Healthy Eating.

I think it's pretty obvious that healthy eating plays a large role in becoming a successful elite athlete. I have always had a pretty healthy lifestyle, with the odd treat, but the part I find hardest is snacks. Especially at the moment as I am studying for GCSE's, when I'm revising alone in my room, all I can this is that I want a snack, but what would be a good, healthy snack? I don't like to eat things that you can just buy from a shop and eat straight from a packet as you don't know what's gone in it. Instead I like to make my own snacks and here are 2 recipes that are quick and simple and delicious and healthy! Enjoy!

Cinnamon and Cranberry Flapjacks

I know flapjacks aren't the best foods for losing weight, but they are great for a healthier source of energy, so here's what you'll need:

• 100g butter (I used margarine as it has a higher water content and is healthier)
• 100g caster sugar (You could use agave nectar as a healthier option, but I didn't have any)
• 50g golden syrup
• 220g rolled oats
• Some cinnamon (cinnamon has many health benefits outlined here: http://cinnamonvogue.com/cinnamoncommonuses.html)
• Some dried cranberries (great source of vitamin C and E)

Here are the instructions:

1. Heat the butter, sugar and golden syrup together in a pan until it is all melted. Make sure you keep stirring it as you don't want the butter or sugar to burn on the bottom of the pan.
2. Take it off the heat and pour in the rolled oats and stir until fully incorporated. (you could put them in the oven now to make plain flapjacks, just add about 5 more grams of oats)
3. Now add the cinnamon in to taste and the cranberries.
4. Pour the mixture onto a baking tray lined with baking parchment and place into a 180 degree oven for 40 minutes or until golden brown.
5. Remove the flapjacks from the oven, slice them into 16 slices but leave them in the pan to cool as if you attempt to remove them now, they will crumble in your hands.

Apple crisps

These are extremely simple to make but are delicious and a good source of natural sugars. To make these, you will need:

• Apples (as many as you want but I would say at least 3)
• Cinnamon

Here are the instructions:

1. Core the apples and slice them as thin as you can.
2. Place the apple slices onto baking trays lined with baking paper and sprinkle both sides of the apples with cinnamon.
3. Place them into a 160 degree oven for about 45 minutes, turning them over halfway through the baking time. Take out any slices looking a little more cooked than others earlier so they don't burn.
4. Take them out and leave them to cool on a wire cooling rack so they dry out and become crispy.

SO there are my 2 super simple, delicious, healthy snacks that I like to make. As I said before, I doubt anyone will read this but if you do, leave a comment as it would mean the world to me to know that something I am writing is being read by even one other person in the world!

Bye!