Apprentice star is going nuts for healthy snacking
As we near the end of January, it’s likely that most healthy-eating diets started as New Year’s resolutions are slowly coming to an end, if they haven’t stopped abruptly already.
By Katie Thistleton
Star of TV’s The Apprentice, Karren Brady
reveals her secrets to eating healthily
Vice-chairman of West Ham FC Karren is promoting eating almonds for a happy and healthy lifestyle.
Recent research conducted by California Almonds revealed that 60% of women turn to unhealthy snacks to give them energy and a quick ‘boost’ to get them through the working day.
The research found that many of these women also replace meals with such snacks, due to finding it difficult to control their busy lifestyles.
A further 73% of the women interviewed admitted that snacking in such a way didn’t make them feel good, but instead made them feel guilty and angry with themselves.
Mother-of-two Karren said: “I used to eat chocolate but I know it’s not good for me so I have swapped to snacking on almonds,”
“What I love about almonds is that they’re a guilt free snack, they contain 15 essential nutrients including protein which keeps my energy levels up to help me get through the day.”
Karren is no stranger to promoting healthy eating, and backed Bupa's Helping You Find Healthy campaign last year.
“As a mother I want to set a good example to my children, if they see me eating healthily it will encourage them to maintain a healthily lifestyle which is essential to growing children.”
Karren, who had a health-scare back in 2006 when medics found a potentially fatal cerebral aneurysm, admits that despite making an effort to eat healthily, being so busy means she finds it difficult to find time to exercise.
“As a working mother I’m always running from meetings to the school gates so unfortunately I don’t get to exercise as much as I like. However, being constantly on the go does help me keep trim!”
Karren has been referred to in the past as a ‘life-squeezer’ – someone who packs as much as they possibly can into every day.
She offered her advice to other working women like her.
“My one tip would be to always be prepared; I carry almonds with me in my handbag so I always have a nutritious snack with me when hunger strikes,”
“Carrying almonds means I’m less likely to buy an unhealthy snack,” she said.
We all like a treat every now and again, however, and Karren admitted that she is no different.
“I still allow myself an occasional [chocolate]
bar for when I’m feeling naughty!”
Snacking on California Almonds has also been backed by celebrities such as Nicole Scherzinger, Gary Barlow and Elle ‘the body’ Macpherson.
Leading nutritionist Juliette Kellow said: “Almonds not only deliver a host of nutrients, but they provide you with the energy to keep you fueled until your next meal,”
“Compared gram for gram almonds pack more fibre, calcium and vitamin E than any other tree nut so they’re an ideal snack choice.”
So will the trend spread to the streets of Manchester?
Hannah Taylor, 25, from Clayton, recently started a healthy eating regime as a New Year’s resolution, and says healthy snacking is the reason she is still going.
“I’ve swapped big baguettes for salads, endless chocolate bars and packets of crisps for fruit and nuts, and because of that I’m never, ever hungry,” she said.
“Sometimes I miss my takeaways, but I feel much healthier, less sluggish and have lost one stone already.”
“I used to binge on rubbish food thinking it was giving me energy, but now I have more energy than ever!”
For more information about how to eat almonds for a healthier lifestyle, visit: www.AlmondBoard.co.uk
By Katie Thistleton
Follow @KatieThistleton
