Boostball is a homegrown UK brand whose ethos is to provide the nation with 'less ingredients, more protein'. Their high protein balls contain all natural ingredients which have various health benefits. The high protein content is conducive to muscle growth and they only contain natural sugars found in fruits and plants. I was excited to try their products as they sound as delicious as they look!

Maple & Cinnamon Roll

The balls are raw and cold-pressed which means they don't lose any vitamins or other nutrients during the production process. The Maple & Cinnamon Roll flavour balls have a looser texture than the others which makes them easier to chew. They're nice and light with just the right amount of cinnamon flavouring without it being over-powering. There are three balls in each pack and together they provide 11g of protein which is impressive for such a light snack!

Chocolate Orange Mud Cake

The chocolate orange mud cake was definitely my favourite flavour! So chocolatey and moreish, I could've eaten them all day! They are lovely and sweet without the help of artificial additives and the orange flavour shines through really well. This flavour feels so decadent and indulgent, you could eat them to cure a sweet tooth or chocolate craving without having to feel guilty, winner! 

Peanut Butter Cookie Dough

The peanut butter cookie dough flavour was a personal highlight too. After spotting peanut butter listed on the ingredients, I confirmed with Boost Ball's 'Chief Roller' Dan Chambers that no palm oil is ever used in any of their products, which is a really important point. Palm oil is not only bad for our health but it's bad for the environment too, yet it is a really common ingredient in many processed foods, including peanut butter. So the fact that Boost Ball steer clear of it is a big tick from me. 

Coconut Fudge Cake

 The coconut fudge cake balls are covered in flaky desiccated coconut which I love, although it did make a bit of a mess on my desk! The texture is quite hard, I decided that eating each ball whole was the best option rather than trying to bite into it. But this is definitely not a negative quality; they are not so hard that they are difficult to chew. They are perfectly sweet without any added sugar or artificial sweetener which is great. 

Verdict

Boost Balls are the perfect snack whether it's to satisfy a craving for something sweet or just something to get you through the mid-afternoon slump at work. It's so great knowing you can have something healthy to snack on that won't taste awful and has lots of protein in it as an added benefit. I love the branding and packaging on these and they're perfectly pocket-sized so you could even take them on a run or a bike ride. It's got to be a 10 from me!

Boost Ball on Social 

Boost Ball on Facebook

Instagram @boostballs

Twitter @boost_ball

The Protein Ball Co was founded in 2015 by husband and wife team Matt and Hayley Hunt after they struggled to find clean, healthy, protein-related grab-and-go snacks. They set out with the goal of making protein snacks more widely accessible to the population, rather than just bodybuilders and gym buffs! I was super excited to try their products as the packaging is so cute and attractive and I love tasty protein snacks!

Coconut & Macadamia

The coconut and macadamia flavour balls are made with whey protein making them a great protein source for a quick snack. The coconut flavour is really powerful and fresh, with the macadamia nuts hiding in the middle adding a lovely crunch to the texture. These are really tasty!

Cherry & Almond

This flavour tastes exactly like Cherry Bakewell - delicious! I absolutely loved these ones, and I think I would've been even more excited about them if the flavour was actually named Cherry Bakewell. These are dairy-free as the protein source is egg-white and they provide a hearty 9g of protein per pack! I was really impressed by this flavour as I usually go for chocolate-flavoured snacks but these were superb.

Cacao & Orange

The cacao and orange protein balls are also made with whey protein meaning they have a 22% protein content! The cacao provides a lovely deep flavour; it's nice and chocolatey meaning it'll kerb any chocolate cravings, but it's not so moreish that you end up just wanting more!

Goji & Coconut

I love that The Protein Ball Co offer such a diverse range of protein sources and that they have 2 flavours which are vegan-friendly, one of which being the goji and coconut flavour. 

Peanut Butter

The peanut butter protein balls are to die for! They taste so authentic, almost as if I had just whipped them up in my own kitchen. They were extremely fresh with a lovely moist texture, and the peanut butter is definitely the star flavour. They are moreish without being addictive and perfect for a post-workout snack!

Lemon & Pistachio

The lemon and pistachio balls also contain vegan protein meaning there's plenty of choice for vegans. This flavour is lovely and fresh thanks to the lemon.

Verdict

These handy protein snacks are absolutely perfect for all number of occasions, from lunchboxes to gym bags. They make the perfect pre- or post-workout snack or just something to cure that sweet tooth craving. All the flavours are absolutely delicious and they really taste authentic; you don't feel like you're eating some mass produced chemical-laden franken-snack. I love the packaging, especially as I feel that kids would be attracted to it which would encourage them to eat healthier snacks. Finally, I love that the different flavours are made from different protein sources so there's something for everyone. It's a 10 from me! Buy yours now from their website! http://theproteinballco.com/

The Protein Ball Co on Social

Twitter @TheProteinBall

Instagram @TheProteinBallCo

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Creative Nature is a young, ethical organisation that was established to promote health, creativity, and respect for the environment, just like Sundried. They source their ingredients from exotic countries like Hawaii and New Zealand to offer the very best in worldly superfoods. I was thrilled when they sent me a selection of their high protein bars to sample.

Apple Pie Protein

The Creative Nature protein bars boast such qualities as being gluten free, dairy free, wheat free, and nut free, meaning that even people with food allergies can freely enjoy them with no qualms. They are also certified by the Vegan Society which means they are ethical and clean. With 8g of protein in each bar, there is a good balance of macronutrients. The Apple Pie protein bar tastes fantastic! It really tastes like apple pie! The texture of the bar is great, nice and soft without being too chewy like some protein bars. 

Salted Caramel 

I was a little disappointed with this flavour as salted caramel is my absolute jam, I cannot get enough of it, and this didn't really give me much of that flavour. It still tastes fantastic, but I didn't get the salted caramel vibe unfortunately.

Cacao Orange

The cacao orange flavour was my favourite of the three which was a surprise! The orange flavour is so authentic despite there not actually being any orange listed in the ingredients. The cacao gives a lovely balance of deep flavours to offset the sweetness of the dates and orange flavour. The added crunch from superfoods such as pumpkin seeds and chia seeds give this bar a fantastic texture and make it very moreish!

Verdict

The bars themselves are delicious with an excellent texture. The only drawback I'd say is that they're so moreish I could eat them all day! But with that fibre content I don't think my stomach would thank me for it! The flavours are rich and complex and I think they would perhaps suit names that do those qualities more justice. It's an 8 from me!

Creative Nature Superfoods on Social

Creative Nature on Facebook

Twitter @creativenature

Instagram @creativenaturesuperfoods

Mindful Chef is a health-focused food box company set up by school friends Giles, Myles, and Rob in 2015. Since then, they've been delivering fresh produce and tasty recipes to thousands of people from small farms in Devon where they grew up. Their ethos is helping people lead a healthier life by reducing the intake of sugar and refined carbohydrates. None of their fresh food boxes contain pasta, bread, or white rice, but instead are packed with fresh vegetables and wholesome ingredients. They cater for all different dietary requirements, including vegan, which is the option I went for when they offered to send me some of their fabulous meals.

Teriyaki tofu, seaweed & brown rice bowl

The concept of Mindful Chef is fantastic. They send out a box full of fresh ingredients, all weighed out perfectly, and a simple recipe which is easy to follow. Now I hate cooking, and I am terrible at it! I'm talking undercooked veg, overcooked rice, and bland everything. But with Mindful Chef, even a rubbish cook like me can whip up a tasty and nutritious dinner with minimal fuss! The other thing that I love about this concept is that I ended up eating foods and flavours that I would never have otherwise. I don't think I'd even know where to find seaweed let alone how to add it to a recipe! So their teriyaki tofu, seaweed and brown rice bowl was a big winner for me. The flavours are fantastic and really clever; they work wonderfully together to create a really delicious dish. Everything you need is right there in front of you so after a long day at work, you can come home knowing that a healthy dinner isn't too far away. 

Brazilian black bean stew with brown rice

This recipe also got a big thumbs up from me. The macros for each meal are very handily listed on the recipe card, and can also be found on Mindful Chef's website, so for those counting macros or preparing for a competition, the hard work is already done for you. Again, the flavours in this dish were fantastic, with the sweetness of the creamed coconut marrying together with the bitterness of the beans to create a great balance. Mindful Chef also includes raw cacao powder in this dish which is a good source of magnesium, used by the body for energy production and promoting good circulation. Another ingredient which I would never have thought to include in my dinner so I love it! 

Sugar snap, chickpea, and cauli rice biryani

One of the main ingredients included in this recipe was cauli rice, which I had heard of but never tried. Cauliflower rice has up to 75% fewer calories than regular white rice and it stays fresh for up to 12 months with no preservatives so it is definitely a healthier option. This recipe was also delicious and super easy to make! Its nutritional information is also very balanced, providing 447 calories, 53g of carbs, 21g of fat, and 21g of protein which is very good for a vegan meal.

Verdict

I love the ethos of Mindful Chef and the fact that it is a humble British brand just trying to help the nation become healthier. They have so many different recipes that you would never get bored and it also encourages lazy people like me to get more active in the kitchen! It makes cooking easy and they cater for everyone. Their recipes are delicious and healthy, as well as being varied and exotic. I think I might have to sign up for a subscription myself! It's a resounding 10 from me.

The Oppo brothers have an incredible story behind their brand and their ethos of providing affordable, healthy food to the nation is really inspiring. I was really excited to try their healthy ice cream as I had heard wonderful things about it!

Oppo was developed in 2011 by brothers Charlie and Harry after an adventure in exotic Brazil. They set themselves the challenge of breaking the world record for travelling by kite on land by using kite buggies to travel 1000km from the airport to a popular kitesurfing destination. During this challenge, the brothers lost a lot of their body weight through malnutrition but they stayed alive by eating the foods that grow naturally on Brazil's coastline, such as coconuts and wild super-fruits. This incredible experience inspired the brothers to create their own food using these ingredients and to make it indulgent and healthy all at the same time. 

Their hard work and determination paid off, and they soon found that their product - low sugar healthy ice cream - was in high demand! They are now stocked in over 1,000 stores nationwide and they have even had investment from tennis champion Andy Murray! Oppo comes in three delicious flavours - Madagascan Vanilla, Salted Caramel, and Mint Choc Swirl.

Madagascan Vanilla

Each oppo ice cream flavour is made from fresh milk, cold pressed virgin coconut oil, and stevia leaf for sweetness. Stevia is a healthy, plant-based sweetener which is becoming a popular replacement for sugar. Stevia has several scientifically proven health benefits, such as lowering blood pressure and stabilising blood sugar levels. The Madagascan vanilla flavour includes a hint of the African baobab fruit which also has many health benefits! Not only does it add a subtle tang to the flavour, it is also a rich source of vitamin C which boosts the immune system and contributes to better energy levels. This simple flavour is the perfect accompaniment to a raw cacao brownie.

Salted Caramel

Salted caramel is enjoying huge popularity in the food industry at the moment, so it's great that Oppo has developed a healthy option for this great flavour! 100ml (2 scoops) of this flavour contains only 75 calories which is fantastically low for an ice cream, along with 3.9g of fat, 6.6g of carbs, and 3g of protein, meaning the macro split is fantastic. The secret to Oppo's Salted Caramel flavour is the Peruvian lucuma fruit, which is rich in nutrients such as beta-carotene, iron, zinc, vitamin B3, calcium, and protein. It has a maple-like taste which makes it perfect for this flavour combination in ice cream.

Mint Choc Swirl

The mint choc swirl was definitely my favourite flavour! It's always been my favourite ice cream flavour, and now that there's a healthy version it's ideal! The secret ingredient in this flavour is spirulina, which is big in the fitness world as it provides such a high percentage of protein per 100g. Oppo source their spirulina from the South China Sea continuing the theme of interesting and exotic ingredients.

Verdict

I am incredibly impressed by Oppo's history and ethos. They are hugely concerned with the obesity crisis in the UK and believe it is partly down to low sugar foods being too expensive, which is why they are petitioning the government to lower the VAT on healthy foods from the usual 20% to only 5%. I am personally in total agreement with this, and I love their selfless ethos. The boys have developed three fantastic ice cream flavours which can confidently boast being not only healthy but delicious too! They make great accompaniments for other tasty desserts, or just to be eaten on their own. The only thing I would say is that the flavours are fairly plain (I like my ice cream to have different ingredient textures and various sauces and crunchy bits running throughout). It's a 9 from me!