It’s Been a Peanut Butter Bacon Burger Kind of Day!
Have you ever had one of those really stressful days when all you can think about is the tension head ache you can’t get rid of and counting down the minutes until the little hand on the clock lands on 5?
That was me earlier this week — I had a busy day at the office, dealing with clients and bosses along with the killer headache from hell!
I affectionately call these Peanut Butter Bacon Burger days!
Emotional eating has been an issue for me. You eat when you’re happy, you eat when you’re upset, you eat when you’re bored. Sound familiar?
I’m Not Stepping on a Weight Scale This Time Around
If you’ve read my previous blog post about mini weight loss goals, you might know that I’m leaving for Maui on December 7th.
This means I have less than 3 months to lose some weight so I don’t feel like a beached whale while on vacation!
Normally when I’m on a weight loss routine, I gladly weigh myself every single day.
This time around I’m taking a different approach.
I’ve decided in addition to meeting small mini-milestones along the way rather than focus on the big picture, I will not be stepping foot on a weight scale.
Being the only member of your family on the 17 Day Diet can be tricky at times. Do you make two separate meals for dinner — one for you and another for your kids and spouse/partner? How about the temptations of cooking the “extras” for your family? Are you likely to stick to your diet or cheat here and there?
“Is your family on the 17 Day Diet with you, or are you having to prepare two separate meals? Tell me how you deal with this while dieting. I’d love to know!”
Here are a few of the answers from fellow dieters and fans of the blog:
They can pretty much eat the same thing only I usually give them a starch such as a potato, bread or pasta with the meal. Some meals I will have to cook something separate. If they want burgers on the grill, I will throw me on a chicken breast or turkey burger. — Lisa L.
Lisa’s response is what I would normally do if I’m dieting and my boyfriend is not. It’s easy to prepare a healthy, 17 Day Diet approved meal and add a starch for your family.
Here’s another response from fellow dieter, Wanda:
I do the same as Lisa but my kids are older and both work, they know grocery day has no junk food in it so if they want it they have to go get it..I won’t!!– Wanda G.
Although I don’t have children, I love Wanda’s advice! If you want it, you get it yourself! Priceless!
I’m starting tomorrow and although they will be eating [different breakfast] and lunch, almost all of the dinners will be the same and they will be asked to taste it when I fix something extra for them. — Courtney J.
Great response from Courtney! What a great way to incorporate the “healthier” menu to the kids by asking them to taste test.
And lastly, we hear from Diane with her advice:
When our kids are home from college, we separate their non-17dd food in our second refrigerator. Then, we make them take it with them when they head back to school. They seem to enjoy the on plan dinners we prepare–I’m sure healthy, wholesome, non-processed food. — Diane W.
What are your tips when you’re the only person in your family on a diet? I’d love to hear your responses below!
Original article and pictures take 17ddblog.com site
How To Make The Best Marinated Tomatoes And Cucumbers For The Summer
As planned, Dan and I made it down to the farmer’s market this Saturday. I know I say it each week, but Saturday mornings are my favorite! And this one didn’t let me down.
Because I had made the best iced coffee ever (recipe to come), we decided to skip out on grabbing a cup downtown… that way we would have our hands free and instead we could enjoy a glass of chilled coffee at home during breakfast.
Call me a weirdo, but I don’t drink coffee back to back, so if I know we’re getting a cup from a cafe, I will skip out at home and drink plain water with my breakfast.
I was so impressed with our farmer’s market bag! My mom got me this basket for Easter and each week I have forgotten to take it with us. Oh no, not this time though!
Thanks to smart Dan for hanging it on the door the night before. No way I was going to leave it behind.
We filled this thing to the brim! By far the best week in terms of staying on budget!
For $19, this is what ended up in our basket:
Vidalia onions
Beets
Lettuce
Wild Spinach
Tuscan Kale (this is a new thing for us)
Tomatoes (2 huge ones)
Cucumbers (3)
Eggplant
Jalapeno Pepper
Bell peppers (2)
In fact, since we had leftover cash we treated ourselves by stopping by the fruit bar. We had a late lunch planned so I thought this would tie us over.
Dan had a tropical smoothie, I had a “Radio Flyer Juice”. It was my first juice experience and I have to say I wasn’t a fan. I think it was a texture thing and that if it had been thicker like a smoothie instead of water, I would have enjoyed it more.
My juice included: beets, carrots, apple, and celery. It was alright… but I couldn’t finish it. I just kept looking up at Dan while he happily slurped up his thick shake wishing we could trade.
Summertime Marinated Tomatoes and Cucumbers
Then we headed home where I got straight down to business turning this:
Into this:
This is really easy!
This always makes me thing of being a kid. My mom would make this for me all the time and I would easily eat it all in a day! At least it’s healthy!
Original article and pictures take www.liftingrevolution.com site
How to Eat Like a Football Fan and NOT Gain Weight
Football season is in full swing — this means games will be played each week and that always involves food.
How do you eat like your favorite guy (a football fan) without gaining weight in the process?
It’s about smart choices and portion control…
Here are a few tips to keep your waist in check while still enjoying your tailgate time:
1. Fill up on the healthy veggies — Your guy is begging for carrot and celery sticks…with ranch dip. Consider concocting your favorite veggie dip using fat free greek yogurt or sour cream.
2. Depending on which cycle you’re on, make 1 oz turkey or beef meatballs with your favorite low-carb, low-sugar barbecue sauce. Who needs a bun when you’ve got savory little snacks to munch on?
3. Fill up on fiber. Yes, eat apples and and add low-fat cheese (in moderation) for that extra treat.
4. Exercise the morning of a game so you feel like you can have a little extra of this or that. Coming into a tailgate party with calories already burned is a great way to start your game.
5. Keep alcohol to a minimum. If you’re in Cycle 3, have a glass of wine or a 12oz beer. Just one.
6. Chicken is your friend — nothing is better than munching on grilled chicken skewers during a game. Try different low-carb, low-sugar dipping sauces for added flavor and zing!
7. Drink plenty of water — water is your best friend during game time. Not only does it keep you hydrated and help push fiber along, it also keeps you feeling fuller longer so you don’t feel like you need to eat during the entire game. For an added twist, try a lemon or lime wedge.
Original article and pictures take 17ddblog.com site
Green smoothies are all the rage! They can be healthy, convenient, and give you a reason to incorporate more greens into your diet. I created an entire recipe book of green smoothies approved for the 17 Day Diet.
At first it might seem strange to mix spinach or kale with fruit and blend it all together! But once you try it, it’s easy to see why people get hooked!
Before we dive in to the exact formula to create a custom green smoothie, let me clear up a few things.
Can I have a green smoothie on the 17 Day Diet?
I get asked by many blog readers all the time if smoothies are allowed on the 17 Day Diet. I answered this question over in a blog post not too long ago. Short answer is yes, smoothies are allowed on the 17 Day Diet.
Now, don’t get this confused with the Transitional Day Fast (the relatively new concept Dr. Moreno came up with where you have three smoothies in one day either in between each cycle or when you fall off the diet for a few days). I’m talking about having a green smoothie every single day as part of a meal replacement or a snack.
What ingredients can I use for a green smoothie?
If you’re sticking strictly to the 17 Day Diet, then it’s best to use cycle-approved foods. If you’re on cycle 1 or 2, then choose greens such as kale and spinach and low sugar fruits such as berries and apples. If you’re on cycle 3, you can start adding in higher-sugar fruits such as bananas, mangos and pineapple.
Can I replace a meal with a green smoothie?
Yes! Probably the best meal to drink a green smoothie is for breakfast. Not only is preparing a smoothie fast and convenient during the morning rush to work, your body is also able to use the natural sugars from the fruit when you’re most active in the morning and early afternoon.
If you’re going to drink a smoothie for breakfast, you may want to consider adding protein-rich plain or greek yogurt to your smoothie or a few scoops of unflavored whey protein powder.
OK, now that we have those important questions answered, here is my formula for a healthy green smoothie.
How to Create a Custom Green Smoothie for the 17 Day Diet
Here’s my winning formula for a 17 Day Diet approved green smoothie straight from my green smoothie recipe book, Addicted:
1 Cup Tightly Packed Greens
1 Cup Liquid Base
1 1/2 Cups Fresh or Frozen Fruit
Blend greens and liquid first, then add your fruits and blend until you reach your desired consistency.
Here are a few sample ingredients to choose from:
Greens:
Kale
Spinach
Romaine
Beet Greens
Collard Greens
Swiss Chard (Cycle 3)
Liquid Base:
Water
Unsweetened Coconut Water
Acidophilus Milk
Plain or Greek Yogurt
Almond Milk (Cycle 3)
Soy Milk (Cycle 3)
Fruit:
Berries
Orange
Apple
Peach
Pear
Banana (Cycle 3)
Mango (Cycle 3)
Pineapple (Cycle 3)
This is not a complete list of the different ingredients. Be sure to check out the cycle food lists and have fun creating!
Best Practices for a Great Tasting Smoothie
Remember, if you’re sticking to the 17 Day Diet, you’re allowed two servings of fruit by 2pm every day. A serving of fruit is either one piece of fresh fruit or one cup of fresh chopped fruit.
As you can see from my custom green smoothie formula, we’re using 1 1/2 cups of fruit. This means you can add another 1/2 cup of fruit to your smoothie if you’re trying to get both servings of fruit in before 2pm. A smoothie makes a great snack, especially if split it up for a mid-morning snack and an early afternoon snack before 2pm.
If you decide to add up to 2 cups of fruit to get your daily fruit in, you may need to add a bit more liquid (maybe a spoon full of plain yogurt) to your smoothie to reach a desired consistency, depending on the ripeness and the amount of juice your fruit contains.
How to Make a Chilled Smoothie
The normal knee jerk reaction is to add ice to a smoothie. However, adding ice is just adding additional liquid to your smoothie. For a chilled smoothie without the extra ice (liquid), use frozen fruit instead of fresh, or freeze your fruit overnight before using.
Quick Tips To Plan Ahead for Your Smoothie Making Process
If you don’t have a lot of time in the mornings, consider a few ways to prepare your smoothies ahead of time:
Make a few ahead of time: In an air tight container (like a small mason jar), you can keep your smoothie in the fridge for up to 2 days. Make sure you shake your smoothie before drinking (otherwise it doesn’t look very pretty and tends to separate a bit).
Freeze your smoothies: make a few smoothies and freeze them flat in air tight ziplock type of baggies. Take one out the night before and let it thaw in the fridge. Enjoy the next morning.
Prep and prepackage your ingredients: For each smoothie, wash and cut fruit, measure out your greens and place ingredients into a separate ziplock type of baggie. So that’s one baggie of ingredients per smoothie. All you have to do the next morning is add your liquid to your ingredients in your blender and blend away.
Original article and pictures take 17ddblog.com site
How to Create a 5-Dinner Meal Plan in 3 Easy Steps (Free PDF Download)
When it comes to family dinners, it’s no secret that planning your menus ahead for the week not only saves you time, but reduces stress. These two benefits keep you on track and you’re less likely to stray from your weight loss plan.
Dinner is usually the last thing you want to think about when you’re getting home late from the office. Having your meals planned out for the week takes the guesswork out of it, and that’s half the battle.
Picky Eaters, No Problem!
Add picky eaters to the mix and you have a bigger hill to climb. If you’re the type of wife and/or mother who feels obligated to make two separate dinners every night — one “diet” dinner for you and one “regular” dinner for the family — know that there is a way to save your sanity!
I give you 100% permission to make ONE meal per evening that not only helps you lose weight, but also satisfies your family members’ needs, wants and desires when it comes to the family dinner.
Ready to Save Time and Energy?
Here’s a quick 3-step process I use to create a weekday dinner meal plan to help reduce stress, satisfy picky eaters and gives you your time and energy back so you can focus on the things you love rather than spend half your life in the kitchen. There is a bit of pre-planning before you get started, so let’s get to it!
Pre-Planning Step: Choose your Organizational Method
Before you begin planning out your menus, choose how you want to keep things organized. If you’re a fan of the old fashioned pen and paper, then by all means use this method to plan out your menus. I used to keep a menu and grocery list in written format, but as technology progresses, it’s getting easier to incorporate your smart phone into your meal planning and shopping.
My Choice: Evernote
I use Evernote for my menus and shopping list. I create two separate notes – for one the menus and the other for the shopping list. To make it extra efficient, I use my laptop to build my menu, search for recipes online and upload PDF recipes if I need them for future reference in the kitchen later in the week.
Here’s an example of my menu for the week. I included Sunday’s menu because it’s easy to do when you get the hang of it.
I then build my shopping list based on my menus and recipes using check boxes next to each item. When I’m at the store, I use my smart phone to connect with the Evernote app and check off the item from my list when I get it at the store.
Here’s what an example shopping list looks like in Evernote:
This entire process takes less than an hour (except for the shopping, of course) and probably saves me hours during the week because I already know what’s on the dinner menu. When I’m driving home from work, I can mentally form my game plan and execute the dinner prep when I get home.
OK, once you decide on either using pen and paper or an online app such as Evernote, now it’s time to build our your menus.
My Easy 3-Step Process I Use to Create My Weekday Meal Plans:
Step 1 – Pick out Your Main Entree and Side Dishes & Vegetables
Depending on where you’re at in your 17 Day Diet, decide which proteins you’d like to eat for the week. For instance, for a five day dinner plan, you decide on having chicken twice, salmon once, beef once and vegetarian one time (aka breakfast eggs for dinner – YUM!). Next, pick out which vegetables you’d like to incorporate with each protein.
The key ingredient in step one is to make your dinner entree so deliciously yummy, that your family members will not know they’re eating healthy. If you can literally distract them with the main entree, it’s easy peasy going forward!
This is the whole idea behind my weekly meal planning service, Simply17. I provide members five weekday dinner entrees that are full of flavor, along with my protein alternatives in the event fish is not a family favorite. I also recommend starch additions to make non-dieting family members happy, too!
Step 2 – Incorporate a Starch Side Dish for Your Family
There’s no reason to make two meals. This will save you time, keep your week simple and keep your momentum going! Nobody likes a complicated dinner week, so keep it simple!
Here’s an example of how one of my meals looks like during the week:
Starch for family: Roasted potatoes drizzled with olive oil, salt and pepper (use same oven, different pan)
Step 3 – Plan for Your Easy Dinner Mid-Week or on Your Typical Busiest Day
For me, by mid-week (Wednesdays), I’m exhausted from work and I don’t feel like cooking. Before I came up with this concept, Wednesdays were traditionally the day I’d order in pizza.
Looking back I saw this trend and decided to kick it to the curb. Now when I’m planning out my meals for the week, I save my easiest meal for Wednesday evenings.
Wednesday’s meal is the same every week – baked chicken breast, steamed vegetable such as broccoli or cauliflower and a starch for the family. Easy, peasy!
Planning out your mid-week dinners is a no-brainer. Since I’ve incorporated this easy 3-step process, my weekdays have been such a breeze and my stress level reduced to almost zero (except when I have to go to the store mid-week because I need to pick something up for the dog!!).
Use a Calendar
After you get your menus, recipes and grocery list organized in your favorite app, such as Evernote, or on a piece of paper, you can create a weekday menu calendar so you can have a visual of the week’s meals. . Here’s an example of a 5-Day calendar:
Simple = Success
Preparing family dinners while on a weight loss plan doesn’t have to be a daunting task. Remember to keep things simple, keep them organized, and make your entree so yummy, your family will never know they’re eating healthy! Now that’s a recipe for success!
Original article and pictures take 17ddblog.com site
Infectious disease specialist Dr. Brad Spellberg explains how a dangerous saltwater bacteria, known as vibrio vulnificus, is contracted. Plus, learn which people are more susceptible to a life-threatening reaction.
Original article and pictures take www.thedoctorstv.com site
Does anyone else remember having salad with copious amounts of ranch dressing and feeling all proud that you were eating healthy? Yeah, not so much. I loved ranch dressing growing up for dipping carrots into and pouring over salads. However, I can’t recall the last time I had it. I can’t remember the last time I had any pre made, store bought salad dressing for that matter! I’ve been shaking up my own dressings for years now. With all the garbage chemicals in the bottled versions it’s something to easy not to do. Typically, I stick to vinaigrettes so I thought it would be cool to try and recreate a healthier ranch dressing and relive my childhood a bit. Stirrup pants, not required.
First thing was to get some seasonings together to mimic those in the pre made packages. I used a cornucopia of spices. Some dill, some onion powder, garlic powder, a bit of thyme, sea salt and coarse black pepper.
I also used some fresh chopped parsley because I had some. You could use dried or fresh seasonings. Go with whatever you have.
For the base of this dressing I used Greek yogurt. There was a 1/4 container left in the fridge from the chipotle yogurt I used for my Healthier 7 Layer Dip, so into this dressing it went. I added a bit of milk to thin it out a bit. Add in the seasonings and give it a really good stir.
Store it in an airtight glass jar and give it an hour or two in the fridge to set and allow the flavours to develop.
This is a healthier version of what you might be used to and isn’t quite as rich as the bottled version. That being said I really liked it. Joe gave it thumbs up and that’s like money in the bank. The flavours were so close to the ‘Hidden Valley’ and the Greek yogurt brought the creaminess. I chopped up a cold chicken breast from the fridge (yesterday’s Baked Honey Mustard chicken) and tossed it in with a huge bowl of greens dressed in the ranch-y goodness. Healthy and satisfying!
Original article and pictures take slimpalate.com site
Oh boy, have I been hearing this cry for help the last few weeks from fellow dieters of the 17 Day Diet.
“Help, I’m a late night snacker! Can you help me?”
My usual response?
An evening snack isn’t such a bad idea.
My experience?
When I was on a medical doctor supervised diet four years ago, I was instructed to have a snack between 8:30 to 9:30 pm.
What did my evening snack consist of?
I ate lean proteins (such as egg whites or a few ounces of chicken) or a small protein shake that was less than 100 calories.
Why did my doctor prescribe me an evening snack?
Well, the simple answer is this: a small protein-rich snack a few hours before bedtime actually helps keep your blood sugars stabilized while you sleep for 6-8 hours at night.
Don’t you feel a bit sluggish and sometimes a bit weak if you don’t eat any food for 6 hours during the day while you’re awake?
Same situation exists while you sleep.
Make sense, right?
A real life illustration:
A dieter named, Suzy, left a review on the 17DD Blog just recently about the 17 Day Diet. She goes on to say that she tried the diet (first without knowing those with Type I Diabetes really shouldn’t be on the 17 Day Diet), and was having an insulin reaction sometime in the early morning hours between 3-4am during her first week.
This 17 Day Diet review just illustrates that it is possible for sugar levels to reach lows while we sleep. Having a snack before bed time might help with this issue.
This blog article isn’t about how to stay on the diet if you’re Type I Diabetic (check with your doctor before starting any type of diet).
What this article is about, is telling yourself that it is OK to have a small snack in the evening to help keep your blood sugar levels stabilized.
What type of evening snacks are acceptable?
Don’t go overboard on your snacking, but remember, the 17 Day Diet Book tells us that if we are hungry, you are allowed to eat unlimited veggies and lean proteins while on Cycles 1 and 2. Just know when you’re “hunger meter” is full.
Use your discretion. Keep your evening snacks to a minimum, keep them low in carbs and higher in protein.
Do you have a snack in the evening to help keep your blood sugars stable while sleeping?
Original article and pictures take 17ddblog.com site
Is there anything as versatile, adaptable and convenient as a smoothie? I doubt it. Nor are there many things as universally beloved. Smoothies are scrumptious, indulgent concoctions that tickle the taste buds and, inexplicably, with every sip make you feel just a little bit happier and make the world a little bit friendlier. The smoothie is so much greater than the sum of it’s parts. And just to prove the smoothie can do no wrong, it can actually make you more awesome too.
Smoothie recipes contain a smorgasbord of ingredients, and depending on what you throw in, smoothies can ascend from mere flavorsome delight and sweet-tooth satisfier to the dizzying heights of muscle-building, energizing, health-enhancing superdrink. Why eat just one superfood, when you can combine a load of goodness into one easily digestible drink? Plus, it’s super quick and absurdly easy to prepare, making it weirdly efficient not just nutritionally, but generally. Created in the 1940’s, but perfectly designed for 21st century living.
Smoothie recipes can be tailored to suit your own needs. And while the flavors are virtually limitless, don’t just think about taste, but also why you’re making it. Do you want to lose weight or perhaps build muscle? Do you need a pick-me up or extra energy to power through an intense workout? Had a bad day and want to wind down? Or maybe you can’t get to sleep. With a little smoothie science, you can easily make a healthy smoothie that doesn’t just taste good (or look pretty), but actually does something.
HEALTHY SMOOTHIE RECIPES
Just be sure to make your own smoothies. Firstly, it’s a lot cheaper. Secondly, and more importantly, you’ll actually make a better quality smoothie at home, compared to any smoothie you could buy. Your ingredients are fresh or frozen fresh; you’re not adding a ton of sugar to make it taste better or weird stuff to make it look prettier. Bottom-line is, you know what’s in it. Unfortunately, the raison d’être of smoothies appears to largely have been forgotten, and bought smoothies are less healthy, and more calorific than ever before. So, do yourself a favor and make your own.
The sweetness of your smoothie heavily depends on the ripeness of the fruit you add. If you find your smoothie recipe needs a little more sweetness, try to avoid sugar (if you must, use brown sugar), and instead add a little honey (preferably Manuka!), cinnamon (sweetens without actually adding calories), xylitol, stevia, figs or dates.
Check out the Smoothie Recipes for Everything chart below, and the HOW TO MAKE A SMOOTHIEchart.
Below are the building blocks of any healthy smoothie. These core ingredients of smoothie recipes don’t just look pretty or taste awesome, but offer significant health & fitness benefits. The most important step to making a healthy smoothie is using great ingredients. So no packaged mixes! Don’t compromise. Use fresh, whole foods, which will make your smoothie healthy and nutritious, and also pack your smoothie full of flavor.
Yogurt is packed with protein, calcium and tummy friendly probiotics. Go low-fat & Greek. Full fat yogurt is high in calories. Greek yogurt is high in protein & low in carbs. To up the protein content of any smoothie recipe, try adding 1/4 to 1/2 cup low-fat Greek yogurt or silken tofu.
Milk is another great source of protein, calcium & other nutrients. Skim milk is a low calorie option.
Whey protein is an awesome means of boosting the protein content of a smoothie recipe & also make it more filling. It’s a no-brainer for low-calorie smoothies. And of course, ideal post-workout.
Fat has got a bad rap. But there are healthy fats that the body needs. Also, fat helps you feel full. Zero-fat foods are not filling. Your body needs fat to absorb important nutrients.
Sources of healthy fats: fish oil, avocado, nuts, flaxseeds, peanut butter & more. Also, choose low-fat milk and yogurt, instead of the nonfat variety.
Rich in potassium, vitamin B6 and other nutrients, bananas are filling, add sweetness, the mild taste means they go with almost everything & it’s rich consistency binds the ingredients in smoothies together.
Berries are an antioxidant powerhouse, chock full of vitamin C and phytochemicals, conferring a plethora of health benefits. Naturally sweet & available fresh or frozen, they’re a great addition to any smoothie recipe.
Tea is a healthy & tasty way to customize a smoothie. Green tea, Rooibos, peppermint, etc. confer different health benefits. Try fresh-brewed tea, tea ice cubes or tea powders.
What’s a smoothie if not cold & smooth? Use plain ol’ H2O or freeze fruit juice, green juice, tea, coffee, yogurt or milk. Also, try freezing bananas for extra creaminess.
SMOOTHIE RECIPE TIPS
And remember when making your own smoothie from scratch – how to make a smoothie in 5 steps:
Add liquid. Start by adding about 1 cup of liquid to the blender – this is your base. Go for low-fat milk, dairy-free milk, coconut water, plain water, or fruit juice.
Add fruit or vegetables. Banana makes for an awesome base in almost any smoothie, as it has a mild taste and a creamy consistency. Same goes for avocado. Other fruits and veggies that work really well in smoothies are berries, papaya, mango, pineapple, peaches, and spinach.
Thicken smoothie to get just the right texture, creaminess and thickness, and to balance the acidity from the fruit. This will also make your smoothie more filling and nutritious. Add nut butter, yogurt, chia seeds or oats for a smoother, tastier smoothie.
Boost flavour. Sweeten your smoothie by adding some dates or a little honey, maple syrup or agave syrup. Add spices or herbs such as cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla extract, and mint to make your smoothie extra special.
Add super foods. Healthy smoothie add-ins include spirulina, wheatgerm, flaxseed, protein powder, and goji berries.
How to Layer Smoothie Ingredients in a Blender. To get a super smooth smoothie and avoid lumps of whole fruit or nuts, add the ingredients the “right” way. This will depend on the type of blender you own. If you have a regular blender, add the ingredients as shown above. Liquid first, then the other smoothie ingredients. If you’re using very hard ingredients like nuts and veggies, add these to the liquid, blend for a minute and then add the fruit and other smoothie ingredients and blend again.
If you own a high-speed blender, place the tough ingredients such as whole nuts into the blender first, followed by greens and nut butters, and then by protein powders, oats, spices. Liquid is the final ingredient.
Add Ice Last. Add all the smoothie ingredients in the blender, blend and then check the consistency of the smoothie. If you want it thicker add about a cup of crushed ice and blend again, or if it’s too thick some liquid to make it a little thinner. Repeat, until you’ve the smoothie has the desired consistency.
Fresh is Best. If you can, drink your smoothie as soon as you’ve made it. Its fresh, delicious and will taste perfect. If it sits for 20 minutes of more, it starts to separate and/or thicken. The flavors will also change. However, you can store a fresh smoothie for ip to a day in the fridge if you need to.
Is there anything as versatile, adaptable and convenient as a smoothie? I doubt it. Nor are there many things as universally beloved. Smoothies are scrumptious, indulgent concoctions that tickle the taste buds and, inexplicably, with every sip make you feel just a little bit happier and make the world a little bit friendlier. The smoothie is so much greater than the sum of it’s parts. And just to prove the smoothie can do no wrong, it can actually make you more awesome too.
Smoothie recipes contain a smorgasbord of ingredients, and depending on what you throw in, smoothies can ascend from mere flavorsome delight and sweet-tooth satisfier to the dizzying heights of muscle-building, energizing, health-enhancing superdrink. Why eat just one superfood, when you can combine a load of goodness into one easily digestible drink? Plus, it’s super quick and absurdly easy to prepare, making it weirdly efficient not just nutritionally, but generally. Created in the 1940’s, but perfectly designed for 21st century living.
Smoothie recipes can be tailored to suit your own needs. And while the flavors are virtually limitless, don’t just think about taste, but also why you’re making it. Do you want to lose weight or perhaps build muscle? Do you need a pick-me up or extra energy to power through an intense workout? Had a bad day and want to wind down? Or maybe you can’t get to sleep. With a little smoothie science, you can easily make a healthy smoothie that doesn’t just taste good (or look pretty), but actually does something.
HEALTHY SMOOTHIE RECIPES
Just be sure to make your own smoothies. Firstly, it’s a lot cheaper. Secondly, and more importantly, you’ll actually make a better quality smoothie at home, compared to any smoothie you could buy. Your ingredients are fresh or frozen fresh; you’re not adding a ton of sugar to make it taste better or weird stuff to make it look prettier. Bottom-line is, you know what’s in it. Unfortunately, the raison d’être of smoothies appears to largely have been forgotten, and bought smoothies are less healthy, and more calorific than ever before. So, do yourself a favor and make your own.
The sweetness of your smoothie heavily depends on the ripeness of the fruit you add. If you find your smoothie recipe needs a little more sweetness, try to avoid sugar (if you must, use brown sugar), and instead add a little honey (preferably Manuka!), cinnamon (sweetens without actually adding calories), xylitol, stevia, figs or dates.
Check out the Smoothie Recipes for Everything chart below, and the HOW TO MAKE A SMOOTHIEchart.
Below are the building blocks of any healthy smoothie. These core ingredients of smoothie recipes don’t just look pretty or taste awesome, but offer significant health & fitness benefits. The most important step to making a healthy smoothie is using great ingredients. So no packaged mixes! Don’t compromise. Use fresh, whole foods, which will make your smoothie healthy and nutritious, and also pack your smoothie full of flavor.
Yogurt is packed with protein, calcium and tummy friendly probiotics. Go low-fat & Greek. Full fat yogurt is high in calories. Greek yogurt is high in protein & low in carbs. To up the protein content of any smoothie recipe, try adding 1/4 to 1/2 cup low-fat Greek yogurt or silken tofu.
Milk is another great source of protein, calcium & other nutrients. Skim milk is a low calorie option.
Whey protein is an awesome means of boosting the protein content of a smoothie recipe & also make it more filling. It’s a no-brainer for low-calorie smoothies. And of course, ideal post-workout.
Fat has got a bad rap. But there are healthy fats that the body needs. Also, fat helps you feel full. Zero-fat foods are not filling. Your body needs fat to absorb important nutrients.
Sources of healthy fats: fish oil, avocado, nuts, flaxseeds, peanut butter & more. Also, choose low-fat milk and yogurt, instead of the nonfat variety.
Rich in potassium, vitamin B6 and other nutrients, bananas are filling, add sweetness, the mild taste means they go with almost everything & it’s rich consistency binds the ingredients in smoothies together.
Berries are an antioxidant powerhouse, chock full of vitamin C and phytochemicals, conferring a plethora of health benefits. Naturally sweet & available fresh or frozen, they’re a great addition to any smoothie recipe.
Tea is a healthy & tasty way to customize a smoothie. Green tea, Rooibos, peppermint, etc. confer different health benefits. Try fresh-brewed tea, tea ice cubes or tea powders.
What’s a smoothie if not cold & smooth? Use plain ol’ H2O or freeze fruit juice, green juice, tea, coffee, yogurt or milk. Also, try freezing bananas for extra creaminess.
SMOOTHIE RECIPE TIPS
And remember when making your own smoothie from scratch – how to make a smoothie in 5 steps:
Add liquid. Start by adding about 1 cup of liquid to the blender – this is your base. Go for low-fat milk, dairy-free milk, coconut water, plain water, or fruit juice.
Add fruit or vegetables. Banana makes for an awesome base in almost any smoothie, as it has a mild taste and a creamy consistency. Same goes for avocado. Other fruits and veggies that work really well in smoothies are berries, papaya, mango, pineapple, peaches, and spinach.
Thicken smoothie to get just the right texture, creaminess and thickness, and to balance the acidity from the fruit. This will also make your smoothie more filling and nutritious. Add nut butter, yogurt, chia seeds or oats for a smoother, tastier smoothie.
Boost flavour. Sweeten your smoothie by adding some dates or a little honey, maple syrup or agave syrup. Add spices or herbs such as cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla extract, and mint to make your smoothie extra special.
Add super foods. Healthy smoothie add-ins include spirulina, wheatgerm, flaxseed, protein powder, and goji berries.
How to Layer Smoothie Ingredients in a Blender. To get a super smooth smoothie and avoid lumps of whole fruit or nuts, add the ingredients the “right” way. This will depend on the type of blender you own. If you have a regular blender, add the ingredients as shown above. Liquid first, then the other smoothie ingredients. If you’re using very hard ingredients like nuts and veggies, add these to the liquid, blend for a minute and then add the fruit and other smoothie ingredients and blend again.
If you own a high-speed blender, place the tough ingredients such as whole nuts into the blender first, followed by greens and nut butters, and then by protein powders, oats, spices. Liquid is the final ingredient.
Add Ice Last. Add all the smoothie ingredients in the blender, blend and then check the consistency of the smoothie. If you want it thicker add about a cup of crushed ice and blend again, or if it’s too thick some liquid to make it a little thinner. Repeat, until you’ve the smoothie has the desired consistency.
Fresh is Best. If you can, drink your smoothie as soon as you’ve made it. Its fresh, delicious and will taste perfect. If it sits for 20 minutes of more, it starts to separate and/or thicken. The flavors will also change. However, you can store a fresh smoothie for ip to a day in the fridge if you need to.
Healthy Inspiration from SparkPeople SparkPeople's Comments
You can't expect to get good results if you keep giving yourself excuses not to exercise or eat healthfully. Stop cheating yourself--make the right choices to get the results you want!
You can't expect to get good results if you keep giving yourself excuses not to exercise or eat healthfully. Stop cheating yourself--make the right choices to get the results you want!
Member comments
8/17/2012 9:17:56 AM
it takes discipline to succeed. Need to reassess my aims and objectives
Original article and pictures take www.sparkpeople.com site
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Original article and pictures take 17ddblog.com site
