Christmas Treats from Niederegger

Christmas is approaching at an alarming pace- one minute it was July and I was on a beach in The Algarve, the next my brain is being forced in to thinking about all things festive, and more so than ever this year as Bob and I are going to be hosting Christmas for the first time.

I had a burst of inspiration the other weekend and managed to get most of my shopping done, but I still need to pick up some bits for the harder to buy for folk in my life and I’ve spent rather a lot of my spare time (of which there is not a lot of) browsing for ideas.
Luckily, by nature of being a blogger I also get alerted to great gift ideas, such as this gorgeously festive hamper of products from the masters of marzipan, Niederegger.

Hamper c/o Niederegger via Chocolates Direct

Marzipan is one of those confectionaries that divides opinion; the marmite of the sweet world I suppose. I for one love it, especially when it comes coated in chocolate- I remember one trip to Austria where I survived solely on dark chocolate and marzipan for days!

This festive hamper of treats contains both classic Niederegger products and seasonal treats. £25 gets you:

1 x 110g classic dark chocolate covered marzipan bar (my favourite!)
1 x 100g assorted mini marzipan loaves (espresso, pistachio, pineapple and orange all coated in dark chocolate)
2 x 40g dark chocolate coated sticks- selected from 3 flavours (I got cherry and walnut, both of which I highly recommend)
1 x 125g bar of flavour of the year (which is apple strudel in case you were wondering)
1 x 100g dark chocolate covered santa (which I am not sharing with anyone)

The hamper comes gorgeously packaged making it an instant gift in the making, or ideal for leaving out for guests to pick from over the festive period- this is the intention with what is left of mine, but based on my near-constant raiding of it (little and often is the key with marzipan I find) there won’t be any left!

What festive foods have caught your eye this year, and are you a marzipan lover, or a hater?

How Much Protein Do We Need Per Day?*

How much protein should we be including in our diets every day? Well, unfortunately, the answer to that question is not so simple. Your individual protein needs vary greatly depending on your level of physical activity, body composition and health. After you have taken all of this information into account you will end up with a basic amount, which will probably be adjusted as time goes on and after you have done some self-experimentation.

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Basic Numbers
If you are sedentary and of healthy weight aim for 1.2-1.8g of protein per kg body weight (0.54-0.82g/lb).

If you are active and want to maintain your weight, aim for 1.4-2.2g/kg (0.64-1.00 g/lb).

If you are active, wish to build muscle and are of healthy weight, include between 1.4-3.3g (0.64-1.50 g/lb) of protein per kg of body weight. Having more than 2.6kg (1.18/lb) won’t lead to even greater muscle gains, but it can assist with minimizing fat gains.

If you are active, wish to lose fat, eat 2.2-3.3 g/kg (1.00-1,50 g/lb).

If you are obese or overweight, have 1.2-1.5 g/kg (0.54-0.68 g/lb).

Aim for 1.66-1.77 g/kg (0.75-0.80 g/lb) if you are pregnant.

Protein Intake For Sedentary, Healthy Adults
The U.S RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowance) is 0.8 g of protein per kg of body weight. This is the minimal amount that should be consumed on a daily basis by healthy adults. This may not be sufficient especially for older people and healthy young men. When looking further into the matter, it is clear that we actually need at least 1.2 g/kg before the body starts neglecting important bodily processes such as muscle protein synthesis and immune function.

Protein Intake For Active Adults And Athletes
If you are an athlete or very active physically, you need a bit more protein each day. The Dietitians of Canada, the International Society of Sports Nutrition, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the American College of Sports Medicine recommend between 1.2-2.0 g of protein per kg of body weight for optimal recovery from training and for the maintenance and growth of lean mass.

Protein For Muscle Gain
If you are doing resistance training and want to build some muscle, there are studies that suggest that you should have around 3.3 g/kg per day. This amount of protein will not help you to gain more muscle, but instead, it will assist in minimizing fat gain.

Optimal Protein Intake For Pregnant Ladies
Additional protein is required by the developing fetus, and it is, therefore, important that a pregnant woman should consume around 1.66 g/kg during weeks 10-20 and 1.77 g/kg during weeks 32-38. Increased protein intake may lower the risk of low birth weight as well as the risk of stillbirth. If a pregnant woman is active and engages in physical activity, this amount may increase even more.

The Amount Of Protein Per Meal
The total daily intake of protein should be spread across four meals resulting in adults in their twenties eating around 0.24 g/kg as a minimum dose per meal and adults over fifty aiming for 0.4 g/kg.

A young athlete who weighs 175-pounds should consume around 19g of protein per meal, but when looking at the amounts of protein an active adult should intake, he would be able to benefit from as much as 170g per day. This would result in 9 meals per day. One option is to constantly sip on a protein shake, but this might not be ideal – if the intake of protein is too frequent, the body can get desensitized to the anabolic signaling thereof. In this case, it would therefore, be more realistic to rather consume more than 19g of protein per meal.

The September Degustabox*

I honestly wasn’t sure I’d get a review up on this month’s Degustabox*, time has completely run away with me and I now find myself in the midst of moving house with not a lot of time for doing anything but work, packing, relocating and occasionally sleeping.
Obviously I have managed to find some time to share my thoughts on the September edition of Degustabox. It will probably be a quicker read than usual though, with normal review service to resume next month.
These YES! Fruit and Nut bars are new from nestle and look so good! Unfortunately I haven’t been able to try them myself due to the nuts but I handed them out amongst family and friends and they were well received, especially the dark chocolate, almond and sea salt variety. These cost £1.20 each and I’ve already spotted them in Sainsburys.
I used to love Reese’s peanut butter cups before aforementioned allergy began. I reluctantly handed these over to my Dad who had never tried them before (how?!) and he now considers himself a fan. Chocolate and peanut butter is one of the best combinations in life and I miss these sorely! Widely available in most supermarkets.
These Dr Karg’s organic wholegrain snacks were another product I passed to my Dad as he loves other products by the brand and is more familiar with them than I am. He really enjoyed these as a healthier snack option and said they are full of flavour and texture- as well as all important fibre and whole grains!
I’ve been wanting to try Indie Bay Snacks pretzel bites for ages. Made with spelt flour opposed to more commonly found flours, these pack protein and crunch in abundance as well as full on flavour. I was a bit taken aback at first as they don’t taste like pretzels as you know them, but they are truly addictive once you get your head around them.
Unfortunately Pablo got to these Jules Destrooper butter crisps before Bob and I could and destroyed them, a true shame as this brand does biscuits excellently and I vaguely remember having had these, or similar at some point in my youth and loving them. If I manage to get my hands on another box I’ll report back (for the record Pablo appeared to enjoy them!)
This Oreo hot chocolate went straight to Bob as he’s a lover of both key components. Once you get past the black tinged colour this smells so good! You’re never going to get the exact flavour of a biscuit in a drink but this certainly tries hard. A little tip though- infinitely better made with milk or half milk/half water!
I love Mallow & Marsh products and whilst raspberry wouldn’t be my first choice of flavour for a sweet treat, especially combined with chocolate (I don’t really like fruity chocolate) these are still super good! The vanilla variant of these is a regular treat to myself- this brand really knows how to do it’s marshmallow treats!
Another product that has found it’s way in to my yoghurt- again not my kind of thing, but having binned of hemp milk a few too many times I decided to give these a go, and I’m glad I did. They have a slightly nutty flavour and add really good texture. High in protein and omegas 3 & 6 they are a good snack option for grazers like me, or a great addition to sweet and savoury dishes.
The drink selection is where I have fallen short this month as I’ve only managed to try the juicy fuel cola. I don’t usually drink non-diet drinks but this has no added sugars and is 100% natural ingredients. Whilst I’m not ready to ditch my pepsi max I did enjoy this and it made a nice change!

Both the milk and Jack Daniel’s Cider is awaiting testing by my willing (but absent this week) volunteers. If you’re interested in reviews for either of these products let me know and I’ll try and pop some up soon.

For those who don’t yet know, Degustabox* is a monthly food subscription box that gives you the chance to try new and exciting products on the market whilst providing amazing value for money.
On a month by month basis the box costs £12.99 (with a discount for longer subscriptions) but the contents are generally worth far more than this as you can see if you do the maths.
If you’re persuaded to give Degustabox a go (and really, you should) you can claim a brilliant £5.00 off of your first box (making it just £7.99!) by entering the code 6HZJ8 at the checkout. It’s been a pleasure to work with the brand regularly over the last couple of years and it’s without a doubt something that I will continue to purchase long after our partnership ends. I love the monthly surprise and excitement as well as the chance to discover products I’d otherwise pass up on the supermarket shelves.
Let me know if you’ve tried any of these products and what you thought of them.

The August Degustabox*

September- how on earth did we get here already? I’m really not ready to give up on Summer just yet, but automatically as soon as I hear the name of this month I think darker evenings and chillier days. I’ve got my fingers crossed for another heatwave before the month is out, and in the mean time I have a review of August’s Degustabox* with it’s Back to School theme (another sign Summer is surely over).
First out of the box this month was LioBites Smoothie Bites (£1.99/each). These are new, and healthy fruit crisps made from fresh fruit which provide one of your five a day and are ideal for lunch boxes. These have quite a strange texture and are incredibly sweet, but once you get past that they are oddly enjoyable, and I probably would buy them again if it weren’t for the crazy high price for a single serving.
I discovered Boka Bars a few months ago when I was on a mission for healthier snacks and have since placed regular orders via their website. All four flavours of these bars are delicious (especially the chocolate marshmallow one) and they all sport four green traffic lights when it comes to nutrition, making them perfect for lunch box snacks for children and adults alike. You can find these in Sainsburys for £0.75 each or in multipacks, and as I mentioned, I regularly buy mixed cases direct from the brand’s website.
Maggi products make a fairly regular appearance in Degustabox and for good reason. The fusian sticky hoisin duck noodles are the perfect base for a quick and easy dinner, and the classic three minute noodles are ideal for a substantial pre-dinner snack (my brother basically lived off these after school when he was a growing lad!)
The reduced sugar Rowntree’s products are also a regular in the boxes and I’m always happy to see them. These randoms have 30% less sugar but don’t compromise on taste or texture. These are always a hit with anyone I decide to share them with (if I decide to share) and I’m pleased to see them widely available in shops (priced around £1.29)
One of my staple dinners when I have had a long way is tuna with a jacket potato and salad. Especially now you can get the frozen jackets which take just five minutes in the microwave. The John West infusions salad fillets are perfect for jazzing up and otherwise plain meal- I received the chilli and garlic flavour in my box which I was a big fan of, but for those preferring something a bit more subtle they also come in basil or lemon and thyme varieties.
I’m a bit of a coffee brand snob so tend to stick to what I know, but in the spirit of adventure got stuck straight in to the illy Instant Smooth Taste. It may not be freshly ground and brewed coffee but it’s really very good, and if I saw this on offer above my usual brand I wouldn’t hesitate in picking it up.
Drinks wise this month we had the product of the month- Crooked Beverage Co alcoholic soda (£2.00) in midnight stage flavour. I haven’t tried this yet, as is often the way but it sounds like a healthier, more grown up version of the alcoho-pops that 18 year old me loved, with less than 5g of sugar and 46kcal per 100ml. I must remember to give this a whirl sooner rather than later- the perfect late summer drink, I hope!

Also in the box this month was some new soft drinks from Gunna. Cited to be craft soft drinks with a ginger base they certainly look more grown up than a can of diet coke. Again I haven’t tried these as I just can’t stomach ginger in drinks but once I’ve found someone willing to give them a go I’ll report back- and for anyone who does love ginger based beverages these have less sugar and no artificial flavours, colours or preservatives, compared to other, more main stream beverages.

I love Dorset Cereals products in general (especially their gingerbread porridge) so it’s always a pleasure to try one of their new releases. Spectacular Grains (£3.99) is made with toasted spelt flakes and popped grains for a super crispy crunch and is blended with, in this case, raspberry and apple. It’s another great product from Dorset Cereals and oddly I’ve taken to sprinkling some on my porridge in the morning.
Finally we have Good Hemp‘s unsweetened dairy free drink, and I’m sorry but I just can’t! Ideal for vegans and 100% natural I’m sure this is good for some people, but my tastebuds just can’t handle hemp milk (or rice milk, or soya, or many other dairy alternatives) so I don’t have a glowing review here. All I can say is I’m sure if you like that kind of thing, it’s brilliant.
For those who don’t yet know, Degustabox* is a monthly food subscription box that gives you the chance to try new and exciting products on the market whilst providing amazing value for money.
On a month by month basis the box costs £12.99 (with a discount for longer subscriptions) but the contents are generally worth far more than this as you can see if you do the maths.
If you’re persuaded to give Degustabox a go (and really, you should) you can claim a brilliant £5.00 off of your first box (making it just £7.99!) by entering the code 6HZJ8 at the checkout. It’s been a pleasure to work with the brand regularly over the last couple of years and it’s without a doubt something that I will continue to purchase long after our partnership ends. I love the monthly surprise and excitement as well as the chance to discover products I’d otherwise pass up on the supermarket shelves.
Let me know if you’ve tried any of these products and what you thought of them.

Degustabox- July 2018*

Box c/o Degustabox

I can’t believe this is the seventh Degustabox post I am writing this year, it really is true what they say- the years go by quicker and quicker as you get older (not to mention, time flies when you’re having fun!). This month’s box turned up when I was on holiday and life has been a whirlwind of busy since I got back- this does mean it’s not the most comprehensive review post I’ve ever written, but hopefully I’ll be forgiven.
I’m not a big fan of crisps in their traditional format so I passed these on to my Mum, who is, to see what she thought. Neither of us had heard of London Flavours before but were very taken with their funky packaging. The Cheddar and Red Onion flavour went down especially well and would definitely be purchased again if we saw them.
If you’ve read previous posts you’ll know I was taken with the BBQ variety of the Peckish rice crackers, so was excited to see a multi-portion tray of another flavour in this month’s box. This wouldn’t have been my top choice of flavour if I was shopping for them myself, but in terms of packing a flavour punch and being super crispy and addictive savoury snack I’m a fan. Each portion has less than 100 calories and this tray makes them perfect for sharing at a summer get-together.
This salted caramel raw chocolate brownie from Pulsin went to my Dad who is always on the search for healthier lunch box snacks. He really enjoyed this, and I wish there was a way I could try one for myself, but the main ingredient is peanuts so it’s sadly a no go for me. I see so many people rave about Pulsin snacks, and the verdict in our household was that it’s impossible to imagine this actually being good for you (but it is!)
More Capsicana products in this month’s box, and I am sorry to say I am yet to try either of them. I’m excited to get cooking with the smoked paprika and spices seasoning mix as I love the taste of paprika- I’m thinking of some kind of smokey chicken salad using the guacamole mix to make some homemade guac to go on the side- I’m not a big avocado lover but I’ll take one for the team to try this out. Both products are due to launch in Sainsbury’s stores this month.
Miso is one of those foods I go through phases with, and currently I’m really enjoying it after a recent lunch at Itsu. This barley and miso soup is different to anything I’ve experienced before but is making a welcome addition to my work day lunches- I chuck in some chunks of tofu to bulk it up and whilst I haven’t quite perfected it yet I’m well on the way.
Who doesn’t know Heinz Salad Cream? A picnic staple of my youth, I’m not so much a fan of it these days but nevertheless this bottle is slowly but surely going down. I always preferred salad cream to mayo when paired with tuna or egg so I might make up a batch of one or the other for my lunches this week…I’m sure the people in my office will love me for that one. What are you favourite salad cream combinations?
I love fruit pastilles! In fact I love all sweets (I am the proverbial kid in a sweet shop when Wilko have half price pick ‘n mix) but I’m trying to cut down my refined sugar intake so knowing there are lower sugar (30% less) alternatives to some of my favourites on the market is reassuring. These don’t really taste any different to their full sugar counterparts thankfully, and I am sure the rate at which they were inhaled counteracts the reduction in sugar content, oops! Best straight from the fridge, am I right?
Rhubarb cider? Even I was tempted by this can from Rosie’s Pig flat tyre. I haven’t tried it yet but I have it chilling in the fridge and have quite high hopes despite not being a cider drinker. I’m a sucker for anything rhubarb flavoured and have high hopes for this!

The sparkling ribena on the other had has long since disappeared. Finally a low calorie soft drink served in pubs that isn’t diet coke/pepsi max! Both of these flavours were so good served icy cold, especially the blackcurrant. Ideal for sunny afternoons in the pub garden when you know you have to drive home. I hope these are sold in shops as well as pubs at some point as I want a bulk lot.

The inclusion of a hot chocolate in a summer box did baffle me slightly, especially mid heatwave! But still, I diligently made a few cups of this and it is good…low calorie hot chocolate is never going to be amazing and does have a tendency to go watery but this holds up pretty well. A splash of milk makes all of the difference though, trust me.

Last but not least we have an iced coffee from Percol coffee. Bob is the king of cold coffee it was only fair I passed this his way to test out- I’d never have been forgiven if I didn’t! He wouldn’t usually choose a flat white, he’s a latte kind of guy, but did enjoy this once we remembered to chill it, and at £1.50 they are pretty competitively priced and we’d stock our fridge up if we saw them on offer.

For those who don’t yet know, Degustabox* is a monthly food subscription box that gives you the chance to try new and exciting products on the market whilst providing amazing value for money.
On a month by month basis the box costs £12.99 (with a discount for longer subscriptions) but the contents are generally worth far more than this as you can see if you do the maths.
If you’re persuaded to give Degustabox a go (and really, you should) you can claim a brilliant £5.00 off of your first box (making it just £7.99!) by entering the code 6HZJ8 at the checkout. It’s been a pleasure to work with the brand regularly over the last couple of years and it’s without a doubt something that I will continue to purchase long after our partnership ends. I love the monthly surprise and excitement as well as the chance to discover products I’d otherwise pass up on the supermarket shelves.
Let me know if you’ve tried any of these products and what you thought of them.