dinner instead. Choose a healthier snack over something more indulgent and you'll feel the better for it. :)

Below you will find the recipe for perfect...

Banana Crumb Muffins 
Flapjacks
Granola
Granola Bars
Smoothies

Stay sweet! x

Banana Crumb Muffins

I love muffins. I also love bananas. When I saw three increasingly ripening bananas in our fruit bowl I immediately thought those babies needed to be baked!! Usually I’d make banana bread, but I didn’t have the time to grease tins, measure out a ton of ingredients and wait for the loaf to cool. Up until now I couldn’t find a straightforward banana muffin recipe that is until I asked old reliable, Mr. Google. He did not disappoint!

The recipe (found here) can be converted into metric quantities so it doesn’t take too much arithmetic for an Irish baker. These really are as simple to make as they sound. The mashed banana acts as a binding agent and is durable so everything else can be mixed in until batter is formed. Melting the butter is the crucial part, definitely a job for adults! It really does add to the flavour of the muffin though, so don’t skip the step!

I had never made a crumb topping before, but I had binged on crumb muffins in Boston last year and was looking for a good recipe everywhere since! Don’t skimp on the butter, as the crumb will be too floury and unpalatable.

All in all these muffins were delicious, absolutely scrumptious. Plus the guilt factor is lower, as you can justify the banana constitutes part of your twelve a day! 

I made these early on a gloomy July morning in Ireland, and they were the ultimate comfort food which made the day feel a whole lot better! 

They kept for three days in a sealed container (thanks to the moisture from the bananas).They are really impressive looking (the power of the crumb!), you’ll be deemed a domestic god/goddess after one bite! 

P.S. Recently I made these with the adition of chocolate chips! Milis ar fad! x