Pulled Oats - The Perfect Protein? | AD

One of the best things about being vegan or vegetarian lately is the huge amount of choice we are now spoilt with. I remember when I first made the decision to give up meat and how challenging it was to get a decent meal out in a restaurant or find anything appealing in the supermarket. Recently i've felt unable to keep up with all of the new releases and innovations, particularly when it comes to plant based proteins and meat alternatives. 

The newest release is by revolutionary Finnish 100% plant-based protein, Pulled Oats. The innovative oat-based protein, from makers Gold&Green, is described as the 'Perfect Protein' and can now be bought from all Planet Organic stores and planetorganic.com and is soon to be rolled out nationwide.

 

They have two new products Pulled Oats Natural Mince and Pulled Oats Tomato Mince which will appeal to vegans, vegetarians, pescatarians, flexitarians and pretty much anyone who is trying to eat less meat or who is simply looking for delicious tasting and versatile protein alternatives.

 

Containing as much protein as beef (approx. 30g per 100g), Pulled Oats is made with just five simple plant-based ingredients: oats, yellow peas, faba beans, gently pressed rapeseed oil and salt. Pulled Oats is the perfect option not only because of its nutritional value and amino acid composition, but also because it's so delicious and easy to use. It's super versatile, easy to prepare and can be used in both warm and cold dishes. Pulled Oats contain absolutely no animal-based or genetically modified ingredients, soy or additives. And, on top of all of that, it's also good for the planet too!

 

The patented innovation stems from treating ingredients with the utmost respect and maintaining the goodness of the food by doing as little as possible to it. The simple ingredients are sheared, heated, and baked together, resulting in a tasty high-quality protein.  

I couldn't wait to give the Pulled Oats a try and I took some inspiration from a range of tasty meat free recipes which can be found online here! One of my favourite evenings of the week is when I do an at home Mexican feast for dinner and I just knew that Pulled Oats would work perfectly in these dishes.  

 

I'm all about ease and convenience when it comes to cooking and one thing I really love about this protein is how simple and easy it is to cook. You can roast it in oven, fry in a pan, heat in sous vide or microwave. It also cooks quickly which makes it perfect for those meals that you want to be able to knock up fast when you're super hungry! 

Those of you who have followed me for a while will already know that I'm someone who isn't always overly keen on mock meats, especially when they're too realistic and remind me of the real thing. I'm pleased to say that I didn't get that feeling at all with this product. Whilst it gave me a really nice, tasty and filling meaty consistency it didn't make me think of anything that comes from an animal. 

There are so many different options for Pulled Oats and there are a number of other dishes I'm really looking forward to experimenting with including spaghetti bolognese, meatballs, burgers and also using as a pizza topping. It's such a versatile product, the options are endless!    

At £4.70 for a 175g box, I think Pulled Oats are reasonably priced, particularly when compared to meat based alternatives such as organic minced beef. When taking into account all of the ethical, health and environmental benefits of this product vs a meat based product, it really is a no brainer.  

Eating in a healthier and more sustainable way has never tasted this great!  

This post was created in collaboration with Pulled Oats

All views and opinions expressed are completely my own 

Confidence Boost with Boots | AD

 

I think it would be fair to say that we're living in really strange times at the moment and like nothing any of us have ever experienced before. Life has been very different and everything has taken some getting used to. I'll be honest and say i've had many ups and downs over the past few months. I'm sure many of you can relate! Mixed moments of contentment followed by tears and then laughter. Personally I feel the uncertainty has left me feeling somewhat deflated and, after living like a hermit for months, my confidence levels haven't been great. 

I've always been an advocate for self care and doing the things in life that bring me the most happiness and this has been even more important to me in recent times. I've really tried to tune into what simple things in life help me to feel good on both the inside and out.     

Being Active 

If ever i'm feeling the need for a little boost my first port of call is always either to go for a swim or a walk with my dogs in nature. I can almost guarantee that this always boosts my mood and confidence, particularly if i'm listening to my favourite tunes along the way! I've never really been a gym person but i've found what works for me. Exercise and staying active is so important to both my personal confidence levels and my mental health. Recently, and since spending a lot more time at home, i've also grown to enjoy home workout's more and more. 

Makeup 

It's very rare that I go a day without wearing makeup and it's something which always boosts my confidence levels and has me feeling my best. I've often envied people who are confident without wearing makeup but i've come to accept that everyones different and I don't need to change who I am. Makeup is an absolute must for me and it's actually something I enjoy applying and experimenting with. Of course I have days where I don't wear any but I only ever feel the best version of myself with my face made up, even if it's just a simple minimal look! 

Sun Tan 

It's amazing what a bit of sun kissed colour to my skin does for my self esteem and confidence. I often usually like to go away on holiday early in the Summer season but having not been able to do that this year I found myself feeling quite pale and pasty. This Spring & Summer i've turned to fake tan to give me that little boost i've so desperately needed and it's really helped to put back a little spring back in my step! I've particularly enjoyed using a fake tan for face product which gives my skin a beautiful sun kissed colour and just makes me feel more well in myself. As someone who is naturally quite olive skinned I certainly feel it when i'm missing my usual tan. 

Clothes

I think the key to feeling confident in yourself is feeling comfortable and that's why clothes are also so important to me. If i'm not happy with what i'm wearing it can really impact on my mood and my entire day. I've tried to streamline my wardrobe so that it only contains all of the items I really love and I find that this helps me in avoiding making any bad decisions when it comes to choosing what to wear. 

Having self confidence is something I think most of us struggle with and it's certainly not easy to be confident all of the time, particularly during challenging times. That being said, I think we all know the little things that help to boost our own spirits and confidence levels. 

What helps to boost your confidence? 

I'd love to hear some of your own tips!

This post is an advertisement feature with Boots UK but all thoughts are my own