FitSugar

Healthy Eating Tip: Add Greens to Smoothies

FitSugar — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 04:30:00 -0700

When I recently posted my Almond Berry Banana Yogurt Smoothie recipe, FitSugar reader andrennabird had a brilliant idea - add greens to your smoothies. It's a great way to get more nutritious leafy greens into your diet, without even tasting them. The sweet fruit and creamy yogurt hide the earthy flavor, and since you blend the greens up, there's no chewing involved.

I like adding spinach, but you can also try kale, arugula, or sprouts. Just add a few cups of greens to your favorite smoothie recipe, and sip away. Experiment with combinations to see which taste the best, and if you've come up with any delicious concoctions, please share them below.

Healthy Eating Tip: Freeze Overly Ripe Fruit For Smoothies

FitSugar — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:00:00 -0700

Summer, even as it's waning, puts me in the mood for fruit. I tend to overbuy or misjudge the appetites of my darling (read sometimes soooooo picky) daughters, so much of my tasty fruit tends to get overly ripe before I have a chance to eat it. If you can relate, save your about-to-spoil fruit by prewashing, peeling (if necessary), and dicing all your bananas, berries, peaches, kiwi, and melons. Place them in a plastic freezer bag so they're ready next time you want to make a smoothie for breakfast or a snack. Not only will this tip save you money and time, but it'll also encourage you to eat healthier. Plus, when fruit is frozen it tends to taste less sweet, but since overly ripe is extra sweet your smoothie will be as well.

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Two Unexpected Ways to Be Kind to Your Teeth

FitSugar — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 16:00:00 -0700

Dental health is important for a variety of reasons, and the two that top my list are:

When my teeth hurt, eating is painful and I like to eat.
Dental work is expensive and I would rather spend my money on something fun.

Aside from the proactive activities of brushing and flossing, there are two rather surprising things you should avoid to help keep your teeth in tip-top shape.

Nail biting is the more obvious of the two tooth-damaging activities. It can wear down your teeth, aging them prematurely. Nail biting mainly stresses the front teeth. Not only are the front teeth the most visible ones in our mouth, these teeth were designed for cutting and not chewing and are not strong enough to be used constantly.

To see the other culprit, read more.

Often considered health food, smoothies can actually do a doozy on your teeth. Smoothies often contain high levels of both sugar and acid – a combination that can lead to the decay of tooth enamel. Unfortunately, brushing your teeth immediately after drinking a smoothie can cause even more damage to the already weakened enamel. Your best bet is to brush your teeth prior to having a smoothie, but then I can't imagine it would taste very good.

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Snack Attack: Almond Berry Banana Yogurt Smoothie

FitSugar — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 08:00:44 -0700

Strawberries and blueberries are in season now, so stock up and use them to make this delicious yogurt smoothie. The fruit adds natural sweetness, and the Greek yogurt makes it rich and creamy. I like to add almonds to my smoothies because not only do they add fiber and protein, but they give the smoothie an interesting slightly crunchy texture.

A 16-ounce glass contains about 300 calories so it makes a tasty treat to enjoy for breakfast or a pre- or post-workout snack. To learn how to make this simple recipe and see the rest of the nutritional information, keep reading

Post Run Treat: Chocolate-Espresso Smoothie

FitSugar — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 03:00:00 -0800

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 read more.

Chocolate Espresso Smoothie
adapted from Runner's World

What you need:
6 ounces chocolate yogurt (opt for low fat if you can find it)
2 ripe, frozen large bananas*
2 shots espresso, chilled
2 cups ice (about 14 ice cubes)
1 dozen chocolate-covered espresso beans

What you do:
Place all of the ingredients in a blender and puree until smooth. Serves two.

*Any ripe banana will do. I like to cut up and freeze my over ripe bananas for smoothies. Frozen foods are not as sweet so the riper that banana the sweeter the smoothie.

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Try it and let me know if it makes you zippy!

LightFull Satiety Smoothies

FitSugar — Thu, 24 May 2007 03:30:00 -0700

People are always asking me about store bought smoothies, and honestly I have never been a big fan of them. My complaints range from too runny, flavorless, sugary or chalky.

However, I recently tried LightFull Satiety Smoothies and I was pleasantly surprised. These new smoothies are part of the growing trend in satiety foods - foods made to keep you feeling full. I will say that I did feel rather satisfied after one box, which I really didn't think would happen. I especially liked Chocolate Fudge and Café Latte, but I am partial to chocolaty things. The easy (and fun, might I add) juice box style really got me excited too, but you know how I love drinks in a box. At 90-100 calories per box, you're not busting your calorie count on a drink, but you're also feeling like you're getting a treat. I'd recommend keeping a LightFull smoothie around for those times after dinner, when you're still hungry but don't want to blow your diet on cookies, cake and spoonfuls of peanut butter (everyone's done it, don't lie). I'd also recommend drinking it cold, or even ice cold, as I drank one at room temp and it was not nearly as pleasant.

I can't help but laugh at the brands tag line: Fiber is sexy, because I have honestly never thought of fiber as, well, sexy but it's definitely sticking in my head. Look for them at your local grocery store or buy a 12-pack ($25.00) from Amazon.com. Go here to download a coupon for $1.00 off. Enjoy!

You Asked: Banana Smoothie

FitSugar — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 03:30:00 -0700

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 read more

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)

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Snack Attack: Banana Ice Smoothie

FitSugar — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 09:00:00 -0800

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?

Healthy Eating Tip: Freeze Bananas

FitSugar — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 08:00:21 -0700

Warmer weather makes bunches of bananas turn brown quicker, so before you have to throw them away, freeze them to use for smoothies or banana bread. Just unpeel your nanner, wrap it in plastic wrap, and pop it in the freezer. You can add the frozen banana right to the blender for a fruit smoothie, and for banana bread or muffins, allow them to thaw first. It's a helpful time- and money-saver.

Listeria Hysteria at Jamba Juice

FitSugar — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 15:10:50 -0800

Consumers in the U.S. Southwest are being warned that Jamba Juice Co. smoothies containing strawberries may be contaminated with the potentially deadly Listeria monocytogenes bacterium (commonly known just as Listeria), which can cause potentially deadly infections in children, the elderly and other people with weakened immune systems. It is also known to cause still births and miscarriages in pregnant women.

While there have been no reports of illness, the smoothie maker has stopped shipments from the supplier of the contaminated strawberries as well as removed all strawberries supplied by that company.