What Olympians eat: then and now

Sports nutrition is big business. What an athlete eats is seen as crucial to their training. How would an ancient Olympian’s diet line up with today’s? (more…)

How to buy fruit and veg in season [INFOGRAPHIC]

Want to buy your fruit and vegetable when it’s in season? Perhaps you fancy heading out into the country to do a bit of foraging? Well, if that’s the case, you’ll need to know when to head out, wicker basket in hand.

Unless you were brought up in the country, it can be difficult to know when is the right time to hunt for your fruit and vegetables, indeed how to shop ethically to ensure you’re getting locally sourced, seasonal produce. This handy infographic from Column Five, developed for Visual News is a perfect summary. Why not print it out and put it on the kitchen wall? (more…)

Is the Economic Downturn good for our Waistlines? [INFOGRAPHIC]

The news is gloomy. Barely a day goes by without hearing about the world recession, financial difficulties or ‘austerity measures’. But if our financial woes yielded unexpected health benefits – then wouldn’t that be a silver-lining? If our waistlines got slimmer as our wallets did, then surely that would be a reason for cheer?

This latest infographic, developed by those lovely folk at Column Five draws some interesting parallels between affluence and dining-out habits. Using US data, we are predicted to spend 5% less on dining out in 2012. As we earn less – so we eat out less. Healthy eating messages also seem to be playing a part: those of us who feel we can afford it are steering clear of restaurants in the drive to be healthier.

So having a few less bucks will be good for our arteries… or will we end up sitting at home, watching TV and ordering a pizza?

Time will tell, but you’ll find me in the garden digging up the carrots….

(click infographic to enlarge) (more…)

Bacon or Bagel? Which is best for Breakfast? [INFOGRAPHIC]

Healthy food choices are always a topic of contention. We recently showcased the infographic ‘Cookies vs Bananas‘, which demonstrated that so-called ‘unhealthy’ foods can have some unexpected benefits. This startling infographic from Column Five (developed for Massive Health) compares bacon and eggs to a bagel topped with cream cheese. The bagel may look healthier, but looks can deceive… (click image to enlarge) (more…)

Are Bananas as bad for you as Cookies? [INFOGRAPHIC]

Snack time! Decisions decisions… Grab the fruit or the muffin?

We all think we know what the healthy option would be, but with so much information and mis-information it can be difficult to make a good decision.

Ever heard the rumours that bananas aren’t that good for you? Yellow fruit fans will tell you they are packed with potassium and fibre (and they are). Surprisingly though, they are no better at allaying hunger pangs that the more indulgent chocolate chip cookie.

This informative infographic designed by our friends at Column Five, developed for Massive Health, gives some insightful tips on food choices. Combining data for satiety index (how full a food makes you feel) and the glycaemic index (whether you will have a ‘sugar crash’ or not) it lets you can compare your favourite foods.

Put simply, the foods in the top right hand corner of the table below are much more likely to leave you feeling fuller for longer: (more…)

3 very good reasons why we should all be Vegan [INFOGRAPHIC]

Could you eat vegan?

Perhaps you are one of 1% who have made the decision to abstain from anything animal? If that’s you, then you can smugly ignore anyone who thinks you odd or eccentric – you know you’re having the last laugh:

Vegans are healthier, spend less on food and are help to prevent climate change.

This neat infographic, sent to us by the lovely folks at Column Five (developed with Ethical Ocean) sums it up nicely and busts some big vegan myths. To be savoured with a glass of Soy Milk… (more…)

How portion sizes keep getting bigger – and so do our waistlines…

Like fast food?

Obesity in Western countries is an increasing problem (as if you needed me to tell you that). The majority of American adults are now overweight (and a third are obese). Even if you’re not a US resident – don’t think you’re exempt: here is a table of obesity rates worldwide.

We all know the reason – we don’t exercise enough and we exercise too much. Have you ever considered that there may be other forces at work conspiring for us to eat more? In the latest issue of Guru Magazine, our Food Guru Natasha interviewed a world expert on appetite and discovered why diets don’t work. PC/Mac users can read the article online here (or download the whole issue here).

Accompanying the article was this excellent and revealing infographic – developed by Column Five and provided by the lovely folks at Flowtown. Take a look: portion sizes are getting bigger, but not filling you up… (more…)

La Galette des Rois: a cake fit for a king!

Looks like someone found the fève!

France being a very catholic country, it’s also quite hard to avoid religious holidays (especially as they are usually bank holidays). Now I’m not religious but I must say that as a kid, my favourite of these holidays was Epiphany.

The 6^th of January, 12 days after Christmas, is traditionally when the three kings were supposed to have visited Jesus in his crib and brought him three gifts:

• Myrrh (made from the sap of a particular tree which smells amazing and can be used as anointing oil)
• Frankincense (used as a perfume)
• Gold (it’s shiny and comes in quite handy…)

In memory of this day is born a scrumptious French tradition: la galette des rois – which translates as the cake of kings! Made from pastry and a frangipane mix, it’s the perfect warmer for those cold January afternoons. And it even comes with its own game: hidden somewhere inside the cake is what the French call a fève (traditionally a small figure from the Epiphany story).

The cake is cut into slices at the table, when the youngest person has to hide under the table (or close their eyes if you don’t have any kid who wants to play) and they decide which slice goes to who. Whoever gets the ‘fève’ in their slice is ‘King’ (or Queen) for the day!

My fingers are crossed I get to wear the crown tonight…

La galette des rois (King Cake) Recipe

Ingredients

2 rolls of ready-made puff pastry
4 eggs
200g powdered almonds
200g sugar
200g unsalted butter
2 drops of almond extract
2 tablespoons of dark rum
1 tablespoon of milk
 
Method

• Melt the butter in the microwave for 20 seconds or work it with a fork so it’s creamy
• Add the sugar and beat lightly
• Add the powdered almonds and mix till an even finish
• Lightly beat three of the eggs and add them to the mix with the almond extract and rum
• Beat well
• Refrigerate for 1 hour
• Pre-heat the oven at 200°C (Gas mark 6)
• Mix the last egg with the milk
• Lay out a disc of puff pastry on a non-stick oven rack
• Wet  an inch of the outside edges with the egg and milk mix
• Add the almond crème mix on the rest of the pastry without touching the wet edges
• Hide a fève (or a coin for instance) inside the almond mix, preferably nearer the outside
• Layer the second puff pastry disk on top and fix both together tightly around the edges, using the bottom pastry to wrap a little around the top
• Draw a design on the surface (I usually go for a crisscross pattern but be as creative as you want!)
• Cover the top pastry with the rest of the egg and milk mix making sure it’s well covered
• Refrigerate for 30 mins
• Then cook for around 25 mins or till the galette is golden

Serve and enjoy!

Cork them or screw ‘em? What’s the best for wine?

For hundreds of years all wines bottles were sealed with a cork stopper, now half the bottles on the wine aisle are stopped with a metal screw cap.  Many experts claim that the wine is better for it. There’s no oxidation, no cork taint and no flavour modification, but what does this mean to the everyday wine drinker and at what cost is this to the environment? (more…)

The Perfect Winter Warmer: Mulled Cider Recipe

An autumn and winter favourite of mine has to be hot alcoholic drinks! Whether it’s mulled wine, Winter Pimm’s or Baileys Hot Chocolate, there’s something heart-warming about a hot beverage on a cold evening. It may be that that it is the alcohol that I particularly love – and that could be something I need some help with, but let’s deal with that another time… (Everything in moderation! -Ed)

A particular favourite is Mulled Cider! The new kid on the block, mulled cider can now be found in many a pub or bar (particular where I live in Brighton, UK, where everyone is obsessed with cider), but it’s real easy to make at home. It’s always present at my Christmas parties and it goes down a charm with my guests. It also gets extra points because if it’s spilled by a slightly inebriated friend (you know who you are!), it’s a lot less likely to stain than, say, mulled red wine.

Here’s a recipe – and it does the trick every time… (more…)