The next time you're craving chips and salsa, ditch the jar; homemade salsa is surprisingly simple to prepare and worlds more satisfying when made fresh. From tangy salsa verde to crisp, chunky pico de gallo and even a roasted tomato option, we've got the classic covered and then some. Keep reading for the how-to videos and zesty recipes.
From POPSUGAR Food
Ingredients
2 10-ounce cans of diced tomatoes with green chiles, drained
1 serrano pepper, chopped
1/2 medium white onion, chopped
1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves
4-ounce can green chiles, drained
2 garlic cloves, peeled
1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
Juice of 1 lime
Salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper
Pinch of cumin
Pinch of sugar
Directions
Makes about 4 cups.
With the Memorial Day weekend here, there is no better time to find out what light beer will taste the best. Knowing the calorie count, carbs, and alcohol content in each of these readily available light brews will help you make smart and informed choices at your holiday BBQ. We tasted all of these beers at POPSUGAR HQ, where our editors shared their thoughts. Check out how the light beers matched up after going head to head and which one was the crowd favorite.
Not quite a cookie, but not yet a cake, there's something completely satisfying about a brownie. Whether you like them dense and fudgy, or light and cakey, there's a healthy recipe for you here. And we've thought of everything; look for recipes that are vegan, raw, gluten-free, and absent of refined sugars, too.
Forget doing another set of crunches at the gym. Tomorrow morning, sip on this deliciously sweet smoothie packed with ingredients that fight belly fat and reduce bloating — all for under 300 calories.
The Greek yogurt in the recipe provides a good amount of calcium and protein, both of which can aid in weight loss. The smoothie also contains several ingredients — like blueberries — which have been shown to help diminish belly fat. If that's not enough, you also get the sweetness of pineapple, which contains an enzyme that helps ease digestion and banish bloat. You won't be able to taste the kale, which is full of fiber to prevent constipation, as well as calorie-free water to help clean you out.
From Jenny Sugar, POPSUGAR Fitness
Ingredients
3 ounces vanilla nonfat Greek yogurt
1 tablespoon almond butter
1/2 cup frozen blueberries
1/2 cup frozen pineapple
1 cup kale
3/4 cup water
Directions
Makes one serving.
Staying away from foods that bloat your belly before the beach is helpful, but a girl's got to eat! Grabbing goods from the market is always an available option, but packing some homemade snacks that are easily transportable to the sea can be a real treat. Here are a few ideas we love for picnic-friendly healthy beach eats.
Prevention is the key to burn-free skin, but sometimes SPF lotion and a cute hat don't stand up to the Summer sun. Once you've been burned, start out by replenishing your fluids from the inside out by drinking plenty of water. If you're still in pain — or looking a little fried — then try out one (or a combination) of the following natural sunburn remedies to soothe your skin naturally.
Collodial oatmeal: Think that oatmeal baths are just for kids with chicken pox? You won't be saying so once you've soaked in some milky oatmeal after a long day in the sun. But tossing the rolled oats from your kitchen into the tub won't do. Look for a colloidal oatmeal bath like this Aveeno Oatmeal Bath ($7) that calms down and works to heal inflamed skin.
Vitamin C: Instead of popping aspirin, upping your vitamin C can help alleviate sunburn damage. "I tell my patients to take 1,000 milligrams [of vitamin C] for three days, as opposed to the recommended daily allowance of 75 milligrams, and also apply the vitamin topically," says dermatologist Mary Lupo, MD. She suggests Philosophy's Turbo Booster C Powder ($36) as a topical solution for sunburn woes.
Aloe vera: Aloe vera is king of the natural remedies. Whether you have an inexpensive gel lotion or a fresh plant at home, aloe vera will help soothe your skin naturally, since it contains nutrients that heal your skin back to health and prevent infection simultaneously. To heighten the cooling sensation, refrigerate your aloe vera gel before you apply.
How do you deal with your skin after a bad sunburn? Tell me below!
This Summer, make swimsuit season even hotter with the addition of spice. It's true; spices curb your appetite, leading to a hotter you — no pun intended. According to Kate Geagan, MS, RD, author of Go Green, Get Lean, herbs and spices can play tricks on your sweet tooth. Adding a spicy combo to your meals expands your palette without extra calories. It may also decrease the amount of salt, fat, and sugar you use, keeping you satisfied without sacrificing flavor.
Take red chili peppers for example, research has found that sprinkling them on meals curbs your appetite because capsaicin — the heat factor — not only reduces hunger, it increases energy levels too. Try adding a spice rub to your meal's protein or a dash of cinnamon in your next cup of coffee. Because cravings are so overrated . . .
A holiday weekend is the perfect time to relax — and indulge — but come next week, you may be thinking that you've had too much of a good thing. Take a trip to your grocery store and stock up on fresh, detoxifying produce like spinach, asparagus, and broccoli; then, make a big batch of any of these vegetable detox soups to help you feel and look your best.
Spaghetti sauce: One cup of jarred marinara sauce from the store contains 14.5 grams of sugar, much of it from added sugar. Instead of buying the store-bought stuff, up the nutritional value and lower the sugar content naturally with this light and tasty raw tomato basil sauce, perfect for a refreshing Spring supper.
Juice: Robert Lustig, a pediatrician at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital has said "juice is just like soda . . . there is no difference." It's not surprising that fruit juice is filled with sugar, but even a glass of V8 vegetable juice has eight grams of sugar per serving, and some store-bought green juices contain a large amount of apple juice. Grab your blender or juicer and go for a leafy green smoothie instead of a sugar-laden beverage. There's no need to drink all your sugar and calories for the day in one sitting.
Bread: Bread may seem like a strange place to find sugar, but two slices of whole wheat bread have four grams of sugar. Opt for stuffing all your sandwich fillings into a large whole wheat pita that only has 0.5 grams of sugar.
Keep reading for two more surprising foods loaded with sugar.
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