Sweet Success

A mother and her young daughter were spending an evening shopping together. The pair were looking for back-to-school clothes for the little girl, who was about eight or nine years old.

The mom was frazzled. “Nothing fits you,” she said as she pulled a pair of women’s size 12 cargo pants from the rack of clothing. She held the pants up to the girl’s waist.

“Just forget it, mom,” the girl said getting increasingly upset. “I don’t want any new clothes. All you talk about is my weight. You say I need to change my thighs and my stomach. I don’t want anything.”

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This chocolate covered cherry inspired smoothie is beyond amazing!!

I got the idea for this smoothie from an article on what celebs eat for breakfast in  Self Magazine’s August 2011 issue. Poppy Montgomery’s trainer, Valerie Waters, created the Smoother Bikini Body Smoothie. Apparently the fruity, chocolatey combo is supposed to decrease bloat.

The Self recipe calls for an acai berry frozen smoothie pack and chocolate protein powder. I simplified the recipe because those are not things I keep in my kitchen.

According to Choose Cherries, cherries have high levels of antioxidants. They also contain nutrients such as beta carotene, vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, iron, fiber and folate. Cherries also contain melatonin, which regulates the body’s natural sleep patterns, aid with jet lag, prevent memory loss and delay the aging process.

According to the Hershey Center for Health and Nutrition, cocoa is associated with decreased blood pressure, improved blood vessel health and improved cholesterol levels. These benefits are from polyphenolic flavonoids, which are antioxidants.

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This breakfast was super delish!!

Very sweet (which I love) and filling because of the oats. I’ve been trying to jazz up my morning oatmeal. I’ve been feeling bored with my usual oatmeal with apples or oatmeal with cinnamon and raisins. I began my oatmeal makeover with Cinnamon Oatcakes, which I blogged about yesterday, and went for muesli today. I already loved oatmeal, but it is now confirmed that oatmeal is one of the most glorious things on earth.

Yesterday I wrote about the feel-good nutrients in oatmeal but, according to Eat More Oats, oats also have phytochemicals, which are thought to reduce a person’s risk of getting cancer. A daily serving of oats can also help reduce blood pressure.

What else makes oats a wonderfood? Oats can help you lose weight! According to Eat More Oats, as the soluble fiber in oats is digested, it forms a gel, which causes the viscosity of the contents of the stomach and intenstine to be increased. The gel delays stomach emptying making you feel full longer, which helps with weight loss.

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Yes, that is 4:50 a.m. The time my alarm clock goes off EVERY single weekday (6:50 a.m. on Saturdays).

Over a month ago I blogged about my commitment to attending bootcamp.

http://sweet-success.tumblr.com/post/6145112702/the-uncomfortable-zone

My goals were to 1) get out of my comfort zone 2) build strength 3) tone up my wobbly bits. After a month and a half of bootcamp, I would say I’m on my way to accomplishing my goals. I’ve pushed myself harder than I ever thought possible. I’m stronger than I’ve ever been. While I haven’t lost much weight, I’m a clothing size smaller than when I started bootcamp.

I was feeling pretty darn good about my accomplishments over the past six weeks. Then Lauren, my bootcamp instructor, announced…the Bikini Challenge. Yes, it’s as terrible as it sounds.

Here’s the challenge: Each bootcamper has to set two goals. They can be weight loss goals, fitness goals or food goals. We have five weeks to meet our goals. Those who do not meet their goals will owe Lauren $20 and must do 300 burpees!!!

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I made this super easy and yummy recipe for breakfast this morning.

Oatmeal is one of my diet staples. I’ve tried a gazillion oatmeal combos (cinnamon apple, banana cocoa, nutmeg and pear, strawberries and honey, blueberries and strawberries, etc.) and I was super excited to find this recipe in Self Magazine’s August issue. Oatcakes have all the great flavors and benefits of oatmeal, but in a pancake form.

According to Self, the B vitamins in oatmeal trigger production of mood-enhancing serotonin. I should be very oats happy today!

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Mango nectarines or as I like to call them, mantarines, are a mysterious fruit.

I assumed the mantarine was a hybrid of a mango and a nectarine. The flesh of the fruit has the same texture as a mango and is the same color as a mango, yet the size and shape of the fruit is that of a nectarine. The taste is even more mango-like than nectariney.

However, according to Specialty Produce, there is no mango in the mango nectarine!! What?!? The mantarine is a cross between two different types of nectarines! Nature blows my mind.

Mantarines (no one has caught on to this term so look for Mango Nectarines at the store) are only in season for 2-3 weeks in June and July and are grown in California. A medium mantarine provides vitamin A, vitamin C, carbohydrates, fiber and potassium.

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One thing I’ve learned on my journey to living a healthier lifestyle is that making something more nutritious actually makes it more delicious.

The flavors and textures of meals are dramatically enhanced when produce is added. It’s also super easy to make an OK meal, super fab.

Instead of adding ketchup and mustard to your burger, add some guacamole, tomato slices, onion and lettuce. Throw some sliced zucchini, mushrooms and onion into your spaghetti sauce. Make or buy pico de gallo and guacamole for taco night. Add lettuce, onions and tomatoes to your tacos. Throw some mushrooms, eggplant slices and tomato into your lasagna. Veggies go with everything!

Produce can also be thrown into your breakfast! Add strawberry slices or blueberries to your cereal. Throw a sliced apple, peach or pear into your oatmeal. Make an omelet with mushrooms, zucchini and/or onions.

Adding produce to your meals will add nutrients to your meal, make your food taste better and help you to feel fuller. Win-Win-Win!

After preparing a few meals, you will see that it is super easy to add fruits and veggies to every meal.

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After I discovered the casaba melon last week I decided to try a new recipe with the subtle-tasting melon.

For more info on the casaba melon, check out last week’s post…

http://sweet-success.tumblr.com/post/7493524440/taste-test-casaba-melon

While I was researching the casaba melon, I came across this recipe from the Mayo Clinic. It’s a sweet curry made from garam masala, a basic blend of spices used in Indian cooking. The blend of spices smells so incredible! Your kitchen will become heavenly. The curry becomes a light, sweet dessert by combining the spices with yogurt and melon.

This dessert had such a unique flavor. I always love how complex Indian food tastes. I’ve never tried a sweet curry before so I was excited to give this recipe a try. The curry was super easy to make and was a perfect light dessert. If you don’t have casaba melon, you could always use cantaloupe or honeydew. You can also garnish the dish with fresh mint. I didn’t have any mint so my photo doesn’t look as pretty as it could have.

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My adventure in trying new fruits and veggies has been a struggle. I’ve been searching the produce sections of the local grocery stores and I haven’t found any new exotic produce. I guess that’s a small town for you. I now have a list of fruits and veg that I want to try - kohlrabi, ugli fruit, starfruit and tomatillos. I just need to locate these items.

A coworker suggested taste testing jicama. I’ve actually had this before, but it’s been quite a long time.

Jicama (pronounced “Heh-kuh-muh”) is a very plain-looking vegetable that is grown in Mexico or South America. It’s an underground tuber and can be steamed, baked, broiled, mashed or fried, just like potatoes, according to foodreference.com. But, unlike potatoes, jicama can be eaten raw. The flavor of jicama is unlike any other vegetable. Jicama is often described as tasting like a cross between an apple and a potato. I feel like the flavor is similar to the jicama’s look, plain. I think jicama’s strength is its crispness. Jicama has a similar texture and crunch as water chestnuts. When eaten raw, jicama can be used on a veggie platter, in salads or sprinkled with chili powder. Jicama should be peeled before eating. When jicama is used in fruit salad, the vegetable adds crunch and absorbs the flavors of the fruit. Jicama can also be used in stir fries.

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Last week, I vowed to try a new fruit or vegetable as part of my month of tracking produce servings. I ended up purchasing a casaba melon at Apple Market. I had never heard of a casaba melon, but assumed it had to be yummy because it’s in the melon family. I also liked the bright yellow color and wrinkled skin of the fruit.

The fruit was expensive at $3.99 each. But it was the only thing at the market that looked unfamiliar to me so I decided to splurge.

After doing some research, I discovered that the casaba melon got its name from Kasaba, Turkey where it was first exported. According to Fruits and Veggies More Matters, casaba melons are a good source of vitamin C and very low in calories.

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This pizza was so delish and so easy!!

Here are my thoughts on making pizza…

Pizza is often thought of as an unhealthy meal, but homemade pizza can actually be very good for you. Just whip up some whole wheat pizza dough, add some healthy tomato sauce, load the pizza with veggies and top it with low fat cheese. Perfect!

I definitely recommend making your own pizza crust from scratch. It’s easy and much better for you than buying a pre-made crust or a mix.

I usually use spaghetti sauce on my pizza when I’m doing a red sauce. I always have some in my fridge so it’s just easier. Try to find a pizza, spaghetti or marinara sauce that is light and contains no high fructose corn syrup. If you’re super motivated you can make your own tomato sauce.

Making pizza can be a fun family activity or even a fun party idea for friends. Just make the pizza dough and roll it out into individual size pizzas. Have a variety of toppings such as tomato sauce, pesto, spinach, green peppers, onions, mushrooms, basil, olives, turkey pepperoni, feta cheese and low-fat mozzarella. Let each person put their own toppings on their pizza. You could even have a BYOT (Bring Your Own Toppings) party and have each guest bring one or two toppings to share with the group.

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It’s the second week that my coworkers and I have been tracking our produce servings. I’ve been working to incorporate more colors into my diet and it’s been fun! I’ve been making beautifully colored smoothies almost everyday and eating lots of grilled red, yellow and green peppers.

I have two goals this week. 1) Try a new fruit or veggie. 2) Be more conscious of how my fruits and veggies are produced.

The health benefits of eating fresh produce are great. Eating a diet rich in produce can reduce your risk of obesity, heart disease, some cancers, diabetes and hypertension and increase energy, according to Colorful Choices.

But, as you know, farmers often spray their crops with pesticides to keep bugs, other plants and pests away. According to the Environmental Working Group, pesticides have been linked to brain and nervous system toxicity, cancer, hormone disruption and skin, eye and lung irritation.

The health benefits of produce outweigh the risks of pesticide exposure so you shouldn’t give up fruits and veggies. But there are ways you can reduce your exposure.

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I love baking festive foods during holidays! I really wanted to make an American flag cake this 4th of July because I’ve never made it before. When I looked up recipes online, most were made with traditional white cake and frosting.

I decided to make a low-fat and mini version. I baked an angel food cake (following directions on the box) in a 9x13 cake pan. After baking, I loosened the sides of the cake with a knife and cut the cake in half. I then placed each cake on separate serving dishes. I frosted each cake with fat free Cool Whip, then arranged the blueberries and strawberries to look like the flag. One cake went to my parents and the other is for my BF and I to enjoy during the holiday weekend.

This was soooo easy and very yummy!!

Have a happy and healthy 4th of July!!

Another holiday is upon us and we will once again be confronted with unhealthy holiday foods. But it is so easy to stick to a healthy eating plan and still have a fab time while celebrating with friends and family!

If you plan on grilling out, check out my Memorial Day grilling guide at http://sweet-success.tumblr.com/post/5906201077/lets-eat-memorial-day-grilling. The same tips apply for July 4th!

Here are a few healthy, inexpensive and festive recipes courtesy of Ellie Krieger of the Food Network…

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All it takes is about 10 minutes, some milk, fruit, ice and a blender. It’s the perfect summer treat and it’s so easy.

My BF recently inspired me to get back on the smoothie wagon after he bought a new blender and invested in a freezer full of frozen fruit and replenished his crisper with fresh fruit.

He’s come up with some great concoctions so far - the pineapple, mango, banana smoothie and the strawberry and blueberry froyo smoothie.

A few years ago, my cousin bought me a Bella Cucina Rocket Blender for Christmas. Since then, I’ve been whipping up all kinds of smoothies - from the basic strawberry banana to protein packed blends. It had been awhile since I pulled my blender out of the cupboard, but I’m hooked again.

Last night I whipped up a Mango Peach Smoothie and this morning I made a Blackberry Apple Smoothie!

Becoming a smoothie expert is sooo easy! 

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There’s nothing better in the summer than taking a bite of freshly cut watermelon, buying sweet corn from a farmer’s truck or picking tomatoes from your own garden.

There are so many wonderful fruits and veggies in season this time of year.

The best way to pick the most affordable and freshest produce is to know what is in season.

First, keep in mind that buying local is always the best option. Read more about buying local on my June 2 blog entry at http://sweet-success.tumblr.com/post/6107821595/the-farmers-market-is-open.

What’s in season during the summer?

Apricots, Artichokes, Basil, Berries, Baby Greens, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Cherries, Cilantro, Corn, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Fennel, Green Beans, Kohlrabi, Lettuce, Cantaloupe, Honeydew, Watermelon, other melons, Okra, Peaches, Peppers, Plums, Tomatoes, Summer Squash and Rhubarb

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