Why we lost our local bakeries

The received wisdom, or what everyone knows, is that small, local bakeries all closed down because giant evil corporate supermarket chains opened up branches in small towns and out-priced the small, family-owned local bakers which, as a result, had to close down. victims of corporate greed.

Whilst this might have happened in some cases, the story I can relate, based on my own local experience does not bear this out.

I am thinking of a moderately sized market town. It had three traditional family owned bakers who all did a very good business supplying fresh bread to the people of the town.

However, the young generations of the family bakers did not want to follow on in the footsteps of their parents. 

Their parents had to get up at three o'clock in the morning to mix the dough and to fire up the ovens to bake the bread. 

Their children did not want to get up in the middle of the night to bake bread so they decided to go off to do other things and follow other career paths. One went to work for the Inland Revenue, some joined the armed forces and so on. 

Eventually when the older generations of bakers came to retirement age they had nobody to pass their businesses on to and one-by-one, they closed down.

Eventually the Morrison's supermarket chain came to town and opened up a bakery department which made fresh bread and fresh cakes. Items we hadn't seen in town for several years.

When someone was chuntering on about how the supermarkets had killed off small, family bakers I pointed out that all of the family bakers in town had closed before Morrison's came to town. He said: "Oh! That's right, isn't it? I hadn't realised that!"

(Image curtesy summa/Pixabay.)

Mints just got guilt free with Mintastic

Mints are now guilt free and it's all thanks to Mintasatic!

Per 100g Mintastic contains 13 calories, zero sugar and zero carbs. 

Compared to other sugar sugar free mints which contain 240 calories, zero sugar and 25 calories per 100g.

They are vegan friendly and sweetened with Erythritol and are completely tooth friendly.

And the great thing is that Erythriol is a plant-based sweetener.

Mintastic is a small British sweet maker and they are keen to bring minty guilt-free goodness to all mint lovers, but especially those who cannot tolerate sugar such as people who have diabetes or who are on a calorie controlled diet.

They come in a variety of flavours including spearmint, peppermint, cinnamon and strawberry flavours. 

Tol earn more please visit them at https://www.mintastic.co.uk/.

You can buy direct from their website, a taster box of four flavours costs £8.00 and delivery is free.

Great Sausages, By Heck!

If you want to eat great quality sausages like you used to get made by your local high street or village butcher, then, as Heck says: "You need flavour you can swear by!"

My wife loves Heck sausages not only because they taste so very good, but because they are gluten free. And as someone who is diagnosed as suffering from coeliac disease, being able to obtain gluten-free foods that actually taste good, too, is very important for her.

They are also highly useful for people, like myself, who need to eat a carefully balanced diet due to having diabetes. And having great tasting foods also makes you feel good, too!

One of the reasons that Heck sausages are so very good is that they are very keen on some simple, key facts.

1) Only use the finest of ingredients, including the herbs and spices.

2) Only prepare the sausages in traditional small batch methods.

And it really is that simple. 

But even though Heck does use good, old fashioned sausage making techniques they are also an innovative family-owned and operated company.

For example a firm favourite of mine, and of my wife, is the Heck Paprika Chicken sausages.

These are chicken chipolata sausages with paprika and red pepper. They are 85% British chicken and they use pea flour, plus a good mix of herbs and spices.

Their pork sausages are also awesomely good and contain 97% British pork.

What different sausages do they offer? Paprika Chicken, Chicken Italia, Simply Chicken, Spring Chicken (with spring onions!) Heck 97% Pork, Heck Reduced Fat, Heck Vegan Breakfast Sausages, Heck Meat Free, Heck Vegan Italia, Heck Family Favourite, Heck 60/40 (Chicken Mushroom and Wild Rice) Heck 60/40 (Pork, Oven Roasted Tomatoes and Olives) Heck Pork Italia, too.

But there's much more! Burgers, including vegan, a range of minces, posh nuggets, Heck Alcohol free IPA beer is also available, too. Heck! I wasn't expecting that!

To learn more or to put your orders in please visit them at https://www.heckfood.co.uk/.

They are also at some retailers, too.

Like No Udder Montezuma's Extraordinary Chocolate

Like No Udder Montezuma's Extraordinary Chocolate, is, simply, an extraordinary chocolate.

It's vegan and organic and it is an alternative to milk chocolate. Helen of Montezuma's says that Like No Udder is their very own creation and that is as close to milk chocolate as they could get it.

As a milk chocolate fan since I was first given a blue foil wrapped chocolate bar in the late 1950s, I have to say that I did sneak a peek at the ingredients list to see how they had managed to create a milk chocolate taste and gorgeous mouthfeel without using any milk or other dairy-derived products.

Was it the organic cane sugar? The organic cocoa butter? The organic cocoa mass? The organic rice powder? The organic vanilla extract? The organic cocoa nibs? The organic peppermint oil?

Well, of course the answer is that it will all of those things, but what makes all the difference is the knowledge and years of chocolate making experience of Helen, Simon and the fine folks at Montezuma's Chocolate who produce the finest of fine chocolates from their chocolatier headquarters in West Sussex.

One touch that I especially like, apart from the exquisite taste, is the absolutely perfect crunch provided by the cocoa nibs.

flavours other than yummy peppermint are available, please check on their website which you will find at https://www.montezumas.co.uk/like-no-udder.html.

You can buy from them or check out their website for your nearest retailer.

Really Good Tomato Ketchup

Really Good Tomato Ketchup. That's a good, no, a great name for a product. Declaring it to be "Really Good."

But it's also a somewhat bold claim. Does it bear up to closer scrutiny? Yes, it certainly does on several grounds.

Firstly it is ideal for vegans and vegetarians because it is entirely plant-based.

Secondly it contains no added sugar (it actually contains 75% less sugar) and it us ideal for people who want to watch their salt intake as it contains 78% less salt.

And as an added fillip the plastic bottle is 100% recyclable. 

But this brings us on to the other, equally important point about Really Good Tomato Ketchup. What oes it taste like? Here it is a clear winner because it also tastes like a Really Good Tomato Ketchup.

Which is probably the main reason it was voted Food Innovation Award Best Children's Product last year, 2021. And has received other accolades for its innovative products and its genuine green agenda.

Based in Yorkshire, the Really Good range of products was founded by Elizabeth Jones.

They make a range of other products including Smoked Barbeque Sauce and Smokey Barbeque Ketchup.

A pack of six 310g bottles will cost £17.99 at Amazon.

You can purchase the products at Ocado, Amazon and Wholefoods Market. 

If you are a retailer or a wholesaler, Really Good would like to hear from you.

Visit them at https://realgoodketchup.com/.

That's Books and Entertainment: More Taste & Less Waste

That's Books and Entertainment: More Taste & Less Waste: More Taste & Less Waste is a new cookery book form the Dairy Diary publishing company. It offers readers the opportunity to prepare and...

Intuitive Eating Pioneer to bring back her popular podcast

Laura Thomas

Nutritionist and author Laura Thomas, PhD, is joining up with Intuitive Movement expert Tally Rye for a live crossover podcast episode this Wednesday to celebrate the re-launch of the highly successful show ‘Don’t Salt My Game'.

London Centre for Intuitive Eating (LCIE) founder Laura Thomas, PhD is joining with Intuitive Movement expert and author Tally Rye to bring back her highly popular podcast ‘Don’t Salt My Game’. Tickets are available for the live recording which takes place this Wednesday 19th January at 7pm, and audience members will have the chance to ask the duo questions.

Nutritionist Laura, who is the author of two books ‘Just Eat It’ and ‘How to Just Eat It’, works with her specialist team at the LCIE’s recently opened premises to support women to have a more positive and harmonious relationship with the foods they eat and their bodies, via a framework called Intuitive Eating,  a term coined in the 1990s but which has seen a huge rise in popularity in recent years, this is, in the main, thanks to Laura’s work.

Intuitive Eating is a science-backed concept which promotes self-compassion and acceptance, equipping women with simple tools and techniques for a trusting, happy, and healthy relationship with their foods, by rejecting the "diet mentality" and learning to understand the body’s hunger cues.

To celebrate the return of her podcast, ‘Don’t Salt My Game’ following a short hiatus after the birth of her first child, Laura is joining Intuitive Movement expert Tally, author of book ‘Train Happy’ and host of a podcast dedicated to helping women a have a feel-good relationship towards fitness. 

The crossover ‘Don’t Salt My Game X Train Happy’ podcast will be released in two parts and will see Tally interview Laura on how to support children to be Intuitive Eaters and have a positive relationship with food from an early age. Laura will also be interviewing Tally about Intuitive Movement and the pair will take questions submitted by the live audience.

Laura said: "Intuitive Eating can be such a liberating process, but it can also be tricky if you feel like you're fighting diet culture on your own.

“Having a podcast dedicated to supporting you on your journey makes you feel less alone and more empowered to take down diet culture. ‘Don’t Salt My Game’ is like having a little anti-diet cheerleader in your ear.”

Tally Rye

Tally said: "It’s really great to collaborate with Laura who has been leading the charge against Diet Culture for years. Together we are hoping to bust myths and help people feel better about eating food and moving their body."

The podcast will mark the official re-launch of ‘Don’t Salt My Game’ which has been driving the Intuitive Eating revolution since 2016, and sees Laura interview guests in wellness, from foodies, bloggers and entrepreneurs to nutritionists, doctors and anyone else shaking up the wellness world, to help the audience ‘do you, but better.’

Tickets to the live recording cost £10 and can be purchased here. https://londoncentreforie.as.me/schedule.php?appointmentType=6229833 Spaces are limited.

Laura’s approach draws heavily on nutritional and behavioural science and psychology, as well as her own experiences with food. Through her books, podcast, and 1-to-1 clinical practice, she has helped thousands of women transform their relationship with food and is regarded as one of the leaders in the Intuitive Eating community.

Laura is joined at LCIE by a team of nutrition professionals dedicated to supporting people to get off the never-ending dieting merry-go-round, and find food freedom, self-compassion, and a renewed sense of purpose that doesn’t involve trying to fit into society’s narrow body ideals.

The East-London centre also provides self-paced online courses for professionals looking to upskill, equipping them with the knowledge and understanding to support their career development and implement Intuitive Eating into their offering.

The team is adding a new course to its portfolio later this month titled ‘Raising Embodied Eaters’, which aims to give nutrition and healthcare professionals who work with children the tools to support a responsive feeding relationship, laying the foundation for a positive relationship with food and their bodies from an early age.

LCIE is also home to a studio space with classes like baby yoga, Pilates and circuit classes run by LCIE partners who share the same body compassion ethos, as well as a retail outlet offering a range of items from body affirming brands, hand selected by the team.

https://londoncentreforintuitiveeating.co.uk/

Maldon Salt x Olia Hercules Extraordinary Feel Good Food

The recipes are specially created by Olia Hercules for Maldon Salt and is part of the ‘Feel Good Food’ series running on Maldon Salt socials.

You can see the introduction video here. You can also subscribe for new video presentations:- 

In the easy-to-follow video presentations you will learn to prepare, cook and serve:-

Fennel, Blood Orange and Shallot Relish

Mushroom Broth

Other recipes to look out for are:-

Layered Savoy Cabbage ‘Lasagne’

Fermented Chilli and Celeriac

Savoury Granola.

For more recipes and to learn about the 140 year history of the Maldon Salt Company, where they still hand harvest their salt and produce unique pyramid salt flakes which is still sought after by gourmets and word renowned chefs.

You can find this specialist, artisan sea salt at the following retailers:- Morrison's, Tesco, Ocado, Sainsbury's and Waitrose.

Other shops or wholesalers also stock Maldon Salt. Please enquire.

You can visit their website for further details, more recipes, etc https://maldonsalt.com/. 

Crave something tasty for Veganuary? Then this is for you!

If you are craving something tasty for Veganuary, the this is for you! Crave snacks.

If you have never tried Crave Snacks before, then Crave are what you have been craving for, but didn't realise it, yet.

All Crave snacks are proudly produced to unique recipes that are guaranteed to be gluten free, lactose free, milk/dairy free and 100% Vegan friendly.

There are Smokey Back Flavoured Streakers. Little flat rectangles of smokey bacon flavoured goodness. 

They taste bacony and smokey and once you try one, there will be no stopping you! They are very moreish! 

As well as making for some exciting snacking direct out of the bag, you will find that these are great to share and they go very well with cheese, either dairy or vegan and make an excellent accompaniment to any salad. 

There's also Pickled Onion Monster Feet. Unlike the little flat rectangles of Streakers, Pickled Onion Monster Feet are in the shape of Monstrous feet. They have four toes, in case you are wondering.)

This is a new flavour, so do keep your eyes and your mouths open for this!

They have a sharply tangy taste of picked onions and they do include some real pickled onion flavourings in the recipe. 

Both packs contain 80 grams of snack goodness and will, Crave assures you, serve four people. Though this does depend on how hungry or how greedy you are!

What flavours are available?

Smokey Bacon Flavoured Streakers, Picked Onion Monster Feet, Crave Rocky Road, Crave Kitchen Sink and Crave Snack, Crackle and Choc. 

You can buy Crave products direct from their online shop https://www.cravefreefrom.co.uk/ or from https://thevegankind.com/c/crave-free-from or https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/search/?isSearch=true&query=crave

Adio Food Supplements that work for you

The slogan that Adio uses is "Take Back Control of Your Health." And there is at least one person I know who agrees with that sentiment. My wife.

She has been trialling Adio food supplements and has reported that they have made her feel much better.

"It's not just my imagination," she told me. "As a nurse with extra training in nutrition I know more than most people about foods and food supplements and I know that the Adio products have certainly helped me to feel much better while I have been taking them. In fact, they've proved so beneficial to me that I will be placing regular orders for them."

"I have much more energy, and I feel much better in myself. I am particularly keen on the Plant + capsules. They're absolutely amazing!"

Products that are available include:-

Adio one.

This is Dr Jess and Xandras’ own custom-blended premium daily multivitamin and mineral supplement.

They are made using bioavailable core ingredients, to optimise absorption and nutritional benefit. Adio One is suitable for vegans, and is free of all GMOs, fillers, gluten, soy, sugar, dairy and artificial flavourings and colours. 

60 days worth of tablets costs £35, or if you subscribe there's a 15% discount.

Adio Plant + 

Dr Jess has employed her extensive knowledge of the power of Chinese, herbal, functional and integrative medicine to develop Plant+, "an optimised combination of three of the most effective organically-certified adaptogens, to help you feel and look your best. Plant+ is suitable for vegans, and is free of all GMO’s, fillers, gluten, soy, sugar, dairy and artificial flavourings and colours."

This product costs £25, but if you want to take out a subscription there's a 10% discount available. 

Incidentally, these supplements are of great benefit to my wife because as a diagnosed coeliac she cannot tolerate gluten and she also has problems with a soy allergy and a dairy allergy. Which means she has to be very careful to check out all of the ingredients in supplements before she takes them. As as an aside she can't take beef collagen, but only marine collagen. 

But Adio doesn't rest on its laurels. Because as well as the above highly successful supplements it also offers a very wide range of specialist services, too.

It was founded by sisters Dr Jess and Dr Xandra DoC). Dr Jess trained in traditional western medicine and then went on to study homeopathy, Chinese medicine, medical herbalism and functional medicine.

Dr Xandra (DoC) earned her doctor of chiropractic qualifications at the University of Glamorgan. 

The website is arranged in different areas. There is a library which is an exciting resource consisting of searchable  videos, webinars, podcasts, articles, recipes, etc.

There's the hub with links to the hub brain function & mental health, family life & pet health, gut health & digestion, hormones & sexual health, immune system & infection, staying well & keeping fit, structure & movement and symptoms & diseases.

You can also join Adio for £10 a month.

To learn more about Adio visit https://adio.org/.