Hello Darlings,

I love a good snack. I could spend all day snacking. Some days I do.

Whilst that may not have benefited my waistline, it does mean that I have tried many delightful (and not so wonderful) treats.

Recently I began to try eating food that is beneficial to my body and mind. A few years ago, I worked out that cutting out foods doesn't work for me. Having access to treats does reduce binge eating for me. Of course, it doesn't always work, but overall it has been better. 

I currently am suffering from constant tiredness and am struggling to get up in the mornings and not go back to bed throughout the day - which doesn't help with the snacking. It means I have not been exercising as much as I'd like to and having more sugar than is good for my teeth.

I have been planning meals, trying new recipes and testing different snacks over the last few weeks. Some are lower in sugar, some are iron-rich and some are overall lower calorie options. I'm not typically a 'clean' eating buff, but some of the foods are inspired from those recipes. 

Yoshoi Snapea Rice Sticks (Lightly Salted)

I tried these recently and omfg they are good. I loved the natural(ish) taste and thought they worked quite well as a crisp alternative. They are gluten free and vegan, lower calorie and fat than traditional crisps and pretty damn tasty.

Weight Watchers Snack Ranges

 Whilst I have left Weight Watchers meetings, I still enjoy their treats when I can find them. The snacks are often smaller than their brand counterparts, which I kinda prefer. I don't always want some massive slab of cake or loads of chocolate, just something sweet will often do. (Some days I do want slabs of chocolate or wedges of cake and that is fine, btw)

Specifically, the mini rolls and the caramel cake bars are pretty damn good in my opinion. 

Dried Apricots and Dates

Super sweet, sticky and full of iron and fibre - definitely good for my body and mood.

I grab a couple (not too many though!) when I'm feeling really drained of energy.

Need I say anymore?!

Oat, Banana, Egg and Choc Chip Cookies

Homemade treats that are really good for days when one or two isn't enough. 

I generally mix a handful of oats with one banana and one egg, then chuck some choc chips (i prefer dark choloate) and cinnamon in for flavour.  I don't really bake them to a specific time but I suppose check around the 20minute mark?! I normally just test them with a skewer after a while. 

I keep them in the fridge and normally they are gone within a few days.

 They can also be baked in muffin cases as breakfast muffins for rushing around days.

Delish. 

That's all for now, 

I hope these help anyone looking for snacking inspiration, and I shall write again soon my Darlings.

x

Hello Darlings. 

So, I lack motivation and willpower. So much.

I can never say no to a treat for long and rarely force myself to do things I can't be bothered with. Sometimes I even struggle with doing things I want because I lack the energy required. 

I have so many terrible habits that I beat myself up for and it doesn't help. Instead of willing myself into action, I end up annoyed at myself and unmotivated/lacking willpower. 

So I have decided to try to be kinder to myself. 

I'm going to try a few different ways to motivate myself...

Beginning with the little things.

I'm going to set little tasks. Start small. Put things into bitesize chunks. Somewhat like this section.

Tracking progress.

I will be trying to note how I am doing and keep tabs on any progress. 

I have always felt better when small goals are completed. Even when the main goal is so far away. 

Have a little faith in myself.

Being confident in my abilities and believing in myself is often my downfall. I constantly persuade myself I can't do anything and completely ruin any positivity or inspiration that I have.

This is where I am going to start. Hopefully in a few weeks I'll be able to check in and say all of the things I have been able to achieve. But if I haven't, I won't hate myself for it. 

I'll just try harder next time.

Tar-rah darlings.

x

Hello Darlings, 

As part of my new years resolutions this year, I am going to be learning self-care. 

I have never been that kind to myself and last year was so abhorrent in that regard (and many others) that I have decided to make a change.

I want to eat food that makes me happy and is good for my body. I want it to help my body function at it's best.

I need to exercise my body. I NEED for it to bend and stretch and jump and run without the limitations that I have at my current level of fitness.

This isn't about weight-loss or trying to fit into society's view of beauty, it is about me learning to look after the body I've got. 

I am also going to be working on my mental health. Going to the Doctor's in December for my anxiety was step one. 

Here's to hoping for a better year. 

xx

P.S. I can also recommend watching kissmyfrog's video on YouTube about this. She explains it so much better than I did.