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With results you can see, fitness + nutrition makes a great start!

**I'm not an expert, just a trainee!**
Showing posts with label smoothies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label smoothies. Show all posts

Friday, July 13, 2012

Nutrition, The Key to A Successful Diet

Keeping proper nutrition while eating healthy can be tough for some people. I've written about it before in Nutrition, the Key that Unlocks Healthy.  Choosing healthy foods rather than reaching for comfort foods is something you have to teach yourself to do over time. When begin to consume health foods you will not longer want to eat foods that are bad. You then let nutrition lead your decisions, not your emotions.

Take the Fridge Challenge!

Nutritionists now recommend replacing much of the beef, poultry and pork we eat with extra servings of fish. Fish contains optimum levels of nutrients that are essential for a heart healthy lifestyle. Fish is a very broad category of foods; they come in a large variety of textures and flavors.  It will boost your Omegas too!

Read up on Nutrient Maximization.  Eggplant is packed full of nutrients, give it a try instead of noodles in lasagna, I just LOVE it that way! If you are looking for a purchase that will help in your nutrition quest, buy a good blender to prepare nutritious fruit smoothies. Ice cream can be traded in for a new comfort food, that will be just as satisfying. Make a fruit smoothie with milk, fruit and some yogurt; this is a great substitute for ice cream.  Best decision I ever made was to buy a new blender!  I use it all the time to make shakes and smoothies.  It replace my toaster and coffee pot, which now I hardly use.  Here's some healthy snack ideas.

Eat clean.  It's the best advice I have.  Eat unprocessed foods, fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, meats from the meat counter, not the deli isle, dairy, nuts and beans.  Add condiments that are low in salt and sugar and high in protein. And, tada.  Sounds easy huh!  It's easier said than done.  But, you can train yourself to eat however you want to eat.  And, if healthy is on your menu, it'll have positive effects on your life and health.  Here's some protein rich superfoods to bust cravings too.

Don't skip the multivitamin!  It'll help make up for anything you've missed.  And, write it all down including portion sizes.  Use a smaller plate and measure everything!

Hydration plays an important roll in nutrition, keeping your body in homeostasis and promoting a healthy body.  Drink plenty of water!

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Smoothies & Shakes

In addition to eating the things you should, smoothies and shakes can add a great snack to your daily routine.  It's a great way to get in your breakfast, a healthy snack or just enjoy something cold on a hot day!

 Detox: Green Smoothie

1/2 c OJ
1 Banana
1/2 c cake
1/2 c baby spinach
1/2 c apple

 Pin-acado Smoothie


1 1/3 c OJ
1 1/4 c Pineapple (Frozen)
1/2 avocado
1 banana
1/2 c ice
Juice from 1/2 Lime

Blend.
 Kiwi-Mango Layered Smoothie
(layered smoothies are SO cool)
bottom layer:
2 1/2 c Mango (frozen)
2 Tbsp honey
2 Tbsp water
1/2 tsp lime zest


top layer:
1/4 c yogurt
2 Tbsp honey
3 kiwifruit
2 ice cubes
2 Tbsp Green Tea
1/2 c baby spinach

 
 Be creative. You can spruce a smoothie or shake up with anything you can think of or just use strictly a fruit with ice, frozen fruit, juice, water or milk (rice milk, almond milk, they all work!)  Don't forget about things you don't "like" or don't normally eat.  You might be surprised by the flavor they add to a shake.  For instance, I'm not too crazy about kale, but I LOVE it in a shake.  Bananas aren't my favorite fruit, but I like them with berries.  I HATE Orange Juice with passion, but I like it in many of my smoothies and shakes.
For a lighter colored top, save a little back while filling glasses, add yogurt, blend and garnish (like mint!)!  Talk about an easy party drink!

Then, for added nutritional value, I add Shakeology.  Yes, I'm a BeachBody coach, but I'm also a product of the product.  I'm dropping pounds weekly and I feel great!