Cricket Flour: Food of the Future or Freaky Trend?

You've probably heard it mentioned in TV documentaries and internet article, but the latest superfood, with added shock factor and persuasively called "the food of the future" is insects. Specifically crickets. Although crickets, locusts, ants and many other six-legged arthropods have been eaten in many cultures across the world (with 2.5 billion people** thought to be regularly consuming them), the thought of insect-based foods, in any incarnation, tends to send those of us in more western cultures retching and running for the hills. Considering that we have evolved to be wary of the unknown, it is understandable -that's why crustaceans and shellfish can be off-putting, even in a society where these foods are eaten, albeit less often than conventional meats. However, the growing demand to produce protein sources that take up less water, food and energy has resulted in insect production becoming a potential solution to that problem -a solution that has been backed by the UN.

Although not technically even vegetarian, crickets may seem to be a more ethical choice, with the adult lifespan of a cricket being just a few days or weeks, and the crickets themselves being lower -or less intelligent and complex -lifeforms. Of course, that isn't to say that as a consequence the crickets lives don't matter, but it is something to consider.

In terms of mass production, the biggest obstacle is probably the way in which the cricket is sold. Attempting to eat a cricket that still looks as it does when it was alive can be somewhat off-putting, and so grinding the crickets up into a flour is a more palatable option as well as more versatile. Said to have a mild, nutty flavour, cricket flour can partially replace conventional flour when making recipes. More delicate recipes such as baking cakes may not turn out so well with large amounts of cricket flour being used, whereas recipes that use flour as a binder -such as my aubergine power balls -can probably take a little bit more of the cricket flour.

One of the easiest ways to use cricket flour is in making energy or proteins bars, and there are already a few brands selling them. SENS bar*, a soon-to-be-released line of cricket flour-based food, sent me their energy and protein bars to try. The energy bars are based on dates as the primary ingredient, followed by cricket flour, with fibre-rich psyllium husks reducing a blood sugar spiked. The protein bars have nearly three times as much cricket flour as the energy bars, alongside sesame seeds or peanuts and cocoa butter. I found that the protein bars were noticeably drier and less flavoursome than the energy bars -perhaps one to eat alongside a drink -but neither made me feel as though I was eating insects, which was a relief!

So far I've been looking at cricket flour and insect production on primarily an environmental level, but how much good does it do you? Initially, the high protein content seems great, but as it is still undergoing testing and evaluation by the food standards agency, we don't actually know how well our bodies can synthesis it. Currently, the fungus Fustarium venenatum -more commonly known as Quorn -is the top vegetarian/non meat protein source**. Concerns regarding the consumption of insects (and other arthropods such as scorpions) includes the risk of consuming venom, foreign proteins causing allergic reactions, and allergens present in the insect feed causing allergic reactions. At the present, people with allergies to shellfish are recommended not to try insects and cricket flour until there has been further studies analysed and published.

The good thing about cricket flour is that as a pure, single ingredient product, risk of reactions are easier to monitor, and crickets do not produce venom. So as long as you feel as though you aren't at risk of any reactions due to allergies or poor digestion, I personally don't see any reason why you shouldn't try cricket flour (although please do your own research of course!). At the present, insects are defined as a "novel food" and require further research and studies. So although the jury is still currently out, spending you pennies on an insect protein bar, or buying your own flour, you can get a taste of what may well be the food of the future, and help to fund research. I may not be quite ready to look a locust in the eye before eating it, or sprinkle ants over my Pad Thai as a colleague did,  but there may well be a place in my pantry for cricket flour.

So where can you get your hands on insect products if you're ready to try entomophagy? Beyond SENS bars, you can buy the flour from independent online retailers such as Cricket Flours or Amazon. If you don't feel like doing the work yourself, there are also a few insect restaurants starting to pop up, such as the Grub Kitchen in Pembrokeshire.

* Denotes PR sample. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to SENS bar for the samples, and for causing me to finally have a look into this current topic!
** Source
SaveSave

Inspiration: Besma of Curiously Conscious

It is always a pleasure to come across fellow bloggers with a keen sense of looking after the environment as well as themselves -taking a really holistic approach to wellbeing. One such blogger is Besma of Curiously Conscious. If you don't already follow Besma, you are in for a treat. She shares recipes and reviews of everything from whole food supplements to planet friendly skincare. Think of her as your one-stop guide for everything sustainable and beautiful. Besma kindly agreed to be interviewed as part of my Inspiration series. Read on to find out more:

You mention on your blog that your interest in living sustainably and eating started when living Paris. In what other ways has the French culture influenced how you live and eat?

There are a number of key differences I picked up when living in Paris - the main contrast was realising that nobody ever snacks. You’ll also never see a French person on the metro eating a baguette or walking down the street chowing down on a crêpe either - mealtimes are almost sacred in that there is a core focus on food rather than food is an addition to a hectic lifestyle, as is the way in the UK. Mindful eating has come to reflect some of that - food is an enjoyable activity, both in preparation and consumption, and I definitely enjoy eating what I make to the full!

In what ways do you like to get active?

Yoga is my number one fitness activity - I’ve actually only ever practiced at home, starting with a DVD and moving on to YouTube channels. However, I’m also a keen runner, and right now I’m going to the gym to avoid the cold weather and also begin to use weights to tone up.

Have you come across a brand that has stood out to you above and beyond for it’s Earth-friendly approach?

There are so many great brands out there! I recently purchased a Sukin cleanser and was really happy to learn that the company is carbon neutral, as well as using only recycled materials for its packaging and cruelty-free natural ingredients in the cleanser itself. Brands that make so many positive choices like that will always be rated highly by me!

Do you have any tips for eating in season foods without getting bored come the winter and early spring?

Seasonal eating is always a fun way to mix up your meals - right now, gourds(squashes and pumpkins) make up a big part of my meals as they’re so ripe and delicious round this time of year. As we do make our way into winter, it’s actually appropriate that stodgier plant-based foods are abundant too, as that’s what our bodies are craving, but to mix things up I’d suggest stocking up on great herbs and spices. They always change things up!

What do you like most about living in London? Anything that you would change?

London is great in that there’s so much to do, especially in the way of healthy options - there are juice bars practically everywhere! As I live on the outskirts I luckily have a balance between countryside and urban building blocks, but I would like to see more of a relaxed side to London - I’ve found it’s not quite as becoming as Paris in that parks are not as frequent, or are even locked to the general public, you can’t sit by the waters edge and have a picnic, things like that. Perhaps I just need to explore a little more!

Have you always been interested in healthy living?

No, not at all - my first two years at university were spent eating a lot of pizza and ice cream! But I’m glad I’ve found a happy balance now, I don’t think I could have sustained that kind of diet and kept fit too.

Where is your must-see travel destination?

To narrow it down to one place is so painful! I really want to visit New Zealand someday, although I’d rather not take a plane anywhere anymore.

Who, or what, inspires you the most?

The online healthy living community, definitely. If I’m not in the mood to write, I’ll only have to read through a few of my favourite blogs to find something that makes me all a-buzz again!

Name a favourite healthy meal.

Right now it’s my pumpkin stew - one pumpkin can make around six portions for me, so I’ve pretty much always got a batch in my fridge.

Finally, what makes you happiest?

A shared connection with another person in regards to healthy living. Whether it’s a lovely blog comment, or a friend recommending a product, or my mum asking me how to cook quinoa - I love the feeling of spreading positivity!

Follow Besma and Curiously Conscious here:

Twitter | Instagram | YouTube 

Why I Refute Diet Labels

One thing that we, as people, love to do, is label things. It is human nature, and is our way of ordering the world around us into neat boxes and also a way of identifying ourselves. But when people don't fit into labels, that can be difficult. You can just imagine it can't you? Someone carefully explaining their unique personal choices and traits to have them summed up as "so you're ... then?" Usually, not quite.

In the health and fitness world, there often feels like there are two categories of women: those who lift, focus heavily on protein, and seem to live off whey and chicken. Then, there is the yogi, who is a committed vegan and turns enough fruit to feed a family of four into endless smoothie bowls. Of course, this is completely not true, and doesn't represent many of us out there. However, not fitting into one of these groups can be confusing. At one point, I genuinely considered whether I should become completely vegan just so that my blog and Instagram fit these parameters. But of course, that would have been ridiculous. It is hard enough trying to balance what I do at the gym with what I do on the mat when labelling states that they contradict, rather than compliment, one another. And because I can't do everything, and have to focus on yoga or the gym on any given day, I always feel guilty about the one that has had less effort put into it that day. I just have to remind myself that doing a bit of everything is probably the best way to promote my overall health and avoiding over stressing one area.

When it comes to food, the only thing I can describe myself other than "lover of food" is a whole foods eater. I strongly believe in making real, flavoursome food from minimally processed sources. Remember, all cooking and preparing counts as processing to one degree or another. I adore eating plant based foods as they have a low environmental and ethical impact, and nutritionally dense and encourage me to be creative with my cooking. However, when someone is cooking for me, I usually do not stipulate eating vegetarian or vegan and will enjoy any meat served to me as a treat. When staying with my parents, we seem to have an unspoken rule that as a household we will eat less meat (something that my dad is keen to take up anyway) if I do eat whatever happens to be on the menu that day. It's largely chicken anyway, which I believe has less environmental impact that eating dairy.

I won't really get into game, other than that I am happy to eat it, but often don't because I am away from home during most shooting seasons. I feel it to be environmentally, and often ethically, sound. Let me know if a conversation on game food is something that you would like to read on the blog in the future.

As for dairy, I try not to have too much, because of the industry around it and the impact of cattle (methane gas anyone?). However, many a dish is improved with a few shavings of cheese, and, when I have it, I swear butter is one of the greatest flavours on this earth. I don't have it at university because I don't use it much, so it is a real treat to me. Plus, sometimes, I can't afford the dairy alternatives, especially soy-free yoghurt. I also don't really have a problem with eating eggs as I only buy them from the local, organic produce section in my local health food shop, or from my own village back in Yorkshire where I can see the chickens outside in a huge field having a great quality of life. It is about transparency. I am also a supporter of consumption of honey as local sellers and responsible companies actually do far more good for protecting bee populations than the impact of taking a proportion of their honey away.

So there you have it, my label free approach to living and eating for me and the planet. Largely, but not exclusively plant based, but always responsible and sustainable, for my health, and the planet.

Natural Skincare Products

I have popped a couple of DIY's on the blog over the last few months, so I thought it was about time that I showed you some of the natural skin and body care that I use. Ideally, I look for products that use natural/organic and sustainably sourced materials, are cruelty free and from companies with a planet-friendly ethos. I have ver fair, quite sensitive skin, so using naturally-dervived products tends to keep my skin happier, although I am careful around harsher ingredients such as tea tree oil. One thing to bear in mind, is that "natural" as a label, really doesn't mean anything; it gives you no guarantees about the product. Look for certifications on the packaging, such as the leaping bunny (cruelty free), or the soil association (organic material). These markers are the gold standard to proving that you are buying something that you can trust. I do find that I am starting to become quite loyal to a handful of brands, as trust is something very important when buying natural or cruelty free products. My two most go-to brands at the moment are Neal's Yard and Lush. They are very different brands, but I feel like both represent my views very well.

Neal's Yard Rose Otto Cleanser

This cleanser is my absolute miracle product. Until I switched to it a month or two ago, I was still using products aimed at oily skin. After a foray with my coconut oil scrub, my skin seemed to respond well to the added moisture, so I decided it was time to make the switch. The cleanser is aimed at normal and sensitive sin types, so really is perfect for me. It comes as a gel rather than drying foam, or rich milk, so is perfectly light. I like to massage it into damp skin with my fingertips, before dabbing off with a flannel and splashing with cold water. I've really seen an improvement in my skin texture and clarity, so I am really impressed!

Neal's Yard Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is the natural beauty hero product of the moment. The medium chain fatty acids in coconut oil are anti fungal and antibacterial, so I like the thought of this for my skin. Double cleansing has recently become popular with beauty bloggers, and using a face oil counts as the first of your two face washes, in order to get a squeaky clean finish. I melt the oil in my fingers and use a cotton pad to lightly wipe around my face and eyes to remove grime and make up before using my rose cleanser. I originally bought a pot of coconut oil for the bathroom simply because conventional make up removers were hurting my eyes. Now, I find it absolutely indispensable, and is more hygienic than using the same oil for in the kitchen and bathroom. It makes a lovely moisturiser, deep hair conditioner, sun burn relief, and just a great all-rounder. I know coconut oil is having a bit of a thing at the moment, but if you don't want to jump on the band wagon, or deal with melting the oil, try almond oil or similar.

Elemis scrub

Elemis has created a range aimed at young adults, with gentle products aimed to help skin in its transition from oily teenage, to normal or dry adult. I use the scrub once or twice a week to get rid of any dead skin cells and declog any pores. It has a subtle, grapefruit-like scent that is really lovely. Whilst Elemis doesn't advertise itself as a natural brand in the way that others featured do, it is surprisingly good. Cruelty-free, and containing active plant ingredients, including cherry powder, jojoba beads (no plastic micro bead nasties here!!) and mandarin. It is quite a gentle scrub, which is perfect. And the price tag comes in at much lower than some other Elemis products, making it a great introduction to the brand. Unforteuntely, it seems to be a little difficult to find online now. I have spotted the range in TK Maxx, so you may get lucky.

Boots Botanics All Bright Hydrating Day Cream

I still haven't found my "perfect" moisturiser (if it's out there!), but I am really happy with the Botanic's range so far. The award winning range is a partnership between Boots and Kew Gardens and has been recognised as a sustainable business. Organic and paraben-free, I know that my skin won't suffer with these moisturisers. I have been using the night cream as well, but I haven't replaced it. The day cream is SPF 15 and 5* UVA protecting. It's currently half price, making it a pinch at £2.50. The Botanics range is also often on offer for 3 for 2, so keep your eyes peeled!

I have to say, I am very tempted to try a moisturising oil in the place of a night cream. I have heard some really good things about Pai's Rose Oil and would love to try that! In the mean time though, I'll be sticking with my trusty Boots products.

Lush Charity Pot (Hand and Body Lotion)

Lush has got me pretty well sold on their haircare. I love the packaging-free solid shampoo bars, hair masks in returnable/reusable pots and the Avocado co-wash (that's a shampoo and conditioner in one to you and me) is next on my list to buy. However, I haven't really used all that much of their other products. I usually buy one of the £1 mini charity pots whenever I am at the till, but after my friend and I spotted Fin Fighters on the top of on of the larger charity pots, we both had to buy them! Fin Fighters is a charity that I am passionate about, and they are committed to ending the distribution and sale of shark products in the UK and beyond. To be able to buy a yummy-smelling moisturiser that ticks all the boxes mentioned above, AND to donate to a cause that I support? It's brilliant.

Neal's Yard Bee Lovely Hand Cream

I mentioned the Bee Lovely range in my post about Neal's Yard in York. I absolutely love this hand cream as it is so moisturising without being too sticky. It smells heavenly and supports the protection of bees -so far the range has raised £60 000! It is full of goodness including, of course, honey that keeps my skin happy during busy days. Students get a handy 10% off as well.

I hope you found this post interesting and useful, do let me know if you use any of these products, or have any favourites of your own!

S'well Bottles

Here on Green+Aquamarine, I like to talk about plastic a lot. Specifically, getting rid of plastic waste.  So today I am really excited to talk to you about S'well, an eco-friendly, insulated, fashionable water bottle.

The Brand

S'well was set up five years ago by Sarah Kauss, after she grew tired of drinking warm water on hot days from single-use plastic bottles. The problem with multi-use plastic bottles is that they do eventually deteriorate, and even BPA-free plastic contains compounds similar to BPA, which can also be bad for you health. Glass is dangerous if broken, and aluminium leaves a metallic taste in the mouth. So, S'well turned to stainless steel, which has non of these issues.

The double-walled insulation makes the bottles able to keep hot drinks hot for 12 hours, and cold drinks cool for a staggering 24. Considering that most conventional flasks have a 6-8 hour insulation period, this is certainly impressive. As I will be going on holiday next week, this was the key reason that I bought this bottle, as warm water is just disgusting! The design also promises to be leak-free, even when dealing with steam from hot liquids.

One of S'well's greatest aims is to bring plastic bottles out of the landfill and oceans. It is estimated that 200 billion plastic bottles end up in landfill, globally, each year. It is a pretty shocking statistic, but with S'well becoming an increasingly successful brand in the US and worldwide, hopefully this number will start to decrease!

Another thing that I really like about S'well is that the brand has a strong charitable ethos, working with Water Aid, U.S Fund for UNICEF and American Forests. It is a real pleasure to see brands ticking all the boxes on providing a desirable product that is sustainable and ethical.


The Review

I picked up my bottle from Hip & Healthy in the gorgeous Santorini print. It arrived speedily, beautifully wrapped with a note from the Hip and Healthy team, and the bottle itself came in a secure box. It is, by a long way, the most expensive bottle that I have seen, but with it's high-tech design and superb credentials, I can certainly see why. The 500ml bottle feels sturdy, and I appreciated the slight indentions on the lid, presumably to give wet hands a little extra grip. I haven't noticed any aftertaste so far, so I am really pleased with that. With so much choice in design and size (250ml-750ml bottles are available), S'well has really thought about their customer, making a product that is as suitable on the office-to-gym run as it is for summertime picnics. I think a lower price would make it a more accessible product, but only if it could be done without negatively impacting S'well's core values and charitable work.

S'well bottles are available in the UK for £29.95 at Hip & Healthy. In the US, the whole range is available on S'well's website. Psst! Until the end of the month Hip & Healthy are giving a sachet of Pip & Nut nut butter for every purchase, so get your skates on!

Ecover: Green can Clean

Ecover sent me their new washing up liquid and challenged me to use it for five washes to see if green can clean. Ecover have rehauled their cleaning soap with a range of delicious new scents, 99.8% plant-based content, and a promise of washing 40% more dishes than the previous formula. The bottle is particularly smart, being made from a mix of recycled plastic and sugarcane derived material, and so is completely renewable, recyclable and reusable. On top of this, the Ecover ecological factories claim to be "energy efficient, sustainably built and clean running".

The company's Innovation Manager (how's that for a fancy job title?!), Tom Domen says that "Ecover has been on a journey to not only make products even less harmful to the environment, but to ensure that they match the performance of conventional cleaners".

To optimise the product's efficiency, Ecover recommends sprinkling baking soda on to burnt cookwear to dissolve grime, and pre-treating tea and coffee stains with lemon. Luckily I haven't had to deal with quite so many tough stains recently, but I found for normal washing, the Ecover washing up liquid has worked at least as well as any other brand, coping well with a continuing stream of bowls and dishes when I last had a cooking and baking session!

I should say that I had a slight mishap with the bottle in-transit, resulting in a spillage after the lid popped off. This was, admittedly, whilst cycling back from the post office on a bumpy road, so shouldn't be too much of a risk. But I thought I would mention it, so that you know to pop the washing up liquid in a different shopping bag to, say, some of your fresh vegetables and bread from the supermarket!

I am always one for an eco-friendly product to recommend alongside the other focuses of this blog, and I will be giving this one a thumbs up. Ecover washing up liquid is available online, and in Tescos, Sainsburys, Co-Op and Waitrose for a reasonable £1.60 for 500ml, or £2.40 for 1L.

If you found this post interesting, or have been using Ecover products, use the hashtag #greencanclean to get involved.

Disclaimer: I was sent an Ecover product pack for the purpose of review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Strawberry Fields

Pick your own fields leave me reminiscent of childhood days spent getting appropriately mucky whilst picking a glut of fresh fruit. The juicy British berries, available for only the shortest amount of time, are all undeniably better tasting when sun-warmed, and picked at the very peak of their ripeness. Classic strawberries, raspberries and red currents can now be enjoyed alongside American blueberries and unusual white pine berries, amongst other delights. It has been a long time since I visited a PYO farm, with home-grown berries only occasionally supplementing the market- and shop-bought fruits.

Stuart and I decided to relive this nostalgic practice, and hopped on our bikes for a twenty mile-round trip in search of strawberries. It was almost the perfect day for cycling; just a little blustery, and we arrived hungry. The remote farm in the Yorkshire Moors was surprisingly busy, with ladies taking a break at the tea rooms, and young families carrying buckets filled with fruit. Stuart and I opted for a modest punnet, and spent a few lazy minutes picking out the ripest of strawberries to buy, before making a lunch out of them with wrap breads and almonds and gooey dates.

The remainder were securely packed into my wicker bike basket and eventually found their way into a big jug of Pimms for the family that evening!

It feels like a practice from a bygone time now, but if you have the time, why not spend a half hour or more stocking up on fresh British berries to enjoy? If you can't eat your berries straight off the bush, PYO farmer John Sinclair recommends taking "berries out of the fridge well before you eat them. Like a good red wine, their flavour and aroma are best appreciated at room temperature".

With a recommendation like that, I am sure it won't be long before I am foraging for local fruits again.

Adidas and Recycled Ocean Plastic Trainer

Today I am sharing one of my favourite collaborations... ever. It isn't often that my passion for the oceans and protecting the planet gets to go hand in hand with fitness, but then a pair of prototype Adidas trainers were presented at a UN and Parley conference. And with that, my dreams came true.

Sea Shepherd, a marine conservation organisation, collected ocean plastic whilst on a 110 day expedition that tracked illegal poaching ships that Adidas then crafted into beautiful trainers. I truly love the aquamarine netting finish on the shows; the design is so fluid and sleek.The prototype is part the range of Ultra Boost shoes, an energy-returning running shoe that is Adidas' answer to Nike's Free Runs. You can get your hands on the rest of the Ultra Boosts now, but there is no confirmed release date for the prototype, or if they will be released. However, from early next year, Adidas will begin incorporating recoiled plastics into their shoes.

The trainers mark the beginning of Adidas and Parley's partnership to create more sustainable fitness wear. One of the aims of Parley is to make positive differences to the plethora of issues that face our oceans today, by utilising art and creativity.

“We need to defend diversity on land and in the sea and we need solutions, and these solutions can only be realized by harnessing the imaginative side of human culture – the arts.”

I cannot even begin to highlight the importance of preserving our oceans. The nature of currents mean that much of our plastic waste ends up in one of five vortexes or "islands" of plastic, just floating in the middle of the ocean. On top of that, plastics are broken down into tiny mircoplastics, which get eaten by small animals, move up the food chain until we end up consuming them. Plastic for lunch? That is a scary thought.

Whilst these shoes are by no means an ultimate solution to plastic waste, turning plastic from waste into a resource completely turns traditional thoughts on their heads. To my mind, it is exactly what we should be doing.

I would really urge you to take a look at Parley's website. It is a real eye-opener of what issues we face, but also hope for the future. Between warming and acidification, overfishing, shark finning, plastic pollution and coral damage, the seas have a lot to deal with. My greatest interests and concerns is ocean plastics; it is what I would like contribute research to and raise awareness of. So for respected, iconic brands to be getting on board is the most exciting thing. For fitness wear that is not only fashion-forward, but sustainable and revolutionary as well is so exciting.

I really hope that Adidas and Parley are paving the way for intelligent and sustainable fitness fashion and kit, and that we will get to see more brands taking up the mantle.

method Products Review

Now that I am living, at least part of the time, independently, I have had to start thinking about adult things, like budgeting, food shopping and household cleaning. Oo-er. Back at home, we used to have method's French Lavender surface cleaner, which I always used because it smelt so good and yet was also environmentally friendly. The lovely team at method kindly sent me over a few products to review. One thing I have to say unanimously about the products is that they all smell fantastic. Never to strong, sweet or overpowering; just right.

First up is the French lavender Gel Hand Wash, which is paraben-free. I had previously been using a method hand wash, and have found both to be gentle on my skin. Parabens have been used in soaps and cosmetics for decades thanks to their bacteria growth-reducing qualities and low production costs, but in recent years they have been associated with xenoestrogens which have been linked to breast cancers. The lavender smell is lovely, without smelling "dusty" or old-fashioned. Although I would otherwise be making the switch to bar soaps to reduce plastic usage, this soap in it's pretty bottle adds a nice touch to any bathroom.

My room is pretty small and we have a no-candles rule, so light air fresheners, such as method's Beach Sage one are a lovely way for me to avoid my room feeling stuffy, even on days too wild to open up the window. Unsurprisingly, I love anything with a beachy theme, and this is a really nice, light fresh scent. I sprayed some of this before going to the gym, and an hour and a half later when I came back, the scent was subtle, but still noticeable, which is good for a water-based air freshener. The bottle claims to be "powered by air" rather than using petroleum based propellants. The droplets do fall to the floor noticeably, (the bottle to warn not to use on fabrics or carpets) so I would recommend spraying roughly at shoulder height.

I was sent the grapefruit Surface Spray, which I have actually already been using. Pink grapefruit is one of my favourite smells -the sweet and citrus notes balance each other nicely -so I'd love this product for this reason alone. It cuts through grease and grime very well (useful for a shared student kitchen!) without too much effort. It isn't antibacterial as the cleaner instead breaks down the dirt, so is best for day-to-day cleaning.

Lastly, is the Power Foam Dish Soap, also in pink grapefruit. This product is a bit different to conventional washing up liquids, as it is designed to be sprayed either onto your sponge, or onto the item being washed itself. However, I did find it also worked well, with a couple of sprays, for a sink full of water. I think this product works well on cutting grease of dirtier items, such as roasting tins, or for when you only have a couple of items to wash. The spray nozzle design did seem to demand much more plastic than a basic washing up bottle would, which seemed a little excessive. However, I'll definitely be keeping this product under the sink ready for dealing with oily pans and odds and ends.

These products cost from £2.49-£3.50, making method a reasonably priced way of getting biodegradable, eco-friendly products. I did feel like there was a lot of plastic involved in these products, but as far as I can see they are recyclable and often use recycled plastic. These products are all effective and are some of the nicest smelling on the market, so I'd recommend giving these a go.

Disclaimer: I was sent a selection of Method products for the purpose of review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Review: Lush Lullaby Shampoo Bar

Along with health and fitness, one of my main passions that I share on this blog is environmental protection. I want to use products that use ingredients from natural, sustainable sources that are cruelty free. With a particular interest in marine conservation, one of my main issue is plastic -it really is everywhere. I am really trying to keep my plastic waste down and it is so difficult when we rely on it for most products. Luckily for me, Lush has come to the rescue with their shampoo bars. The bars have been around for a while now, accidentally invented before even Lush itself was formed, but recently the brand has been showcasing the bars much more. The compact, solid shampoo is said to last as long as two to three plastic 250ml bottles as essential oils are not diluted by the water in traditional shampoos. Lush sells these totally unpackaged, with the option of buying a tin to keep the bar in.

Recently, six new bars have been added to the original eight, suitable for pretty much any hair type. I was recommended Lullaby for my hair, which I later found out was designed with sensitive children's hair in mind. Due to the thinness of individual stands of my blonde hair, it can dry out easily, whereas my roots and fringe become oily between washes. The Lavender Absolute in the bar is supposed to regulate oil without drying. Other ingredients include oats, camomile and jojoba oil, all ideal for keeping my hair soft, healthy and shiny.

First thoughts:
I was pleased at how the bar gently lathered up. It didn't even look like it had been used so hopefully the shampoo will last as long as promised. I used the shampoo alongside Lush's Veganese, which I have been using for close to a year now. I let my hair dry naturally, but it still felt volumised, soft and looked clean. I woke up the next day with my hair still feeling fresh. Since switching to Lush hair products last year, I have found that my hair often needs washing every three days rather than every other before I have even gone near the dry shampoo. This shampoo bar looks set to do the same. The scent of Lullaby is very subtle, although some of the more citrus based bars such as Montalbano and Brazilliant have a stronger smell if you were looking for a fragranced bar.

Overall, I am really pleased with this bar. To me, using naturally-based products just makes sense, and when it is ethically and environmentally-sound, it seems like a no-brainer. If this product continues to work as I have experienced so far, I think I will have been converted to the shampoo bar. If it lasts as long as promised, this is a cost effective and low packaging option that makes it accessible to all. Next on my list to try is Seanik, which uses lemon, seaweed and sea salt to add volume to hair.

Lullaby shampoo bar (55g) sells for £5.75. Have you tried a shampoo bar or low-packaging product?

Om Yoga Magazine: March

Reading Om Yoga magazine is something that I look forward to each month, and is something that I am always excited to share with you. I was promised an interesting read this month, and I wasn't disappointed. This month's main feature is all about ethical clothing. Shopping organically and consciously is very important to me, if not always easy to achieve, either logistically or financially. So, I am always really happy to see new brands and ideas featured to keep me inspired and on my toes. Some really exciting brands were featured and I thought I'd share a few with you today.

Teeki

When talking about ethical, planet-friendly clothing, organic cotton and bamboo tend to spring to mind. But Teeki activewear is all made from recycled plastic bottle, giving a bright new life to something that we buy and dispose of so casually as an international community. Each pair of yoga leggings uses around 25 bottles -just think of all the landfill site space saved if all polyester clothing were made in this way. And, as screen printing is not required, the process produces no polluted water making the process really clean. Teeki actually has a zero waste policy as part of their sustainability promise. Their popular leggings sell at £47.50, putting them in the mid price range category. Teeki also sells shorts, tops and children's leggings. If you're looking for bright printed leggings next pay day, these are the ones to go for.

Choclo Project

Choclo Project is more than just a fitness brand; it is a powerful instrument working to change the lives of underprivileged children in Peru. 5% of the sale price of the leggings, which can account for up to 100% of the profits goes towards these charities. In addition, the brand's headquarters are located in the Darwin Ecosystem in Bordeaux, giving the company great green credentials as well. Once again, I'd put this brand in the mid price range.

No Balls Yoga
Finally, is No Balls, a fitness company that uses eco-friendly bamboo. I have had my eye on this brand for a while and would love to treat myself to a pair of staple legging, yoga bra and maybe one of their pretty vests! Four different bamboo-based fabrics are used to cater for different activity levels, which isn't something that I often see with bamboo clothing. Bamboo is sweat wicking and anti bacterial, so this brand will see you through a variety of sports and classes. Although some of the more detailed, technical pieces can cost up to and above £60, you can also pick up a basic bra for a tenner and leggings for £20, making No Balls an option accessible for all.

Also in this month's issue was the article, Walking in Beauty, inspired by a Navajo blessing, by Denise Leicester. She talks about elevating our sense of being and clearing the mind in order to see beauty in all things. As spring is in the air, now is a perfect time to declutter the mind and rid it of expectations. Leicester encourages you to try that juice cleanse, sort out that to-do list or engaging in something new. During this time she encourages you to find beauty in what you do. In doing this you should find yourself cultivating a conscious path towards happiness.

Disclaimer: I am an Affiliated Blogger with Om Yoga Magazine. Each issue I will write a post on an article from the magazine and share it with you. Have a look here to find about the other lovely affiliated bloggers. All photos in this post taken from the Om Yoga magazine.