With Valentine’s Day on the horizon, we’re paying a visit to some of our favourite haunts in Exeter to bring you a few ideas of where to spend your evening. First up on the list, Ruby Burgers on Queen Street!
Ruby Burgers
If the name didn’t give it away, Ruby’s is an American style diner known for its wide range of burgers.
We took a seat in a comfy leather booth and started the evening with the highly recommendable Oreo milkshake, which was potentially a mistake as it was so delicious and thick and creamy, that it was probably too filling to wolf down before our burgers arrived!
Oreo Milkshake
But then again, when they did, we had no problem polishing them off; the meats are all locally sourced and the namesake ruby beef burger was certainly bursting with juicy flavour. We also tried the panco breaded chicken burger, another delight with generous helpings of cheese.
For those eyeing up a vegetarian option, the haloumi burger is an utterly delicious meat-free taste adventure. The pulled pork bun, and the ‘reuben’ are also house specialities to be sure to watch out for!
Pulled Pork Bun
The burgers come on their own so you do have to order any sides separately, but we certainly suggest adding a portion of the perfectly cooked hand-cut sweet potato fries, and if you fancy spicing up the date a little, throwing in a little more flavour with the poppers; breaded and fried jalapeno peppers with cheese.
Be warned though, these can get pretty hot!
Ruby Burgers
Despite being somewhat stuffed, we finished up the evening with a hot waffle topped with ice-cream and smothered with toffee sauce – a treat for any sweet tooth.
If you’re looking for a relaxed, casual feel-good evening, Ruby’s is a definite contender for your special night; sit back in a booth and let the American soundtrack wash over you while you enjoy an Oreo milkshake (it’s even better than it sounds!).
Stay tuned and check out our Facebook for a VERY exciting Valentine’s competition:
Ruby’s are offering a private booth and meal for two for Valentine’s Day!
Have you eaten at Ruby Burger? What did you think? Let us know onFacebook,twitteror in the comments below…
I’m sure you’ve seen all of those predictable Facebook statuses. They’re boring and we’ve all had enough. Diets are the main thing you’ll want to adapt for the new year, but before you do don’t fall for the trap. Here’s a breakdown of some of the top diets and whether or not it’s worth your time and money.
1.
Image Credit: Weightwatchers
Possibly the biggest there is. But not quite as big as its customers. Not a diet but a lifestyle. Diet plans with weekly meetings, think Little Britain.
With a worth of a whopping £5 billion it makes you wonder why a successful diet is still in business…
Channel 4s Dispatches outlined that 3% of people actually kept off their weight. With an estimated £100 spent per pound lost.
You work out your allowances based on points, they’re labelled on all their products, and trying to work out something that’s not branded is a nightmare. You won’t bother; they know that, more money for them. Not only that what you are allowed is pathetic, I personally would waste away. But then again I suppose I’d have lost the weight. Better make that a 4% success rate.
Not only will they take your money but you’ll be no lighter for it. The proof is in the pudding and they just keep on serving.
Score: 0/10 Expensive, time consuming and pathetic portions.
2. Paleo Diet – EAT LIKE A CAVEMAN!
Paleo, referring to Palaeolithic, takes you back the caveman era. Think hunter gatherer, me chase down antelope kind of thing. What you found is what you ate. No processed foods, no pesticides and no genetic modification. No bread, no pasta, no cheap meats. This low carb diet might sound great, but unless your minted it’s pretty damn difficult.
Food should be organic and ‘natural’, wild game and non-processed foods will be the stacking up your shopping trolley and your food bill. A fridge full of pheasant, venison, nuts and fresh veg.
Breakfast:
Delicious…eat up, it’s just about all the carbs you’re allowed. Image Credit: Scott Redington
Delicious…eat up, it’s just about all the carbs you’re allowed.
If you’ve ever cut carbs you’ll know just how insanely difficult it is. Mood swings, cravings and the loss of will to live are the main side effects with this up and coming diet.
Despite this, if you’ve got the will power and the pocket to match, then I do actually recommend this diet. Cutting out processed foods and sticking to quality protein is a good general way to eat.
Score: 8/10 Expensive, but can show great results.
3. 5:2 Diet – Live Longer For Less?
5:2 referring to days of the week, means that 5 days you eat relatively normally and 2 you’re fasting, which is 25% of normal calorie intake (males 600kcal, females 500kcal). 5 days of relaxed eating for 2 days of fasting. PERFECT. Easier said than done. This miracle diet claims to boost weight loss and increase life span. What’s not to love?
It works by promoting your body to repair old cells and not create new ones. Some even claim it reduces the chances of cancer by stopping the mutation and excessive production of new cells.
Diet and a cancer prevention?! That’s buy one get one free. Bargain.
Following this diet you’ll cut around 3,000 calories a week, which is basically not eating for 1 day a week. Before you know it those love handles will be melting away. IF, and it’s a big IF, you can do this without eating your own arm then I commend thee. But I bet you won’t.
I love fasting. Image Credit: Scott Redington
Score: 4/10 impractical, difficult, potential loss of limb
As the old Exeter student adage goes, “one does not simply walk past John Lewis and up Sidwell Street” (except for the occasional Monkey Suit cocktail or two). But now, thanks to the opening of Exeter’s latest gastronomical offering, you’ll find the flavours of gourmet burgers, hot dogs and special craft beers luring you right up that road and into stylish new eatery “Hub Box”.
Image Credit: Fiona Potigny
First impressions of the pop-up restaurant definitely betray its penchant for high Americana style: its name is displayed in luminous letters arranged like a 50’s cinema listings board while the interior is smattered with glowing signs nodding to that bygone era, only to be mirrored by the equally diner-esque menu.
But there is a twist.
Image Credit: Fiona Potigny
Take a closer look, and you’ll notice a few irregularities: the exposed red brick, the obvious pipes, the hard floor, the tables like carpenters’ work benches. There is a kind of raw and unfinished edge to the place, affording it an altogether unique and enjoyable ambience in which to enjoy our (thankfully) not raw and unfinished meals.
After a few minutes of debate with my co-eaters, we designate the quirky urban interior “industrial chic”, which seems to please founder Richard Boon as we chat to him later – It seems that’s what he was going for.
Once seated, that familiar tinge of stress sets in, not dissimilar to a mid-exam panic over a multiple choice question: what to choose? In the end, we opt for:
The resto’s namesake The Hub Burger: 7oz burger, Swiss cheese, crispy smoked bacon and “hub sauce” – manage your mastication, it gets better;
(In the interests of fair and equal representation) vegetarian burger Betsy: falafel, sweet chilli jam, charred corn and avocado salsa;
The Double Double: 100% free range pork hot dog, BBQ pulled pork and sauerkraut.
Image Credit: Fiona Potigny
With nothing separating us but a few feet and some dangling steel chains, we can see right into the kitchen area. There is a both quite literal and figurative openness about this, attesting to the team’s pride in the fact that their food is totally “manmade by humans” and uses both locally-sourced and fair trade ingredients, as indicated on the rustic brown paper menu – seeing is believing, after all.
Yet more impressive, however, is the massive shipping container inside which the kitchen is situated, an idea drawn from the Shoreditch “Boxpark”, which helps maintain coherence between the Exeter and St Ives branches, Richard tells us as we await our food. We also learn of the newly-installed barbeque smoker, allowing for 12 hour smoking sessions to ensure maximum meaty tenderness, and that each platter was carefully amalgamates head chef Alex’s travelling experience – a lot to look forward to then.
The food arrives within 15 minutes – a short wait even for a not-so busy day – and my, is it beautiful.
Image Credit: Fiona Potigny
The Hub Burger is soft and succulent owing to its ever-so-slight rareness, oozing with flavour with every bite. The Swiss cheese and “Hub sauce” – God, I wish I knew what it was – perfectly blend to compliment both the burger and the bacon, which is cooked to absolute perfection: thin streaks, crisp at the edges, and a little bite in the middle. Stunning.
Betsy is an equal babe of a burger. Though its main constituent is “falafel”, a name bringing connotations of the dry and unexciting Greek mezze dish, this version flaunts and wholly owns the homemade vibe, with its crumbly chickpea texture nicely held by the reasonably heated sweet chilli jam. The charred sweet corn pieces seemingly sheared straight from the cob add an unexpected textural juxtaposition, while the avocado salsa, though not contributing flavourfully to the dish, carries welcome moisture.
My favourite, though, is the Double Double. Here, the oak smoked nature of the hot dog shines through, giving it a gourmet feel, which perfectly intermingles with the tender strips of BBQ pulled pork.
Image Credit: Fiona Potigny
Upon the recommendation of our friendly waiter, each is served with an aside of hand cut fries, onion rings, pickles and coleslaw. Despite our scepticism with regards to the onion rings and pickles, we are pleasantly surprised: the onion rings are crunchy, not greasy, with properly cooked onions on the inside (something none of us have ever experienced!), and the pickles taste fresh and juicy – nothing like the floppy grim gherkins to which we’ve become accustomed through years of festival dining.
Honestly, I have no idea why the coleslaw is so good; it just is (at this point we’re enjoying the food so much that we begin to think that we have been slipped something). And finally, the hand-cut chips: wow. Even as a team of self-confessed fussy chip selectors, we are swayed: the outer crunch and inner softness of a thick chip, but in thin fry format.
Utterly romanced by the food, we’re tempted to award a solid 5 stars for everything. But no, we must find something – constructive criticism is always good, right?
To the “Hub Box”, I award 4.75/5 stars. Why the 0.25 off, you ask? The wooden cutlery. Unable to get our small female hands around the vast burgers, we had to resort to ineffective wooden cutlery, which left our plates looking like a natural disaster had hit them; fine with mates, not great for dates.
Nonetheless, that’s obviously not enough to dissuade us from a second, third, fourth (you get the idea) trip – especially for some of that epic bacon after a Cheesey’s hangover.
Thank God, then, that this “pop-up” restaurant is actually sticking around for 3 years; long enough to see us until the end of our degrees.
The holiday season is the time of Christmas dinners, seasonal treats (hello mince pies, mulled wine, and marzipan!), copious amounts of home cooking, and weather that doesn’t seem conducive to those morning runs or trips to the gym. With these unfavourable conditions, it certainly seems that all fitness and healthy eating goals are doomed to failure. A few small habits and choices, however, can minimise guilt whilst still allowing indulgence in the season’s delights – after all, Christmas only comes once a year.
1. Eat a small, healthy snack before parties
It’s tempting to ‘save up’ calories if you know you’re going to a party with going to be lots of tasty treats. This plan usually backfires, however, because by the time you see the buffet table, you’re absolutely starving and promptly devour everything. Oftentimes before you know it you’ve consumed much more than you intended to and now feel neither proud nor trim. Thus it’s a good strategy to have a small, healthy snack about an hour or so beforehand so that you’re not ravenous. Fruits, vegetables, and/or protein are recommended options: for example an apple or pear, some carrots and/or celery with hummus, a boiled egg, or a slice or two of turkey.
2. Pick and choose indulgences
Image Credit: Simon Cocks
If you’re like me, it’s super hard to pass a mince pie without wanting to buy one (or in my case, actually giving in and buying one…). But how many do you actually need to feel festive? Try prioritising your treats, making sure that each delicious serving is truly the best you can get. Why buy a large yet lacklustre pack of waxy fudge when one fantastic, high-quality piece yields greater satisfaction? Additionally, it might be worth making a list of which holiday indulgences you’d like to partake in and then ‘checking them off’. This way, you can make sure you get each and every seasonal delight whilst neither depriving yourself nor missing a favourite.
3. Get plenty of sleep
With all the exciting events at this time of year, it’s easy to skimp on sleep. Since lack of sleep decreases your ability to cope with stress, increases unhealthy food cravings, and reduces energy for exercising, this is not a good thing for your waistline. Try to aim for 7-9 hours every night (failing that, an additional afternoon nap) to keep you sane, fit, and away from mindless snacking.
4. Keep up exercising
Yes, this is an obvious one. The weather, the crazy social schedule, and the all-too-common bloating makes fitness extra hard at this time of year, but even a few minutes of movement each day can improve quality of sleep, boost concentration, and stave off cravings. So even if it’s just a quick twenty-minute routine in your room, a bit of exercising goes a long way to increasing wellbeing during the Christmas season.
Image Credit: Akuppa
5. Relax and enjoy!
You can follow the first four tips to the letter and have a horrible holiday if you’ve stressed over every guilty pleasure. Part of health is happiness, and it’s far better to gain half a stone and enjoy every second of the festivities than to maintain your figure amidst stress and deprivation. So enjoy those seasonal Costa lattes, massive Christmas roasts, and glasses of mulled wine – it’s only once a year!
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The Old Firehouse, on New North Road, is everyone’s favourite not-so-hidden secret famed for its late night pizzas and being the rustic inspiration behind J.K. Rowling’s Leaky Cauldron. It’s pretty unanimously agreed that Firehouse offers some of the best pizza in Exeter, but how does its Sunday roast fare? Thomas Davies, Bryony Izzard and Kate Burgess sample the meat, veggie and vegan options the roast has to offer.
Pork Roast Image Credit: Ben Gilbert
Thomas: I chose the beef roast instead of pork and turkey because why not? And I was really looking forward to it. I thought to myself: ‘this is the Firehouse, so this is going to be amazing.’
Maybe I let my expectations in my head get too high. I was expecting something remarkable and I feel I didn’t get that – that’ll teach me, I guess.
Despite that the meal was really nice and I left with no real complaints. The meat was nicely cooked and easy to cut, the potatoes had a nice flavour to them, and even the red cabbage which I’d never tried before was a welcome part of the meal. There was certainly enough there, yet I didn’t feel overfed either. It was like that ‘I’m going to glance at the dessert menu now’ feeling, and it was pitched just right for me.
Turkey Roast Image Credit: Ben Gilbert
Sure, it wasn’t exceptional, but at £6.95 for the whole thing it’s certainly value for money. I would certainly recommend it, as if you need another reason to pop in to Firehouse for food.
Bryony: With its bohemian charm and year-round festive feel, in the face of looming deadlines and winter blues, Firehouse seems like an unbeatable place to warm up on a Sunday afternoon. Food is served between 12 and 4pm—or while stocks last—so it’s a good idea to grab a table early. While meat-eaters get a choice of meats, veggies are treated to a “fresh mushroom and feta wellington” served with creamy cider sauce, crispy roast potatoes and a colourful selection of seasonal veg. As a vegetarian, the tradition of a pub Sunday roast can often feel like you’re crashing someone else’s cool, meaty party; while everyone else is cooing over the tenderness of their meat, you’re left prodding the token dry nut roast. With this more creative offering, the Old Firehouse make sure that vegetarians have nothing to feel left out about; the pastry is succulent and is well complemented by the distinctive feta and mushroom flavours, but it’s the accompanying sweet, creamy cider sauce that makes pushes this meal from the realm of ‘tasty’ to ‘kind of dreamy’.
Vegan Roast Image Credit: Kate Burgess
Kate: Veganism has always appealed to me despite its hippy-wishy-washy taboo. The trouble is, it’s an effort – It’s rare to find any old pub that offers a vegan option (that isn’t just carrot sticks and lettuce). The Old Firehouse, however, proves its talents lie not only in late night pizzas, good live music, scrummy cider and general magical ambience, but also in a slap up Sunday roast. How can this be so you ask? How can you genuinely enjoy a roast without meat or diary? By sampling the delights of a Firehouse ‘fresh mushroom and tarragon risotto cake’ is how. The dish is bursting with flavour that doesn’t leave you wanting. The tarragon is an interesting addition that, while at first odd, complements the more classic aspects of the dish (gravy lathered roasties, succulent red cabbage and fresh green beans) and binds the mushroom risotto cake very nicely. My only qualm, perhaps, was looking across the table at Thomas’ plate and seeing the homemade Yorkshire pudding that wasn’t part of the vegan menu. Either way, I’d thoroughly recommend the vegan option, particularly to those tired of the regular roast or just willing to try something new. Arriving in a huge portion, it boasts a very student friendly price (especially if you’re sharing!) that satisfies your wallet as much as your tummy.
Bryony: The portion sizes are generous, but since the pudding menu is a trio of hearty pub picks priced at just £2.50 (sticky toffee pudding, chocolate fudge cake or apple and blackberry crumble) it’s certainly worth considering going all out. Indeed, Sunday lunch at the Old Firehouse is a relaxed, unpretentious affair, and for under a tenner for a main, pudding and a pint of local cider, it deserves to be a student favourite (no matter what your food preference).
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Situated just past Mama Stones, Casa Maroc boasts “Modern North African cuisine meets Italian passion with all the flavours of the Mediterranean”. A relatively new addition to Exeter’s restaurant scene, Exeposé was invited to try it out – Bryony Izzard and Georgia Dawson tell us how they found it.
G: On entrance it is as if you’ve been transported to North Africa. The interior is evidently heavily inspired by Morocco, from the swathes of material hanging from the ceiling to the lanterns and candles scattered around all corners of the restaurant. Underground there is the buzzing ‘Casablanca’ bar, with regular DJs every Friday and Saturday night.
Image Credit: Bryony Izzard and Georgia Dawson
B: We were seated promptly in a cluttered, colourful room by a friendly waitress, in low seating that is fun twist on the North African décor. However, the low seating could pose big problems for tall people and anyone intending on going out in heels and a skirt. We learned to overlook this, however, as our waitress brought out our wine, a lovely dry house white.
G: Moving on to food we decided to try a couple of the mezze dishes as starters. All priced at £4.50 per plate, we went for the chickpea favourite “Hummus” and the “Fatta”—roasted aubergine stuffed with sundried tomatoes and feta. There seems to have been more thought put into the vegetarian starter options than the meat, with only a few choices revolving predominantly around variations of lamb meatballs.
However, both starters were delicious and generously portioned, and both served with a side of flatbread.
Image Credit: Bryony Izzard and Georgia Dawson
G: To get an idea of the meat options on the menu I chose the “Margess Tagine”. On paper this sounded delicious; spicy lamb sausages with chilli, tomatoes, herbs and spices. Having been to Morocco before, my taste buds were tingling at the idea—nothing beats a proper Moroccan tagine! Unfortunately for £12.95 each it was fairly expensive for the portion given. It didn’t feel particularly authentic either, with a mixture of Moroccan spices but very English vegetables – swede and parsnip. All in all for the price, it was an eclectic mix of ingredients that unfortunately did not work.
B: Curious to see how two such distinct cuisines as Italian and Moroccan could be fused, I ordered the veggie-option “Florence” pizza, priced at £8.95 and topped with smoked cheese, sundried tomatoes, leek and courgette. Whilst the portion was hearty and flavours of the smoked cheese and sundried tomatoes were complementary, the pizza base regrettably seemed to have very little Italian authenticity about it. When Exeter is abundant with fine pizza establishments, Casa Maroc has a lot to live up to and doesn’t quite meet the mark, and it seems a shame to detract from the careful attention that has seemingly been paid to the charm of the Moroccan interior and menu.
Image Credit: Bryony Izzard and Georgia Dawson
G: After the mains, our appetites were piqued for dessert—a menu brimming with choice. We tried one from the Italian and one from the North African menu; I tried the Italian Amaretto Torte. Whilst attractively presented, with a generous dash of cream, ice-cream and chocolate sauce, the sponge itself slightly lacking in flavour, with little of the traditional almond undertones that are so synonymous with Amaretto and Italy.
B: From a choice of halva, Turkish delight and baklawa, I went for the selection of traditional sweet, nutty filo pastry baklawa. Served with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream, this was a well presented and tasty dessert that echoed the hopeful beginnings of our starter.
All in all, the innovative cuisine, cool interior, and friendly service show that Casa Maroc offers plenty of promise, however there was a sense of half-heartedness towards the infusion of cuisines that left the Italian a little pushed to the side-lines. As a student, there are plenty of places that offer great pizza closer to the university and for better value for money, but as a Moroccan restaurant, Casa Maroc is bursting with potential. Though the tagine and pizza felt a little confused, the tapas and baklawa were highlights (though if it’s baklawa you’re after, try the wonderful, understated gem The New Horizon café on Longbrook Street). Despite feeling confused at times, if you’re looking for a tapas bar with a warm, authentic atmosphere and buzzing bar then Casa Maroc may just be the place for you to get excited about.
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Yes, it’s that time of term again: weeks eight through eleven seem to be the hotbed of essays, presentations, performances, dissertation deadlines, library all-nighters, and a host of related anxieties. After hours pouring through textbooks and JSTOR, those packs of custard cremes, cans of energy drinks, and (my personal favourite) baskets of Ram cheesy chips sound incredibly enticing. It might seem that such feel-good treats and sedentary study are the only ways to survive the madness, but all the caffeine, sugar, and fried food are not the ideal fuels to keep your brain and emotions in top form. Below are some healthy, fun ideas to keep you sane and stress-free so you conquer course work whilst enjoying life!
1. Exercise!
Image Credit: NOAA’s National Ocean Service
This might be seem odd at first but science supports this one. Several research studies have proven that exercise boosts levels of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine – ‘feel good’ brain chemicals which naturally reduce stress. It repairs neurons in the areas of the brain typically attacked by anxiety and also those associated with learning, helping you concentrate on those assignments without the panic. These combine to increase productivity and relaxation simultaneously – two things which often seem lacking in the chaos of presentations, essays, and other academic terrors. The great news is that you can reap these benefits with as little as twenty minutes of physical activity a day – a small commitment for such fantastic stress-busting benefits!
2. Healthy fats!
Fat gets a bad reputation in some health circles, but your neural connections benefit greatly from the omega-3s and unsaturated stuff (poly- and mono-) found in nuts (especially walnuts), linseed, oily fish, coconut, olives, and avocados. Much publicity has been given to their cholesterol-lowering, heart-protecting qualities, but these fats are also fantastic at boosting mental power. Studies have shown that eating a diet high in healthy fats greatly improves memory and mood. Research even points to omega-3 and unsaturated fats reducing the risk and symptoms of more extreme brain conditions, including depression, dementia, and ADHD. While you can also take ‘fish oils’ and other omega-3 supplements, your body does not absorb the nutrients from them as fully as it does from whole food sources.
3. Fruits and vegetables!
An obvious but oft-overlooked one in the madness of student life and the convenience of processed foods. Since both fruits and vegetables of all kinds are packed with a high ratio of vitamins, minerals, and fibre to their relatively low caloric load, they are indispensable for a healthy diet. And healthy eating boosts energy, keeps blood sugar stable (preventing mood swings), and helps you function at your peak. A general guideline for choosing fruits and vegetables is colour: the brighter, the more full of phytonutrients. Studies have shown that these aid brain function by protecting and repairing neurons, thus improving focus, memory, and the ability to keep that pile of course work in perspective.
4. Sleep!
Image Credit: zeevveez
It’s hard to sleep when there are so many deadlines looming! It feels that every hour you do not spend in ‘productivity’ is an hour wasted. The benefits of sleep, however, are certainly greater than any ‘lost’ study time. Research has shown that sleeping seven to nine hours every night – the recommended guidelines for young adults – have higher energy, better immune systems, slimmer waistlines, better moods, improved memory, and higher abilities to concentrate. So put down those books and head to bed an hour early – in addition to being well-rested and ready to tackle that assignment, you will be doing your health and happiness a favour!
5. Schedule some ‘do-nothing’ time!
Scientific research has proven that the human brain can only concentrate fully for roughly forty-five minutes to an hour at a single stretch, so break up your study time with five to fifteen minutes of relaxation. Get up, move around, dance, do jumping jacks and press-ups, give yourself ten minutes on your favourite social networking site, watch YouTube videos of cute kitties, take a walk along your street, run to Co-op for sustenance, put on your favourite band and sing along… the list is endless! Just make sure that you do cap the ‘fun’ at an acceptable time limit so the work isn’t entirely neglected. Additionally, never underestimate the value of having a night in with no studying allowed. An evening spent with a nourishing dinner, a hot drink, and a favourite film (or book, game, or entertainment of choice) can be the perfect way to recharge you for further academic and social pursuits!
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Looking to make your homemade dishes both healthy and delicious? Here are some ingredient substitutions, lighter recipe choices, and tips that can cut calories whilst keeping your meals flavourful.
Ingredient Swaps:
Image Credit: jeffreyw
1.Substitute Greek yoghurt / fromage frais for mayonnaise in ‘mayo’ salads (tuna, chicken, egg), dips, and coleslaw.
This swap replaces a lot of the fat with protein and calcium – good for your metabolism as well as bone and muscle health. Once you add in the main salad ingredients and seasonings, the difference in taste is barely noticeable.
Alternately, make a non-mayo based salad by using salsa, tomato sauce, or a mustard-yoghurt combination. You can also bulk out tuna, chicken, or egg mayo by adding vegetables such as chopped celery, carrots, or peppers.
image Credit: rexipe
2. Substitute chicken, beans, or a combination for beef in chili, soups, bolognese, and the like.
Chicken is lower in saturated fat and calories than beef, and when ground, seasoned, and swimming in broth or sauces the difference is negligible.
Alternately, you opt for veg-friendly beans; not only are you saving calories (and money), you are adding fibre and nutrients as well without sacrificing protein.
3. Substitute applesauce or other fruit purée for oils in baked goods.
You do not want to replace more than three-quarters of the total fat in your recipe, but even with one-quarter oil and three-quarters applesauce, you are drastically cutting calories and increasing nutrients from fruit. That’s totally towards your five-a-day!
Alternately, melted low fat dairy-based margarine can be used to replace all the oil; it replicates the fat’s purpose in the recipe while still lightening it.
4. Substitute broth for oil when sautéing vegetables
Image Credit: Augapfel
A few tablespoons in the bottom of the pan works, just as with oil. You do have to pay a bit more attention to prevent sticking, but the broth keeps them moist and flavourful whilst reducing total fat.
Alternately, steaming and poaching are fat-free ways to cook vegetables. Steaming can even be done in the microwave; put fresh or frozen vegetables in a bowl, cover with a plate or lid, and microwave on full power. Three minutes and two minutes (stirring in between) is typically good for fresh, while frozen typically take a minute or two longer on each side.
Other tips and tricks:
Salad dressings – swap an oil and vinegar-based dressing for a cream-based one. The flavour definitely is not the same, but you’ll save about 70 calories per tablespoon.
Low-fat dairy – milk, yoghurt, and cheese can be replaced by their low-fat or nonfat counterparts to fill pretty much any recipe, sandwich, or snacking. Cheese, however, tends to lose some of its creaminess and melt poorly when it’s not full-fat, so you can do a half-and-half combination to maximise flavour and versatility whilst still saving calories.
Sandwich bread – as a general rule, you want to avoid white bread products. Wholemeal loafs are higher in fibre and nutrients, filling you up and keeping you healthy. Additionally, bagels tend to be extremely calorically dense, while English muffins and wraps are lower-calorie options.
One common calorie-cutting swap is substituting egg whites for a whole egg. I personally do not recommend this because you lose a lot of health-boosting nutrients – including iron, zinc, magnesium, and vitamins A, E, and D (one of the only foods to contain it) – and you’re merely ‘saving’ 50 calories.
I’d tried, believe me, to think of something a bit less autobiographical to write about, like rhubarb or Seville oranges, but it’s true: resistance is futile. After having decided that a whole post on pearl barley was not going to be all that interesting for me (or for you, most likely), it became quite clear that I had to write about the thing that so many people can’t seem to resist. But what is it about chocolate that people like so much? I think it’s interesting that this seductive substance, as humble as it is in its raw form of the cocoa bean, has been so revered for so long. From the Mayans who claimed it was the ‘food of the Gods’ to the pâtisseries and chocolateries of Paris, it still has a certain degree of opulence.
Is it the smell?
Its taste?
Or is it just plain addictive?
Well, I’m sure that’s what 275lb woman with a chocolate éclair hanging out of her mouth at 2 o’ clock in the morning would like to say, but after doing some reading on the topic, I’m not quite so sure.
Image Credit: Siona Karen
Like all sweet foods, chocolate turns on the serotonin tap in our bodies which makes us feel good – the ‘sugar rush’ – which is not too dissimilar to the feelings drug users are looking for when after a fix. Don’t worry, though, we aren’t drug addicts. But no matter how much we want it not to be the case, something like celery just doesn’t do the same thing. Nobody craves celery at 10pm before bed, no more so when they’re slumped across their desk at work losing the will to live. We’re looking for a quick rush of happiness, and chocolate is one of the quickest ways to do this, not least one of the tastiest. The surge of serotonin is what makes us want it when we’re stressed, or bored, or depressed – but are we really addicted to that?
The experts say no. I think I agree – if I really was addicted, I’d be thinking about it even when I’m not eating it and I’m not that bad. I promise you. I like to think I’d be able to polish off an entire corner of a Lindt factory, but in reality I reach a point where I don’t want any more of the stuff, and would be happy to go without it for some time. (This doesn’t happen often, I admit, but it does). These experts, whoever and wherever they are, agree that chocolate has some magical hormone-changing properties about it, but apparently so do lots of other foods: chilli stimulate nerve endings, for example, watermelons can speed up your circulation, and pumpkin seeds can keep sex hormone production at optimum level. So chocolate’s not that special in that respect. Sorry, 275lb woman.
However, do boyfriends bestow boxes of chilli upon their girlfriends on February 14th? Do watermelons smell so deliciously deep and rich? And it’s a hard one, but do pumpkin seeds melt slowly and seductively in the mouth? No, to all of the above, but chocolate does. Chocolate has had, definitely more than celery in any case, centuries’ worth of emotions and ideas pinned onto it that it is now a fully-fledged part of Western existence. It takes a starring role in literature and film, it’s the only food that makes an appearance at Valentine’s Day, Easter and Christmas, and it is endlessly marketed with memorable advertisements – Ferrero “Ambassador, with these Rocher, you’re really spoiling us” Rochers, drum-playing gorillas and The Milkybar Kid, to name a few. Chocolate assaults the senses, so heavily in fact, that we can’t forget chocolate even if we tried. So when we’re stressed, bored or depressed, it’s no wonder that we reach for (or even just think about) a bar of chocolate.
And I think part of chocolate’s appeal is its naughty side – I’d be lying if I claimed eating fifteen packs of Hersheys Kisses was a good idea, because it isn’t. After all, chocolate is a high source of fat and the lighter the colour of it, the fattier it is. In fact, white chocolate contains no cocoa at all! Combined with the sugars it contains, the fat of chocolate is what drives us to keep wanting it again and again (see serotonin, above). It might come as no surprise, therefore, that chocolate is the most- frequently craved (and most-frequently given-into) food when on a diet – for men and women, in fact – because it is satisfying, stimulating and a little bit sinful. It might have something to do with the vending machines on the way out of the gym, too.
Giving in to choc once in a while is okay, because we’d all rather have a little crack in the wall now than have the whole wall tumble down later, right? Yes – research has shown that dark chocolate (semi-sweet, as you might know it) is not all that bad. It’s full of antioxidants and a little bit a day can help our bodies regulate glucose levels and it might even be effective in preventing cancer. However it’s worth pointing out that that doesn’t mean we can gorge, so put down that eighth Mars bar and get back on the treadmill.
But if that wasn’t enough incentive to continue eating chocolate, in moderation of course, for your (and my) delectation, here is a selection of the dark stuff. And not a stick of celery in sight:
In amongst your active lifestyles, it can be hard to take the time and imagination to concoct something tasty AND healthy. Luckily for you, Carmen Paddock has such a recipe right here for your pleasure.
No one can deny that houmous is a wonderful option for healthy snacking, especially for on-the-go student lifestyles. It is high in fibre and protein, making it filling fuel for daily activity or more intense exercise sessions. Since it can be a dip, sandwich or wrap filling, or side dish, it is incredibly versatile. And its slightly-tangy, slightly-nutty, but overall mild flavour allows for a wide range of inventive food combinations! Although relatively inexpensive in supermarkets, it’s even less expensive and almost as easy to whip up a batch at home. Having this tasty chickpea concoction in the refrigerator makes healthy snacking quick and convenient!
Image Credit: thecuriousbaker
There is a lot of flexibility in this recipe, so you can make it exactly to your personal taste. I would highly recommend tasting as you go along to ensure that the balance of tahini, lemon, and spices is to your liking.
Step 1: The Core Recipe
Two 400g cans of chickpeas (or roughly 200g dried chickpeas soaked overnight and boiled until soft)
4-8 Tbsp of the juice from the can (or boiling liquid)
(Note: you can find tahini at Tesco and Sainsbury’s but it is much cheaper at two local places: Al-Baraka and its next-door neighbour, a Turkish international grocery store. Both are located on Sidwell Street across from the Odeon.)
– Drain chickpeas and place in mixing bowl. Mash with a potato masher and spoon until it begins to resemble a chunky spread or dip, adding the reserved liquid to make it smoother and thinner. (Alternately you could use a blender.)
– Add the tahini and lemon juice and continue mixing and mashing until everything is incorporated. The tahini and lemon juice amounts are rough – some people like lots in their houmous, and some people just like a little accompanying flavour – so adding a little bit at a time and tasting as you go is a good option. It is always best to operate on the principle that you cannot take the ingredient out, but you can add more of it in.
When everything is evenly combined, it is time for the next part.
Step 2: The Variations
Olive oil (no more than 2-3 tablespoons)
Garlic Powder
Cumin
Chili powder
Fresh coriander
Here’s where the fun begins! You can play around with the spices and combinations to create a dish exactly to your liking! The first three ingredients are most commonly used, so I would recommend starting with those to recreate the familiar flavour. Again, I would recommend adjusting all amounts to taste.
Olive oil is often added to enhance the texture, but if you are watching fat and calories you can cut it out entirely with no major effect on the taste. Alternately, if serving as a dip you can drizzle a couple teaspoons over the top, which allows for beautiful presentation, a bit of olive oil flavour, and less fat!
If you like some spice, a bit of chili powder is an excellent option, and fresh coriander leaves can be sprinkled on top or mixed in.
exeposedev 