Latest news with #SamanthaBartlett
Wales Online
28-05-2025
- Health
- Wales Online
'I've started eating 70p dish for weight loss and it's a total game-changer'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info I've always prided myself on maintaining a relatively healthy diet. Granted, I do have a penchant for sweets and chocolate, but my daily meals are generally not overly indulgent, unless I'm dining out. However, despite my balanced eating habits, I confess there's a bit of extra weight I'd like to shed for the sake of my health and wellbeing. It's nothing drastic, but losing a stone would certainly boost my energy levels - something greatly needed when keeping up with an energetic toddler nearing his third birthday. Given that my diet is already quite wholesome, I was somewhat stumped as to how to create a calorie deficit to aid the weight loss. As a full-time working mum, finding time for extensive exercise can be challenging, and reducing portion sizes leaves me feeling unsatisfied and grumpy. Therefore, I needed to devise a strategy to cut calories without drastically altering my current diet. Feeling unsure of where to start, I sought advice from everyone's virtual confidant – ChatGPT – hoping it could provide some insight into how I might lose a stone. ChatGPT offered several meal suggestions for breakfast, lunch, and dinner that would help me consume fewer calories (approximately 1,400 – 1,600 per day) while still feeling satiated, thus increasing the likelihood of sticking to the plan. (Image: Samantha Bartlett) I must admit, one of its recommendations was a complete game-changer. For breakfast, the plan proposed options such as Greek yoghurt with berries and granola, scrambled eggs with spinach and mushroom on wholegrain toast, and overnight oats with chia seeds, almond milk and strawberries. Lunchtime meal ideas encompassed a grilled chicken salad with a wholemeal pita, a turkey breast wrap, and a tuna salad. However, it was an evening meal suggestion that truly revolutionised my eating habits. The recommendation of cauliflower rice paired with stir-fried chicken, vegetables and light soy sauce has been a game-changer for me. Initially, I had doubts about its taste, but after trying it with the suggested dish, chilli con carne, and other rice-based meals, I can confirm it's absolutely scrumptious. (Image: Samantha Bartlett) Moreover, it's good value for money as I purchase a frozen 4-pack of cauliflower rice from Tesco for £2.75, which works out at 70p per portion. It's also simple to prepare and packed with vitamins. After consuming regular rice, I often feel somewhat lethargic, particularly in the evenings, but I've discovered that substituting it with cauliflower is gentler on my digestion and doesn't leave me feeling bloated. In terms of maintaining a calorie deficit, it's also fantastic as it contains just 30 calories per serving, compared to the 175 calories in Uncle Ben's Mexican Rice, which I used to consume regularly. I haven't been making the swap for long, so I don't believe it's had a significant impact on weight loss yet. However, I can envisage that if I adhere to the plan, it certainly would, given you're saving around 150 calories per portion of each meal. Given it's such an easy substitution, I'd definitely endorse it if you're aiming to slim down a bit or even if you're simply trying to incorporate more vegetables and vitamins into your diet. You can thank me later!
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'I spotted Cadbury Easter Eggs in Sainsbury's – and couldn't believe the price'
Considering it's not even March yet, many people are grumbling about already seeing Easter eggs on supermarket shelves. However, considering the fact that I am a huge chocoholic, I can't say I mind too much to be honest as it gives me a chance to browse what's on offer (and maybe have a few samples) before the big day. But as I was doing my browse on a little trip to Sainsbury's yesterday, my jaw basically hit the floor as I saw the price of two particular Cadbury eggs. READ MORE: Next 'comfy' £30 trousers are 'more stylish than joggers' and 'can be dressed up' READ MORE: New Look shutting 29 branches with full list of locations announced I'm used to paying a couple of pounds for my Easter eggs, maybe splashing out a bit more if it's a good one, however I was gobsmacked to find the Cadbury Dairy Milk & White Marble Ultimate Easter Egg and the Mini Eggs Inclusions Ultimate Easter Egg are on sale in Sainsbury's for £15.50. Yes, you read that right – £15.50. Since when were Easter Eggs £15.50? — Samantha Bartlett (@sammyloubelle) February 27, 2025 I honestly had to double take like I was in a comedy cartoon sketch to see I was reading it right, and alas I was. And what do you get for all this money I hear you ask? According to Cadbury's, the Milk & White Marble Ultimate Easter Egg is a "creamy marbled Cadbury dairy milk & Cadbury white chocolate Easter egg with individually wrapped chunks". You get one one hollow egg in the 380g pack, as well as a couple of bars of white chocolate and a couple of bars of milk chocolate. Nothing mind-blowing if you ask me. The Mini Eggs Inclusions Ultimate Easter Egg is pretty much the same, with it including one hollow milk chocolate egg with sugar coated milk chocolate candies (10%) and one bag of solid milk chocolate eggs in a crisp sugar shell. For £15.50 I'd be expecting a solid egg or about 10 packs of chocolate with it, not basically just a standard egg. Talk about disappointing. It's even more baffling because the standard Cadbury Mini Eggs Chocolate Easter egg, which is 193g is just £4 in Sainsbury's, while the XL version (232g) is £6, which I think we can agree are reasonable prices. You can also get a mini version of it and a small Dairy Milk Giant buttons Easter egg, which are both 96g for £1.75 so I don't know why you'd splash out so much on these 'ultimate' Easter eggs. All I know is that I won't be opting for the 'luxury' version anytime soon, I'm happy to stick to my £2 chocolate eggs and keep the other £13.50 for the rest of my bills thank you very much. A spokesperson from Mondelēz International said: 'We understand the economic pressures that consumers continue to face and raising prices is a last resort for our business. However, as a food producer, we are continuing to experience significantly higher input costs across our supply chain, with ingredients such as cocoa and dairy, which are widely used in our products, costing far more than they have done previously. "Meanwhile, other costs like energy and transport also remain high. This means that our products continue to be much more expensive to make and while we have absorbed these costs where possible, we still face considerable challenges." They added: "As a result, we are having to make some carefully considered list price increases across parts of our Easter range so that we can continue to provide consumers with the brands they love, without compromising on the great taste and quality they expect." Sainsbury's have been contacted for comment.
