Smoothie Experiment No. 4

This one is a great energy booster to perk you up and us also tasty.

You may notice that my smoothies here are thicker than usual and have quite some pulp in them. That's because these smoothies can be a replacment for snacks or small meals. 

Here are the ingredients for today's smoothie experiment:

2 oranges

1 ripe mango

2 tbsp ginger tea

1/4 cup or non fat milk

I prefer my ingredients cold so i don't need to add ice. But if you like your smoothie not as thick, you can half the ingredients and add some water, ice and sweeteners(optional).

Put everything in your blender and the end product is a beautiful yellow colored smoothie =)

Smoothie Experiment No. 3

Isn't it obvious? I am officially obsessing on smoothies lately. I think it's partly because I now have a Shake 'n Take blender that I can carry around anywhere I go.  So I just go blending and shaking all things I like and sometimes adding in a little bit of something I don’t like. The taste blends away with the other fruits and veggies in it so I really don't taste it. Plus, some stuff with strong flavor like ginger and celery adds a nice spice to the smoothie. It is not overpowering if you add just a little. In contrary, it makes your drink taste fresh! J

Here is another one of my smoothie experiments.

Ingredients:

1 Nestle Fruit Selection Yogurt, Strawberry

1 baby carrot

½ cucumber, peeled, but you may choose not to peel if you like

2 small bananas

1/2 cup cold water

(I would like to add a short stalk of celery but didn't have it this time)

I placed all these ingredients in the fridge the day before so they are nice and cold. I did not put any more ice cubes. I just cut them all up and put in the blender. And this is what it looks like.

You might be wondering why I always have bananas in my smoothies. Well, I like that they sweeten the smoothies without having to add sugar to it. It also makes the consistency nice and creamy. 

Here's what my blender looks like. I can't seem to take a photo of it that doesn't make it look so tall so I just took this from Google. ;)

Credits to Photo Owner

Smoothie Experiment No. 2

I have found that I feel full easily with smoothies containing basic ingredients. The more variety I put in, the more full I get even if I drink just the same amount. Maybe it is because my body recognizes that what I am taking in have enough nutrients in it so I don't crave for more.

Here is one of my favorite recipes  I can repeat everyday.

1 baby carrot

2 small bananas

1 small sugar beet root

1 strawberry yogurt

Just peel and cut all the veggies and banana up. Put them in the blender. Add some water and the yogurt.

Turn the blender on and watch it change colors! The beets have a very red color and it overpowers all the colors of the other ingredients.

I have a clean bottle of TAZO juice so I just transferred the shake in it and it looked quite nice. Have the same feel as the mason drinking jars without the cost. ;)

Going Back To My Better Habits

After all the lakwatsa and eating to death during the celebration of our 8th year anniversary, it is time to go back to the better habits I developed trying to be fit.

There is no special formula for this. Just like what the doctors would say, a 30-minute cardio workout three to four times in a week and healthy eating will do. It is just a matter of discipline and having a good knowledge of what healthy eating is really about.

FOOD INTAKE

If you aim to lose weight, it is very important to reduce your food intake but take note of what is the healthy dose. They said you should not go beyond the 1200 calories limit per day. Depriving yourself too much can result to cravings and before you know it you are eating more than you should. Also, your body needs the energy and nutrients that food supplies.  

It would be better if you eat more fruits, vegetables, and healthy proteins. They are packed with vitamins and minerals but low on calories. Make a list of your favorite fruits and veggies and try to stock them on your fridge so whenever you are hungry, these are the food that you would go for first. Also, remember that there are fruits that are quite high in sugar so eat them in moderation and load on your favorite salad greens and crunchy root crops like beets and carrots. Needless to say, you should stay away from the sweets. Pastries are yummy but the sugar and saturated fats in them are the one that builds up into fat inside the body.

EXERCISE

I am quite big and chubby, so the best work out routines should include a lot of cardio. It is the fastest way to burn and shed fat. If you are slimmer but needs to tone up, you can do more core and strength training to develop muscles. It will support the skin which will make it look tighter.

Crunch Time!

I have been trying out some fruit-veggie-protein combo during the past few days as part of my conquest to live a healthier lifestyle. I alternate smoothies and salads along with some healthy protein for lunch. For this week I have lettuce, carrots and egg as staples then I would add something to change it up day to day.

I came up with this salad that both tastes and looks good. I've listed the ingredients below.

Ingredients: 

1 egg

1 small carrot

1 bunch of romaine lettuce

1 tomato

1 beet root

And here is salad no. 2. I knew I lack fruits in the first one so this compensates for that. 

Ingredients:

1 salted egg

1 small carrot

1 bunch of romaine lettuce

1/2 green apple

a small piece of papaya

1/2 celery stalk

I love how easy it is to get simple but healthy food items in the supermarket at an affordable cost. Every ingredient you see here is bought in packs costing less than 100Php each! What's great is that each pack can be good for a whole week (2 weeks for the carrots and celery stalks) of exciting lunch salad that you will never get bored of. 

I also love how easy it is to play around with the flavors and textures. You will never guess apples and eggs can go well with each other. The sweet and citrus apple is a perfect contrast to the soft and creamy texture of a soft boiled egg. It's entirely up to you how bold or how subtle you want to go with the flavors in your salad.

For days when I do not have fruits in the salad, I make up for it by having fruity smoothies in the morning or afternoon. I usually have bananas, oranges, and apples in stock. Add some beets and yogurt and get a colorful and delicious smoothie. And when I am too lazy to get the blender, I just eat them fresh. Bananas dipped in low fat peanut butter are great to sustain energy and satisfy a sweet tooth too! =)

There isn't really a general rule when making salad that suits your taste.Just toss in everything you like and voila! Keep it balance by having fruits, veggies, and protein in it so you will get all the nutrients your body needs. 

Smoothie Experiments

So, I recently bought a "Shake & Take" single-serve blender online and thought why not try something different to shake and blend! I went to the grocery store and find some things I like for a healthy smoothie. I got some bananas, strawberries, celery stalks, and yogurt. I find it weird to add celery to the mix but a friend mentioned you would barely taste it. I also read somewhere that it is good to add some veggies into your fruit smoothie to add minerals and nourishment that you need. 

So here's what I have for ingredients.

1 Medium Banana

4 Large Strawberries

1 Celery Stalk

6 Cucumber Slices 

Strawberry Yogurt

6 Ice Cubes

Just cut them all up and put in the blender. Shake until everything is nice and smooth. Super easy!

And it's true! I can barely taste the cucumber and celery. So if you are not fond of these vegetables,  this is a great way to add them to your diet. =) I think I will try mango and ginger combo next time. ;)

What To Eat

Last week I featured Cucumber, Baby Carrots, and Bell Pepper. This week let's have a little more variety by adding some fruits. =)

First stop, Kiwi!
I like kiwis because they help your digestion and clean out toxins. They also boost your immune system with high Vitamin C content and antioxidants

Grapes!
I always liked grapes so I was so excited to learn that you get a lot of benefits when you eat them. It improves your brain, protect you skin, helps fight diabetes, and aids in weight loss too!

Lettuce :)
I don't know why but I have always been fond of Romaine Lettuce. I like that it's crunchy and bland in taste so it is easy to pair with any dressing or other more flavorful ingredients. It is high in fiber and it also helps in digestion, so it meas it is definitely going to be helpful if you're planning to lose weight.

So, instead of grabbing a bar of snickers or chips when you feel like snacking, try these healthy eats that are easily found in your local supermarkets.