Blueberry & Carrot Oat Muffins (SW, WW & low calorie friendly)

New and updated baked oat recipe! This is just one version, so please check my blog for other baked oat ideas.

These baked oats are 1/2 syn for 7 muffins, using oats for your hexb, part hexa, so the only syn is the blueberries. 

Blueberry and Carrot oat muffin recipe

• 40g oats (hexb)
• 40g grated carrot (speed)
• 70/80mls of almond milk (part hexa)
• 1 egg (protein)
• 2 caps of vanilla extract or a flavouring of your choice (free)
• 2 tsp cinnamon (free)
• Blueberries (Free food and syns can vary depending on many you use, mine was 1/2 syn but please check your app to protect your weightloss)

***No sweetener needed

What you need;

• Muffin tray
• 7 silicone cases
• Preheat your oven to 180 degrees

Measure your 40g oats and 40g carrots then put in a jug with your 80mls of milk and stir. Then add in your egg and mix throughly. Then add your cinnamon and flavouring of your choice. Combine all together. 

Place your silicone cases onto your muffin tray or tray, then pour in the mixture. Weigh out your blueberries and then pop a few in each case. You can just drop them on like I did on push them right into the mixture.

Put into your oven on 180 for 25-30 mins. Then leave to cool for 3-5 mins. You can add maple syrup or choc shot for an extra treat but I quite like them as they are.       

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Serve with some speed food and yogurt or quark! Quark for extra protein and filling power 💪🏻 

If you make them be sure to let me know here, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook or add me on snapchat “justjulietta” as I’d love to see and hear from you. 
I hope you enjoy x 

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*please check the syn values of the brand of Milk & other products to protect your weight loss. Syns do vary with brand labels. 

If you want to syn your Oats instead of using your heathy extra b you can, just make sure to check the syn values in your book or the slimming world website. 

*All syn values are correct at the time of posting this recipe, if you’re viewing at a later date please check the syn values to protect your weight loss. 

Peanut Butter Oat Cups recipe

I haven’t made baked oats in a while and I missed them. So I made a video which is live on YouTube and you can view it by clicking here.
These baked oats are 2 syns for both, using your hexb, part hexa and the 2 syns are for the peanut butter powder (I use PB2 from Amazon or you can get PBFIT from tesco). 

Peanut Butter Oat Cup Recipe

• 40 oats (hexb)
• 50mls of skimmed milk ( 1.5 syns per 100ml so I would say 1 syn or (Part hexa) 
• 1 egg (protein)
• 2 caps of Almond extract or a flavouring of your choice (free)
• 1 tbsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp of sweetener 
• PB2 powder (2 syns per level tbsp)

What you need;

• Muffin tray
• 3 silicone cases
• Preheat your oven to 180 degrees

Measure your 40g oats and put in a jug with your milk and stir. Then add in your egg and mix throughly. Then add your sweetner and flavouring of your choice. Combine all together. 

Place your silicone cases onto your muffin tray or tray, then pour in the mixture. 

Now time to make your peanut butter. So you weigh out two tbsp of PB2. (It is 1 syn per tbsp) then you mix it with water and make the consistency you want. I like mine a little runny as when it cooks, it thickens.

Now you can lick the spoon 😋

Put into your oven on 180 for 20-25 mins. Then leave to cool for 3-5 mins.

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Then pop them out and enjoy as they are or decorate it with Sweet Freedom choc shot.
Serve with some speed food and yogurt if you like, or if you’re having an SP day have some quark. 

These muffins are perfect for an SP day because it used milk and not yogurt. 

If you make them be sure to let me know here, YouTube or tag me on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook or add me on snapchat “justjulietta” as I’d love to see. 

I hope you enjoy x 

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*please check the syn values of the brand of Milk & other products to protect your weight loss. Syns do vary with brand labels. 

If you want to syn your Oats instead of using your heathy extra b you can, just make sure to check the syn values in your book or the slimming world website. 

*All syn values are correct at the time of posting this recipe, if you’re viewing at a later date please check the syn values to protect your weight loss. 

Yumbox by Eat Well U.K.

Recently I’ve been wanting to portion my lunches better and I’ve wanted a lunchbox for so long. As a child I had a care bear lunchbox with stickers all over it and nothing compared to it. For years I’ve looked for something to fall in love with and that’s when I found Yumbox by eat well uk. 

What drew me to the lunch box was the portioned sections. Then the cute graphic design and of course the vibrant colours. They have so many beautiful colours and there’s also different compartments you can purchase separately to change the inside. You can also get a child’s version.

So when I found out it was spill proof, yes you did read that right, spill proof!! I had to test that theory out. So I made Slimming World tiramisu which can be quite runny and I added in frozen fruit. We all know what happens when defrosting fruit, it fills with water. I can confirm, in a bag traveling in a car, it did not spill! I was shocked. The inside has a rubber that seals the lunchbox closed. 

I then tried something a little cuter with a cookie cutter for my cucumber, which fit perfectly in the circle. I’ve also used this section for sauces and peanut butter. So this was my little trip to the beach lunch box!

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It was so nice just to sit and the beach with a no fuss lunch box and enjoy it. The lid stays attached so you don’t need to worry about setting it down and it is handy to put crisps into. I made the mistake of putting beetroot in and it did stain my lid, but that’s ok, it shows it’s well loved, but yes certain foods will stain the rubber lid. No one sees it but you anyway!

Of course I had to take a photo with the tower, isn’t that the touristy thing to do; even though I live here now hehe! In the warm weather I’m always asked if I’m here on holiday; sometimes I’m cheeky and say yes, other times I say we live here. 

Getting back to the box, it is a great lunchbox, it holds soup to with no spillage. It is hard plastic, you can change the inside with another design and it is a beautiful looking box. It would be suitable for someone who uses a lunchbox often or for trips to the beach with the kids. 

The lunch I have is the Yumbox Panino and the price is £24.95 and you can purchase it on the website. It is dearer than your average lunch box but it is an investment, it will be something that will last and you won’t need a replacement every few months. It is dishwater safe, BPA free and I just think it’s brilliant. Whether I’m indoor or outdoor I use this a lot and if you are in the same slimming world group you’ll know I have my evening meal in it every week ☺️. 

I do think this is a great tool to learn portion control. You get to add different bits to have a variety too. Definitely a plus for me.  The kids also use it when they have a school trip.

I found it hard to find any negatives about the Yumbox and the only thing is the staining from beetroot. 

The customer service was impeccable and delivery was fast. 

So if you’re interested in this lunch box then be sure to check Eat Well UK or click here to see all the different designs and colours! 

If you get one yourself be sure to comment below and let me know what you think, or if you’re on Instagram tag me.

If you follow me on YouTube you will see I spoke about the Yumbox in a recent video, so you can see a hands on view approach 😀 
**Disclaimer; Eat Well UK did send me this Yumbox to trial and review. This is not a paid or sponsored post and I’ve given my completely honest opinion. I have tested the Yumbox over a few months before writing my review, I wanted to see if it stood up to wear and tear, I also wanted to check if the spill proof would degrade over time and so far it has not. 

Forest Feast luxury snack review

After researching dried fruits and their benefits I came across Forest Feast, they are a premium dried fruit, seed and nut snack company from back home in Northern Ireland. The company started out with only mango on their shelves, but now they have over 150 different combinations and flavours in over 36 countries worldwide. How amazing is that?

They were kind enough to send me some samples to try out for myself and the kids. For me, nuts, seeds and dried fruit are an important part of my healthy lifestyle, something I use everyday in yogurt, breakfasts, baked oats or just as a snack. The kids take portioned snack pots to school, as too much of a good thing can be bad for us 😉

I absolutely loved these smaller snack packs, if you portioned it out you could have 20-25g for 5 syns. Just like other brands that have snack packs or shots but Forest Feast have a wider variety in the bag and no processed chocolate in there either! A full bag is around 15 syns so if you wanted a full bag, you could have one. 

If you’ve been following me a while you know I love adding toppings to my breakfast. Here I have Zoats and I topped it with Forest Feast goji berries; which added beautiful flavour of sweetness to my somewhat savoury breakfast. The berries didn’t last to long, between myself and my daughter using it in overnight oats. 

In this breakfast I used the Fruit, Nut and Berry mix; stirred it into my warm breakfast. It was beautiful. Having a crunchy texture mixing with a soft sweet hit of the berries, really made the breakfast. As I’m sure you can tell I am very passionate about breakfast. It is my favourite meal of the day, the biggest, healthiest and the one to set my day on the go.

My favourite snack was the apricots, keeping them in the fridge and dipping in when I fancied something sweet. Dried apricots really are like natures candy; just like mejooled dates.

I am planning to make some high protein energy balls with the rest and a few more recipes so keep your eyes peeled. I have already had some recipes on my YouTube channel and I have chatted about them there so be sure to check that out too.

So let’s talk about price? They’re a premium snack so it can seem a bit more expensive when you intitally see the price but when you compare it to some supermarket brands and depending on the offer, the price is competitive. I like that the snack bags are only £1 you can portion them out so they will last a few days. 

Will I purchase my favourites? Yes I will. You can buy these online;

• Ocado
• Amazon

Or in store;

• Waitrose
• Asda
• Tesco
• Costco
• Dunnes stores (N.I.)

I can’t wait to get some more apricots and finally try some of Forest Feast Mejooled dates.

You can find out more information on Forest Feast website

All of the products that we tried got a positive reaction so they’re all great to have in the cupboard for a snack and a healthier alternative for school lunchboxes. I also find it a great tool for my children to know about healthier fats, carbs and protein in their diet.

If you’ve any questions leave them below x  

*Disclosure – Forest Feast did send me the products to do an honest review. Not affiliated or sponsored. 

Low syn chocolate waffles (slimming world)

Preheat your over to 180 degrees. 

You need:

• Blender
• Silicone waffle mould
• 2 x Weetabix (hexb)
• 2 Eggs (protein)
• 1 cap full of Salted caramel (free)
• 1/2 Mullerlight Toffee (free)
• 1 tsp (1/2 syn) Sweet Freedom Choc shot 
• 1tbsp (4 syns) Nutella
• Banana (to top)

Put the weetabix in a blender and blend into a fine powder. Then add the sweetner, eggs and extract, then blend together. Once combined add the muller light and Sweet Freedom Choc shot then blitz all together.

Spray the mould with frylight, you don’t have to but I just find it easier to pop them out. Now pour the mixture into the silicone mould. I put my mould onto tray before pouring, so it would save any spillage or accidents when moving to the oven (if you are anything like me I usually spill one thing a day 😂) 

The oven will be on 180 degrees and bake for 30 mins.

Once baked, lift them out and place a plate on top, flip upside down and they should fall out from the mould easily. 

Place slices of banana around the waffles and top with Nutella. 

Tada you are done. I hope you enjoy x 

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If you want to syn your weetabix instead of using your heathy extra b you can, just make sure to check the syn values in your book or the slimming world app/website. 

All syn values are correct at the time of posting this recipe, if you’re viewing at a later date please check the syn values to protect your weight loss. 

Sweet Freedom (Review)

Do you ever find a staple product and always have to have it? Well thats how I feel with Sweet Freedom products. If you have been following my blog you know I am following Slimming World and being a chocolate and honey lover well that makes it difficult, until I found Sweet Freedom. For each of their products it is only 1/2 syn per level teaspoon!! Yes you read that right!

Sweet Freedom has 5 different products;

• Choc shot
• Choc shot coconut
• Choc shot orange spice
• Syrup
• Syrup (dark)

I use the syrup (which tastes like honey/maple syrup) in my over night oats, pancakes, baked oats, over fruit and nuts. The choc shot I use over ice cream, fruit, pancakes, baked oats, to bake with and a hot chocolate! The hot chocolate is so good when it’s made with Choc shot and Almond unsweetened milk!

I was so surprised by the taste of the syrup, it is a beautiful and thick syrup. I was worried that it wouldn’t be thick because it is so low calorie and vegan friendly, but it is! Heavenly! The same applies for the Choc shot, it is thick and has a gorgeous taste. I have raved about it that much in my Slimming World group around 50 members have bought it in the last few weeks, as we have our own group page and I always share my baked breakfast which all have Sweet Freedom products used in them.

Each product for me serves a different purpose depending what I am in the mood for. Recently I was inspired by the Slimming World HiFi macaroon bars and made Chocolate macaroon baked oats, where I used the Choc shot coconut which worked a dream.

Chocolate Macaroon Baked Oats (5 syns)

When I fancy a Terry’s chocolate orange the Choc shot orange spice hits the spot! I bake with it then add some over the top, delicious!!

Chocolate orange weetabix (5 syns)

The syrups are perfect for pancakes and waffles, yum! I am getting hungry just thinking about those. Waffles are my new obsession and the syrups are like the icing on the cake.

Chocolate weetabix waffles (1 syns)

The things you can make with Sweet Freedom products are amazing. If you check out their Instagram and website you’ll be blown away by the range of recipes and how other people are using the products ever day. The fact it’s low calorie and a vegan product, makes it top marks! It is a staple that I could not be without, I use it almost everyday and replace it every few weeks!

You can purchase Sweet Freedom products from Asda, Tesco, Morrisons, Boots and many other stores, which you can find here.

COMPETITION to Win the set of Freedom Freedom product ends 30th September 2016.

A little stop motion I created:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BK8R5QHh8FT/?taken-by=justjulie_sw

Spiralized Courgette Stirfry | using Oxo Spiralizer

The perfect dish for a light but filling lunch. Lightly spiced with cayenne pepper, did you know that cayenne pepper can help boost metabolism? Every little helps right?

I am always looking for ways to have a filling lunch with protein and nutritious vegetables.

I love the Oxo spiralizer, it makes it so easy to turn your normal courgette into courgettie, easing your craving for noodles and knowing you’re replacing it with something really good for you. It is so easy to use and quite fun! A separate review will be up soon but for now let’s talk food.

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A few items that are cupboard and fridge staples will make this dish, remember you can add or exchange foods you would prefer and you can’t really go wrong. 

Spiralized courgettie stirfry

Prep time 5 mins – Total time 10-15 mins

Serves 1

Ingredients

• 1 medium courgette
• 1/4 red onion
• 5 mushrooms
• 2 bacon medallions chopped

Seasoning

• 1/2 tsp Cayenne pepper
• Pinch of salt
• Pinch of mixed herbs
• 1 garlic clove

Directions

Start by heating up your pan on a low heat, spray with sunflower frylight or use a butter/oil of your choice. 

Fry of the red onion, once it starts to slightly soften add in your mushrooms, garlic and then your chopped up bacon medallions.

Spiralise your courgette using the spaghetti blade. Once this is done add it straight to the pan. 

Add in the cayenne pepper, herbs and salt. Cook until ready. Times vary depending on how you like your bacon. 

Enjoy! 

Notes:

To spice it up more add in some chilli flakes. You can add more veg like bean sprouts and peppers. As you see I added some beetroot and gherkins on the side with a nice refreshing drink. 

Transformation Tuesday

Hey guys!

Transformation Tuesday is upon us and it’s an interesting day, I scroll through some old pictures and if I have a new one I will compare them and share it on Instagram.

I love seeing how I’ve changed my life but one thing I have learnt is to not be ashamed of how I used to look or were I came from. I see a lot of negativity surrounding this, men and women use the tag and it’s amazing to see but I just wish we all were that little bit kinder to ourselves. If we don’t, then who will? 

We need to love ourselves now along the way. At the start I didn’t, I hated how I looked and couldn’t even look in a mirror. Now it is taking  my mind a while to catch up to the change and I’m slowly learning to love the change and dare I say myself? But that’s another story for another day.

So all I ask if you post your own photo, don’t be ashamed of your journey as it inspires so many people. 

So without further ado here is mine, still the same face just smaller and I’m a lot healthier.

6st 9lbs lost

Julie x