We're told not to eat sugar, swap for sweeteners and to only eat fruit. Don't eat too much fruit says the other dentist, because it will still rot your teeth due to the acid. It's obvious that too much sugar intake can cause obesity and diabetes along with other health conditions. But for one day, we're going to put that aside and give sugar a break by talking about some of the health benefits. Of course, consume in moderation but a little sugar won't harm (even Mary Poppins agrees). 

(Image credit: Science Daily) 

The Basics

Natural sugars are sugars that are found in fruits and milk, they are complex carbohydrates that give us the nutrition we need and help with blood sugar levels. Added sugars are things such as white sugar, brown sugar, honey and syrups that are added to food. They provide hardly any nutrition and can cause spikes in blood sugar. 

Benefit #1

Sugar can provide energy almost immediately. Once the energy for immediate use is being used, the body will store excess to use later on. This is called glycogenesis. This is a great process because it can allow us to go for longer periods of time without eating, however, when glucose exceeds storage the leftover is turned into fat. 

Benefit #2

Natural sugars come with added nutrients. When you have milk and fruit, they usually contain additional fibre, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and hydration. You can indulge in all of the healthy treats without massive spikes in blood sugar. 

Benefit #3

According to some scientists, sugar can improve our brain health. Apparently, our brains use up 400 calories of glucose per day but it depends where you get the sugar from. So, don't be downing chocolate and Gookie Dough (however, it is a treat!) because the natural sugars have the real benefit. It's best to eat whole fruit than juice because an apple has more fibre and it's consumed slower.

Benefit #4

Glycolic acid in sugar can be great in keeping skin healthy. Using it can help to get rid of blemishes and restore the balance in oils. Sugar is also great on the skin in the forms of body scrubs. The gritty texture is perfect for exfoliating and removing dead skin cells which leaves you with luxurious smooth legs!

So, not so fast with cutting out sugar when you're hitting the hardcore diet. Sugar is needed and is essential, just eat the junk food in moderation and choose an apple over chocolate. Easier said than done, we know! 

Despite Gookie Dough selling a product which isn't one of your five-a-day, we're all for a healthy diet. It's important to remember that our product needs to be consumed within a balanced diet and in moderation. Yes, it is tempting to eat four monster tubs straight out but it's not ideal. Today, we're discussing several habits of unsuccessful 'dieters' and how you can break them. 

(Image credit: Unsplash, Estée Janssens) 

Do these situations sound familiar?

1. Your meals come out of a carton, bag or over the deli counter 
2. You never eat alone, the TV/internet/phone or magazine is always there
3. You can't walk away from free food even if you aren't hungry, including all you can eat buffets and supermarket samples 
4. You spend time regretting what you ate than preparing it
5. You eat when you're hungry but also based on your emotion

Unhealthy food patterns 

There are certain food patterns that people follow which can link to obesity and other food/weight disorders. Food fretting is when you're overly concerned with what you eat and form a negative relationship with food. Task snacking: this is when you always eat while doing something, like doing work and watching TV. Emotional eating: rather self-explanatory but you turn to food in low moments when you're feeling upset. Fast foodism: you eat processed and convenience foods and eat them quickly. Solo dining: you use food to fill a social void. Sensory disregard: mealtime is annoying and you're not bothered about the eating experience. 

Solving the problem 

A simple way of limiting yourself to binge is to keep a food diary and writing down everything in your life that links to food. It's a lifestyle diary, this includes what you ate, how much, when, where, what time of day and why you ate it. Were you alone? What else were you doing while eating? It's also important to note what kind of food it was. For example, fresh, frozen, processed, baked, boiled, take away etc. From the diary, you will start to see a pattern form and identify your eating triggers. 

Eat the Gookie Dough, track the Gookie Dough, look after your body and eat a healthy, balanced diet! *Factual information from WebMD* 

So, you're stood in IKEA and there is a bunch of spatulas in front of you. Do you need them all? Just one? Why are there wooden and plastic spoons? The questions are endless. Welcome to baking equipment 101, where us at Gookie Dough tell you the ins and outs of utensils. 

(Image credit: Mason Cash) 

Thermometers 

No oven is the same, it's annoying but true. The first rule of baking is to ensure that the temperature is just right because this means the end result will be perfect. Oven thermometers are designed to stand or hang on an oven rack. Since the temperature inside an oven can vary from one place to another, the position of the thermometer on the oven rack is important. It's usually recommended to keep the thermometer right next to the baking tray for the most accurate reading. 

Then, there are candy thermometers. These are used to test the temperature during the cooking of jams, jellies and candies. It has an adjustable clip so it can rest against the side of a large pan. 

Spatulas 

Spatulas are used for a variety of things such as lifting and turning goods or even spreading fillings and frostings. There is the straight edge spatula, the pancake turner and the rubber spatula. 

The straight edge spatula is like a knife but doesn't have a sharp edge. It is used for spreading frostings and can be used when measuring ingredients to level off or remove excess from a measuring cup. 

The pancake turner is wide at the base which picks up the food and is used to remove baked goods from baking trays such as your Gookie Dough cookies. The sharp edge cuts the cookie from the sheet. 

The rubber spatula has a wooden or plastic handle with a flexible rubber paddle. It is great for scraping excess batter off the sides of a bowl.

Liners 

(Image credit: Pop Sugar) 

You've spent a lifetime lining trays and pans but did you know there are different types and when to use a certain one? Liners are great for transferring and are a godsend when it comes to non-stick. 

Parchment paper is a heavy grease and moisture resistant paper, it's great for cookies, pizzas and cakes. Extremely versatile. Wax paper is semitransparent paper with a coating of wax on both sides. It is good for covering food and lining baking pans. 

Tin foil is an amazing barrier to moisture, air and odours and can withstand heat and cold. It can come in regular weight for wrapping food and heavy duty which is perfect for freezer storage and lining grills. 

Cheesecloth, probably the least known. A lightweight and natural cotton cloth that doesn't fall apart when wet. It can strain liquids, form a packet for herbs that can be popped into soups and can come in fine and coarse weaves. 

They say you should learn something new every day. So, what have you learnt? Just call us professor Gookie!   

So, there's a massive stigma when it comes to sugar being harmful to health. Sure, we know it can cause diseases if consumed at a high level and with sugar tax making its way into the UK, it could be beneficial for us all. 

(Image credit: ICE Cook School) 

The basics 

Sugar is a simple carbohydrate which is digested at a fast rate and causes a spike in blood glucose when consumed alone. Sugar shouldn't be feared, and it's as simple as that. Anything is dangerous; you could technically drink too much water and die (extreme, we know). We're quickly swayed into thinking things are healthier because they don't contain pure sugar. However, honey, fruits and other syrups contain high amounts of sugar so don't be brainwashed! 

However, we do need to pay attention to how much sugar is in our diet. We eat too much because it tastes good. Evolutionary means we seek out foods naturally high in sugars because energy and high sugar foods are cheaper. But sugar isn't toxic. 

Calorie consumption 

(Image credit: mumspantry.com.au) 

If we overeat sugar, it means we're consuming extra calories which suggest that weight gain will occur. If a diet consists of foods which are rich in sugar but you're under consuming on calories, then you will still lose weight, but the consequence is that you're malnourished. This again leads to health problems. 

Now, there's something called 'free sugars'. These include table sugar, golden syrup, treacle, agave syrup, coconut blossom syrup, unsweetened fruit juice and honey. These are sugars added by the manufacturer plus sugars which are present in honey etc. On the other hand, there are sugars we don't count as 'free'. These include lactose in milk and dairy products, natural sugars in fruit, vegetables and cereals or grains. The average adult eats 2000 calories a day which means that your intake of calories from free sugar should be no more than 100 calories a day. 

(Image credit: vivatesting.com) 

The conclusion

If you're an athlete, then sugar is very beneficial because it gives you more energy and can help to build muscle. But, don't stress it. If you want that Gookie Dough tub and have a balanced diet and won't sacrifice other vital nutrients, then indulge and don't feel guilty! 

*Article inspiration from Muscle Food* 

When talking about Gookie Dough, it's basically exactly what it says on the tin (apart from the change of one letter). However, do you ever go out to a restaurant or hear that fancy chef on TV say something repetitively, and you seriously have no clue what they're on about? What happened to simplicity?! Find out what all of those terms mean here so you can now brag to everyone that you genuinely are posh (the next Mary Berry, of course).  

(Picture credit: Pinterest)

What is a tartare? 

Some form of dessert or pastry crust? You would be wrong. This is a dish of seasoned raw meat which is usually beef. It can be topped with egg yolk and served with bread or crackers. Oh, and a pro tip, don't get confused with tartar sauce because that could be a bit awkward at the table.

What is crème brûlée?

Okay, so an easier one after we started off being a bit cruel. If you've had one of these gorgeous dishes, then you're bound to know the answer! A little hint? Tubby custard. That's right; this is a sweet custard which is topped with caramelised sugar. Very fancy and even more delicious. Oh, how we love the French. 

What is a consommé?

Say what? Yeah, I have no clue. My Grandmother probably wouldn't be very proud right now! So, the answer is a clear soup. You know, like that chicken noodle soup that you have when you're sick? Basically, a classy word of saying see-through soup! 

(Picture credit: larenaissance.com.au)

What does chiffonade mean? 

No, it's not that silky smooth fabric, chiffon. Sadly! However, I guess you can relate the result to ribbon. Sounds like a riddle, am I right? So, chiffonade means to cut leafy vegetables or herbs into thin ribbons. Would you like chiffonaded lettuce with that, my darling?

Amuse-bouche? 

AMUSING! No, all jokes aside, if you can guess this one right then I applaud you! This is something you will experience if you're paying £800 for a dish. An amuse bouche is a small, free (it should be at that price) bite of food to start a meal. It's a way for chefs to give a little something extra but also set the tone for the meal. Food is an art, after all. 

What is a quenelle?

(Picture credit: bonappetit.com) 

This sounds very elegant. It's either one of the following: