Food & Drink: Healthy snacks, Squirrel Sisters

Absolutely everything you read about healthy eating eschews snacking as the biggest crime against gaining a slimmer waist line.

But this is not necessarily the case. Better advice would be to choose wisely and, as ever, everything in moderation.

Squirrel Sisters has one simple mission, to help you treat your health, with snacks for people hungry for easy, energising, positive choices.

Choices that feel good to make. Choices you don’t need to think twice about.

It has a range of Snack Bars and also Raw Bites (Share Bags).

There are four flavours available in the range; Cacao Brownie (82 calories per bar), Cacao Orange (82 calories per bar), Raspberry Ripple (87 calories per bar) and Coconut Cashew (91 calories per bar).

The 40g bar is split into two 20g sticks (2x 20g per pack) to encourage portion control.

Bars and bags fit in with a number of lifestyles such as vegan, paleo, gluten and refined sugar free, and they are 100 per cent raw.

Available widely at supermarkets and 15 per cent on your first order at

London-based healthy snacks company Abakus Foods introduces the world’s first Chocolate Coated Red Dates.

The new product is made of the superfruit red dates (aka jujube fruits), coated with premium dark chocolate, to make an indulgent and nutritious treat.

This product extends the existing seven SKUs – strong Red Dates range including the Soft Pitted Red Dates, Crunchy Red Dates Crisps, and Nut Stuffed Red Dates.

Combining the natural sweetness of the jujube fruit with the rich and smooth dark chocolate, the company has utilised the natural contrasting properties of the products to create a culinary experience.

This delicious snack has a crunchy chocolate coating and a chewy centre from the red dates, which makes them a fun snack on the go, a delicious dessert after a meal, or a lovely reward in the evening.

This product offers balance in both taste and nutrition: dark chocolate is known for its natural anti-oxidant properties and for being a source of iron.

Red Dates are a berry from the Far East, enjoyed for health and well-being for thousands of years. They have a natural caramel flavour and are packed with nutrients.

They contain 18 out of 24 essential amino acids which help tissue repair and recovery.

Also, they are known for their adaptive properties, which can help the body cope to stress, both mentally and physically.

The fresh jujube fruit has 20 times more vitamin C than citrus fruits. RRP of £1.49 per pack and are available at Ocado, Whole Foods and Planet Organic.

Gregory’s Tree, the fruit-based snack bar with two tasty flavours, New Organic Strawberry and Organic Blueberry and Raspberry.

They are gluten-free, vegan, 60 calories per bar and free from added sugar. Available in supermarkets widely.

South London-based author Bethie Hungerford has launched Hungerpots – a collection of healthy, easy and quick to cook, one-pot recipes to feed the whole family. She said: “It’s basically the laziest possible way to cook delicious homemade food.

“Aside from a bit of chopping and stirring, there is absolutely zero ability required. I promise.

“This book is perfect for busy parents, university students, for cooking in a camper van, a boat, or over a camp fire, cooking during a kitchen renovation, or in a tiny kitchen without an oven.”

What sort of dishes can you expect to find? Soup, hearty pasta, stews and so much more. Available at Amazon.co.uk.