Snack attack

I'm definitely not a 3 square meals kind of girl.

It just doesn't work for me. 

Snacks are vital for keeping my energy up and keeping me going throughout the day.

I love healthy snacks, but I'm all about balance - so you can be sure treats make it into my stomach as well. 

But my one main rule of healthy snacks? They need to taste good. 

Because, seriously, who wants to be choking something down that tastes revolting - just because it's "healthy"?

Not me!

Partner Foods seem to be on the same train as me,

Their intention when creating "Chic Nuts" was that: 

- they had to taste good

- they had to be good for you

- they had  to contribute to sustainable agriculture

Anddd you know what?
They get my BIG tick of approval! 

Chic Nuts are chickpeas roasted to perfection - they're crunchy and full of flavour and make a perfect snack!

They come in two flavours: Sicilian Herbs and Garlic and Lightly Salted.

The Sicilian Herbs and Garlic were hands down my favourite of the two. 

Crunchy with so much flavour - there was no way you could tell you were eating chickpeas! 

Now, you might be like my mum or sister who were a bit skeptical on the whole chickpea deal.

But I promise you, after you try Chic Nuts - you'll be thanking me and worshiping chickpeas :P

They do not fit the "healthy snack" stereotype in that they're bland, boring and just plain gross.

Partner Foods have also made it easier for snacking on the run with their convenient snack packs. 

Just pop one or two in your purse or bag and you're equipped for when the hunger monster attacks! 

The snack packs are also available as Fava Nuts - which are much like the Chic Nuts, only they're broadbeans instead of chickpeas. 

Chic Nuts and Fava Nuts have become pantry staples in my house!

They're perfect for when you need a crunchy or a salty snack and they're so much better than a bag of chips!

Chickpeas are full of protein, dietary fibre, zinc and a multitude of B complex vitamins and they're also low GI and gluten free!

If you're in Australia - you're in luck! You can pick up some Chic nuts for yourself at Woolworths, Safeway and IGA stores across the country as well as many Health Food and Specialty Stores.

So tell me,

Are you a 3 square meals kinda person

or do you like to include snacks in your day?

And don't forget! 

Click above to enter to win 14 Blocks of Alter Eco Chocolate!

It's open to all readers, internationally! 

Kristy received Chic and Fava Nuts courtesy of www.chicnuts.com

If you'd like a review of your products, send an email to ksayerphotography@gmail.com 

GIVEAWAY: Fairtrade Fortnight Fun

Mhm, you read right.. it's GIVEAWAY TIME!

and even better? It's open to ALL READERS! 

whether you live in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, USA or Timbuktu - you can enter :) 

Everyone likes chocolate, right? 

As a part of Fairtrade Fortnight (7-22nd May) which starts TODAY

Alter Eco and I wanted to give one lucky reader the chance to try Alter Eco's delicious Fairtrade Chocolate

All you have to do is like Alter Eco's BRAND NEW facebook page

and let me know you've "liked" them in the comment box below! 

Just hit the "like" button or open www.facebook.com/alterecopacific in your web browser

And that's all there is to it! 

The lucky winner will receive a box, delivered to their home 

that contains FOURTEEN blocks of Alter Eco Chocolate

2x Dark Chocolate Quinoa (Favourite!)

2x Dark Chocolate Velvet (Favourite!)

2x Dark Chocolate Almond

2x Dark Chocolate Mint (My current ultimate favourite)

2x Dark Chocolate Orange Twist

2x Dark Chocolate Blackout 85%

2x Dark Chocolate Cacao 73%

So what are you waiting for?! 

SCROLL UP!

HIT LIKE!

LEAVE ME A COMMENT LETTING ME KNOW!

and the winner will be chosen at random on 23rd May, 2011.

What's YOUR favourite chocolate flavour?
I love mint and dark chocolate - so dark mint chocolate probably tops the charts :P

COMPETITION: Deliciously Simple and Coeliac Awareness Week

Even the best of chefs have kitchen disasters.

Cakes that fail to rise, muffins with doughy centres, ingredients knocked off the kitchen counter, spoiled milk, misinterpreted recipes,  faulty kitchen equipment - you name it, it happens. 

Gluten free baking can be a bit of a disaster if you're not used to it. 

Unfamiliar ingredients and textures can often lead to lacklustre cakes and gummy brownies. 

For alot of people with Coeliac disease, baking is forgotten about. 

But Melinda's Gluten Free Goodies makes it super easy, you could even say fool proof!

Take the Lemon Curd Delights I made above, all you have to do is melt and mix! 

Plus, no one will ever know it's not homemade unless you tell them ;) 

I got plenty of compliments from my taste testers who couldn't believe they'd come from a packet.

Coeliac Disease effects one in every 100 Australians, however, fewer than one in five have been diagnosed.

That means that up to 200, 000 Australians have coeliac disease and have no idea. 

So what is Coeliac Disease? 

It's the result of an auto-immune response where the body produces antibodies which attack it's own tissues. This response is triggered by eating gluten - a protein which is found in wheat, rye, barley and oats.

Those with coeliac disease may experience: 

- Fatigue

- Unexplained anaemia

- Nutritional deficiencies such as B12, iron or folate

- Gastrointestinal problems

- Nausea and vomiting

- Unintentional weight loss 

- Delayed growth or development in children

- Headaches

- Liver problems

- Unexplained multiple fractures

- Irritability

- Trouble concentrating

You may also have a higher risk of having coeliac disease if you have:

- a family history of coeliac disease

- type one diabetes 

- unexplained osteoporosis

- infertility or multiple miscarriages

So how do you find out if you have Coeliac Disease?

Have a talk to your doctor if you're concerned and a Coeliac Blood Screening test can be ordered and the correct measurements can be taken from there.

What happens to people with Coeliac Disease?

The good news is that Coeliac disease can be treated quite easily, with the removal of gluten from the diet.   

 Melinda's Gluten Free Goodies have just released an app called Gluten Free Entertaining to help you out when it comes to cooking for yourself or others on a Gluten Free diet. 

This should hopefully help you to avoid any kitchen disasters!

But now, lets get to the fun part!

I want you to try Melinda's products too! and so does Melinda herself!

So we're offering you the chance to win over $100 worth of MGFG delivered to your door! 

 

All you have to do is comment, telling me about your worst kitchen disaster

or your ultimate cooking triumph! 

and to gain an extra entry like and post "I want to win MGFG with ksayerphotography" at Melinda's Gluten Free Goodies Facebook page page

The winner will be chosen by Melinda and announced here and on MGFG's Facebook page on April 4th

(Open to AUS residents only - Sorry!)

 

Non-blog readers: Leave a comment to win and send me a copy at ksayerphotography@gmail.com

so that I have your contact details if you win!

Kristy received MGFG courtesy of www.melindas.com.au

If you'd like a review of your products, send an email to ksayerphotography.blogspot.com 

COMPETITION: The Spring in Your Day!

I told you a little while ago that I was chosen to be apart of Spring Valley's Sunnie Day project.

But what is the project, you ask?

Well - Spring Valley's current promotion is all part of the idea that you can find the spring in your everyday, even if the sun isn't shining. 

No, no.. I'm not talking about a metal spring. I'm talking about something that gives you that little boost! 

It might be witnessing something hilarious or super cute, catching up with an old friend, having the most amazing lunch of your life, noticing the flowers that just popped up in your garden or finally achieving a goal you've set for yourself.

Who knows! But that little spring is there! 

So what have I got for you? hey hey?

Why, I want to give you something, Perhaps it will be the spring in your day?

Thanks to Spring Valley and Soup, I'm giving away one pair of Morrissey sunglasses. 

Spring Valley is currently giving away a pair of sunnies every 30 minutes for the next 11 weeks

and all you have to do is SMS your Spring Valley Juice bottle's barcode from any specially marked bottle

or go online to enter.

And if you win by entering your barcode? You get to choose from 5 limited edition colours

Black, White, Red, Yellow and Blue!

And if you don't win? Second chance draw baby!

But back to my giveaway, especially for you!

To enter, I want you to tell me...

What puts the Spring in your day?!
Leave a comment at the end of this post to be entered into the Morrissey Sunnies Giveaway!

The giveaway is open to Australian residents only 

(sorry international readers, I still love you!)

and you have to make sure I have a way to contact you!
(For non blog users you can send me your email address and a copy of your comment to ksayerphotography@gmail.com - that way no one has to know your email address) 

The winner will be decided randomly, but you still have to answer the question in order to have a valid entry!

Entries close February 28, 2011 11:59 AEST

But until then, 

why don't you grab yourself a specially marked Spring Valley Juice and enter your barcode to win!\

Keep your eyes peeled for some more juice-y posts soon!

082.

Today is the first of May,

So you know what that means?

It's time I announced the winner of the Market Basket Competition!

One lucky person could be strolling the aisles of the farmer's markets clutching a gorgeous hand woven French Market Basket from The Market Basket Co.

I wanted this to be a fair competition, So I used random.org to find the winner.

And that winner is................

Trina! from The Gourmet Forager

who wrote:

"Oh what a gorgeous basket - perfect for mushroom hunting in Oberon! A good basket is great for letting those mushroom spores drop back to the forest floor. "

Using this basket for mushroom hunting never crossed my mind,

probably as I've never hunted for mushrooms myself,

But this sounds like a perfect use!

Congratulations Trina!

So now I want to know,

What's your favourite thing to pick up at the Farmer's Market?

Personally, I can't leave the farmer's market without picking up some cherry tomatoes

and a bag of freshly picked apples.

078.

I apologise for the lack of posts lately, you see, I've been having computer issues. Lots and lots of sweet, sweet computer issues. Sooooo sweet...

Sometimes I really really dislike technology. Sure I love my DSLR and the internet as well as blogging - but computer viruses drive me absolutely mental. Especially as it stops me from getting to the thousands upon thousands of photos stored on my computer.

But luckily I am back to having a fully functioning computer that is virus free!

which means, I'm back to blogging!

Don't forget that...

so scroll down to my last post and make sure you enter!

All you have to do is comment, and then send me a copy of your comment in an email.

Now I want you to share with me,

What is the one thing that drives you mad?!

077.

That's right! 

It's time for my first ever giveaway!

Imagine you are strolling through a farmer's market..

You grab some tomatoes and potatoes and maybe some celery,

then you walk to another stall and buy some bread. 

You're going to need something to put all of that in, right? 

 These genuine French market baskets from The Market Basket Co. are perfect for the job.

They're hand crafted in Morocco from natural palm fibre with strong Moroccan leather handles, 

and they are way more stylish than your Coles eco bag.

Because these baskets are so strong they also hold alot more, 

so instead of lugging around 10 plastic shopping bags, 

you'll have one stylish alternative.

The handles are long enough to sling the bag over your shoulder, 

which is perfect if you're going to be carrying your buys for a long period of time.

I was lucky enough to receive not one, but two of these gorgeous baskets,
so I'm giving away one to one of my fabulous readers!

I thought these baskets would be perfect for a picnic, 

filled with delicious fresh food and a picnic rug to sit on.
Or for a trip to the beach, as they don't mind getting wet!


The market basket you could win is a classic french style market basket 
edged with bright green Moroccan leather and deluxe 60cm handles.
(see above)
The basket can be carried in the hand, or over the shoulder

and at a recommended retail price of $57.00, why wouldn't you want to enter?

All you have to do to be in the running to win this stylish basket is: 

1. Be an Australian Resident (Sorry if you live elsewhere, I still appreciate you and i'm trying to have another giveaway for you all soon!)

2. Be a follower of this blog! Just click the follow button at the top right.

3. Leave a comment on this post telling me what you'd do with the basket if you win.

4. Send me a copy of your comment in an email to ksayerphotography@gmail.com with the subject Market Basket Comp.

and to get an extra entry?

Tweet about this giveaway and comment with a link to your tweet.

Good luck!

The winner will be chosen using random.org's integer generator and will be contacted via email.  
Entries close April 30th 2010

Make sure you follow all the steps to be in the running! 

If the lucky winner does not respond in 5 days a new winner will be drawn.


To find out more information on The Market Basket Co and find out where you can get your own market basket, check out their website 


Kristy received both market baskets courtesy of The Market Basket Co and Handle communications,
If you'd like a review of your products, or you'd like to sponsor a giveaway send an email to ksayerphotography@gmail.com