Life In The Saddle

These yummy energy balls are packed full of natural energy, protein and nutrients. They are perfect for snacking on during the day or for taking on adventures (though be sure to store them in a crush proof container). With protein from tahini and peanut butter, sweetness from honey and cocoa, and texture from the avocado and bee pollen, these tick all the boxes. Enjoy!  Ingredients 100g tahini 110g runny honey 50g cocoa powder 25g crunchy peanut butter 25g coconut oil 1/2 ripe medium avocado 20g  bee pollen   1 tbsp sesame seeds Method Combine all the ingredients except the sesame seeds and bee pollen in a food processor and whizz until a smooth paste is formed Transfer to a medium sized bowl and add the sesame seeds – stirring the mixture Place the bowl in the fridge for at least an hour for the mixture to set a little Once set, take small amounts of the mixture from the bowl and roll it between your hands to make balls In a separate bowl, add the bee pollen and a little...

Forget shop bought energy bars. These flapjack energy bars are packed full of natural whole-food goodness. Energy comes from low-GI oats and organic Demerara sugar; dried fruit and seeds offer sweetness and nutrients; then ginger root provides multiple health benefits including antioxidant properties and digestive support.  Whether you are on an epic multi-day cycle ride or just snacking at home, this healthy flapjack granola bar recipe will make a jersey pocket sized snack that will keep you fuelled for all kinds of adventure. Ingredients 250g rolled jumbo porridge oats 75g salted butter 75g organic Demerara sugar 75g golden syrup 30g sultanas 30g chopped dates and/or glacé cherries 30g mixed pumpkin & sunflower seeds 30g crystallised ginger 1tsp cinnamon ½ tsp vanilla essence Method Set the oven to 170°C. Place the shelf in the middle In a large pan measure out the butter and sugar Gently heat the pan on the hob until the butter and sugar are melted, then add the golden syrup...

I bloody love banoffee pie. This one is a bit different though... no cream, no biscuits, no syrup, and gluten-free; it sounds like a recipe for disaster. In fact, this Rude Alternative Banoffee Pie is something I dreamed up as a more whole-food plant-based version of the classic. It is not exactly a healthy banoffee pie recipe, but it is a damn sight better than your average. Utilising coconut cream, oat cakes, Rude Health Date Bars, and Bonraw Coconut Sugar; it is still a naughty treat, but without so many of the processed high-cholesterol nasties.  Ingredients  Base 130 grams Rude Health Spelt Oaty Oat Cakes (2.5 pouches) 2x Rude Health Date Peanut and Banana Bars 2 tbsp Butter or Coconut Oil 1 tbsp Maple Syrup Filling 1x 397g Tin Carnation Caramel  2x large ripe bananas 1 tbsp BonRaw Coconut Sugar  1x Can full-fat coconut milk, chilled in fridge Cocoa powder to dust Method Melt the butter on the hob Place all the Base ingredients in a food processor and blitz unt...

Endurance athletes need carbohydrates, and they need sugar for energy. There are many kinds of sugar in the world though, and choosing the right ones makes a substantial difference to how well sugar can act as fuel. I have been testing out a range of natural plant-based sugars from Bonraw Foods; interested to see why their Panela, Silverbirch, and Coconut Blossom sugars could be sensible substitutes for refined sugar. Coconut Sugar  Coconut sugar is made from the fresh sap of coconut blossom. It is heated to turn it into syrup, which then crystalizes into small granules. It is neither refined nor bleached and it is recognised as the most sustainable sweetener in the world. Coconut sugar tastes like sweet molasses with intense caramel undertones, and it is perfect for baking sponges, biscuits, and desserts.    Crucially for sportspeople and others looking for a more stable blood sugar level—such as diabetics, Coconut Blossom Sugar has a far lower GI index than refin...