Organic Quinoa Puffs

Organic Red Kidney Beans, these dried red beauties have been in high demand from yourselves!Most weeks we have had customers come into the shop to request them.Well look no further! We take all feedback seriously and value our customers dearly so ta da!Soak and boil these beans, once cooked you can add to Salads, Mexican Dishes, Chilli, Wraps. You can even make sweet desserts, cakes with them too! Red kidney beans are densely packed with nutrients that are critical to our health which explains why they are a staple food in many cultural cuisines. Red kidney beans are major source of protein and fibre Rich in various Vitamins and Minerals Wash and Cook before use - Soak for 8-12 hours. Drain and rinse. Boil for 10 minutes and then simmer for 1 hour. They should be soft when ready Certified Organic By Organic Farmers & Growers See the range in various sizes in store and online!

What is a superfood?Superfoods have been gaining popularity for years now, especially amongst those focused on healthy eating, and with good reason, but the term itself is often misunderstood. When people hear the term superfood it can often be associated with fads and faux science, but in reality it just means a food that contains an abundance of nutrients, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and various other beneficial compounds. This article will focus on the best superfoods you can find in whole food shops, allowing you to focus on making the healthiest choices, without breaking the bank, while supporting independent, environmentally friendly businesses. 1. Almonds Almonds are one of the healthiest nuts you can eat, and an amazing superfood in general. Almonds contain a huge amount of vitamin E, which as well as being an antioxidant, also helps to maintain healthy skin and eyes while also boosting the immune system. On top of their remarkable vitamin E content, almonds are also packed full of healthy fats, fibre and protein. Almonds are not only incredibly healthy, but also delicious and easy to use! Whether you’re looking for a quick snack on the go, or a standout ingredient to use in your baking, with their distinctive, subtle sweet flavour, almonds really are the perfect choice. If you’re looking for even more uses for almonds, we recommend this overnight oats recipe to really get the most out of them. 2. Quinoa.Originating from South America, quinoa has been grown for thousands of years, but it only seems to be getting more and more popular. One of the reasons quinoa is such an amazing superfood is that it is a complete protein, meaning it contains all nine essential amino acids that the body needs but cannot produce itself. This can be particularly important for those on plant based diets, as some of these amino acids, like lysine can be incredibly hard to find in plants. Not only is quinoa an amazing source of protein, iron, and fibre, it also has strong anti-inflammatory properties that make it truly unique when compared to other grains like rice or couscous. Quinoa can seem a little intimidating to those who haven’t cooked with it before, but once you start cooking with it you’ll find it hard to stop. For a delicious light summertime salad, we recommend this Quinoa & Pistachio salad recipe. 3. Goji Berries.Goji berries are small, sweet red berries originating from South Asia, but their popularity has reached global proportions in recent years, mainly due to their status as a superfood. One of the reasons goji berries are considered a superfood is because of their astounding vitamin C (also known as ascorbic acid) content. Vitamin C is incredibly important, as it maintains the skin, bones, cartilage, and even our blood vessels, while also helping our bodies recover from wounds. A lack of vitamin C is the primary cause of scurvy, so it’s a good job that goji berries contain a whopping 48g of vitamin C per 100g serving! While goji berries can be enjoyed as a snack straight from the packet, they can also be an amazing ingredient in baking, or a way to give your smoothies and milkshakes a healthy boost! 4. Matcha and green tea.Matcha and green tea both come from the same plant (Camellia sinensis, but each goes through different processes to make two very different final products, each with its own health benefits. The main difference in the preparation of matcha vs green tea, is that green tea leaves are steeped and discarded, whereas matcha makes use of the entire leaf, ultimately providing a more concentrated dose of nutrients. Both matcha and green tea are packed full of antioxidants, in particular, matcha contains a large amount of catechins, a type of antioxidant renowned for its anti-inflammatory effects. Alongside containing more nutrients than green tea, matcha also contains significantly more caffeine, providing a powerful energy boost, whereas green tea provides a more gentle buzz that may be better when you’re trying to focus without getting the jitters. Matcha and green tea also have different uses, as obviously, both can be brewed and drunk, but matcha can also be used in cooking and baking. When shopping for matcha, particularly in whole food shops, there will be a variety of options, ceremonial or premium matcha is best for drinking in teas or lattes, whereas culinary is ideal to use in baking without breaking the bank. 5. Chia seeds.Chia seeds are one of the oldest superfoods in the world, a part of the mint family, originating in South America and dating all the way back to the Aztec Empire. Like quinoa, chia seeds are a complete protein, which already establishes them as an amazing superfood, but where they really shine is in their high fibre content. On average, chia seeds provide roughly 10 grams of dietary fibre per two tablespoons, making them one of the most fibrous superfoods you can include in your diet! The high fibre content of chia seeds makes them exceptionally well suited to improving digestion and heart health. Not only do chia seeds help to reduce the bad cholesterol in our body, but they also increase the amount of healthy cholesterol we need to reduce the risk of heart disease. Chia seeds can seem a little complex to use at first, but they are actually remarkably easy to incorporate into your diet! The best place to begin is to figure out which texture you would like your chia seeds to be, if you want to add a crunch to a salad then simply sprinkle them on top, if you’re looking to bulk out a smoothie or shake then simply soak them beforehand! Get into the amazing world of superfoods. It’s never been easier!The incredible benefits of the superfoods we’ve mentioned here should already have you reaching for a shopping basket, and thankfully, it’s never been easier. Gone are the days of having to search high and low in supermarkets for the healthy option, by shopping for superfoods at a whole food shop, you can not only discover countless healthy options, but do so at a fraction of the price. There are too many superfoods to discuss in one article, so don’t be afraid to experiment with ones we haven’t mentioned, and in no time, your pantry will be looking healthier than it ever has before. If you’re not sure where to begin, we have an entire section dedicated to delicious, affordable superfoods, available here.

What are whole grains? Whole grains are among some of the healthiest wholefoods you can eat, but what exactly do we mean by whole grains? Whole grains as you might have guessed are a type of grain, but specifically those that still have their germ and bran, unlike their refined counterparts. Generally speaking whole grains come in three main categories; cereals like wheat or rice, minor cereals like millets and pseudocereals like quinoa or buckwheat. For now we’ll focus on the healthiest and most popular whole grains, but there are plenty of varieties to explore and experiment with! Quinoa - the superfood you need in your kitchen. Originating from South America, quinoa has been grown for thousands of years, but only seems to be getting more and more popular, and with good reason. Unlike most other whole grains quinoa is a complete protein, meaning it contains all nine essential amino acids that the body needs but cannot produce itself. This can be particularly important for those on plant based diets, as some of these amino acids, like lysine can be incredibly hard to find in plants. Not only is quinoa an amazing source of protein, iron and fibre it also has strong anti-inflammatory properties that make it truly unique when compared to other grains like rice or couscous. Alongside quinoa’s incredible nutritional makeup, it is also naturally gluten free so it can be a great healthy alternative for those who are celiac or gluten intolerant. Oats - a perfect whole grain for long lasting energy. Oats are a classic healthy breakfast staple, whether in overnight oats or a more traditional porridge, they are famed for its ability to keep you feeling full and energised all through the day. However oats actually have countless health benefits alongside satisfying your appetite. Oats have incredibly high levels of fibre, which is obviously great for digestion, but in particular they contain the hard to come by beta-glucan which is exceptionally good for heart health. Similarly, the low glycaemic index of oats makes them a great tool for keeping your blood sugar on track, and their slow burning energy release means they can even help with weight loss! Brown rice, and why you need it in your diet: Brown rice is one of the best whole grains you can incorporate into your diet, especially since it is so easy to swap out white rice in favour of the healthier option. Brown rice is so much healthier than white rice because of the amazing nutritional content of its bran and germ, which makes it better for you in pretty much every way. Firstly, brown rice has a significantly higher fibre content than white rice, which makes it infinitely better for digestion and gut health. Secondly brown rice contains more iron, magnesium, b vitamins and oxidants than white rice. Thirdly and most importantly, brown rice has been shown to help with weight management and reduce the risk of heart disease and type two diabetes! The best time to incorporate whole grains into your diet is now: The overwhelming health benefits of these whole grains should make them a high priority for anyone looking to live healthily, and swapping over to them is remarkably easy. There are also countless more whole grains waiting for you to try, so don’t feel limited to stick to the ones mentioned above, we even have recipes available here to show you how to really get the most from your whole grains. Whether this is your entry point into healthy eating, or you’re just trying to make even more improvements to your diet, whole grains are definitely the way to go!