Green Hawaii!

Really!? I haven't posted one of my favorite smoothies. Oh my.  I will have a variation of this today, I think!

1/2 banana

1/2 cup Greek yogurt or 1/4c coconut cream (from a can)

1/2 cup frozen pineapple chunks, or fresh

3T raw oatmeal

1 T wheat Germ

1 T ground flax seed

large handful of baby spinach

almond milk to make 2 cups blended drink

if you want it sweeter add 1 T honey

 

 
You can also make variations of this by adding orange juice or pineapple juice to replace the milk. Make it tropical and add other fruit for example,mango, papaya and kiwi would be delicious! I have even added broccoli in!

40 day challege!

Yep, me again, saying I am going to loose weight. This time I have incentive! To the tune of $140! Some of us got together and started a 40 day challenge to get fit for spring. By the way, it is the 2nd day of spring here in GF and we have had NO melting! A ton of snow is on the ground, and another storm is on the way. sigh. Anyway, gonna get fit for spring. Today is the first day of the challenge. We weigh in at our own homes (all about honesty with this group), and 40 days from today, April 30, we weigh in again. The person who has lost the most % of body weight wins the cash!
I have incentive to change my diet, workout more and get fit for summer. My weigh in was 135 lbs. My goal for summer weight is somewhere between 115-120 (I am only 5' tall so that isn't a crazy goal) we will see where I get in 40 days. PLUS, I want to tone up, and I know muscle weighs more than fat.

 

To start the challenge my SOTD is a Citrus Berry

1/2 banana

Fresh juice of a Temple Orange

handful of blueberries

handful of strawberries

1/2 c Greek yogurt

1 T flax seed (ground)

1 T wheat germ

1 T goji berries

I have plans to workout this morning. Hopefully this will have the energy boost that I need.

I also created a little sweet snack last night in my vita mixer!
I blended 2 cups raw almonds to make almond butter, did not work. The paste was kinda crumbly and wouldn't spread very well, so I re- purposed!  I took the almond butter out of the mixer. Blended 10 whole pitted dates to make a paste. Added 1 T honey. Added the almond paste back in and blended to make a new paste. You have to use the tamper with all these processes to make it work!  Took the new paste out of the blender and rolled them into little balls. Froze them for 30 min. Then rolled them in melted dark chocolate.
My hope is that they will be a sweet treat that is healthy and curbs the chocolate cravings. 

Wish me luck!

Why not throw it in?

I am out of bananas. Obviously I need to go shopping. Smoothies can be made without bananas, but I like the creamy-ness that it adds. So today's smoothie is a bit different. I also had a bit of blackberries left, like not even 1/4 cup. Wanted to used it up.

Juice of 1 temple orange

Juice of 1/2 grapefruit

1/2 c greek yogurt

a bit of blackberries

a bit of blueberries

1 T goji berries

1 T wheat germ

1 T ground flax seed

4 large florets of broccoli (It was sitting in the fridge calling my name for a smoothie!)

I can taste the broccoli a bit, but overall the taste is citrusy/blueberry. The official taste tester (Little Girl C) says it is okay, as she is sucking it down. I love that she is getting good nutrition, including broccoli without knowing it (insert evil plotting style laugh)!

Blackberry Citrus

I haven't updated on my workout / weight loss/ 2 smoothie progress. Yeah. Not really. My excuses are as follows...1) a series of illnesses for children and mommy have made working out unappealing 2) I think I am hungry, therefore I eat 3) I found I didn't like 2 smoothies every day.

Hopefully, now that illnesses have past, I can hit the gym consistently. I did do some Wii fit on some of those days when I didn't work out at the gym. Better than nothing. I also need to think of other lunches for myself. Healthy, low calorie and filling.

Today's smoothie is:

Blackberry Citrus

1/2 banana

juice of a grapefruit

juice of a temple orange

1/2 c frozen blackberries

1 T goji berries

1 T ground flax

1 T wheat germ

2 T hemp seed

1 T Honey

Strawberry Kiwi

Sometimes I can be slow. As in, why did I not think of this combo WAY before now? Whatever. It tastes good. I will make it again!

Strawberry Kiwi

1/2 banana

2 skinned kiwis

1/2 cup frozen strawberries

1/4 c greek yogurt

3/4 c almond milk

1 T ground flax seed

1 T wheat germ

1 T chia seeds

Citrus Smoothies

Again, I have a smoothie most mornings, just haven't been posting. Lately, my FB have commented or asked about my SOTD post...time to blog.
We have a lot of fresh citrus fruit at our house. My sons school sells citrus by the case as a fundraiser.  Good fruit, don't want it to go to waste, good vitamin C, gonna put it in a smoothies.
I have found, I don't like the whole citrus in the blender, even with my vita mix. On a side note, did you know that the pith of citrus fruit (the white "skin") has many health benefits. Maybe, I need to suck it up (no pun intended)!  Anyway, so far I have been juicing my oranges.  I would probably continue to juice the grapefruits, the pith on them is very bitter.

Citrus Smoothie

1/2 banana

juice of 1 tangelo

juice of 1/2 grapefruit

1/4 c frozen blueberries

1/4 cup silken tofu

large handful of spinach

 1 T wheat germ

1 T ground flax seed

1 T Raw Honey

1 T chia seeds

I also love that my 18month old will come over to me and suck down a bunch of my smoothie! Good nutrition for her.

Yesterday's smoothie was another citrus smoothie.

1/2 banana

juice of 1 tangelo

juice of 1 grapefruit

skinned kiwi (did you know you CAN eat the skin of a kiwi? Not for me, but you can!)

handful of kale

1 T wheat germ

1 T ground flax seed

2T hemp seed

1 T bee pollen

2 oz aloe vera juice, not aloe vera gel!

 

 

Okay, aloe vera juice. Something new to try in my smoothie. I bought a bottle, will use the bottle, will not replace the bottle! I can smell it in the drink, even though I can't really taste it. The smell alone is enough to put me off. Besides that, the research I have done doesn't prove any health benefits. CAREFUL: it can be a laxative. Just so you know I DON'T speak from experience. 

Valentine's Smoothie

It has been 3 weeks since I last posted.  I have still had a smoothie most mornings, just nothing new.  I have also been really busy, a couple daycare children, plus my own to take care of during the day, doesn't leave a lot of time for me.  I have made it to the gym several times. It has been challenging with all the kids, plus illnesses (goodness we have NEVER been this sick as a family)! Spring needs to arrive so I can open windows and let the clean air into my house!
BUT today is Valentine's day!  I needed a love inspired smoothie for the day.  So I created a:

 

Chocolate Covered Strawberry Smoothie (oh yum!)

1 Cup soymilk (any milk would do, I just have soy right now)

1/4 C greek yogurt

1 Cup frozen strawberries (maybe more?)

1 T cocoa powder

1 T honey

1 T dried goji berries

2 T hemp seed

1 T bee pollen

1 T ground flax

1 T wheat germ

1 t vanilla extract

I wanted something healthy but yummy. This works. I can taste the strawberry through the chocolate, but it has all the extras to get me the nutrition I need.  Little Miss C is standing by me sucking it down!