Fat It's Good For Us ...
If you live the LCHF (Low Carb High Fat) lifestyle, or know about this lifestyle you are aware that many now refer to the 'HF' ( High Fat) as Healthy Fats ... foods like cream, butter, flax, cheese, avocado, nuts, and olive oil - in fact the foods that are pictured above. They are all on my shopping list because these are the fats that I use on a daily basis. Obviously high in calories but also full of essential nutrients. As I've written before my lifestyle is low carb, no more than 50 a day, with higher healthy fats and moderate protein. It is a balance that suits me, although each of us has to find our own balance, and obviously take into account any food allergies, or underlying health condition.
Read More about Low Carb Healthy Fat (LCHF) Eating Here
Fat Is Good For Garden Birds ...
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With the weather getting colder many of us may want to regularly feed our Garden Birds, and you may already be doing this. One thing they love are 'Fat Balls'. Read how to make them below.
"Fat balls and other fat-based food bars are excellent winter food. If they are sold in nylon mesh bags, always remove the bag before putting the fat ball out – the soft mesh can trap and injure birds. You can make your own bird cake by pouring melted fat (suet or lard) onto a mixture of ingredients such as seeds, nuts, dried fruit, oatmeal, cheese and cake. Use about one-third fat to two-thirds mixture. Stir well in a bowl and allow it to set in a container of your choice. An empty coconut shell, plastic cup or tit bell makes an ideal bird cake ‘feeder’. Alternatively, you can turn it out onto your bird table when solid."
Bird photo and Fat Ball details from the RSPB. Please read more about what you can do to help birds during the colder months here
The birds are definitely feeling the cold, they've been visiting the feeders non stop this weekend. I have a feeder which attaches to the window too, I put suet treats in that, it's lovely to see them so close to the window when they visit.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure I eat far too much cheese. And I KNOW I drink too much beer! Love the shot of the bird feeder - wonderful. We like to put food out for the birds, but am trying to think of a way of beating growing numbers of jackdaws - noisy, greedy, bullies; besides, I'm convinced they're talking about me.
ReplyDeleteHealthy foods are great even with their high calorie counts. Have a nice week!
ReplyDeletegreat ideas for human and other. Wishes for a beautiful Monday out there.
ReplyDeleteGreat post and info. I am sure the birds love the homemadesuet balls. Happy Monday, enjoy your new week ahead!
ReplyDeleteTotally agree with you we need to find diets that suit us as individuals, taking her health issues into account.
ReplyDeleteI eat HF but do exclude cream and hard cheese. It works for me.....
So glad you mentioned the netting on fat balls...............I am surprised manufacturers of bird food are still using them.
this is right up my alley!!! nice bird image!!!!
ReplyDeleteWe buy suet cakes and hang them in suet feeders for our birds. The woodpeckers especially love them.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it ironic that people put out "healthy" fat for their birds and eat the birdseed themselves? Quote from J Stanton at gnolls.org "birdseed and diesel fuel are NOT food groups!"
ReplyDeleteMy birds like sunflower hearts the best, and appreciate a handful of live mealworms daily. Mainly the blackbirds, robins and starlings in winter but a lot of others go for the mealies when they have young to feed, many seed-eating species have evolved to feed their young on fats and proteins.
Sparrowhawks are regular visitors. I don't mind so long as they catch the common birds as we never had them when I was young. Despite all the high-tech agriculture we have a wide range of top predators, a good sign that there's plenty of prey for them to eat.
I'm all about healthy fats, I can't believe I ever ate margerine and other manmade foods.... I want totally natural items and nothing less xox
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for dropping to to say hi and check in with me ♡
Thank you ALL for taking time to leave a comment here, the post has had a good number of reads so maybe there will be butter on shopping lists for us and some Fat Balls for our feathered friends! It is always great to receive, read and share comments and ideas.
ReplyDeleteJo
I agree it is lovely to watch the birds visit and feed.
Mike
I love cheese, there is just such a great selection to choose from, and you can never have too much in your house ...can you ... besides a glass of wine goes so well with it. I'll leave you to have your beer, although I occasionally have a small Peroni - does that count as Beer? Not sure LOL! Yes, sometimes our gardens do attract birds that can be rather vocal!
Blogoratti
I just love including healthy fats, like the ones in the photo, in our weekly menu plans.
Nikki (Sarah)
Healthy fats are so good for us and our feathered friends. Thank you for your good wishes.
Eileen
The birds certainly seem to enjoy the homemade fat cakes and balls, the RSPB site I linked to is very helpful in regard to this.
Cheryl
We obviously promote the LCHF lifestyle on this blog ... and any article, recipe etc. is posted for information, but it is up to each reader to decide whether he/she wants to 'action' upon reading it. For instance if I put a recipe up with nuts and a reader is allergic to nuts that would not be suitable for them. It is always important to take any under lying health condition into account and if you are a diabetic test blood sugar levels.
It always surprises me when I still see netting on the fat balls ... the guide I linked to in the original article is very helpful I think.
Debbie
You have some wonderful photo's of birds on your blog (and other photo's too). It is so nice to feed the birds and spend time watching them.
'NC'
Yes suet cakes are popular. Woodpeckers are such colourful birds aren't they.
Chris
Both Eddie and I appreciated your first comment here ... thank you.
You do get quite a variety of birds and wildlife your way - it is a shame when not everyone takes time out to enjoy what may be right on their doorstep. Yes, of course it will differ area to area but it always amazes me that some are quite oblivious to nature! (But not our com-mentors here)
Launna
Lovely to receive your comment, and glad things are ok with you.
I do agree with your opening comment ... thank you.
Once again THANK YOU ALL for your comments.
Keep watching the birds and enjoying the wild life
Keep those healthy fats on the top of your shopping list.
All the best Jan
Catching up on some older blogs. Love seeing your birds, those are lovely. Your birds are very different than the ones we see here in midwest America.
ReplyDelete'R&L'
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comments ...
I visit many blogs and it never ceases to amaze me the huge variety of colourful birds there are, and yes depending on where you are in the world they are quite different.
Nature offers us many beautiful things.
All the best Jan