Life In The Saddle

My recipe for High Energy Flapjacks has always been a favourite on the blog. So, when I heard about this great banana baked muesli bars I thought it needed to be shared with the cycling world—these are a great healthy homemade cycling energy food bar. Combining Rude Health's Ultimate Muesli with seeds, fruit, coconut oil, honey and bananas—these make a great snack either for on the bike or for those early morning or afternoon stomach rumbles. Ingredients (makes 10 breakfast bars) 300g porridge oats (or Rude Health Muesli) 4 medium size ripe bananas (peeled and mashed) 150g dates (chopped) 150g golden sultanas  150g dried apricots (chopped) 150g trail mix or mixed berries/seeds/desiccated coconut 30g pumpkin seeds and/or sunflower seeds or nuts 30g Nutiva Organic Coconut Oil 2 tbsp runny honey 2 tsp vanilla essence 1 tsp ground cinnamon 0.5 tsp ground nutmeg Method  Pre-heat the oven to 180°C Mash the bananas in a large mixing bowl Chop the dates and aprico...

We've all heard the term 'Superfoods' batted around; often dismissing it as just the latest 'trendy' vegetable or seed to add to your cooking. Superfoods are a genuine phenomenon though: they are individual whole-foods that have an exceptional nutritional profile; be that in the form of vitamins or minerals, or in the form of protein, dietary fibre, or other health-benefiting attributes. Julie Morris is an American LA based chef, who has long touted the benefits of certain food groups. She has created a whole series of recipe books based around the known 'superfoods'; from soups, to snacks and smoothies. In this post, I'm looking at Julie's 'Superfood Snacks' and 'Superfood Soups' recipe books, as they seemed particularly relevant for cyclists (especially in winter). Superfood Snacks Cyclists love snacks. Whether it is on the bike, or 'in recovery'; snacks are the king of satiating an on-going calorie deficit create...