Fat Loss Friday - Blending 101: The Top 5 Smoothie Recipes for Beginners

More and more people are discovering the amazing health benefits of drinking green smoothies, that's why it's not surprising that a lot of juice and smoothie bars have been popping up around the globe over the last couple of years. If you want to start a healthier lifestyle by drinking green smoothies, here are some of the best smoothie recipes for beginners that you can try:

There are hundreds of smoothie recipes

1. The Tropical Dream

This delicious fruit and vegetable smoothie is designed to refresh and rejuvenate you on a hot day. It makes use of a cucumber and a coconut - two of the most water-rich fruits that will not only nourish you but will hydrate your body as well. Add a banana, some leafy greens, a little bit of pineapple and the twist of ginger and you'll get a flavorful, nutrient-rich smoothie that will keep you wanting more.

What you need:

1 1/2 cups coconut water

1/4 cucumber

1 small ripe banana

1 rib celery

1 small handful parsley

1 cup fresh or frozen pineapple slices

1/2-inch ginger

2. Classic Strawberries and Cream

If you're a fan of the strawberries and cream combination, then this is one of the smoothie recipes for beginners that you can't afford to miss. Aside from being delicious, strawberries are chock full of Vitamin C that will help boost your energy. Bananas on the other hand are known to give any smoothie a delightful creamy texture. Drink this classic smoothie for breakfast to help jump start your energy for the rest of the day!

What you need:

1 cup fresh or frozen strawberries

1 small ripe banana

1/4 ripe avocado

1 1/2 cups unsweetened almond milk

1 tsp. vanilla extract

3-4 ice cubes

3. Green is In

If you're looking for low-calorie smoothie recipes, this is a good recipe to start with. Leafy greens aren't considered superfoods for nothing - they are low in calories but extremely rich in essential nutrients. If you're not fond of eating leafy greens, the apple and lemon both help neutralize the taste of this delicious smoothie.

What you need:

1 small head Romaine lettuce, chopped

1 1/2 cups chopped spinach

3 stalks celery

1 red apple, cored and chopped

Juice of 1/2 lemon

4. The Healthy Cooler

By using a variety of vegetables for your smoothie recipes for beginners, you will gain different vitamins and minerals that will help maintain your body's health. Concoct this deliciously nutritious smoothie to ensure both your mind and body's wellness.

What you need:

1 bunch spinach

1 handful parsley

4 stalks celery

2 large lettuce leaves

1 handful mint leaves

1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice

1/2-inch ginger

5 ice cubes

5. Berry Nutritious

Smoothies are a nutritious and delicious

Rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, this mix is definitely one of the best smoothie recipes for beginners. With a delicious taste and an appetizing texture, this power smoothie will easily become one of your favorites!

What you need:

1 cup fresh or frozen mixed berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries)

1 cup oat milk

1 cup coconut milk

2 tsp. flaxseed

2 tbsp. organic natural yogurt

5-6 ice cubes

Try any of these delicious low-calorie smoothie recipes to jumpstart your healthy eating. Remember, fruits and vegetables are your keys to a healthier lifestyle!


Healthy dieting and eating is Donna H.'s passion and it has changed her life. With over a decade of experience and advice from nutritional experts, Donna spends her time writing about what she loves most - nutrition. Her newest book, Fat Burning Smoothies can be purchased on Amazon.com. The book is also available in kindle version.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Donna_H./1519703



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Fat Loss Friday - Delectable and Easy-To-Make Healthy Snacks for Weight Loss

Are you in search of healthy snacks for weight loss?

Keep in mind that just because you want to lose weight, this does not mean you have to skip on snacks.

There are still plenty of foods to eat that support your weight loss goals, and it is only a matter of knowing what these are.

Just be careful with your choice of food and consider these recommendations on healthy snacks for weight loss to help you get started.

1. Banana - Coconut Ice Cream

The right ice cream can help with weight loss

Who says you can't eat ice cream when you are looking to lose weight?

Healthy snacks for weight loss such as this one is not only tasty, but it is loaded with nutrients, as well.

In fact, you can make one right in your kitchen, so you know what's getting in your food instead of buying it at the store.

Simply freeze some ripe bananas and coconut meat, then pop these in your juicer until you create a nice, smooth and creamy bowl full of these ingredients.

Just top it with raw cacao nibs, and voila!

Amazing healthy snacks for weight loss waiting for you to be devoured.

Better to go for young coconut meat to give the ice cream a softer texture.

2. Veggie Sticks covered with Homemade Almond Butter

Another excellent idea for healthy snacks for weight loss is a bowl of veggie sticks dipped on luscious - and homemade - almond butter.

This is the perfect snack for people with a sweet tooth, yet aiming to slim down at the same time.

Almonds are loaded with essential nutrients and fiber that will keep you satiated for a longer period.

To prepare almond butter, just soak some almonds overnight and these should be ready the next day.

Then, press these almonds in the juicer to create creamy and sweet tasting homemade almond butter.

Slice a few veggies (carrots, celery and cucumber) and just dip these in almond butter for that fine taste.

3. Bowl of Fresh Fruits

Fruit - nature's candy

Nothing can be more satisfying and tasty than a nice bowl of chopped fresh fruits.

These may include apples, bananas, papayas, mangoes and some sunflower seeds with dried cranberries on top.

Indeed, you can never have enough of these healthy snacks for weight loss that will keep you full and satisfied for several hours.

The goal is to stick to nutritious food that are rich in fiber to prevent you from getting nasty cravings or bingeing issues.

4. Fruit Smoothie

Healthy snacks should also taste great and easy to go down your tummy.

A yummy glass of fruit smoothie is an excellent morning snack - plus it is good for weight watchers, too.

Fruit smoothies make a great snack

You can choose the combination of fruits to toss in the blender, although great ones would be bananas, mangoes, strawberries and some young coconut meat.

You can also add in young coconut water, goji berries and raw cacao nibs to make it taste even more spectacular.

These are just a few of scrumptious and highly nutritious healthy snacks for weight loss.

Make yourself these snacks today and discover that losing weight can be fun, too!



Read more: Delectable and Easy-To-Make Healthy Snacks for Weight Loss http://www.sooperarticles.com/health-fitness-articles/weight-loss-articles/delectable-easy-make-healthy-snacks-weight-loss-1460546.html#ixzz44YhOtfd8

Fat Loss Friday - Healthy Eating Plan For Kids

For most parents, devising a healthy eating plan for their kids is a very difficult task. Kids are very choosy and selective when it comes to eating food. There are only a few foods which they actually enjoy eating and are more inclined towards fast food. That, however, is not healthy for them and parents try different means to make them eat the home made healthy food. There are certain ways by which you can make them interested in their food.

The first thing that you can try is to make the kids help you in the kitchen in preparation of their food. Kids are normally very much interested in such work.

Kids enjoy helping in the kitchen

When they help and cook the food themselves, they automatically associate themselves with that food. If they don't eat it later, they relate it with their failure of not cooking tasty food. So this can be a good option of making them eat the food that they cook themselves.

The other important thing that you have to consider is to determine which nutrients are important for kids according to their ages. Then you can make various different recipes which are rich in those nutrients and they taste good as well. You can consult their doctor and nutritionist in this regard to determine the nutrients and their amounts necessary for the kids. Another important thing to keep in mind while making kids eat the home made food is their presentation. The more interesting and appealing the food looks to them, greater are the chances that they would eat it without much hassle. Mix the foods up in different combinations. Make them colorful by adding food colors and decorations to various recipes. Fruits are very important for kids but most kids don't like to eat them. The solution - make fruit smoothies with them! Fruit smoothies are easy to drink; they look appealing because of their colors and tones. You can even add some colorful sweets and candies to decorate it. Another alternative to fruits could be flavored yogurts. You can get flavored yogurts from markets or you can make them yourselves. Just add your kid's favorite fruit flavor to some plain yogurt. It will taste good so the kids will eat it easily and it would provide all the necessary nutrients to them such as calcium and vitamins.

Other important nutrients necessary for kids are proteins, carbohydrates, and fiber. Eggs are very important for kids. You can make different recipes that utilize eggs so that their nutritious value is preserved and it is also tasteful for the kids. You can make different versions of French toast to utilize eggs. Pancakes are another healthy option that provides the nutritious value of eggs and flour. Basically, there are endless options for making yummy and mouth watering foods for kids that are highly nutritious and tasteful. The key is to present it in such a manner that it appeals to the kids so that they can eat it while enjoying it as well.



Read more: Healthy Eating Plan For Kids http://www.sooperarticles.com/health-fitness-articles/children-health-articles/healthy-eating-plan-kids-715697.html#ixzz40npwdret

Monday Muscle

Eating Before a Workout

One of the hardest things to really nail down about an exercise routine is what to eat and when to eat before a workout. You don’t want to feel sick during the workout, but you also don’t want to have no energy due to a lack of food. If you work out at three in the afternoon this is less of a problem, but for people who work out early in the morning or late at night it can be something of an issue. The harsh reality of the situation is that everybody is different, and it will take some trial and error to really nail down your eating habits, but here are a few tips to help you out.

Typically, it’s good to eat a full meal about two to three hours before you work out. If that is impossible because you work out at six in the morning and don’t want to get up at four just to eat some cereal, try to down a banana an hour beforehand, or some coffee or tea with sugar just before starting.

The trick is to understand that the food needs to be easier to digest as you get closer to the workout. Having steak and eggs twenty minutes before you go on a run is going to be hellish at best and put you off running for a while, but having a Shot Block or a smoothie won’t be as bad.

Again, really figuring out what makes you energetic and feel good during a workout will take some trial and error. Some people are able to eat burritos in the middle of a run; some people can’t even think the word “burrito” during a run. Everybody’s different. The thing to remember is that you need to tailor what you eat to when you will be working out, and eat faster digesting things closer to the workout.

The one main takeaway is not to over eat prior to exercise. If you need to invest in some basic fruit or even quick electrolyte type of products that quickly get absorbed, then that may be the way to go in the future.

Article source:Kisar Dhillon http://ezinepot.com/eating-workout/

7 Easy Green Smoothie Recipes for Rapid Weight Loss

Research proves that Green Smoothies are one of the best ways to quickly lose weight. However, it can be tricky to consume green smoothie unless you have proven recipes. Here are some easy to follow recipes of Green Smoothies that you can use.

#1. Mint Mojito Green Smoothie

Ingredients:

· 1.5 cups of fresh spinach

· 1 large handful of fresh mint

· 3/4 cups of coconut water, or regular water

· Juice of 2 limes

· 3 teaspoons of hemp seeds (optional)

· 1 frozen or freshly chopped banana

· ice cubes (optional)

· 2 teaspoons of honey (optional)

Directions

Add the mint, spinach and coconut water (or regular water) into the NutriBullet together and blend until the mixture is smooth. Add the hemp seeds, lime juice and banana into your juicer, you can also add in the honey and a few ice cubes if you'd like then blend until the mixture is smooth. Garnish the mixture with mint and lime.

#2. Love Your Body Green Smoothie

Ingredients:

· handful of spinach

· handful of kale

· Quarter cup of fresh parsley

· 5 frozen strawberries

· Half a lemon

· Quarter sliced cucumbers

· 3 teaspoons of hemp seeds

· 1 cup of almond milk

Directions

Combine all of your green vegetables and liquids into the NutriBullet, blend until the mixture is smooth. Adjust the speed and add in the remaining ingredients, blend unto the mixture is smooth.

#3. Avocado Grapefruit Green Smoothie

Ingredients:

· 1 med. frozen banana, chopped

· Half med. peeled grapefruit, chopped

· Quarter med. peeled avocado

· 1 lg. handful kale and spinach

· 1 in. of ginger root

· 1 tsp. of wheatgrass powder, or of choice

· Half cup of filtered water, or regular

Directions

Gather all of the listed ingredients and combine in your juicer then blend the mixture until it is even.

#4. Kale Aide Green Smoothie

Ingredients:

· Juice of 1 whole lemon

· 5 mini apples

· Lg. chuck of peeled ginger

· 3 teaspoons of hemp seeds

· 1 stalk of celery

· Quarter cup of chopped cucumbers

· Quarter cup of fresh parsley

· 4 stalks of de-stemmed kale

· 1 cup of water

Directions

Combine all of the greens into the NutriBullet then pour in the liquids. Blend the mixture until it is smooth. Lastly, add in the remaining ingredients then blend until the entire mixture is smooth.

#5. Apple Kale Green Smoothie

Ingredients:

· Half an apple

· 1 cup of de-stemmed kale

· Half cup of frozen pineapple

· Half of a fresh squeezed lemon, or 1 tsp. of lemon juice

· 1 cup of water

· 1 serving of Vega One French Vanilla

· Ice (optional)

Directions

Gather all of the ingredients and add them into your juicer. Blend the mixture until it is smooth.

#6. Restorative Detox Green Smoothie

Ingredients:

· Half of a grapefruit

· 1 cup of coconut water

· 8 fresh basil leaves

Directions

Add all of the ingredients into your juicer and blend until the mixture is smooth.

#7. Holiday Detox Smoothie

Ingredients:

· 2 lg. peeled and quartered oranges

· 1 lg. quartered and cored apple

· 1 16oz. bottle of Kombucha, or apple juice

· 3 cups of fresh spinach

Directions

Put the apples, kombucha (or apple juice) and oranges into the juicer. Blend the mixture on low until the fruit is even. Add in the spinach to the blended fruit and increase the speed to high then blend the mixture until it is even and creamy in texture.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Arslan_Asad