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Whether it’s a slice of sourdough with butter or a toast with marmalade, bread is a fundamental part of our diets. These days bread is not what it used to be. The quality of bread in supermarkets has been decreasing, and by the way, the shop-bought bread has almost no substance. It has no weight and virtually no flavour other than sweet, thanks to added sugar. Made with cheap bleached wheat flour and packed in plastic bags, the supermarket bread has no appealing smell and a terrible texture. In the regular shops, it's almost never made fresh but rather baked from pre-made frozen dough. If you crave crunchiness, you can get crunchy bread in a bakery, but then it will surely cost a lot more, so you will always find yourself compromising flavour or price. What are the benefits of baking bread at home? It would be best if you considered starting to bake your own bread. You will discover that it can be a source of pleasure, a therapeutic and a rewarding experience. Plus, homemade bread is cheaper than the one bought in the grocery shop and you don't really need any bread making machine. If you're not convinced yet, below you will find some of the fantastic benefits of baking your own bread at home. Homemade bread tastes better When you make your own bread at home, you choose your ingredients, you decide on the quality of wheat flour you use and you decide when you eat your loaf - warm or cold! Imagine, you can enjoy it fresh and warm straight from the oven. If you use organic wheat flour, your homemade bread will have a lot more substance and flavour. It will be crunchy and delicious just like artisan bread, offering you an unforgettable experience. Homemade bread is healthier You don't have to decide between nutrition and price if you bake your own bread at home. Supermarket shelves are full of cheap bread made with lousy quality bleached flour, additives and preservatives and containing lots of sugar and very little fibre. This kind of bread is not nutritious and is a source of bad calories that will only make you gain weight. One slice of toast white bread typically has 60-80 calories and 1-1.5 grams of sugar. You can also buy a loaf of bread made with whole grains and no artificial ingredients, but this kind of bread will be a lot more expensive. The cheaper option is to buy ingredients at a whole food shop and bake your own bread at home. Buy the best quality organic flour for making bread, and you will always ensure your loaf is both nutritious and delicious. Homemade bread is cheaper For those who look to save money and reduce food waste, making bread at home is a win-win. Bread recipes require very few simple ingredients, such as flour, salt, yeast, water, grains and seeds. These are products that most of us always have at home. Just look in your kitchen - you probably have most of these ingredients in your pantry. Homemade bread is convenient for those on special diets Looking for bread for your special dietary needs? Thanks to their simplicity, bread recipes can be easily customised. If you have special diet requirements, making bread from scratch allows you to customise your recipes at a much more reasonable cost. You can switch ingredients and experiment with a different kind of flour each time you make bread. You can make your bread look the way you want to! Use your imagination and try adding other extra ingredients and toppings to fit all types of diets. When you bake at home, you can enjoy artisan bread customised to your needs that grocery stores can't sell because of its short shelf life and bakeries charge a lot of money for. You will easily find all the ingredients you need in an online whole food store. Baking your own bread is rewarding There is something special in creating and producing your own food and things you can enjoy later. In the case of making bread, you use your own hands, which many people find therapeutic. It's a unique sensory experience of mixing ingredients and smelling the bread when it is in the oven. Working on this process may help you forget about everyday stress and allows you to relax, and gives you a sense of taking control of what you eat. Home bakers say making your own bread is very satisfying. Where can I buy ingredients for bread baking at home? In our health food online store Wholefood Earth, you will find all kinds of best quality organic flours you'll need to start baking your own bread at home. You will be able to make simple white bread, sourdough, whole wheat and rye bread and whatever bread you crave. Only your imagination is the limit! Click here to learn how to make bread at home. With this simple bread recipe, you can learn how to make bread easily in your oven without using a bread machine.

We’ve all heard the classic saying that ‘Breakfast is the most important meal of the day’, but is there any truth to it? Well, some of the clue to why it’s touted as being so essential is in the name itself: it’s the way to break our overnight fast. But is skipping it really the dietary faux pas we’ve been led to believe? Well, it turns out there’s many reasons why breakfast is such a significant mealtime. Many studies have shown that regularly eating a good breakfast is linked to better memory and focus, decreased ‘bad’ cholesterol, less risk of developing certain diseases, weight management and good health overall. So seems breakfast is rather beneficial, after all! To help you out, we’ve made a list of healthy breakfast foods, which are mostly vegan friendly, and thrown in a few recipes if you’re needing some inspiration. Let’s get cracking! Oats Having oats for breakfast is one of the best ways you can start your day. They’re one of the healthiest grains on the planet, and are packed full of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Oats are also rich in fibre, which keeps you feeling satiated for longer, whilst also lowering blood sugar and insulin response. This is particularly important in the morning, so you don’t start to crave unhealthy snacks or overeat later in the day. Another great aspect of oats is that they’re easy to prepare and can be paired with basically anything. Make them sweet or savoury by including whatever toppings you heart desires. For a slightly different take on traditional oatmeal, have a look at our Fruit & Nut Overnight Oats. Muffins Muffins at first glance may not seem like the healthiest choice, however there’s still ways you can enjoy these baked goods for breakfast. So, no need to chase away the muffin man just yet! A lot of the ingredients in muffins can be swapped out for healthier alternatives. Instead of sugar think fruit, honey, peanut butter, or cacao. And substitute some of the flour for grains such as oats and quinoa. There are so many different types of healthy muffin recipes out there. One combination we think is delicious for breakfast is our Banana & Almond Muffins. If you’re in rush in the mornings, why not make a big batch and pop them in the freezer. Then, simply reheat them in the toaster oven in the mornings, so you’re breakfast ready. Vegan Scramble Prefer something savoury for your first meal of the day? Well look no further than a scramble. Traditionally this would be made with eggs, but for all our vegan and health conscious friends out there, the eggs can easily be replaced with a plant-based option. Two alternatives are chickpeas or tofu. Both are great sources of protein, whilst also being gluten free and vegan. Protein is an important staple of your diet as numerous studies have shown it increases metabolic health, builds muscle, and aids in weight loss. We’ve got your egg free breakfast covered with our Chickpea Scramble. Chickpeas also contain 8 of the 9 essential amino acids, which are structural components of protein that need to be acquired from the food you eat. Smoothie We all know how vital it is to get enough fruit and vegetables in our diets. They’re packed full of essential nutrients and antioxidants, plus, their fibre content helps keep your digestive system healthy and keeps you feeling full. Smoothies are the perfect way to incorporate some of your 5- a day into your breakfast. There are endless possibilites of ingredients to make your smoothie from, so why not get creative? We personally love this delicious Strawberry Chia Seed Smoothie, along with our heavenly Chocolate Protein Smoothie. Both great ways to get some extra protein in to your morning. Pancakes Pancakes are another breakfast staple that is usually considered unhealthy, but we’ve got your back so you can still keep flipping those delicious cakes! Pancakes can be made from a variety of Healthier Flour Alternatives which contain more nutritional benefits, as opposed to the standard all-purpose flour. If you’re looking to up your protein intake, you can choose a high protein flour such as soya or quinoa flour, alternatively add some protein powder to the mix. Protein is essential for healthy bones, skin, cartilage, and even keeping your hair strong and shiny. If you looking some pancake ideas, then look no further than our Gluten Free Big Boy Pancakes with Muscovado Treacle Syrup or Banana & Strawberry Pancakes Toast Another breakfast favourite! If you want to make this classic morning meal healthier, we recommend switching out white bread for loaves made with minimal ingredients, such as wholegrain, rye or sourdough. This will have less of an impact on your blood sugar levels and are generally lower in fat. If you’re a keen baker, why not try making your own. As to what you decide to put on the toast, well the options are countless. If you’re after a savoury option, we think avocados, tomatoes, roasted peppers, mushrooms, or beans are all highly nutritious and delicious choices. If you prefer your toast to be sweet why not check out our recipe for Vegan French Toast ft. Nooch Granola Granola is a breakfast staple, and for good reason. It’s a much healthier and nutritious choice than many of the popular sugary and calorie laden cereals. Just be aware that a lot of store bought versions of granola can be loaded with added sugars and preservatives, so we suggest mixing your own using oats, nuts, seeds, and dried fruits. These ingredients are rich sources of iron, zinc, and magnesium, as well as B vitamins and vitamin E. You can either eat it as it is, with plant milk, or even sprinkled over yoghurt. For an on the go option, how about trying our Zesty Lemon Chia Seed Granola Bars.

Here at Wholefood Earth, we believe that no question is a silly question. For anyone wanting to know if there is any difference between soy and soya then we have the answer you seek! The short but sweet answer is NO – Soy and Soya are exactly the same thing. Both terms mainly refer to the bean (from which all soya products originate) which can also be called a soybean or soya bean. However, the only real difference is in the spelling. It tends to be referred to more as soy in the US, while here in Europe it is more widely known as soya. No wonder it can get confusing! But we’re happy to set the record straight 😊 So now you have your answer, how about finding out Why Soya is a Great Meat Substitute?