Recipe: Apple Cinnamon Blondies

These apple and cinnamon blondies are one of my favourite healthy treats. They are packed with natural sugars to give you a nice clean energy boost, but be careful not to eat too many! They also contain chickpeas which are packed with protein, making them the perfect post workout snack.

Follow the instructions below and try them for yourself.

Ingredients

Apple jam:
– 2 red apples: cored, peeled and finely diced
– ¾ tsp cinnamon
– 1tsp vanilla essence
– 1 tsp stevia
– 1 tbs corn flour/starch
– ½ cup water

Blondies:
– 2 cups Oats.
– 1 can chickpeas – 1½ cups drained and rinsed.
– ½ cup (140g) low fat vanilla or natural greek yoghurt.
– 2 tbs coconut oil, (melted).
– 1 tsp baking powder.
– ¼ tsp cinnamon.
– 2 tsp vanilla essence.
– 4 tbsp honey.
– Pinch of Himalayan salt.
– ½ cup almond or soya milk.

Topping:
– ¼ apple finely sliced to decorate.
– 1 teaspoon cinnamon for dusting.

Instructions

– Preheat the to oven 200C | 390F.
– Line an 8×8 inch baking tray with baking paper and put to one side.
– Note: if you use bigger tray, please double all ingredients.
– Place all apple jam ingredients into a small saucepan and bring to the boil.
– Reduce the heat to a gentle simmer until the apples have softened and the ‘syrup’ has thickened.
– Place all of the blondie ingredients into a food processor and blend until smooth.
– Once the Apple jam is ready, fold it into the batter and mix well.
– Pour the batter into a tray and top with apple slices and a sprinkle of cinnamon.
– Bake for around 30 minutes (depending on your oven).
– To check if they are ready insert a toothpick into the centre and see if it comes out clean.
– They will be VERY moist and fudge-y when taken out of the oven, but they will get firmer and set as they cool down.
– Note: Don’t overcook them, as they can become dry.

Let us know if you liked them, and follow me on Instagram for more healthy cooking inspiration.

Neda

Five Apps to Help with Clean Eating

We at TruBe know that maintaining a consistently clean and healthy diet is a tough challenge and sometimes we need some extra help to keep us on track. Luckily, there are hundreds of apps and programs to help us. We’ve tried a number of them and wanted to share our five favourites with you.

MyFitnessPal

my fitness pal app blog

Tracking what you eat throughout the day can take up a lot of your precious time. Especially when you have to work out how much carbohydrate, fats and proteins you have eaten. With MyFitnessPal all you need to do is scan the barcode or type in what you are eating and this amazing app will do all the calculations for you.

Superfood

super food app blog

If you need to add a particular superfood to your diet or want to add a variety of superfoods then is the app you need. This app allows you to search recipes based around individual superfoods as well as giving you the nutritional breakdown of each recipe. You can also browse the list of superfoods to discover new ones to add to your diet.

Deliciously Ella

D Ella app blog

Deliciously Ella is well known for creating some of the tastiest and healthiest recipes around. All recipes are gluten free and refined sugar free, which helps keep ingredients natural. The includes a healthy take on many traditionally unhealthy desserts such as banoffee pie and sweet potato brownies.

Fooducate

fooducate app blog

This fantastic app will give the nutritional breakdown of most supermarket products. All you have to do is scan the barcode and the app will grade the item from A (super healthy) to F (very unhealthy). .

Jamie’s Recipes

jamie olive app blog

Jamie Oliver is well known for his use of good natural ingredients, easy to follow and delicious recipes, hence the nickname “The Naked Chef.” Jamie’s app provides a mouthwatering variety of recipes using lots of fresh produce. Some of his recipes may verge on the unhealthy side so be sure to choose with caution.

Now that your nutrition is taken care of, download our app and let TruBe help you with your workouts.

Meet our trainers and book a personalised fitness session tailored to your needs!

Five Quinoa Recipes You Need to Try

We recently featured quinoa as one of our Quick and Easy Healthy Proteins. Quinoa is the perfect carbohydrate to eat straight after a workout as it replenishes the muscles and is a complete protein that will repair the impact of training.

Here are five quinoa recipes for you to try after your next workouts.

Quinoa, Broccoli and Chickpeas

quinoa broccoli
With three of the cleanest sources of protein, this recipe is the ideal post-workout meal. Just one cup of broccoli will provide you with 100 percent of your daily intake for potassium vitamin C and vitamin K, all of which help to keep muscles and bones strong.
http://sallysbakingaddiction.com/2014/04/09/crispy-quinoa-patties/


Quinoa Patties

quinoa cakes
These patties go really well with almost anything to make a nutritious meal. You could add salmon turning them into fish cakes or simply have them with a few portions of vegetables. This recipe will make around 20 patties so you can save some for another meal or even use them for a healthy snack.
http://sallysbakingaddiction.com/2014/04/09/crispy-quinoa-patties/


Beetroot and Quinoa Burgers

quinoa and beetroot burger
Finding a healthy burger that tastes great is like discovering a fine wine that leaves you feeling fresh in the morning. This beetroot and quinoa burger is exactly that. Beetroot is also another great super food packed with antioxidants. If you suffer from gluten intolerance you can swap the burger bun with portobello mushrooms or slices of sweet potato.
http://www.onegreenplanet.org/vegan-recipe/beet-and-quinoa-veggie-burgers/


Quinoa Breakfast Cereal

quinoa cereal
Breakfast is one of the hardest meals of the day to keep healthy. It is very easy to sacrifice but is also one of the most important ways to start your day. Cereal is well known for how quick and easy it is to prepare, but it can quite often be packed with unhealthy sugars. This quinoa cereal recipe, once made, can be prepared in the mornings within minutes. You can also use almond milk to keep it lactose free as well as add any extra fruits. We tried banana and blueberries which hit the spot nicely.
http://cookieandkate.com/2011/breakfast-quinoa/


Quinoa, Chickpea and Spinach Salad

quinoa spinach salad
Salads are perfect to take to the office for lunch. The beauty of a salad is that you can add extra vegetables to enhance the nutritional content. This recipe will give you the perfect base for you to add in your own favourite ingredients.
http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/quinoa-chickpea-and-spinach-salad

Let us know what you think of these recipes using the comments section below. Alternatively you can connect with us via Twitter or Instagram.

How to Decrease Cortisol Levels

Living in London can be hectic to say the least. When you’re not working, you’re most likely socialising in one of the many bars and restaurants the city has to offer. All of which can cause more stress and give you very little time to destress.

Stress rarely has a positive impact on the body and one of the many negative side effects is the production of the hormone cortisol. Cortisol can decrease your immunity leaving you open to infections and illnesses. It can also break down muscle, bone and connective tissue, which isn’t ideal if you’re trying to build muscle, tone or strength. Lastly it can increase your abdominal fat deposition.

If you cannot avoid stress, how do you decrease your inevitably high cortisol levels?

stress blog bluberries

Eat the right foods

If you make the right choices in the kitchen, you can protect your body from the effects of cortisol and also reduce the amount of cortisol. Foods such as blueberries, dark chocolate and black tea contain antioxidants which are great for reducing inflammation caused cortisol. Omega 3 fatty acids found in fish, avocados and eggs, will also fight off any inflammation giving your immune system a helping hand. Citrus fruits contain very high levels of vitamin C. Vitamin C helps your body rebuild proteins, which makes it the perfect partner to combat the breakdown of muscle tissue caused by cortisol.

Listening to the right music

This doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to listen to calm, soothing music. It can be anything that will take your mindset away from stressors. If dance, heavy metal or reggae music makes you feel happy, then take the escape.

Get more sleep

Trying to get an early night may be easier said than done. However the research suggests that if you get eight hours of sleep rather than six, it can reduce your cortisol levels by around 50 percent!

stress blog boxing

Box your troubles away
Hitting some pads, with great form, as hard as you can is the perfect way to release some tension. Exercising in such an intense and exhilarating manner releases an injection of endorphins into your brain. Endorphins are the body’s natural mood elevators and painkillers. Our TruBe trainers include British, European and world champions, all of whom will be sure to give you a great work out! Why not book a session?

Laughter is the best medicine
As Charlie Chaplin once said “Laughter is the tonic, the relief, the surcease for pain.” With that in mind do whatever makes you laugh and seek regular doses of it.

Get a massage
A relaxing massage not only soothes away your troubles by putting your mind at rest, the increase in circulation also helps to reduce the physical results of stress. By manipulating muscle tissue, new pathways to take fluids like cortisol out of the body, can be opened.

stress blog yoga

Yoga
Allow your central nervous system to recover using the the relaxing flows of yoga. Combine this with controlled, steady breathing patterns to move away from the short sharp breaths related to stress. Finishing with five minutes of pranayama breathing will give your mind something to focus on instead of the stressors in your life and leave you feeling refreshed. Take some time to destress by booking a yoga session.

TruBe also has other fitness disciplines which can be tailored to your needs. You can also book a TruBe Pilates and Ballet Barre session as well as yoga, boxing and kickboxing. Download the app now and book a session!

Don’t forget you can also invite up to two friends absolutely FREE!

Quick and Easy Healthy Proteins

Our bodies are literally made out of proteins. When we exercise we use proteins to repair and rebuild muscle cells. Protein based foods can also be used to replace calorie dense foods when trying to burn fat. This can leave you fuller for longer. However remember that for effective protein digestion you must eat them with a small amount of good carbohydrates.

Choosing the healthiest protein foods is easy if you stick to organic and those without any unwanted added extras. We have made a list of our favourite proteinous foods and the best way to eat them!

Animal Proteins

Eggs – One of the best mixes of protein and good fats. A great go to breakfast and also a great high protein snack when hard boiled.

Beef Jerky – Jerky has a bad reputation for being unhealthy. But if you buy beef jerky from a good natural source it is packed full of protein and easy to eat on the go.

Turkey – Turkey breasts are easy to cook in bulk and can be ready to eat when you get home from the gym. It’s a great lean source of protein with only 1g of fat per 30g serving.

Seafood Proteins

Sardines – Sardines are great for adding to salads straight from the tin. Making it a quick and easy meal after late training sessions. Just squeeze a bit of lemon for some zing!

Sardines Protein

Salmon – Salmon is extremely high in omega 3 which is a very important nutrient for muscular recovery. Smoked salmon slices can be eaten on the go or baked salmon can be added to a summer salad to increase the protein in the meal.

Prawns – Pre cooked prawns are one of the easiest on-the -go proteins around. They are perfect for post gym recovery with around 22g of protein for a 85g portion and packed with omega 3 fatty acids.

Non Animal Proteins

Nuts – Raw nuts and good quality, organic nut butters can be eaten on the go or at the desk. Try peanut butter spread on apple slices for a natural energy kick.

Peanut Butter Protein

Lentils – Lentils are full of Iron, Vitamin B, magnesium and are a good amount of protein for a plant based food. Try making a large batch of homemade spicy lentil soup then freezing it for an easy, nutritious meal.

Hummus – Made from mainly chickpeas, it’s a yummy high protein plant based protein. A great proteinous snack when eaten in small amounts and easy to make at home.

Quinoa – Quinoa is a carbohydrate with one of the highest protein values that can replenish energy levels as well as aid muscle recovery. Great to add into salads or to make quinoa breakfast pots.

Quinoa protein
Dairy

Greek yogurt – Greek yoghurt is loaded with calcium making it one of the best foods to keep bones strong and healthy. It also contains around 10g of protein per 100g serving. Try mixing it with frozen berries for extra vitamins and minerals.

Protein Shakes – The easiest alternative protein source to whole foods. You can go for standard whey protein or try a hemp protein for a dairy free option.

Got a favourite on the go protein snack? We’d love to hear about it in the comments below.

P.S. Subscribe to the blog below or follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @trubeapp for more inspirational ways to reach your health and wellness goals!