Healthy Snacking with Nakd Bars*

Now that the lighter evenings have finally started, the countdown to summer has officially began. However - as happy as the thought of eventual warmer weather make me, I can safely say that after months of over-indulging I am in no way ready for skimpy-summer fashion *sobs*.

One of the biggest struggles I face when trying to be healthy is snacking & knowing which are the right snacks to eat. So whilst hunting around my local supermarket I found myself repeatedly glancing towards Nakd Bars* & wondering if they'd be able to satisfy my ever-growing cravings without leaving me guilt ridden.

For those who don't know, Nakd Bars* are made of a combination of raw fruits & nuts however - unlike most "healthy" snacks on the market, they contain no added sugar or syrup. They are also made of 100% natural ingredients that are wheat, dairy & gluten free - perfect for those with allergies or following specific diet plans. 

I find these chewy yet soft bars perfect for snacking on between meals when I fancy a little something extra. The selection of flavours - including Ginger Bread, Cashew Cookie & Bakewell Tart - feel like a treat without any of those added "naughty" ingredients. A personal favourite of mine has to be the Cocoa Delight bar which I find myself reaching for when sugar cravings hit around mid-afternoon. 

If you're looking for a healthier alternative to snacking yet still want something that is enjoyable to eat, I'd definitely recommend picking up the Nakd Bars*. Bonus - most of the range count towards one of your five a day. Something that always makes me feel slightly proud of myself.. even as a twenty-something-year-old. 

Be sure to check out the Gym Motivation tips from Natural Balance Foods (creators of the Nakd Bar) if - like me - you're attempting to be a little healthier! 

Have you ever tried Nakd bars?

What are your thoughts?
xxx

Home-made Strawberry Milkshake

Despite being in my early twenties & (apparently) a responsible adult, one of my favourite drinks has to be the classic strawberry milkshake.. yummm. However, the other side of trying to act like a responsible adult is knowing that most milk-shakes - filled with ice-cream & sugar - are in no way healthy. 
But - in my opinion - this shouldn't have to mean that those who are - at least trying - to live a slightly healthier lifestyle have to miss out on these delicious drinks. 
So I thought I'd share one of current favourite recipes for a home-made strawberry milkshake... 

Disney glass optional, but highly recommended.

Ingredients for 1 Milkshake: 4 or 5 frozen strawberries 250ml Semi-skimmed Milk  1/2 tsp sugar to taste (optional)
Method:  1) Pop the strawberries into your blender - I personally use the Breville Blend Active 2) Sprinkle in a little sugar for added sweetness if desired 3) Add semi-skimmed milk 4) Slowly pulse the ingredients until you've reached the milkshake desired consistency 
This is a simple recipe that quickly satisfies any sweet cravings that may pop up.. plus it's much healthier (& cheaper) than popping to the nearest Ed's Diner. 
What's your favourite healthy treat? I'm always on the look out for healthier alternatives!

Tips For Healthy Hair...

For as long as I can remember my hair has always been a sort of comfort to me & to this day I often find myself either twisting sections of my hair when nervous or absent mindedly styling it whilst day-dreaming.

I'm pretty happy with my current hair style/length, however as you can see from the photos below.. September 2014 was not a good hair time for me. Two weeks prior to my graduation my hair was a good 3 inches longer than shown. I skipped off to a local hairdressers for a trim ready for the big day & left a few hours later with some sort of disaster cut & ready to burst into tears - which I did as soon as I got home. (I promise it looked a lot worse than in the photo below).

Skip forward to the present day & I am happy to say that it has pretty much grown back to it's full length again.. yay!

Left: September 2014 .. Right June 2015

So.. as the title of this post suggests, I thought I'd put together a few of my favourite haircare tips.

1) Heat - We all know that heat isn't good for our hair.. it can cause both damage and dryness. Personally I only tend to use heat on my hair if I want to make a little more effort with my look - think nights out or special meals. 

2) Heat protection - If you do chose to use heat styling tools, a good heat protection spray is essential to avoid as much damage as possible. 

3) Moisture - Condition, condition, condition! This is especially important if - like me - you colour your hair. I find that the ends of my hair can get pretty dry (thanks a lot bleach!) so as well as my usual conditioner I also use a deep conditioning mask roughly once a week. 

4) Water - Admittedly I don't know the ins & outs of nutrition and haircare/growth.. however drinking plenty of water seems like a logical step in hair care.. (how can you expect to have luscious, healthy locks without keeping your body hydrated?).

5) Regular hair cuts - As much as cutting your hair goes against every instinct when growing it out, the only real way to remove split ends is to cut them off. I personally try & visit the hair dressers every 8 weeks just to tidy up the ends to keep it healthy. 

These are the steps I tend to follow to encourage my hair to grow & to generally keep it healthy. I'll admit that - although unhealthy - there are a few bad habits that I do follow.. for example I do bleach my hair & sometimes I'll forget to book regular hair appointments *looks guiltily over at my calendar*.

However hopefully at some of these tips may help anyone looking to take better care of/grow out their hair. 

What are your favourite haircare tips?

xxx

*Disclaimer: I feel I should point out that I am in no way a hair expert - these are things that I've found work for me personally.. (Just in case any of those Moaning Myrtles take a read of my post).*