My Favorite Meal!

I can't even begin to tell you how great I feel after drinking my shake! But what I can tell you is this. In October I injured myself at work. I smashed my knee into the metal frame under the desk that holds the keyboard. For MONTHS I was in pain and I couldn't walk that great because of the pain. When a friend of mine introduced me to this and shared with me her neck pain from a sever car accident went away I had to try it. Let's be honest, even after I share this you may be skeptical, I was. But when I began drinking the shake the pain in my knee went away! I can run on it, jump up and down and do everything you are supposed to do with a knee and I'm no longer in pain! The only way to know if this works for you, is to give it a shot. If you want to know more comment below or send me a private message!

Ingredients:
1 Banana
4 Strawberries
3 Tsp Natural Peanut Butter
16 oz Almond Milk
1 Scoop My Chocolate Protein Powder
8 Ice Cubes

Directions:
Blend all ingredients! Enjoy!

Peaches N Cream Shake

I was really wanting to try something new and of course Vanilla and Peaches are a great combination so I said, 'Why Not'? And Boy I' sure glad I did this, it was very delicious!

Ingredients:
 1 Scoop of my Vanilla Protein Powder
 2 Fresh Peaches
 16 oz Almond Milk
 8 ice cubes

  Directions: Remove the seed from the peaches and blend items in the blender.

 

BerryDelicious Smoothness

 BerryDelicious Smoothness

 

 1 Scoop of Green Protien

6 Strawberries

1 Banana

1 Green Apple

16 oz Almond Breeze Almond Milk

8 Ice Cubes

Blend, pour into a glass of your choosing, top with coconut, 

almond slivers and for fun you can always add a strawberry to the rim! 

Enjoy!
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Have you considered Shakeology but not sure how it tastes, does it keep you full and is it something you would like to invest in for your health? I will soon have individual packets of Strawberry, Chocolate and Vanilla available! I will be mailing them out next week, so if you would like to try a couple packets, they are $6 each or you can do a combination package of 7 packets for just $38 and I will include a free shaker cup OR Shakeology Tote Bag (normally $6). No shipping charges I will mail them for free. Let me know asap as I will be preparing the packets SOON! DON'T MISS OUT! You can contact me at: takehealthyback@gmail.com

Bomb Digitylicious Smoothie

 The BOMB DIGITYLICIOUS!

 

1 Scoop Vanilla
1 Cup Fresh Organic Strawberries
1 Banana
8 cubes of ice
16 oz Almond Breeze Almond Coconut Milk (unsweetened)
Blend.....pour, top with dried cherries and almond slivers and enjoy. 

**********************************************************************************
Have you considered Shakeology but not sure how it tastes, does it keep you full and is it something you would like to invest in for your health? I will soon have individual packets of Strawberry, Chocolate and Vanilla available! I will be mailing them out next week, so if you would like to try a couple packets, they are $6 each or you can do a combination package of 7 packets for just $38 and I will include a free shaker cup OR Shakeology Tote Bag (normally $6). No shipping charges I will mail them for free. Let me know asap as I will be preparing the packets SOON! DON'T MISS OUT! You can contact me at: takehealthyback@gmail.com

Spinach Cuc and Egg Salad

Please forgive me for not posting in a while. I have my wedding on my brain and we are 1.5 months away (50 days) from our wedding, so I have been VERY busy, but have NOT forgotten about you!

So to give you a quick run down of what has been happening. I am trying to maintain my weight so my wedding gown fits nicely. Nothing like walking down the isle and losing your dress, lol.

 Last night was the city of Old Town Alexandria, VA Birthday so most of the residents went down to the harbor and watched the beautiful display. A live orchestra was playing as the fireworks went into the air and showed the beauty that was right before our eyes! It was the perfect ending to the perfect most restful day I had in a while.

 Spinach Cuc and Egg Salad
2 hard boiled (brown eggs)
1 handful of spinach
1 cup of cherry tomatos
1/2 English cucumber
parsley flakes
balsamic vinaigrette...

Raspberry Mocha Surprise Smoothie

 Ingredients:
1 cup of raspberries
1 scoop of chocolate powder
8 ice cubes
3 tbsp peanut butter
16 oz almond/coconut milk
crushed almonds
unsweetened shredded coconut

Directions:
Blend all ingredients (except almonds and coconut) in the blender until smooth. Top with almond and coconut.

Stuffed Zucchini & Squash

Today I wanted to do something with these two gourds that had for a week and I figured it was time to cook them. Also, I wanted something "Indian" like. I have a jar of spiced curry in my cabinet, but since I have been getting healthier and showing others how to do the same, I wanted to use what is in my kitchen.

Ingredients:

1 c. Long Grain Rice
1 c. Water
1 TBSP butter
2 TBSP Olive Oil
1 Round Zucchini
1 Round Squash
Salt
Pepper
Parsley Flakes
Curry
Turmeric
Almond/Coconut Milk
Onion
Mushrooms
Garlic

Directions:

The Rice I have requires to add 1 cup of rice and 1 cup of water. When the water comes to a boil, turn heat down to simmer and fluff simmer for 50 minutes. While the rice is simmering at minute 30, begin cutting the mushrooms, onion and garlic (If you haven't already done so), then cut the squash in half and remove the seeds. At 20 minutes left on the rice, add oil, onions, garlic, mushrooms, curry, turmeric, parsley flakes, almond/coconut milk, salt, and pepper into the skillet and put the squash and zucchini in the oven at 375 degrees. Stir the ingredients in the skillet until the ingredients in the pan are yellowish. When the rice is done cooking and sat for 10 minutes, add to the skillet and mix well, then add to the squash in the oven and cook for 10 more minutes. After 10 minutes pull out of the oven and allow to cool, then serve.

Peanut Butter & Jelly - Chocolate Smoothie

1 Handful of frozen grapes,
2 Cups almond coconut milk
1 Scoop chocolate
5 Cubes of ice
3 Tbsp organic natural peanut butter

Put all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

Refreshing Granny - Mango Summer Salad

Refreshing Granny - Mango Summer Salad

Romaine lettuce
1 Peeled Mango
1 Granny Smith Apple
2 Tbsp Silvered Almonds
2 Tbsp Unsweetened Coconut
2 Tbsp Fresh Lemon Juice

Cut romaine lettuce & dry, peel and slice mango.

Mix all ingredients in a bowl, serve and enjoy.

Italy Meets India!

So I have food left over from last weekend when I went to the farmers market and I decided to do something about it!




Ingredients for Sauce: 
2 lbs of tomatoes
1 lg banana pepper
7 garlic cloves
1 bunch of green onions
1 inch of ginger
2 stalks of thyme

Directions:
Blend all ingredients in a food processor.
Ingredients for Dish:
1 green zucchini
1 yellow zucchini
1 Japanese Eggplant
3 shallots
3 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp ground cumin
1 tbsp turmeric
1 tsp basil flakes 1 tsp parsley flakes 1 tsp pink salt 1 tsp black pepper







Directions:
Cut the vegetables. Add the oil to the pan and turn on the heat to medium. Add the cut up vegetables and cook until tender. Add the seasonings and continue to cook down the vegetables and stir. Finally, after the vegetables are soft add the sauce and turn to simmer for 10 minutes. Serve & Enjoy!

Hey Ma! Chocolate Ice Cream for Breakfast!

Good morning! What are you having for breakfast? I had a bowl of chocolate ice cream!!! Wwwaaaaaa???? "How is that healthy?" you might ask yourself.

Well all you need is:
2 frozen bananas
1 scoop of chocolate powder
1 cup of Almond Breeze Almond Milk
1 Handful of coconut
Almond slivers
Cinnamon

Directions:
In a blender add the frozen bananas, Almond Milk, chocolate powder in a blender. Blend until smooth and thick like ice cream. Top with coconut, almond slivers and cinnamon. Enjoy!

Are Your Goals to Big?

It is always good to have goals! There are many different types of goals, but sometimes we tend to forget that it is better to start with short term goals that lead us to our long term goals.  For example, you are not going to just go out and purchase a home.  Most people have a short term goal to save X dollars out of each paycheck to go toward the purchase of their home. Sometimes it takes many short term goals to get accomplished before we see the long term to come through to fruition.

Another example is getting married. After you find the person of your dreams and get engaged there are many, many, many things (small goals) to accomplish before the big day (long term goal)!

The same goes with losing weight. The first thing we need to do is correct our way of eating. It will not change over night, but through making more right choices than poor choices, eventually we will be eating healthier. It is important to not beat yourself up for the poor choices, just enjoy it and make a better choice the next time. At this point you should begin to see the number on the scale decreasing! The next thing you want to do is add weights for resistance training, then you will burn more weight because your muscles will be working and toning.  Keep in mind when you work with weights the number on the scale will go up, but the number on the scale isn't important.  What is important is how your clothes are beginning to fit looser on you. Muscle weighs more than fat, but it's leaner and healthier.

So when you set a long term goal to lose weight make sure you also set multiple short term goals to help you get to the long term. So, if I want to lose 50 pounds as my long term, then I may want to lose 10 pounds a month or even 5 to begin and eventually as long as I keep being consistent in my eating and exercise, the 50 pounds will have melted away.

Make your goals reachable and attainable.

Trying vs. Becoming

For years we have been told, if you just try this or if you just try that. From my experience and what I have learned is I can try all I want, but when I actually take ownership, step out and do (Become), then and only then do I begin to see the changes I expect.

You can try all you want to lose weight, work your way up the career ladder or be the next President of the United States, but if you don't put yourself forward or out there taking steps to get to where you want to be, you will always be stuck in trying.

Take the bull by the reigns and begin to step forward, take action, and move out of your comfort zone to see the changes that need to take place in you and your environment to allow you to move forward to see the success in whatever it is you want to do.

Delectable Mashed Potatoes & Almond Green Beans

I made a dish today with 4 white potatoes. I washed and slit the potatoes long way at an angle three times and then sideways 3 times. Then put them in a pot of water and boil until soft. Drain potatoes.  Add 1/8 c green onions, 4 garlic cloves (minced), lavender, thyme, salt, pepper, 2 tsp of butter, dried seasoned tomatoes and dill. Mix well.

Then cut off any ends of the beans and wash them well. Add them to a pot of water and 2 tbsp of olive oil. Bring just to a boil and remove from heat. Sprinkle sliced almonds.

This was dinner tonight, delicious!

Rhubarb - Strawberry Delight

As I shared previously this week I am making meals with the food I purchased from the farmers market this week. Two of the items happen to be strawberries band rhubarb. I found a recipe and with a few modifications I have an even healthier,  but still delicious.

I found this recipe but made some adjustments....1 instead of brown sugar I used granulated sugar and only 1/2 of what was called for. 2 instead of oat flour, I used coconut flour because I had no oat flour. 3 instead of white rice flour, I used gluten free flour 4 instead of sea salt, I used pink salt, now I remember I do have sea salt. 5 instead of coarse sugar, I used 1 packet of Stevia, but I still have my butter....http://www.bojongourmet.com/2012/05/gluten-free-strawberry-rhubarb-crumble.htm

Raspberry Attack!!!

As you know I have been making smoothies for breakfast lately and have never felt more healthy in my life! Try is recipe and let me know what you think.

1 banana
1 container of raspberries
1 scoop chocolate vegan powder
8 ice cubes
16 oz Almond Breeze Vanilla Almond Milk

Blend well in the blender and serve immediately!

This put a smile on my face and I hope it does yours too.

Farmers Market Day 2 6.22.2014

Today is Sunday 6.22.2014 and I just HAD to get to the Farmers Market that some people made a fuss about yesterday. Well, I went and have to be honest it wasn't as huge as the one I went to yesterday, but that isn't what matters. What matters is there is healthy food and YOU CAN eat healthy and NOT spend a lot of money!!!! 

 The first Farmers Market (Cameron Station, Alexandria, VA) I went to today (I went to two of them) does not have organic produce, this didn't make me thrilled as I am trying to show you that it is possible to eat healthy - organic and not spend your life savings. However, I did learn what they do is spray the pesticide and let it wash away in the rain and don't reapply it to the buds. Well, I guess that is better than giving us wax fruit we find from the supper market (GROSS)!

How can you tell the difference between organic and non organic? Well, the organic produce look strange and funny, they do not have a perfect shape. Just like a real pearl, a real pearl is not perfectly round when it is found instead it is very ugly and funny looking. What retailers are doing is they are making the food appear to us by how "great" it looks and unfortunately, many of us are falling for it.

 There were peoples crafts from painted drinking glasses to jewelry, baby clothes, baby booties and so much more!

 Anyhow, I did have fun and I got some Amish cookies, a loaf of gluten free bread, berries and veggies.

The second Farmers Market (Tysons Corner, - 8400 West Park Drive in MacLean, VA) was interesting. There was a food truck that served crepes with nutella and savory crepes.
Coco Loco with bananas, nutella, and coconut

Crepe Love Truck

 

There was another person I spoke with and they said they are not organically certified, however their produce is grown indoors (hummmm) and they don't use pesticides (I like this already). Then I went to another tent and they said they use a minimal amount of sprays. I asked, minimal? He then told me they only use the sprays when they need to and since the produce is locally grown and does not have to be shipped for 3 days to reach it's destination they don't need to add any sprays due to transport, which I thought...minimal is better than an overhaul of sprays. Here I purchased peaches & golden apples (suckers are huge) with raspberries, cherries and strawberries ($30)!!! 

Tyson Farms WV

Gypsy Hill Tea & Spices

Della J's Delectables

 Gina's Pacific Jam and Jellies

Arno's Pastry

Sweet Nuna

Hidden Creek Farm

Valley View Bakery

Over all this weekend I did spend a pretty penny on food at the farmers market, but that was my fault. I should have stopped when I ran out of cash, instead I pulled out the plastic. I had more than I needed, but I just couldn't pass up the other goodies. Well, next time I won't be getting as much.

It is better to get what you need instead of over extending yourself and getting more than you need.