Join me as I bake a healthier low calorie version of the classic Banana Bread. A popular choice by many in the belief the bananas make it a healthier option, it is often laden with sugar, oil and butter.
In this episode, I share with you healthier alternatives to common ingredients to create this masterpiece whilst maintaining a genuine taste.
RECIPE AND METHOD
For the mixture:
- 3 Bananas - mashed
- 1 Cup flour
- 3 Tbsp applesauce
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 squeeze of honey - optional
- 1 tsp cocoa nibs - optional
Mix the dry ingredients together and set aside. In a separate bowl mix the banana, eggs, applesauce and cocoa nibs together. Once you have achieved an even texture add in the dry ingredients. Be sure not to over beat the mixture as the cake will loose its height.
Transfer the mixture into a loaf tin and place in an already heated oven at 180 degrees for 60 minutes or until a knife can come out clean from the cake.
Set aside to rest and enjoy with a lovely cup of tea.
Please remember to always eat treats sensibly as part of a full healthy balanced diet and an active lifestyle.
In today’s episode I take you through my ultimate study tips to help you succeed in your examinations.
LEARNER TYPES
Take time to work out what kind of learner you are.
- Physical: where you carry out physical tasks to learn things better.
- Listener: those who absorb the most information from lectures or auditory seminars.
- Social: learn best in a group of people.
- Solitary learners: prefer to learn alone.
- Verbal: respond well to written or spoken words and make use of acronyms.
- Logical: Use their logic to learn effectively.
TIMING
Studying for an examination requires a certain degree of timing. Starting too early can lead to burn out, and starting to study too late can mean a lot of cramming which then can lead to missing out important subjects but also only stores information in the short term memory. For my own studies, I realised that allowing myself 10 weeks prior to my examinations gave me ample time to learn my modules. If, for example I had 7 modules, I would allocate one week per module leaving 3 extra weeks spare to complete any outstanding tasks but also to have a ‘final’ revision of all 7 modules briefly ready for the examination.
ROUTINE
Give your self a daily schedule. Allocate time during the day to study and reward yourself with breaks once you have achieved something. Don’t forget to get outside and remain active. Smelling some fresh air can help to keep you revitalised and feel more alert for when you do get back to studying. Be sure to fuel your body with healthy food. This is not only important for your physical health but also for your mental health. Snacking on unhealthy fat-laden foods will make you feel lethargic and less energetic having a negative impact on your ability to study. Instead keep hydrated with water, fresh fruit and veg and have your healthy dose of protein each day. As well as keeping your food sources up, be sure to have a good night’s sleep everyday, sleeping helps up to remember what we have learned throughout the day but it also gives you the chance to recharge your batteries ready for the next day.
NOTE KEEPING
This will have to be what’s best for you, however, I found that by keeping short concise bullet points for notes was more effective than trying to learn long prose answers. You may wish to write those bullet points on a flash card or, if like me you’re a visual learner - mind maps. As an example, I would put the topic in the centre of page and branch out important information in the form of bullet points. From here, I highlight the different sub-topics with coloured highlighter pens. When it came to examination time, I would be able to think back to my mind map and colours and be able to recite those important bullet points when required.
REPETITON
We learn by repeating actions over and over again. This is thanks to a scientific process called synaptic consolidation which is where the neurones - our information carriers - actually get stronger the more we repeat a memory.
TEST
You may find it useful to have a dress-rehearsal of what your examination will be like. As a medical student, we would ask the previous years for practice examination questions and some would also be provided to us by the medical school. If you don’t have access to practice questions, you could try to explain a topic to your colleagues, this could be a useful technique if you are a social learner.
ENJOY
If you have managed to study effectively then your examination period should be a time where you can 'show off’ your knowledge and show case all your hard work. If you don’t manage to pass this time, don’t fear, there will always be another opportunity.
CHAPTERS
0.20 Introduction
1:05 Learner Types
2:50 Timing
6:15 Note Keeping
9:15 Repetition
10:15 Test Your Knowledge
13:29 Enjoy
14.34 Conclusions
I hope you enjoyed this video and as always if you have any questions or comments please drop me in a line below.
Whether you’re studying for an exam or learning to master your craft, sometimes it can be hard to stay motivated. Here are my tips to keep your momentum.
- Break down the topics you are learning. Rather than trying to learn everything at once break up subjects into manageable chunks.
- Get into a routine. Allocate time during your day to study and turn off any distractions during this time.
- Take regular breaks. You could try taking a break after achieving a task making your breaks feel well deserved.
- Keep hydrated and fed. Your brain is working hard so make sure you fuel it up efficiently.
- Don’t hibernate from the world. It is important for your physical and mental health to still go out and do regular activities such as seeing friends or shopping. This can even help make you feel refreshed for your next task.
How do you keep motivated in the colder weather? 🥶
The cooler climates and shorter days can make you feel sad and gloomy with little motivation and trouble sleeping.
If this sounds familiar, here are a few tips to try and help:
- Eat healthier foods, including protein and reducing the amount of sugary processed foods during the day.
- Get into a good sleep routine and avoid using electronic devices at least one hour before nodding off.
- Try to incorporate exercise into your daily regime, this could be as simple as walking around the block or a stroll along the beach. We are so lucky to have such great sunsets at winter.
- Speak with someone if you’re struggling, a problem shared is a problem halved.
And of course, if you have any further questions or concerns, pop down to your local doctor for a chat.
