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I watched this interesting BBC documentary today, The Truth About... Calories. Most of it was simple common sense but there was one thing that grabbed my attention in particular. They did a test where they split pairs of identical twins into two groups. One group was given a milkshake that was presented in packaging that claimed to be super healthy and had only 200 calories whilst the other group were given a milkshake with a more luxurious packaging, claiming to be a more indulging drink with a 900 calorie count.
 We're all aware of the presence of advertising yet I was shocked at how deep and subconsciously it can make us feel. So it's the beginning of the year and there'll be a lot of people opting for those 'healthy,' options but it could be counter productive if it's leaving your appetite unsatisfied. Anyway 'dieting,' is pointless, what you eat and what you do should be a way of life not a post Christmas fad.
If you want to check out the The Truth About... show it's available on BBC iPlayer until the 5th of February 2016: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b05nhyt8/the-truth-about-2-calories  Insects in the Western world are seen as a nuisance as oppose to a protein rich source of sustainable food. My packet of Eat Grub Mealworms was quite expensive, however if we change peoples' perception of this tasty food it's possible to farm supply in a far more economical way. (These insects in particular are grown in the Netherlands). Admittedly when I first touched the packaging it gave me goosebumps. Once I got used to the look and texture I was eager to pop one in my mouth. The freeze dried mealworms have a crunchy texture and a nutty taste. For something so small I was surprised by how much flavour came out of them. I gave them a thumbs up and ate a few more straight out of the pack before proceeding to cook with them.   There are a few recipes on the Eat Grub website including this one from The Edible Insect Network for Mealworm Flapjacks! Obviously this had to be tested.
Mix them all together. Leave in the fridge for an hour. Preheat the oven to Gas Mark 3. Cook for 30 minutes, or till golden. Leave to rest for an hour. Cut to your preferred sizes.
My first cookery experience with insects was a success. The combination of flavours really compliment each other. I thought that maybe the visual experience may be a turn off but in actual fact I'm hunting around my kitchen worktop for any that may have dropped by accident. Hopefully in the future entomophagy (insect eating) will become a more common place and it's taboo typically associated with 'I'm A Celebrity,' Bush Tucker Trials will be alleviated. I've always had a big appetite so am somewhat concerned about how much I will need to consume when I'm in the full marathon training swing, so I started to look into whey protein. The suspicious big tubs of powder with it's testosterone inspired designs have never looked appealing but after some research they do seem to make sense. Your body can only absorb so much protein at a time. (Apparently just 30g an hour). Therefore you should space out your consumption throughout the day into smaller intakes as oppose to one mega feast. So making a quick milkshake during the day is much easier than creating a full on meal, especially if you're training outside and you need to get some nutrition in you as soon as possible. (Lots of sources say within ten minutes of exercising is the prime time to do so). Whey contains all the essential amino acids required to support muscle maintenance,' as Holland and Barrett's own brand Precision states on the packaging. The whey powder is traditionally mixed in a shaker with milk but to be honest it looks disgusting which is another reason why I've avoided this in past. Whey is derived from milk so as a self diagnosed lactose intolerant person I decided to try the smaller size sachets first. I mixed mine with hot water in the hope it dissolves easier. No such luck. It looks like poop in a mug. Smells like e numbers. Taste isn't actually that bad, but the lumpiness made it harder to down. (It does say to use a blend but who has one at work?). I'm already thinking maybe some kind of protein oat nutty bar may a better option. Anyway, I got another sachet tomorrow in this experiment so lets see how my lactose intolerant stomach handles it... <Follow Up. 20.01.15>
So it seems that my stomach can handle the whey protein powder, no queezy stomach feelings. This is good however I think I'll try and find a brand which doesn't add extra sugar or flavourings... |
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"Any tips, reviews and advice are my own opinions and are not to be taken as professional view points. The information on this site is what has worked for me and is here for guidance only, but I hope you gain insight into the various activities I partake in." Jonathan Chen Archives
December 2017
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