YBBF Challenge: Health and Wellbeing Detox

Most people seem to jump on the detox band wagon after a bit too much indulgence, which I understand. The body doesn't want any more excess yumminess. Usually, it's for a few days or even a few weeks but I am going to be doing this for six weeks. I will be eating real, wholesome food and not just juicing, taking cayenne pepper shots or whatever else is the new fad. 

This is not for weight loss reasons, although, I imagine that I will lose a bit of weight. This is so I feel completely healthy and well when I go on holiday. Having been advised to cut out sugar from my diet, having had some yucky viruses, I started to feel a whole lot better and returned to my normal self. However, I have slipped back into bad habits, which is natural when summer rolls around and prosecco is flowing! I am not one for limiting myself and not living life the way I want but the motivation of having the most amazing holiday and feeling good the whole time outweighs drinking and eating myself into oblivion for the next few weeks!

I don't know how strict I will be for every occasion. There are quite a few celebrations happening over June, so I will probably find the most healthy options and least sugary items, so that I still enjoy the celebratory atmosphere. 

I will be documenting my progress and if anyone wants to join in, please let us know via the comments, Instagram or Twitter. We would love to hear from you, see your progress, tips or just general motivation. Jen is going to be an excellent source of advice, as she is the master of eating healthily and yummily, so I will be calling on her for some new ideas and recipes. 

The thing that I am most looking forward to is having my energy levels completely back to normal. I cannot wait to be running around like an over excited child!

Sugar Free Chocolates on the High Street.

The thing with going sugar-free, gluten-free or dairy-free, is that if you're out and about and haven't packed your own snacks, buying convenient food is a little tricky. Don't get me wrong, most places, even smaller stores are getting so much better about providing alternative snacks, but finding something can take time – especially if you don't just want a piece of fruit and would prefer to indulge! However, knowing where to buy things from, makes it all a bit easier so, with that in mind, I went searching for yummy options.

Hotel Chocolat

A Diabetic Gift Box for £25, which includes: Gianduja Bombes, Supermilk Puddles, dark chocolate Brazil Nuts, Cocoa & Peppermint Infusions and two Rabot 1745 bars (whatever they might be!)

The Sleekster Even Less Sugar Collection for £22, which includes: Hazelnut & Ginger Crunches, Pistachio Pralines, Gianduja Bombes, Orange Pralines, Milk Chocolate Batons, Milk Canapés, Dark Chocolate Batons, Dizzy Pralines and Chilli Pralines.

The H Box Less Sweet Selection for £12, which includes: Hazelnut & Ginger Crunch, Pistachio Praline, Gianduja Bombe, Orange Praline,  Milk Chocolate Baton, Milk Canapé, Dark Chocolate Baton, Dizzy Praline and Chilli Praline.

www.hotelchocolat.co.uk

Thorntons

Thorntons are great for gluten free chocolate. Nearly every regular bar and special occasion chocolates are gluten free. My mum is really allergic to wheat and certain types of gluten and is always fine with Thortons chocolate. Just double check the ingredients before you buy. 

Chocolate bars start at £2.25

www.thorntons.co.uk

Conscious Chocolate

This chocolate is organic, raw chocolate that is naturally sweetened with agave nectar and is dairy and gluten free. It is vegan approved and most importantly, it tastes so yummy. When I tried it, I thought it would be pretty bland but it is seriously good. So good in fact, I often eat the entire bar in one go. Yes, I am a hog. 

There are various flavours but my favourites are Plain Jane (which is the plain chocolate), Essential Orange (orange flavoured chocolate) and Goji and Coconut (which is great for baking and using with coconut flour based treats).

They are sold at health food shops but personally, I would order them from the website and chuck one in your bag before you leave the house. 

Chocolate bars start at £3.

www.consciouschocolate.com

www.hollandandbarrett.com

Holland and Barrett

What's great about this chain is that they have stores in almost every town, so buying snacks that are suitable for allergies or preferences is fairly easy. They sell sugar free sweets, dairy free chocolates, gluten free biscuits, vegan ice cream and a load of savoury snacks. 

www.hollandandbarrett.com

Supermarkets

Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury's are doing a great range of 'free-from' items but what is even better is that Tesco Express is stocking some of those items, so grabbing something that won't send you into a sugar coma or give you the world's worst stomach ache is easier than ever.  

Sweet Potato Brownies Recipe

These sweet potato brownies were made using a recipe by Ella Woodward, author of the blog Deliciously Ella and guru of all things natural and delicious. I know using sweet potatoes sounds a bit odd, but when they are steamed and mashed they have a gooey consistency that is perfect for brownies. The dates and maple syrup add natural sweetness and the cacao powder gives a deep chocolatey flavour.

I have to admit, I don't have a particularly sweet tooth, and if you are a real sugar-fiend you might not like these. However, if you prefer the taste of natural sweetness to processed sweetness they are worth a try – it's nice to have a brownie with your cup of tea that you know is full of great ingredients and not going to lead to a sugar crash.

Ingredients
• 2 sweet potatoes (600g)
• 2/3 cup ground almonds (80g)
• 1/2 cup brown rice flour (100g)
• 14 medjool dates
• 4 tbsp raw cacao powder
• 3 tbsp maple syrup
• pinch of salt

Here is a link to the recipe on Ella's blog and below is a video showing how to make them.




Since making and photographing this recipe, my sister recommended Ella's recipe for raw brownies and I have to say I think they are now my favourite! They only contain four ingredients, which you mix in a food processor, put in a baking dish and set in the freezer for an hour. They are so simple and absolutely delicious! The video for that recipe is below and be sure to check out deliciouslyella.com for lots more simple recipes that are all plant-based and free from processed ingredients.

Ruby's of London – vegan patisserie

www.rubysoflondon.com

It’s one thing to eat healthily at home, but when you’re out and about it can be a little trickier, especially when cakes are involved. I might not have a sweet tooth as such but even I appreciate a good cupcake... and why should I miss out on all the fun just because I don’t eat eggs or dairy?! So you can understand my excitement at discovering Ruby’s cupcakes at Greenwich Market. They are beautiful, absolutely delicious, completely vegan and all just a stroll through the park away from my house! 

Ruby has been making her cakes for many years and was even awarded the 2013 British Baker Product Innovation Award. You can order them online or buy them at their market stall on Saturdays and Sundays. They have a fantastic selection that changes seasonally and all the labels are colour coded so you can quickly see which ones are gluten, wheat and/or sugar free as well as vegan. This is extremely useful because, trust me, her stall gets very busy! Seriously though, Ruby is a genius. How do you make cakes without eggs, sugar and dairy that darn delicious?! 

If you find yourself in Greenwich at the weekend (and let’s be honest, it’s a pretty great place to be on a sunny Sunday) go and check them out. Hands down the best vegan cakes I’ve ever eaten. Below is just one of the many Ruby's cakes I love, so for lots more information and mouth-watering images head over to www.rubysoflondon.com!

Find Ruby's at Greenwich Market, Saturdays & Sundays, 10am - 5.30pm
www.rubysoflondon.com

Chocolate Biscuit Crunch recipe

This is a biscuit textured treat that gives a chocolate fix without the need for lots of added sugar.

• 7oz (approx. 1 cup) wheat-free self raising flour 

• 1 1/4oz (2 heaped tbsp) cocoa powder 

• 2oz (1/4 cup) Zylitol or any other sweetener. Dates could be used or something like Stevia. Personally, sometimes I cut this out. Yes, it's not as sweet but sometimes my stomach is not in the mood for any kind of sweetness, even natural ones. 

• 1 egg or flax egg 

• 5 oz (approx 3/4 cup) dairy-free spread, melted

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl then transfer to a baking tin and place in the oven on 160° (fan assisted) for 25 minutes. I served mine with sugar free, dairy free blancmange.

Twitter: @YourBeautyBF

Instagram: @your_beauty_best_friend

March – Glow From Within

Feeling good is definitely linked with confidence. If you do not feel good, you do not feel confident. But looking and feeling good starts from within. Don't get me wrong, makeup really helps, but clear skin, energy, sparkiness and a zest for life really does make all of the difference. Beauty from within, both health and kindness, is a big deal for Jen and me. 

I mentioned in January that for medical reasons, I have had to stop eating sugar. Devastated was not the word. I love Dairy Milk like it's one of my family but the benefits have outweighed the negatives. Not only do I feel much, much better but my skin has started to look younger, my eyes brighter, my skin tone brighter and my chops more chizzled. Hurrah. Everyone loves a good cheek bone. 

However, I have a sweet tooth. To combat that, I have been doing some home baking and asking Jen for some advice (she's been eating a plant-based diet for a while now and is equally enthusiastic about the benefits of choosing whole foods over processed ones). 

Over the next month, Jen and I will be sharing our recipes that will be easy to make, delicious and a much healthier option than your typical pre-packaged food (#GlowFromWithin!). Whether you are trying to be healthier, looking for new recipes or hoping to help clear up problem-prone skin, we're here to help.

Happy eating beauties! 

Twitter: @YourBeautyBF

Instagram: @your_beauty_best_friend