Bake-it off for your Heart (From Smallholder)
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Bake-it off for your Heart
7:14pm Thursday 11th October 2012 in News
Celebrity chefs have been getting a lot of prime television time recently and made baking a very popular activity, cup- cakes being a particular favourite.
Baking is a great family activity as children and adults alike can have lots of fun making and decorating their own bread & cakes. National Baking Week runs from 15 to 21 October and is a great time to head for the kitchen. But remember that cakes, buns and biscuits made from traditional recipes can contain high amounts of fats and sugar as well as artificial flavours, colours and preservatives, so make sure you bake the healthier way.
• Swap white flour for wholemeal flour which is rich in fibre and contains a range of other nutrients including vitamins and minerals. Alternatively, be adventurous and try rye or buckwheat for a change.
• Add fruit and vegetables to recipes: try making some savoury scones, carrot cake or banana bread and be sure to add dried fruit such as raisins or cranberries to flapjacks and muffins, buns and biscuits - these are all great ways to get a little extra fruit and veg into your diet without giving up on treats.
• Homemade bread recipes usually tell you to add salt; instead, make your own bread using herbs like coriander or spices such as ginger or cinnamon. You can also include nuts and seeds to add texture and taste instead of salt.
• Butter and some margarines are high in saturated fat; look for cake and biscuit recipes that use olive or rapeseed oil or ground almonds for heart-healthier fats.
• Limit the sugar-rich icing on top of your cakes and buns. Get creative and decorate with colourful, fresh fruit, a swirl of pure fruit purée, a sprinkle of ground or chopped nuts as an alternative decoration.
By making some small, easy changes to recipes, home baking can continue to be fun and tasty and still be kind to your waist and your heart.
For more information and advice about healthy living, contact Heart Research UK on or email lifestyle@heartresearch.org.uk
