Pregnancy & Oats!

about.com

With a number of celebrity babies due over the next several months, we thought now would be a great time to give you a number of tips and tricks to keep you and your unborn baby healthy until the joyous arrival. Did you know that eating porridge oats is especially good for you whilst pregnant?

Yes! It’s true! Oats are an excellent potent source of vitamins, minerals and complex carbohydrates, all of which are needed to ensure a healthy pregnancy. They contain high amounts of vitamin B1, B2 and E which all work together to release energy and keep the body healthy.

Porridge is also a great source of folic acid which is very important to ensure healthy development of the foetus during the first trimester. Add variety to your breakfast by having a Hopper Pot of Fruity Coconut & Date or Cinnamon & Raisin or even keep it simple and sweet with just an added touch of Cane Sugar.

Not only is this beneficial for you it also will be for your baby as well.

Big-Wave Surfing!

Photograph by Fred Pompermayer

Surfing is all about riding those big waves.

Teahupo'o, a small village on the island of Tahiti, is known for it's surfing and heavy waves which often reach 2 to 3 m, and sometimes even up to 7 metres. It is also the site of the annual Billabong surf competition.

This village surely is a paradise for those who love to surf, even though it may seem like a dream place for those wanting to catch waves it is also known as one of the top 10 deadliest waves in the world - maybe something to be aware of.

Recently, surfer and waterman Mark Healey was keeping an eye on a storm in the area which of course meant big waves! 48 hours after the storm had passed he booked a flight and headed to the island to catch the huge waves that remained. It was recorded that these waves were the largest - but huge risks come with huge waves like this, and some surfers even end up with hospital!

If you ever plan on heading out for those humongous remember to stay safe, but have fun!

Get a shot of Vitamin C

Be bold in orange!

Orange can be quite a statement colour, but it's all about those bold saturated hues. Don't expect anything Day-Glo, but rather shades of an electric matte version of a bright and burnt orange that looks just as polished on a sweeping lace-infused evening gown as it does on out super-stylish Soups!

Our soups are the perfect shade of orange to keep you on trend and super stylish. Keep on your desk at work to add a touch of style to your lunch while filling you up.

Extreme Kayaking!

Photograph by Chris Korbulic

What do you think of extreme sports? Is it something you see as thrilling and exciting or terrifying and scary?

Recently photographed kayaking over the Santuario waterfall in Brazil, Chris Korbulic and his friend Ben Stookesberry love extreme sports especially kayaking. The sense of danger and unknown gives them a buzz and has an air of excitement. Stocking up on fuel food keeps them going and having a slow release of energy helps these guys keep strong and helps power through.

All we can say is well done to the pair as this is truly extreme... and terrifying!

Let us know what you think of extreme sports!

Fruity Smoothie

What is it that they say about the simple things in life being the best?

Our gorgeous fruity smoothie with a hint of coconut - a healthy, quick & filling breakfast option fill of fibre!

Ingredients:
A pot of Coconut & Date porridge
250ml skimmed milk
1 banana
10 frozen or fresh strawberries
1/2 teaspoon of honey

Method:
Blend all ingredients until it has reached desired thickness (if too thick, add water/milk).

Best served cold.

Perfect for summer!

Meet Otis - the skydiving dog

When it comes to strenuous outdoor activities that call for use of the word extreme we all get a little wimpy and filled with excitement.

So we have nothing but mad love and respect going out to Otis, the ten-year-old pooch, who this week took part in his 64th – 64th!!! – tandem skydive.

The daredevil pug grew up around the Lodi Parachute Centre just outside Los Angeles and has been skydiving with his owner Will Da Silva for the last nine years.

As these incredible pictures demonstrate, Otis seems to be perfectly safe in his custom-made harness and we reckon he looks well cool in his doggles as he jumps out of the plane at 3,000ft.

3,000ft: Otis, we salute your canine genius.

Fancy living in a giant egg for a year?

A pool of talented creatives have worked together to build the Exbury Egg, a tiny, floating home and research station, currently moored in the Beaulieu estuary on Britain's south coast. Artist Stephen Turner, who helped build this pod, will be both the Egg's client and chief resident. 

The Exbury Egg, which was launched in May and will be Turner’s home for the next year, as he studies and looks for inspiration in the rise and fall of the waters, in an attempt to better understand our environment. Turner’s work has appeared, aptly, in Margate’s Turner Gallery, among other places, and he often concerns himself with the sea, nature, the man-made world and the persistence of time.

The interior is welcoming and is simply kitted out with a hammock, a stove, a desk and a wet room. Keeping the interior simple yet it has everything for your basic needs. There's also an egg-shaped skylight and a square, hatch-like window to light up the Egg.

Would you like to spend a whole year in the Exbury Egg? Let's hope he's stocked up on plenty of Grasshopper foods.

Get Your Beach Body Ready!

Image: hm.com

Well well well. The sun is shining in the sky and the frost has melted from the ground, meaning spring is nigh. The Body Goddess Law requires you to journey to a beach holiday. What will you do about that beach body?

There’s actually an easy and fuss-free way to get in shape. You don’t need to break sweat for months to look like a goddess in a bikini. With these quick and easy tricks, your beach body will earn some serious stares.

As you know, oats are incredibly good for you. But they also do wonders when it comes to dieting as they are a slow-releaser of energy that keeps you fuller for longer. Have a pot of Cinnamon & Raisin in the morning and that’s guaranteed to keep you going until lunchtime. And at less than 250 calories a pot!

Why not consider our soups at lunch? Ditch the mayo sandwich and heavily dressed salads... At around 100 cal (yes - you heard right, only 100!) our three flavours are filling, nutritious and so easy to prepare. Choose from Lentil & Coconut, Mushroom & Chive or Tomato & Basil and have it with a slice of wholemeal toast if you like.

Treat yourself to a healthy, properly cooked dinner meal - we’re thinking lean meat or fish with plenty of greens. Stick to this routine and you’ll see results in no time.

Fantastic Flapjacks

lavenderandlovage.com

What is it that they say about the simple things in life being the best? In this case it's definitely true... Here at Grasshopper we pride ourselves on being very quick and convenient to prepare, but if you have 5 minutes to spare, there are plenty of delicious goodness recipes that can be made using out porridge pots.

Did you know you can make classic, chewy and good for your soul flapjacks that are so easy to do... and hard to beat!

Ingredients:

4 pots of Grasshopper’s Cane Sugar Porridge
175 grams butter
100 grams soft brown sugar
1 tablespoon golden syrup

Method

1. Preheat oven to 150C. Lightly grease a 20cm baking tin.
2. In a large pan, melt together the butter, sugar & syrup, while stirring. When melted, remove from the heat and stir in the porridge oats.
3. Pour into tin and smooth the surface with a spoon. Bake for 35-40 mins or until the edges are brown and the surface has turned golden.
4. Place the tin on a wire rack. Cut into squares after 10 minutes, but leave to cool completely before removing from the tin.