Tag Archives: no sugar

Grandma Crunch, The Breakfast of Champions: High protein, zero sugar, keto friendly

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All new high protein, zero sugar, keto friendly, crunchy snack for those wanting to kick-start the day right.

Grandma (Crunch) is on a mission to create a healthier way of living and with her famous recipe book in hand, she has been hard at work concocting new ways to provide healthy, nutritious snacks, which will help keep people fit and strong. 

We tried the cinnamon, coconut and cocoa cereal and they all taste great. Grandma Crunch is a great idea and we are super impressed at how it is healthy and delicious. What a great idea. 

 Grandma crunch, cereal, high protein, no sugar

Now, more so than ever, Grandma wants to get the nation back to healthy eating habits. It’s been a hard year for everyone, both physically and mentally, and whilst most of us have taken some comfort in takeaways and sugary snacks, it’s time to limit those back to the odd treat, and start to build our immune systems and fill our bodies with nutritious food, which will fight off any nasties. 

The UK is a nation of breakfast cereal lovers, both young and old, after all it’s a simple, easy to prepare breakfast staple. However with over 90% of the market saturated by high sugar varieties, Grandma Crunch aims to allow people to enjoy a bowl of cereal, knowing they are fuelling the body with goodness, without compromising on texture and taste. 

Keto snacks generally all have a similar texture, and take the form of thick dense protein bars. Additionally, many of these high protein, low sugar options give misleading impressions. An example is the use of Maltitol in leading protein bars, which is often used as a sugar replacement and marketed as ‘no sugar’ but in reality it still spikes insulin, and so it’s not diabetic friendly.

Founded by husband and wife duo, Charlotte and Norman, they believe in alternative functional foods, which have a real impact on people’s lifestyle. They believe food should be delicious as well as providing a crucial function and significant impact on how you feel and how you perform. Charlotte is passionate about the problems of diet culture and the impact of misleading consumers.  Whilst Norman, who is driven by data, has spent many years researching various diets, meditation, stress management and sleep patterns, which together has led them to creation of Grandma Crunch.

 

Oppo Brothers Ice Cream: Famous for Flavour, not Calorie | Frost Loves.

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We have fallen completely in love with this delicious ice cream which is healthy for you and the planet. It is all of the indulgence with 60% less calories and sugar (they use stevia and other natural ingredients) than regular ice cream. The warm weather is coming and there is no better way to celebrate it than with Oppo Brothers Ice cream. The ice cream has protein in it and lots of other natural ingredients that are good for you. I am a particular fan of the Double Chocolate Brownie flavour. 

Even my children love this ice-cream. If it pasts the kids test you know it is a winner. It tastes good and it does good. What more could you want?

Launched in 2014 by brothers Charlie and Harry Thuillier, Oppo’s mission is to create feel good indulgence, without compromising health or planet. Ice cream gives everyone a little lift, and with the sun shining and temperatures rising as we head into summer, Oppo delivers the most indulgent flavours, with up to 60% less calories and sugar than regular ice cream, and no compromise on taste. The first major ice cream brand in the UK to launch a nationwide ice cream delivery service, Oppo customers can get hold of exclusive flavours not available in the shops – arriving in perfect frozen condition. Furthermore, 10% of online profits go to the NHS, meaning #GoodTemptation has never felt better!

oppo brothers ice cream oppo brothers ice cream

Feel good

Ice cream sales exploded last year as Brits treated themselves at home, with an extra 54 million litres going through the tills in 2020₁. Whilst some sought out comfort in calories, others embraced healthier lifestyles during lockdowns and tucked into better-for-you treats like Oppo, with this healthier brand seeing a 40% global increase in sales, and 140% in the UK, more than any of its competitors in the marketplace. In the last 6 years Oppo has saved 5.23bn calories from people’s diet, or 600,000kg of fat, when they choose Oppo over standard ice cream, showing that feeling good can taste good too! 

Only the finest natural ingredients

Oppo brings indulgence without compromising health, using all-natural ingredients from all corners of the earth to provide an all round feel-good ice cream. Fresh meadow-grazed cow’s milk is sourced from a sustainable dairy local to the Oppo creamery. Hero ingredients, which keeps the % of sugar and calories at bay include organic Peruvian Lucuma fruit, known as the ‘Gold of the Incas’ which naturally provides a rich caramel flavour for the Double Salted Caramel. Pure Columbian Cacao Fino de Aroma is ethically sourced and used in chocolate ice cream flavours. Stevia leaf brings the sweetness, without the calories or any nasty additives, whilst Madagascan vanilla seeds, cinnamon from the jungles of Sumatra and fruit are bursting with flavour. 

Flavour is everything

Natural ingredients combine to create the ultimate frozen treat, whatever the weather. With combinations ranging from zingy lemon to crunchy buttery biscuits and mouth-wateringly rich chocolate, there is something for everyone, including a growing list of plant based vegan options:

  • Caramel Cookie Melt

  • Vanilla Pecan Praline Crunch

  • Colombian Chocolate & Hazelnut

  • Double Chocolate Brownie

  • Double Salted Caramel Swirl

  • Canadian Maple Walnut Crunch

  • Very AlmondBerry (vegan)

  • Simply the Zest (vegan)

  • Madagascan Vanilla & Roasted Almond Ice Cream Sticks

  • Salted Caramel Ice Cream Sticks

  • Colombian Chocolate & Hazelnut Ice Cream Sticks

The Oppo Ethos

Oppo believes in #GoodTemptation, doing right by people as well as the environment. Oppo sources their milk locally, from cows that are free to roam naturally, and where circular farming methods are used to control waste and secrete it into a local forest to reduce C02 impact. For every sustainably-managed tree cut down  for the packaging, Oppo plants five more, and their packaging plant runs on green energy. Removing the gold foil from Oppo packaging means that it is easier to recycle, and reduces the energy used in producing it. Cocoa farmers are paid above the market rate, and profits are invested into the local community to build schools and other infrastructure. 

About Oppo Brothers

Brothers Charlie and Harry Thuillier conceived the idea for ice cream that makes you feel-good (indulgence at no expense to health) in Brazil in 2011 whilst breaking the world record for the longest distance travelled by kite. It took 2.5 years to create their first recipe.

Entrepreneurs Charlie and Harry Thuillier pitched their idea on Dragons’ Den, asking for a £60,000 investment for a 7% share of the business. Despite failing to secure the investment, the brothers went on to quickly raise over £1.1m in funding through the Seedrs platform, of which investors have now sold for significant profit. In 2016 tennis champion Andy Murray tried Oppo and loved it so much he invested in the ice cream dream, helping to introduce Oppo to over 140k people. Since then they have become the only lower calorie ice cream brand to win Great Taste Awards, and refuse to compromise on health or taste. Charlie and Harry believe that their success is down to Oppo’s focus on quality of product and premium, natural ingredients, plus an understanding that consumers are unwilling to compromise on taste. 

Oppo is sold in 12 countries worldwide and is stocked in Tesco, Sainsburys, Waitrose, M&S, Booths, Ocado and more in the UK, as well as being available online for delivery. 

RRP is £4.50 for a 475ml tub 

www.oppobrothers.com

 This Summer they launch two new flavours – Double Chocolate Brownie and the UK’s first CBD ice cream – Choc ‘n Chill with CBD.

Why I am Embracing No Sugar Days

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Sugar has become the new smoking. So dangerous that even the government has brought in a tax to protect us. It all feels a little overkill to me. There is no doubt that too much sugar is bad for our health, and obesity and diabetes is on the rise. So I have been trying to cut back. Dieting, however, is a word that encapsulates everything hard and boring. I have lived my life and have only been on one. A no sugar diet I did a few years ago. Which you can read about here.  It was brutally but I felt great after. I love chocolate and having an occasional coke. I do not prefer all sweet food to savoury but I believe a world without dessert is a sad one indeed. I have thought about going no sugar again. Each time the days seemed long and boring. I know sugar is not good for my health so I came up with a solution: no sugar days. Now I am not a dietician so this is just opinion. The problem with my previous attempts was obvious: they were for months or even forever. A lot to live up to. The truth is; sugar in moderation is fine. So why give it up completely? You can manage anything for a day. It is barely anything at all. I have noticed a difference in my health and in my body. In a world were having a no sugar, no gluten, no anything fun, diet seems to be the fashion I just want to rebel. And do not get my started on the whole clean eating thing. Food is not dirty. If you have a no sugar day once a week then the next day you taste sugar more and just eat less naturally. The key is to not just eat lots of junk food that is not full of sugar. A day of health eating makes you more conscious and kicks off more healthy habits. It also means you keep away from those horrible sweeteners. I have never believed that sweeteners are better for you than sugar. I keep away from them, and aspartame in particular, as much as I can.

You can eat fruit on your no sugar days. You can also have some cheese or an oat cake with peanut butter. Fix your body with good food and you are investing in your health and your future. Food is medicine. We forget this at our peril. Try having a no sugar day yourself. Or even a low sugar day. Write any comments or tips below, or email me at frost magazine at gmail.com

Time To Give Up Sugar? Mentor Me Off Sugar Days 24, 25 and 26

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get off sugar, no sugar diet, should i give up sugar, is sugar bad for you, the white stuff, is sugar evil,The last weekend of my no sugar diet is coming up. At midnight on Sunday I will be at the end of a 28 day Mentor Me Off Sugar Programme ran by the excellent Laura Thomas of Happy Sugar Habits. I never thought I would get this far and I flirted with the idea of quitting after my mother got very ill. But here I am; almost at the end.

The main thing I can say it that it has been educational. I knew I was having too much sugar but I did not think it was easily avoidable. But it can be. I am sleeping much deeper and better now. The weight just dropped off and my energy is higher, more constant.

Laura has told me off for not eating enough vegetables so last night I had homemade fish and chips with peas and roasted carrots. The day before we had peppers stuffed with tuna and mozzarella. Yesterday at Sainsbury’s I bought mushrooms, cucumber, iceberg lettuce, parsnips, carrots. I also got tomatoes, avocado and olives. Pretty healthy and we already had some peppers in the fridge.

I have also been having a lot of hummus and wholemeal pitta bread. As well as generous helpings of good, wholemeal bread and lurpack butter. Sometimes simple is best.

I love food and trying new things so to be honest the food part of the diet has been much easier than I imagined, the drinks, however, were hard as I thought. The temperature has gone over 30c this summer and the urge for a cold, fizzy drink was hard to resist. But I did, and I am very proud. Finding out that homemade Gin & Tonic had no sugar was a high point. Endless cups of herbal tea and water really were not.

Before I started this programme one of my biggest fears was getting diabetes, to my shame not just because of the health problems, but also because I would not be able to eat and drink what I wanted. This programme has changed my life and stopped future health problems. My no sugar diet may stop this Sunday, but my low sugar life will just be beginning.

 

Time To Give Up Sugar? Mentor Me Off Sugar Day 18 & 19

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get off sugar, no sugar diet, should i give up sugar, is sugar bad for you, the white stuff, is sugar evil,This programme is hard, but with all hard things, the pay off is always worth it. I can now taste the sweetness in things I would never have before. I am slimmer, going from an 8-10 to an 8. And that is without any exercise as I haven’t had any time to do so. I have also been eating more than before, just healthier stuff with no sugar.

What I do find hard is snacking. I am so busy and I feel unable to just grab something. I know this is actually not true and Laura has given me some great suggestions, but the inability to just grab a biscuit or some fruit is very annoying. The no sugar programme is time consuming but when it comes to your health all the time you put in will pay off later. We abuse our bodies too much and take them for granted. We only have one and when it goes, you die. Puts it into perspective, doesn’t it?

I miss drinking tea all day and I see stuff all the time I want to eat but the benefits keep me going. I am glad I embarked on this programme.

Laura send me some great articles that I want to share with you.

Sugar is causing major health problems in today’s society, The sooner we take responsibility for our own health the better for us and the country as a whole. If we all eat healthily it would ease the strain on the NHS.

I know when I am finding the diet restrictive I am just not using my imagination. I have 9 more days to go and I decide to become more imaginative. I have been eating a lot of wholemeal bread, cheese, meat and vegetables. I have also been drinking a lot of herbal tea and water. The herbal tea is more enjoyable than it was but it still does not compare to normal tea. Sometimes I think that healthy things taste horrible and unhealthy things taste great, but I know it is not true. I love kale chips and have also been eating a lot of parsnips and carrots. I even spent four hours baking a pie and have not had any white pasta.

I have not weighed myself as I am always heavier than I look- friends are surprised when I tell them how much I weigh, I flatter myself by pretending it must be muscle which weighs four times more than fat- but my measurements are lower. All-in all: I am happy.

Happy Sugar Habits.

 

Time To Give Up Sugar? Day 15, 16 & 17.

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get off sugar, no sugar diet, should i give up sugar, is sugar bad for you, the white stuff, is sugar evil,This programme has been an eye-opener. I knew there was a lot of sugar in food, but looking at food labels is incredibly depressing. I even got sent some water for possible review and it had 12.5g of sugar added. Half your daily allowance! Why anyone would take something as healthy as water and add sugar is beyond me.

On Day 15 Laura sends me Meal Inspiration via email:

 

Meal Inspiration 

 

Breakfast | Half a tub of cottage cheese on rye bread with half an avocado & some cherry tomatoes (a nice non-egg, non nut option!)

 

Lunch |  Try a large tuna salad and add half a can of chickpeas, some feta cheese, roast sweet potato and a sprinkling of seeds to bulk it up. The more ingredients, the more tasty!

 

Snack | Chicken shavings (from the deli) and a slice of tomato on an oatcake

 

Dinner | Palma Ham covered chicken with shaved parmesan tucked inside, with some mashed squash and broccoli.

What I have mostly learned from this diet is that it is possible to eat, and eat well, without having any sugar whatsoever. You can still enjoy your food and have good meals and drinks. I will put some recipes together for you.

I have more energy now and I feel better about my health. No crashing sugar highs and lows. I can’t say it is not hard, it is. I still want tea, and chocolate. All those things that I am not allowed. I am over two weeks into the diet and still feeling positive. The acid reflux I used to have is gone.

I made a pie yesterday. It took about four hours but was very healthy with steak and a lot of vegetables. I have been eating well and the food I have been eating is delicious. I am feeling positive for the rest of the programme, and next week will also be allowed fruit and dark chocolate. Can’t wait.

Happy Sugar Habits

 

 

Time To Give Up Sugar? Mentor Me Off Sugar Day 12

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get off sugar, no sugar diet, should i give up sugar, is sugar bad for you, the white stuff, is sugar evil,I have been doing well this week. But today I am really missing all of the things I am not allowed to have. I have had a hectic and hard week and not being able to indulge just hasn’t been fun. I am half way through the programme and it is fair to say that I am flagging. I also still have headaches and the sunny weather outside makes me want a lemonade. I went to an event last night but had no cocktails, just white wine.

I am holding on to the reasons I agreed to do the programme in the first place to get me through. Sugar is getting a lot more bad press. I want to be healthier and I have already lost weight. Laura’s daily text messages get me through and so are her emails full of tips and inspiration. The weekend is here and I don’t want to break. I am going to have no sugar, no fruit and no white bread or pasta. It won’t be easy but I will manage.

I have been eating a lot of chicken and bread. There is a lot of great food out there and we end up eating the same things. I hope to try something new this weekend. Let’s see what I can rustle up.

Could you give up sugar?

Http://www.happysugarhabits.com

Time To Give Up Sugar? Mentor Me Off Sugar Days 10 & 11

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Still going! Which is quite surprising to me. Yesterday went well. I have been trying to get my taste buds to like tea without sugar. I’m not there yet but Laura is confident that one day I will be.

It hasn’t been completely no fun. I had a roast chicken for dinner and I still had champagne left over from my birthday which I drank in the evening. I still had some grapes left over and I had a few because I have an ability to throw out food. I know it breaks the diet for week two but it was three grapes. Well, that is what I am telling myself anyway.

Although I find the diet hard I am also quite enjoying it. I like to push myself and do hard things. My energy has returned, in fact, I seem to have more than ever. The headaches come and go but with less intensity.

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I have been eating a lot of vegetables which makes me feel healthier and I am sure there is an improvement in my skin and hair. The truth is; in the past years I have read a lot of books and articles about the dangers of sugar. But sugar tastes nice and is addictive and I never thought I would have the strength to get off it. I am shocked at how well I have been doing during the diet. I miss sugar, to be perfectly honest I might love sugar, but when something is bad for you, you need to find the strength to cut back. I am not saying I will never eat sugar again- that would actually be impossible- but I will always be vigilant and watch my sugar intake, even after this diet has finished.

There is great food out there that is actually good for you as the two pictures show. Vegetables do taste nice and can be cooked a variety of ways. Cheese and bread are great. Although I am getting sick of the latter.

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Sugar gets a lot of bad press. Yesterday’s Daily Mail had this blaring headline:

Is sugar an invisible killer? Even ‘safe’ levels of the sweet stuff could lead to an early death, scientists warn

Scary stuff indeed but read this article from NHS Direct before completely freaking out.

Another point to make is that we are in an obesity epidemic and the reason so many people are overweight is because of sugar. A calorie is not a calorie, sugar tends to covert quickly to fat and spikes your insulin levels. No wonder over three million people in the UK now have diabetes. Sugar has also recently been linked to a higher dementia risk.

Our diets are killing us and if we exercised the power of ‘no’ we would be living longer, healthier lives. I am going to be researching sugar and bringing you my findings along with recipes and my progress. Please add your own comments and any recipes below.

I have managed to do well until day 11 but I am not perfect. After a piece of devastating family news yesterday I had a cup of tea, two sugar. That along with the grapes means I could definitely be doing better, something I promise to do for the rest of the week. Wish me luck!