Showing posts with label body. Show all posts
Showing posts with label body. Show all posts

spoil yourself with these easy breakfast recipes

Saturday, May 4, 2013

Photo: 101Cookbooks
They're all quick and easy enough to squeeze into any morning routine.

Taste of Home's Cherry-Brandy Baked Brie makes a truly mouth-watering spread for your morning croissant or baguette. You simply mix together 1/2-cup each of dried cherries and dried walnuts with 1/4-cup each of brown sugar and brandy, then spoon this mixture over a round of Brie cheese in a pie dish. Bake it at 350°F for 15-20 minutes until the cheese is softened.

101Cookbooks' Warm and Nutty Cinnamon Quinoa recipe is so healthy, and so delicious! Here are the necessary ingredients:

1 cup organic 1% low fat milk
1 cup water
1 cup organic quinoa, (hs note: rinse quinoa)
2 cups fresh blackberries, organic preferred
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/3 cup chopped pecans, toasted*
4 teaspoons organic agave nectar, such as Madhava brand

Combine milk, water and quinoa in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and simmer 15 minutes or until most of the liquid is absorbed. Turn off heat; let stand covered 5 minutes. While the quinoa cooks, roast the pecans in a 350F degree toaster oven for 5 to 6 minutes or in a dry skillet over medium heat for about 3 minutes. Stir in blackberries and cinnamon; transfer to four bowls and top with pecans. Drizzle 1 teaspoon agave nectar over each serving.

The next three recipes are courtesy of Women's Health Magazine. They're incredibly easy and incredibly delicious! For a Banana-Nut Waffle Sundae, first slice half a banana. Toast 2 whole-grain frozen waffles. Top with 1/4 cup of nonfat Greek yogurt, banana slices, and 2 tablespoons of toasted walnuts.

To make an Egg In a Nest, in a pan over medium-low heat, warm 1 tablespoon of oil. Place a slice of bread with a circle cut from the center in the pan. Crack 1 egg into the hole and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until the egg is firm; add the cut-out bread circle to toast for the last 1 to 2 minutes (it'll be yummy when you remove it and eat it). Transfer everything to a plate and serve with avocado and tomato slices.

For Sweet and Spicy Quinoa Hash, in a skillet over medium heat, warm 1 teaspoon of coconut oil. Add a pinch of red pepper flakes and 1/2 cup cubed sweet potato, then saute for about 5 minutes. Stir in 1/3 cup of chopped kale, 1 clove of minced garlic, and a pinch of salt. Saute until kale has wilted, about 3 minutes. Add 1/2 cup cooked quinoa (you'll have to do this beforehand or separately) and heat through.

slim down with green smoothies or a juice fast

Thursday, April 18, 2013



Let's just start by saying this: we don't condone juice fasts or diets that involve drinking all your meals. Not providing your body with solid food for an extended period of time is not healthy and overtime can result is all sorts of physiological and psychological side effects. However, a lot of recent research has touted the benefits of doing a short-term (we recommend 1-2 days for beginners) juice fast or green smoothie fast. We recommend reading this Livestrong article, which talks about the benefits of intermittent fasting for weight loss and lifelong health. For juice fasts you will need a juicer; for green smoothie-ing, a blender will be enough. Both juices and green smoothies are simply a convenient alternative to preparing a meal. They're quick and easy to make and can be taken on the go. They are satisfying, healthy, detoxifying, and can include whatever particular supplements your body craves.

The cheapest option is to blend/juice your own fruits and veggies. For beginners, we recommend that you start with simple blended smoothies. These are the fastest/easiest to make, and a blender is a lot cheaper than a good juicer. Also, because you're chopping up the entire fruit/vegetable, you're getting a solid dose of fiber. Your body will have a much easier time adjusting to a (short-term) liquid diet and will also feel fuller if you include this part of the plants.

You can start with Dr. Oz's 48-hour cleanse, which includes multiple juice recipes (some of which can be concocted sans juicer) supplemented with vegetables and healthy recipes (like quinoa with prunes). If you're willing to take on a bigger challenge, try a 3-day cleanse like Jason Vale's Super Juice Detox or this one by Freutcake.

If you want to buy pre-made and money is no option, you can get juice cleanse kits delivered to you! If you happen to live in California or NYC you have the option of simply picking up these cleanses, meaning you won't be shelling out $20-$50 for shipping. Always a plus.

When it comes to blending and juicing on your own, you have to make sure you have the proper equipment first. Blenders are the cheaper option by far: a decent blender will run you $20 to $60, whereas a truly decent juicer (one that extracts all the nutrients) falls in the $50 to $200 range. Check out Amazon.com for the best selection and prices. Once you've got the equipment, surf the web for recipes and stock up on fruits and veggies! Some easy beginner recipes can be found at Food Network or Eating Well.

We'd love to hear your favorite recipes - feel free to share them in the comments below!
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