FitSugar

Post Run Treat: Chocolate-Espresso Smoothie

FitSugar — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 03:00:00 PST

I like a smoothie. There is no denying it. I just found a recipe from Runner's World that would surely get your blood pumping. Created by a pastry chef who logs 15 miles a week, this smoothie is fortified with espresso and would be the perfect post run treat. If you run in the morning this could even replace your morning cup of joe.

To see the delicious and super easy recipe just

You Asked: Banana Smoothie

FitSugar — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 03:30:00 PDT

Smoothies are such a great treat. Especially in the heat of summer. A Sugar user recently asked for a good smoothie recipe that doesn't contain berries since she is allergic.

I just found this recipe from Healthy Chef Alex. She is Mogan Spurlock's girlfriend - you might know him as the Super Size me guy and she is the "vegan girlfriend."

This recipe is tasty - everyone in my family loved it. It is definitely a healthy redo of the Peanut Butter Moo'd from Jamba Juice. Before you mock my bruised bananas, let me just say the more ripe the bananas the sweeter the smoothie. Once it is frozen fruit just doesn't taste as sweet, so put those overripe bananas to use.

Want to see the recipe? Then

Banana Smoothie
Adapted from Healthy Chef Alex Blog

2 frozen ripe bananas* (Peel them. Chop them. Freeze them. This way they are ready to go whenever you need them.)
2 cups non-fat milk**
2 tablespoons almond butter
1 tablespoon agave syrup
1 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder

Combine all ingredients in a blender and mix until blended, about 2 minutes!

Notes:
*I microwave the frozen banana piece for about 20 seconds so they are easier to pureé.

**The original recipe was vegan and used chocolate soy milk (which I just never happen to have around the house), so I substituted non-fat milk and used unsweetened cocoa powder.

(Serves 2 normal people, or 1 very happy, hungry person)

Print recipe with images | without images

Snack Attack: Banana Ice Smoothie

FitSugar — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 09:00:00 PST

Here's a great snack that requires a little bit of planning ahead, but after you've done the prep, it's a cinch to make.

To make this Banana Ice Smoothie:

Peel several very ripe bananas
Break them into 1-inch pieces
Freeze the pieces in a sealed plastic bag
Just before serving, put a few pieces in the blender with a small amount of water, juice or milk
Serve immediately

You can add berries for a different flavor or top with fruit or nuts. YUM.

Why we love it:
Bananas are high in potassium. And this is a fun way to use up ripe bananas, without making yet another loaf of banana bread. Plus, how often do you get to use that blender you got from your wedding?

Kate Middleton Heads to Liverpool For Her Latest Solo Stop

Allie Merriam — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 08:47:35 PST

Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, embarked on her second-ever solo official visit this morning. Kate wore a brown coat from Hobbs in English city of Liverpool to stop by The Brink, an alcohol-free bar that provides assistance for those suffering from substance abuse. The bartenders even created a smoothie for her called "The Duchess" that includes bananas, almonds, and honey. The organization's vocal group, the Raucous Caucus Recovery Chorus, sang for Kate as well.

Later today, Kate's scheduled to continue her tour of the area with stops by Alder Hey Children's Hospital and Ronald McDonald House. Last week, Kate Middleton went to the National Portrait Gallery, a museum of which she is a patron, to see their new Lucian Freud exhibit. She's making appearances alone while her husband, Prince William, serves with the Royal Air Force in the Falklands. It's their first Valentine's Day as husband and wife, but Kate and William are choosing to spend the holiday serving their country.

5 Surprising Ways to Eat Nut Butter

FitSugar — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:49:49 PST

Nut butters are good for more than just sandwiches. As a source of healthy fats and plant-based protein, nut butters can be a nutritional powerhouse. Whether you prefer classic peanut butter or one of the healthy peanut butter alternatives, here are five unexpected ways to incorporate nut butter into your diet:

Blend it into your smoothie: Make your breakfast sip a bit creamier - and more satisfying - by adding some nut butter to the mix. For a bit of indulgence, try a chocolate strawberry banana smoothie. The healthy fats and dose of protein will help you to stay full and get your day off to an energized start.
Add it to your soups: Boost pureed soups with a spoonful of nut butter. Not only will it create a thicker texture, but it will also add rich, unexpected flavor to standard recipes. Surprise your taste buds by adding almond butter to butternut squash and or blending walnut butter into a beet soup.
Turn it into a dipping sauce: Marinate meats in your favorite nut butter before grilling, or use it as a dipping sauce for fruits and vegetables. Get creative with your combinations: try jicama dipped in cashew butter for a fresh twist on peanut butter apples.
Toss it into Greek yogurt. Get double the protein punch by mixing nut butter into your serving of Greek yogurt. For extra energy and nutrients, add fresh berries and rolled oats to the bowl.
Use it in your salad dressing. Blend nut butter with other oils and spices to create a smooth, rich salad dressing. Not sure where to start? Try a Thai dish, like this kale slaw with peanut dressing recipe.

Source: Flickr User Rusvaplauke

Painless Ways to Add Fiber to Your Diet

Jenny Sugar — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 03:26:16 PST

Whether you're a serious meat eater who considers a side salad enough greens for the day, or someone who just hates veggies, if one of your New Year's resolutions is to eat more fiber, here are some easy ways to increase your roughage without a disapproving peep from your taste buds.

Have a sweet tooth? Add spinach to homemade brownies, mash baked sweet potato into pancake mix, or add shredded carrots to banana bread.
Don't just grab any ol' box of cereal. Choose a cereal that has at least eight grams of fiber per serving.
Become a fan of flax. Sprinkle whole flaxseeds onto your bowl of cereal, or if the texture is a turnoff, use ground flaxmeal instead. You can also add flaxseed or flaxmeal to pizza dough, pancake batter, and cookie and muffin recipes.
Make a smoothie for breakfast (or even dessert) with tons of fresh or frozen fruit. Throw in a few spinach or kale leaves for added fiber. The sweetness of the fruit hides the taste of the greens and since it's blended so well, the texture is completely smooth - no chewing your veggies required.

Keep reading for more fiber-boosting tips.

3 Surprising Ways to Sneak Veggies Into Your Breakfast

FitSugar — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 16:53:00 PST

Most breakfast options favor fruits and grains, but adding vegetables to your morning routine will kick-start your energy and provide you with plenty of vitamins, straight from the source. Here are three simple, unexpected ways to start your day off right and incorporate veggies into your breakfast routine.

Toss them into a scramble. Boost your breakfast by mixing nutrient-rich vegetables like spinach, red pepper, and onion into your standard scrambled eggs. A half cup of spinach, a quarter cup of red pepper, and a tablespoon of chopped onion amounts to only 21 calories, but all three foods are major sources of fiber and vitamin C. The water-rich vegetables will help you to feel fuller while also providing a medley of essential vitamins - A, E, K, and B6 - plus iron, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and folate. Other great add-in options? Tomatoes, mushrooms, and asparagus.

Read on for more veggie breakfast ideas.

5 Ingredients to Give Your Smoothie a Health Boost

Heather Dale — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 13:51:09 PST

Gone are the days of taking a few basic ingredients and throwing them into a blender. Bananas, strawberries, and yogurt? So last year. Now that you've discovered the wonderful world of kale, chia seeds, and spinach, it's time to expand your smoothie-making skills even more. The following five food items are guaranteed to increase the nutrient (and flavor) quotient of your smoothies.

Avocado: Besides the nutrient content, avocados help add a creamy, smooth texture to smoothies. If you are not an avocado fan, add only one-half of an avocado to a smoothie - you'll barely taste it (yet still reap all the health benefits). Here's a basil avocado smoothie recipe to help get you started.

Here are more nutritious ingredients to add to your shakes.

A Reader Recipe: Detox Orange Ginger Smoothie

Fit Community — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 12:18:40 PST

Holiday indulgences got you down? FitSugar reader JuicyNoelle has a detox smoothie for you. She posted the recipe in our Healthy Recipe group.

Are you looking for ways to embrace a little holiday detox? If so, don't forget to incorporate a piece of ginger. Ginger is believed to fire up your body’s natural detoxification work. It also helps your body better absorb nutrients, and eliminate waste (cleansing divas believe excess waste equals excess weight). Toss a piece of fresh ginger into a stir-fry, a great salad dressing, or even a delicious smoothie.

Detox Orange Ginger Smoothie
Serving size: 1 (200 calories)

Ingredients
1 banana, peeled and frozen
1/4 inch ginger, peeled and minced
1/2 cup mango slices, frozen
1/4 cup orange juice
1/4 cup water
4–5 ice cubes

For more on this recipe, visit JuicyNoelle's blog, Green Lemonade. Upload your own recipes to our Healthy Recipe group, and we may feature yours on our homepage!

8 Tips For a Healthier Brunch

FitSugar — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 19:42:25 PST

Weekend brunch is one of my favorite meals, but with all the deliciously decadent foods to choose from, like a Belgian waffle smothered in maple syrup and whipped cream, it's easy to overindulge. To avoid having to spend the entire afternoon in a coma on the couch, here are some tips for making your weekend breakfast as healthy as it is satisfying.

Load pancake batter with fruit: Mix in at least three different kinds of fruits such as blueberries, raspberries, cut-up cherries, apples, or bananas. With all that fresh, warm fruit, you might even skip the maple syrup.
Don't stop at oatmeal: Any cooked grain makes a hearty and satisfying breakfast. Cook up some brown rice, farro, quinoa, polenta, or millet and add yogurt, nuts, and fresh fruit.

I'm just getting started, so keep reading to check out my other tips for a healthier brunch.