How to Use Your Healthy Extras to Their Full Potential – Fatgirlskinny.net

January 25, 2025 Stan

If you’re following Slimming World, you’ll already know about Healthy Extras – the little gems that give us structure while adding variety and balance to our to our days. But are you making the most of them? Whether you’re new to the plan or just looking for fresh ideas, here’s how to get the best out of your Healthy Extra choices.

How to Use Your Healthy Extras to Their Full Potential - Fatgirlskinny.net

Healthy Extras are more than just a part of the plan – they’re a cornerstone of balanced nutrition. Designed to give your body essential nutrients like calcium and fibre, they help keep you healthy and satisfied. But here’s the thing: it’s all too easy to fall into a routine of using the same Healthy Extra choices day in and day out. By shaking things up and getting creative, you can turn these allowances into something exciting and delicious while staying on track. Ready to explore some fresh ideas? Let’s dive in!

What Are Healthy Extras?

For those who are new, Healthy Extras are split into two categories:

Healthy Extra A: Your dairy allowance, which ensures you get enough calcium.
Healthy Extra B: Your fibre allowance, keeping things running smoothly, if you know what I mean!

The beauty of Healthy Extras is that they’re there to support your nutritional needs while still allowing for flexibility. But let’s face it – sometimes it’s easy to fall into a rut of having the same thing every day. Let’s shake it up a bit, shall we?

How to Maximise Your Healthy Extra A Choices

Healthy Extra A is all about calcium-rich foods, usually in the form of milk or cheese. But there’s so much more you can do than pouring milk over your cereal or grating cheese onto pasta.

1. Liven Up Your Coffees and Teas

Fancy a latte without spending syns? Use your milk allowance to make frothy coffees or indulgent cups of tea. You can even add some sugar-free syrups for a luxurious touch.

2. Cheese Hacks

Grate your cheese finely to make it go further. A 30g block can feel like much more when finely grated.
Mix a little low-fat cottage cheese with your grated cheddar for a creamy pasta sauce that’s super low in syns.
Use your allowance to make a cheesy topping for jacket potatoes, omelettes, or even on a Slimming World-friendly pizza.

3. Dairy Alternatives

If you’re dairy-free or prefer plant-based options, there are plenty of fortified alternatives like almond milk or oat milk that count as Healthy Extra A. Just be sure to check the list for the exact allowances.

4. Indulgent Desserts

Use your milk to make creamy hot chocolates with low-syn cocoa powder or whip up a rice pudding with pudding rice and sweetener. Trust me, it’ll feel like a proper treat.

5. Make it fun

Get yourself one of these milk measuring bottles.. personalised with your own details.

Available here from ETSY

Making the Most of Healthy Extra B

Your Healthy Extra B is your fibre hero, and there’s so much more to it than a slice of wholemeal toast in the morning.

1. Overnight Oats

This is a Slimming World classic for a reason. Layer your oats with fat-free yoghurt, fresh fruit, and a drizzle of sweetener or cinnamon. Prep it the night before, and it’s ready to grab-and-go in the morning.

2. Upgrade Your Toast Game

Wholemeal bread doesn’t have to be boring. Top your toast with:

Scrambled eggs and smoked salmon
Mashed avocado (just weigh and syn it!)
Baked beans and a sprinkle of cheese from your Healthy Extra A

3. Creative Uses for Cereals

Crush up Weetabix or bran flakes to use as a crunchy topping for yoghurt.
Make Slimming World-friendly muffins by mixing your cereal allowance with eggs, sweetener, and baking powder.
Use oats to make your own syn-free pancakes or waffles.

4. Fibre-Rich Recipes

Include Healthy Extras in Your Recipes

Healthy Extras don’t just have to be standalone snacks or meal additions – they can be the stars of the show in your cooking! Incorporate them into recipes to add extra flavour, texture, and nutrition to your meals.

Top Tips for Staying on Track

Plan Ahead: Know what your Healthy Extras are for the day so you can fit them into your meals.
Mix It Up: Avoid getting stuck in a rut by trying new options. Variety is the spice of life, after all!
Measure Accurately: It’s easy to overestimate, so weigh or measure your Healthy Extras to make sure you’re on plan.
Track Syn Values: If you’re using something slightly off-plan (like certain breads or cheeses), double-check the syn values to ensure you’re staying on track.

Healthy Extras are a brilliant way to add balance and variety to your meals while keeping you on track with your Slimming World journey. With a little creativity, you can transform these essentials into something exciting and satisfying. So go on, get experimenting! You might just discover a new favourite way to enjoy your Healthy Extras.

How do you like to use your Healthy Extras? Let me know in the comments – I’d love to hear your tips and ideas!

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