“Feel good & stay healthy whilst still enjoying festive foods” says Miss Yorkshire Chloe McEwen

“As a level 3 qualified personal trainer, my tips for anyone wanting to stay on track, feel good and stay healthy whist still enjoying the delicious festive foods would be this ….

“I recommend doing some form of exercise each day, whether that’s a walk in nature to clear your mind, or I personally also enjoy exercise such as: running, lifting weights, HIIT workouts and swimming because it helps me feel positive, strong and confident.”

“Any form of exercise that you enjoy, even as little as 10 minutes a day, will really help boost your mood, as well as helping you stay fit and healthy.”

“When it comes to my diet, I try to keep a balanced diet.

Mostly high protein, E.G- Eggs, chicken, greek yogurt, seeds, nuts, cheese & fish) but also make sure to include fats and carbs into each meal (when possible). This helps me stay energised & satiated throughout the day and also maintain lean muscle mass.

 Don’t get me wrong, I definitely have a sweet tooth and what I’ve learnt is, cutting food groups out of my diet (like carbs) never works, as this eventually leads to binge eating. So instead, I found ways to still enjoy foods I love (like chocolate cake) by just tweaking the recipes, so they stay delicious (and feel like a naughty treat) but are a healthier option that don’t give you the sugar crash!

This allows me to stay on track, enjoy foods without restricting myself, as well as maintaining good energy levels throughout the day.

Oat flour instead of plain flour, honey instead of refined sugar, bananas for natural sweetness and dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate.

“Through consistency will come confidence.”

**Ingredients:**

– 4 small ripe bananas (about 400g)
– 2 eggs
– 1/4 cup (56g) melted butter
– 1/2 cup (120ml) honey (or maple syrup)
– 1 tsp vanilla extract
– 1 3/4 cups (210g) oat flour
– 3/4 cup (90g) almond flour
– 1 tsp espresso powder (optional)
– 1 tsp cinnamon
– 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
– 1/2 tsp baking soda
– 1/4 tsp salt
– 100g dark chocolate bar, chopped
– 70g walnuts, halved (optional)

**Instructions:**

1. Preheat your oven to 175°C (350°F) and line a 9-inch cake tin with baking paper.

2. In a bowl, smash the 4 small ripe bananas with a fork or potato masher.

3. Add the eggs, melted butter, honey (or maple syrup), and vanilla extract to the mashed bananas. Mix until well combined.

4. Stir in the oat flour, almond flour, espresso powder (if using), cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and a pinch of salt. Mix until the batter is smooth.

5. Fold in 2/3 of the chopped dark chocolate and the halved walnuts (if desired).

6. Transfer the batter into the prepared cake tin and sprinkle the remaining chocolate on top.

7. Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

8. For the best flavor, let the cake cool overnight.

Enjoy your delicious and healthier banana and chocolate cake!

Chloe won the Miss Yorkshire title at the Earl of Doncaster after competing with 20 other contestants in the glamorous competition & will be representing the county at the Miss England national final at the Grand Station Wolverhampton.

Myth Busting tips- Checkout the reigning Sportswoman winners blog Leah Carter Welch  here