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Oct
2020

Black History

Categories: Black Lives Matter

October is Black History Month (BHM) and while I strongly feel that black history needs to be taught and learnt all year round, I do enjoy the opportunity to focus on it and share what I’m learning. Read on to find out who’s dropping the knowledge on Insta, encouraging our schools to do better and dancing to afro beats in celebration of BHM!

“I am no expert on Black History”

Despite my mixed heritage background, there is a lot of black history that I just do not know about. After all, like many of you reading this post, I too grew up in the British education system that fails to teach children so much of Britain’s colonial past and stories of black heroes that have helped shape and build the society we live in today.

So, in honour of Black History Month I’ve been seeking out sources that share the stories of past and present people and events that make up Britain’s black history. 

It starts with education 

While hunting for sources I could visit to learn more about Black history, I of course turned to historian, writer and presenter Professor David Olusoga. I bought his book Black and British: A Forgotten History a few years ago and saw he recently released a shorter version for children. He is also the patron of ‘The Black Curriculum’; something I was unfamiliar with.

The Black Curriculum is “a social enterprise founded in 2019 by young people to address the lack of Black British history in the UK Curriculum. We believe that by delivering arts focused Black history programmes, providing teacher training and campaigning through mobilising young people, we can facilitate social change.” 

The Black Curriculum website plays host to a wealth of fantastic resources covering black history. Visit their page, theblackcurriculum.com, to find out more and to support their campaign for change.

Black British Books

This year I also read the critically acclaimed Why I’m No Longer talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge, which is full of Black history, amongst other well articulated debates on race, racism, class and sexism. I strongly recommend this book.

In browsing for more Black British books I stumbled across the instagram account blackbritishbooks_, a collection of books “showcasting Black British diversity by discovering old and new, powerful and creative literature.” This page is great for reading inspiration.

Insta knowledge 

I love Instagram! Don’t get me wrong, I’m fully aware of the downsides to social media, however there are also a lot of wonderful profiles that share a fantastic amount of Black History. Here are a few of the accounts that I have recently discovered and have enjoyed learning from. Plus, if you’re not on Instagram, many of these accounts have web pages, books and other social sites you can visit instead.

The History Corridor
www.instagram.com/thehistorycorridor

BLM UK
www.instagram.com/blmuk

UK Black History
www.instagram.com/uk_black_history
ukblackhistory.online

100 Great Black Britons
www.instagram.com/100greatblackbritons
www.patrickvernon.org.uk/black-heroes-who-helped-shape-britain-100-great-black-britons-2020

Educators for Justice
www.instagram.com/educatorsforjustice
linktr.ee/educatorsforjustice

The Vantage Point UK
www.instagram.com/thevantagepointuk

Black History Studies
www.instagram.com/blackhistorystudies
linktr.ee/blackhistorystudies 

Black British History
www.instagram.com/blackbritishhistory
linktr.ee/blackbritishhistory 

Black Media Publications 

I absolutely love the work of Black Ballad, a media publication dedicated to representing the voices of black women. Discovering Black Ballad was the first time in my life that I’ve read content that I could really relate to. Visit blackballad.co.uk for articles you won’t see in the mainstream media. Plus, if you want to brush up on your black history, you can find Black Ballad sharing black historical events all year round. 

I must also give a shout out to gal-dem.com, which is also a media publication that focuses on telling the stories of women and non-binary people of colour. I love reading gal-dem content and you can also find articles on black history, and much much more.

‘You can’t help but smile’ 

While searching for places to expand my own black history knowledge I came across something that made me smile. It was the Instagram of Nigel Clarke (Cbeebies presenter) with his children. In celebration of BHM they were dancing to some afro beats and I couldn’t help but smile. Thank you InstaClarkes, you’ve all got some serious moves – I am a very impressed fan!

Photo credit: Screen shot of the Instagram account, The History Corridor.


Sep
2020

The 1:1 Diet by the Cambridge Weight Plan Review

Categories: My Journey, Weight Loss
Cambridge Diet

After my second baby I managed to gain a lot of weight, again. Having preached about never letting history repeat itself I felt incredibly embarrassed by my size, but more than anything I felt physically unfit. I discovered the 1:1 Diet by the Cambridge Weight Plan and since March of this year I’ve lost almost 6 stone. Here’s how I stumbled across the plan and how it works.

March 2020
It’s accurate to say that in March of this year I felt extremely low about myself. I’ve always battled with my weight but in 2013 I lost 50lbs for my wedding and I thought I’d found a way to manage my weight for good. Then I fell pregnant with my first child and I put on 5 stone. I eventually I lost a lot of that weight and vowed to myself to never gain so much weight again. However, old habits die hard and pregnancy cravings are a force to be reckoned with! Long story short, I gained over 6 stone during my second pregnancy and I felt awful for it, physically and emotionally.

In January I decided I was ready to do something about it and I lost almost a stone over a two month period, however I know from past experience that I always benefit from creating a weight loss support network when I embark on a new healthy eating regime. I started to look for weight loss groups in my area, as I’ve had success with them before and I’m a big fan and advocate on them. In researching groups nearby I came across astonishing before and after photos from people who had followed something called the 1:1 Diet. It’s a programme I hadn’t heard of before and the transformations were incredible, so much so that I initially didn’t believe they were real. After some more investigating I found out they were very real and it seemed to be a plan that truly worked and could work quickly if you stick with it.

How to start 1:1 Diet Plan
If you head to www.one2onediet.com you learn more about the plan and can search for consultants in your area. Each consultant has a web page sharing their own personal weight loss journeys and detailing their services. Many offer virtual and in-person consultations, loads of one to one support (hence the name I’m assuming) and everything you need to start the plan. I found a consultant close to where I live who offered lots of flexible ways to meet and get started on the plan. I sent my consultant, Vicki, a message. She was quick to reply and I instantly felt at ease and happy I had contacted her. She explained the plan and how it works so brilliantly. The programme is a keto based diet that enables your body to go into ‘ketosis’, a process that encourages your body to use fat as its main source of energy. Once your body is in ketosis, you can expect to see amazing weight loss results. There are 6 steps available on the plan, ranging from complete meal replacements to having just a few meal replacement products, alongside eating a healthy, balanced and low carb diet.

The 1:1 Diet by the Cambridge Weight Plan review
My consultant was both encouraging and realistic with me. The step we decided was best for me is a strict one and not for the faint hearted (it’s called step 1B). I replaced all my usual foods with four 1:1 products and promised to drink 3 litres of water. Being on such a strict diet, after eating (on reflection) a fairly carb and sugar heavy diet, brings about some unpleasant side affects. Not everyone experiences them and thankfully my first week on plan wasn’t too bad, but I did have some headaches. By day four something weird happened, I didn’t actually feel too hungry and the headaches subsided. I found the plan straight forward to follow, too. Removing all food was for me a blessing, because it took away temptation. If I could stick to this plan for one week, I’d now whether I wanted and could continue.

“I lost 14lbs in my first week”
After 7 days following the 1:1 Diet I was absolutely shocked and thrilled when Vicki weighed me and I had lost 1 stone, 14lbs, in my first week! From that moment on I was sold. The headaches for a few days were definitely, in my opinion, worth it! From then on I continued to lose 4 to 5lbs every week and after a month I had lost just over 2 stone. Flash forward six months and I’ve lost almost 6 stone and I feel amazing! Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had bumps along the way and days when staying on plan has felt harder than others, but the wonderful thing is you have a consultant available to talk to anytime you’re struggling. Any time I needed some practical tips or motivation, I’d get in touch with Vicki and she’d helped me; even through lockdown when we then couldn’t meet in person, she continued to support me through virtual meetings, FaceTime and delivering food straight to my doorstep. Vicki would also send me lots of encouragement throughout the week, which really kept me going.

What do you eat on the 1:1 Diet?
I have mainly been on ‘step 1b’ which means I eat four 1:1 products everyday. Products available on the plan include shakes, bars, soups and meals (such as spaghetti bolognese, which is my favourite and actually vegetarian). On my step I’m also allowed to eat a small packet of fava beans daily and I’m a huge fan of the water flavourings available. There are sweet flavours such as pineapple, which makes a squash type drink, and a savoury vegetable stock which tastes like a cuppa soup. These are great to have in between meals and really keep you going when you feel hungry, plus they count towards your water count which you really must keep on top of. Drinking lots of water (minimum 2.5 litres) is vital when you follow this plan as it helps your body get rid of excess fat – you literally pee fat out! (Plus drinking lots of water is generally very good for you to do anyway.) Another little extra you can have is the ‘mix a mousse’ which lets you change shakes into mousses and the water flavourings into jelly or jelly sweets. These are all great for keeping what you consume on plan varied and help you feel better in-between meals.

As mentioned before there are 6 steps you can choose from and move between. The higher number steps include eating several ‘real’ foods and meals. The 1:1 plan guides you on what foods to pick, but to give you an idea you’re encouraged to choose lots of green vegetables, lean protein and eventually a small amount of wholegrain carbs.

5 stone weight loss in 5 months
I’ve now lost the weight I gained during pregnancy and I’ve also been able to start running again. Keeping up with my busy children feels physically easier too, which is a huge benefit. I feel so much fitter and way more confident than I was before embarking on the 1:1 Diet. The plan may not be for everyone, as it is definitely a strict plan and quite a shock to the system. That said, I’m delighted with the results and excited to start maintenance through healthy eating (everyday ‘real’ foods) and with the support of my consultant. It’s for those reasons that I would 100% recommend this programme, especially if you have a lot to lose.

Thank you for reading,
Chloe x


Jun
2020

Black in the UK

Categories: Baby & Me, Black Lives Matter

I have started to write so many posts to share about my experience as a black/mixed race woman and as a black /mixed race mother to light skinned children; but for me at this time the topic of race and racism is so huge I don’t know where to begin. 

Privately, I’ve had a lot of discussions on the topic, many of which have been with white friends wanting to understand more about my experience with racism. While I don’t want that to stop and I think it’s hugely positive, I am both emotionally and mentally drained.

Sadly, I had until recently come to terms with racism in the UK. It’s part of day-to-day life; from outright violent to many micro-aggressions* demonstrating a deep belief that, as a black woman, I am inferior. 
I can’t bring myself to write a detailed list of every occasion I’ve experienced racism, it is too long and sends me into a rage; but without you hearing some of what I’ve experienced, I guess it may be hard for some people reading to really know what I’m talking about. So let me share a little bit… I’ve been called the n word multiple times; spat on; told I was being too aggressive and threatening when simply speaking; assumed I was the nanny of my light skinned children; questioned about where I live because the road I mentioned was surely too nice for a black person to live on… Get the picture? I commend those who have articulately relived and retold their experiences, because it is not easy and I for one do not have it in me to share in any more detail. 

Until recently I found a way to cope with those experiences, to go on and to fit in best I can. Choosing when and how I reveal my blackness. Perfecting my polite, posh voice so that I wouldn’t be seen as ‘intimidating’, ‘threatening’ or ‘angry’. Picking my battles if confronted with racist behaviour. However, since the deserving uproar surrounding George Floyd’s death and many other unlawful and racists deaths of African Americans I no longer want to be submissive to racism. The recent coverage of these racist deaths and worldwide protests have unearthed a lot of my own painful feelings and memories around racism. What I’m feeling now, is a deep sadness, anger and an embarrassment of ever backing down. Why should I?

For a minute I feel hopeful I may see profound change in my lifetime, but then I come across a post with the hashtag #alllivesmatter*; or as my private discussions continue with a ‘close’ white friend – they demonstrate zero empathy or acknowledgement of white privilege*. And worse still no awareness of their own white privilege, and I quickly remember why I chose to pick my battles, blend in and move on.

I have many white friends and family, and I’ve been feeling a huge pressure to help educate them on my black experience and racism in the UK. In many ways I want to and I’m happy to play my part, but I can’t do all the work. When a white friend and/or acquaintance appears interested in my view but then won’t look at themselves, makes an insensitive joke demonstrating their white privilege right in the middle of talking about racism, or reveals no intention to educate themselves further on this issue, it’s infuriating. I understand it’s a hard process to self reflect and evaluate, but it’s an even harder process to experience racism and live with it.

I simply wanted to share that I currently feel sad, angry, ashamed and drained.

Micro-aggressions, White Privilege and the problem with ‘All Lives Matter’. 

Micro- aggressions. Racism is so deep rooted, you may not even realise that you hold racist beliefs. Ever cross the road on purpose if you see a black person walking towards you? If yes, why? Ever think three black boys together must be in a gang? If yes, why? If you saw a black man and a white man sitting next to each other and someone else told you one of them was a doctor and the other a criminal – who would you think is the doctor? 

This tweet provides another example of micro-aggressions. https://twitter.com/barristerfiona/status/1267421457476435968?s=21

#blacklivesmatter. This is hashtag to use and share if you really want to be actively anti-racist, and in doing so of course this does not mean other lives don’t matter; but it is black lives being lost due to racism and police brutality. It goes without saying that all lives matter. Saying all lives matter in this context is insulting and completely missing the point. 

White privilege. If you’re unsure what this means, please read the following article and here’s a little quote from it. 

“White privilege in this situation is being able to move into a “nice” neighborhood and be accepted not harassed.”

My White Friend Asked Me on Facebook to Explain White Privilege. I Decided to Be Honest.
https://www.yesmagazine.org/opinion/2017/09/08/my-white-friend-asked-me-on-facebook-to-explain-white-privilege-i-decided-to-be-honest/

Thank you for reading. 


Apr
2020

2020

Categories: Baby & Me

I haven’t posted anything for such a long time, and just as I was about to update my blog, news of Covid-19 seem to become more prominent and more scary. At a time of such worry and angst, it seemed so irrelevant to share a post about what I’ve been eating the last few months and how cute my new baby is. That said, my newsfeed is heavily dominated by Coronavirus updates and so perhaps it is time for something light-hearted.

I had a baby!

I felt like I was pregnant for years! In October 2019 my second baby girl finally arrived. They often say your second pregnancy and birth is much easier, but in my case that couldn’t be more wrong. I was more sick throughout my second pregnancy and I ended up needing an emergency c-section after several complications. 

Whoever came up with the phrase “too posh to push” needs a hiding; recovering from the c-section has been pretty hard going – physically and emotionally. But this is meant to be a light-hearted post and so we’ll move on, and I’m happy to share I’m doing much better these days in terms of recovery and my baby girl is healthy and well.

Feeling body positive, until…

If you’re a friend of mine and/or have read my posts in the past then you’ll know I love food and I’m pretty good at putting on weight. When I became pregnant last year, I was determined to keep fit and not gain as much as I did the first time round. That didn’t go to plan, and I’ve put on a lot of weight! However, this time round and after my latest birth experience, losing weight didn’t seem important. I felt glad to be alive and that my baby was too. Having read more about body positivity, I was feeling confident in myself to not give a damn about my weight and to just let my body be and heal.

However, so many people commented on my size, asked when I planned to lose weight, asked what I was eating, told me how I should eat, asked when was I going to start exercising – all when I could barely walk. I always thought that my desire to lose weight and be slim came from me, but I never realised how bombarded I had been from people close to me about my body image. The same people who say, “don’t worry about it, be confident with who you are” are the same people telling me to change.

Although I tried to fight it, that body positive feeling I had has been squished and I have succumbed to dieting (in a healthy way). Not just because of the comments though. Truth is, being lighter feels better for my body type and means I can keep up with two children. 

Home schooling during Covid-19 lockdown

My oldest daughter is hilarious and in many ways it’s lovely spending more time with her, but wtf! I’m no teacher and home schooling for the unforeseeable future is messed up. Luckily her teachers have been amazing and have sent me loads of activities and resources, but my days now are crazy busy and tiring. 

Something actually light-hearted 

Here’s a cute picture of some random cat because my post wasn’t particular light-hearted like I promised, but it was filled with some nonsense! I hope you enjoyed it in some way. 😘


Mar
2020

7 easy ways to eat your 5-a-day

Categories: Food

In the UK it is recommended that we all eat at least 5 portions of fruit and veg every day. However, if you’re not used to consuming a range of fruit and vegetables regularly, that number can seem a little daunting. It’s for that reason I have pulled together a few practical tips that have helped me to up my fruit and veg intake over the years, and I hope they can help you too.

1. Blend it
Reach your 5-a-day by blending together different types of fruit and vegetables to make healthy and filling smoothies. Try banana, blueberries, spinach, almond milk, and (if you like) some porridge oats or protein powder. This makes a delicious breakfast, or a nutritious smoothie to enjoy pre or post exercising.

2. Buy it frozen
Have good intentions to eat your 5-a-day but your fruit and veg goes off? Buy it frozen and add your freezer veggies straight into stir fries, stews, curries or omelettes; or frozen fruit straight into smoothies, ‘ice cream’ (see below), yogurt or overnight oats.

3. Make soup
An easy way to enjoy lots of vegetables in one sitting is to make your own soup. Simply add your favourite veggies to a huge pot of stock (vegetable or chicken) and let them simmer away until you’re left with a yummy soup. You can then enjoy your soup chunky or use a blender to create a smooth soup. Save any leftovers in the fridge or freezer for a meal another day!

4. Think vegetable base
When cooking from scratch I used to focus on what carb or meat I had to make my meal. Nowadays I focus on the vegetables first to ensure my meal will be high in nutrients and will help me to reach that 5-a-day goal. For example, chargrilled vegetables (you can buy packs of these frozen) go great with a salmon fillet and some potatoes. Stir fries are a great dish for focussing on the vegetables first as there are so many tasty stir fry vegetable packs in supermarkets available. Pair with tofu, your favourite meat or fish, along with a few noodles or some rice.

5. Grate it up
There are some dishes I was previously used to cooking that contained very little veg, then I came across a lot of recipes that grated vegetables into them. I found doing this not only increased how many vegetables I would be consuming, but it didn’t alter the taste of my usual recipes all that much. For example, grated carrot, aubergine or courgette into spaghetti bolognese is delicious and a lot of the time I feel like I eat less mince and pasta now my sauce is full with filling veggies.

6. Snack on it
A really simple way to increase your fruit and veg intake is to snack on it. Vegetable crudities are great for dipping into houmous and are easy to travel with. Bananas, apples, oranges, pears are also easy to travel with and make a great snack – especially if you have a sweet tooth.

7. Make it a pudding
My favourite way to consume fruit is as a dessert. I love berries mixed in with greek style yogurt or my ultimate favourite is to make fruit ‘ice cream’ and sorbets. My favourite is to blend chopped up frozen bananas with a little milk, and sometimes a tiny bit of peanut butter. It creates an ice cream like dessert without all the fat and unnatural sugar.

Why 5-a-day?
Read more here:
www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/why-5-a-day
www.nhs.uk/change4life/food-facts/five-a-day


Jun
2019

Surviving the first trimester of pregnancy

Categories: Baby & Me

While some feel like they’re glowing during pregnancy, I feel as though I’m just about surviving life. I’m well into my second trimester and still receiving frequent visits from Mrs Morning Sickness and I must say I feel utterly s**t (but of course excited to welcome my second baby, too). 

I’ve been given the opportunity to document my second pregnancy though Emma’s Diary, and although I’m unable to post as much as I would have liked (thanks again morning sickness, which is never just in the morning!) I have been able and grateful to share my experience of pregnancy so far. 

Visit Emma’s Diary to read all about my first trimester when you’re a mum to a toddler already; and i’ve also written a little something about my experience of the contraception pill, Cerazette, before pregnancy and in-between both my pregnancies.

I hope you enjoy reading my blog posts,
Chloe x


May
2019

Pregnancy food cravings!

Categories: Baby & Me

I have failed miserably in my ‘attempt’ to stay fit and eat well during my first trimester pregnant and second time round, my craving for food (any food) has been sky high! 

My weight gain during pregnancy with my first child was a huge catalyst for this blog – previously named Diet Mum Feed. That said, my food intake didn’t really get going until my second trimester and once my morning sickness had faded (after a long 20 weeks). Although I’ve experienced morning sickness in my second pregnancy, it hasn’t been as bad as the first time round and that has also meant I’m able to shovel in a hell of a lot more food! 

I am (was) so conscious to keep my weight gain to a minimum but I really can not control the current cravings I am having. I should also highlight that my cravings aren’t for anything specific, just all food!

As I enter my second trimester I’m still experiencing ‘morning’ sickness but perhaps there is hope for a more balanced diet in the weeks to come. I’ll keep you posted! 


Apr
2019

Baby no. 2

Categories: Baby & Me

I’ve been wanting to share this news for the longest time… we’re expecting our second baby! 

We’re really over the moon – despite the horrendous morning sickness and crazy cravings. I’m not going to lie, there have been way more ‘treats’ than ‘treadmills’ lately; and while I’d love to say that will change once my sickness passes, I just don’t think it will! My appetite has gone through the roof and i’m out of breath just walking up the stairs.

That said, a healthy pregnancy is of course paramount so I’ll do my best to curb the chocolate intake. So, over the next few months you can expect to see what I’ve been craving and my attempt to stay a little fit while pregnant.


Mar
2019

10 things you didn’t know about me

Categories: Baby & Me

Hello to everyone who has stumbled across or regularly follows my blog. While I love writing all about food, fitness and mum stuff, I thought it might be nice to mix it up a little and share a few personal details about yours truly. So, let’s get started with 10 things you didn’t know about me…

  1. I love yogurt, more than chocolate, which I know is weird! To be specific I’m obsessed with plain greek yogurt.
  2. But I do also love chocolate.
  3. My favourite meal is spaghetti bolognese…
  4. Even though my favourite meat would be chicken!
  5. Most of these ’10 things you don’t know about me’ will be food related, because it’s my biggest hobby.
  6. For the last year I’ve dabbled with vegan recipes, mainly because my husband is trying to eat mainly vegan foods. I’ve enjoyed eating a lot of plant-based meals although as you can see from points 1 to 4, I may never be completely vegan.  
  7. I have one amazing daughter, who I love so much, but I did not enjoy being pregnant. I was sick for so long during pregnancy and never did I receive that ‘glow’ people talk about.
  8. I’ve been blogging for 4 years, alongside copywriting and editing for other publications and small businesses. 
  9. I would love for my blog to help others lead a healthier lifestyle while learning that you don’t need to feel guilty about enjoying food or obsess about that number on the scales.
  10. Other jobs? I was once the online editor for Weight Watchers now called WW and before that I wrote about dogs and sheds! Motherhood has hands down been the hardest job I’ve ever done. 
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