AS the festive period endures and swings into 2018, the temptation to indulge in a range of sweets and chocolates is everpresent in a boxer’s celebrations. However, if a boxer overindulges during this festive period it means that they will in fact undo much of the hard work they have put into training over the previous weeks/months as well as making the weight-making process even more difficult if they are fighting early in the New Year. With this being said the festive period should not mean that you have to strictly follow an unappealing diet but substituting the sweets and chocolates with alternative healthier, homemade snacks and drinks may in fact cure the sweet cravings associated with this time of year.
Below I provide five simple, health homemade snacks and drinks that represent alternatives to Christmas junk foods.
Next: Item 1 of 5 – Black Forest gateau smoothie
Marc Fell BSc (hons), MSc
Twitter: @MarcFell1
Email: j.m.fell@2014.ljmu.ac.uk
1. Black Forest gateau smoothie
Ingredients
- 300ml milk
- 1 cup frozen dark berries
- 1/2 freshly squeezed orange
- 180g of 0% Greek yoghurt
- 1 serving of chocolate protein powder
Method
Blend!
Next: Item 2 of 5 – Mince pies
Marc Fell BSc (hons), MSc
Twitter: @MarcFell1
Email: j.m.fell@2014.ljmu.ac.uk
2. Mince pies
Ingredients
For the minced fruit
• 4 diced apples
• 200g blueberries
• 200g raisins
• 200g cranberries
• Zest of 1 orange
• 400ml apple juice
• Tbsp of cinnamon
• Tsp of ginger
• 2 tsps of vanilla
For the pastry
• 300g ground almonds
• 2 tbsps of coconut oil
• 2 tbsps of honey
• Tsp of vanilla
• 1 egg
Method
1. Place all the minced fruit mix in a large saucepan, heat until it simmers then leave it too cook on a low heat for 30-40 minutes, stirring occasionally.
2. Mix all the pastry ingredients together in a large bowl. If the mixture is too wet add more ground almonds.
3. Grease mince pie tins with coconut oil and line with 1cm depth of pastry mix, then fill with fruit mix.
4. Oven Bake at 180C for 30-40 minutes then remove and leave to cool.
Next: Item 3 of 5 – Protein snack pot
Marc Fell BSc (hons), MSc
Twitter: @MarcFell1
Email: j.m.fell@2014.ljmu.ac.uk
3. Protein snack pot
1. Place 250-300g of 0% Greek yoghurt at the bottom of a serving bowl/cup.
2. Add 1 tsp of chia and flax on top.
3. Place a handful of mixed berries on top.
4. Add 1 tsp of peanut butter and lightly drizzle with a 1/2 tsp of honey.
Next: Item 4 of 5 – Fruity frozen yoghurt
Marc Fell BSc (hons), MSc
Twitter: @MarcFell1
Email: j.m.fell@2014.ljmu.ac.uk
4. Fruity frozen yoghurt
Ingredients
• Small handful of frozen mango cubes
• 1 small banana
• Small handful of frozen raspberries
• Small handful of frozen blueberries
• 250g of Greek yoghurt (0% fat)
• 1/2 tbsp of honey
Method
1. Pour Greek yoghurt into blender.
2. Chop banana in small slices and place in blender with rest of frozen fruit.
3. Add honey to mix in blender.
4. Blend! It may be difficult to blend due to the thick consistency so stop blending every 10 seconds and mix with wooden spoon and resume blending until mix is smooth and consistent.
5. Serve.
Next: Item 5 of 5 – Chocolate protein snowballs
Marc Fell BSc (hons), MSc
Twitter: @MarcFell1
Email: j.m.fell@2014.ljmu.ac.uk
5. Chocolate protein snowballs
Ingredients
• 60g of chocolate protein powder
• 60g of flax seeds/ground nuts
• 30g of chopped nuts
• 200g of smooth peanut butter
• 2 tbsp of honey
• 35g of 75% or above dark chocolate, melted
• Desiccated coconut for rolling
Method
1. Mix together protein powder, flax seeds/ground nuts, chopped nuts and peanut butter.
2. Then add in melted chocolate and honey and mix well together.
3. Carefully structure the mixture into snowball-like shapes.
4. Roll balls in the desiccated coconut.
5. Place onto a tray inlaid with greaseproof paper and chill in a fridge for at least 30-60 minutes (ideally overnight) before serving.
Marc Fell BSc (hons), MSc
Twitter: @MarcFell1
Email: j.m.fell@2014.ljmu.ac.uk
