Healthy Recipes || Banana-less Green Smoothies

I have nothing against bananas (and actually enjoy their health benefits), but have you noticed how they are a critical ingredient in most "green smoothie" recipes?  I presume this inclusion is because blending bananas into such smoothies is a quick and easy way to sweeten or mask the taste of ... well, the green vegetables.  However, if for whatever reason, you do not want to add bananas to your green smoothies, there are banana-less recipes out there.  Here are a few:

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RECIPE #1 - Source
Ingredients:
1 cup seedless green grapes
1 cup packed baby spinach
1/2 cup ice
1/4 cup coconut milk

RECIPE #2 - Source
Ingredients:
 2 cups cantaloupe
1/4 avocado
1 tbsp mint leaves
1 tbsp basil leaves
splash of water
4-5 ice cubes

RECIPE #3 - Source
Ingredients:
1 medium cucumber
1/2 Bosc pear
3-4 ice cubes

RECIPE #4 - Source
Ingredients:
2 kiwis
1/2 cup chocolate almond milk
1/4 cup water
1 cup curly green kale
1 cup ice

For more recipes (with or without bananas), check out www.greenlemonade.com.

Nutritious Bartending || Watermelon Mojito and More

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"A whole day of eating right can go down in the swirl of cocktail -- with crazy-high calories and weakened willpower. So we've put a few drinks on a diet, starting with the Cuban mojito. Instead of using sugar, use a wooden pestle or a big spoon to gently crush cubes of watermelon with fresh mint leaves. Add rum and sparkling water for a sweet mojito with half the usual calories."

If you are looking for more cocktails with fewer calories and more nutrients, check out this slideshow: http://www.webmd.com/diet/ss/slideshow-skinny-cocktails

Healthy Eating || Bananas and Lowering Blood Pressure

Lately my blood pressure has been lower than usual, which isn't a bad thing at all in this case.  The systolic pressure normally ranges between 101 and 110 while the diastolic pressure between 65 and 80.  However, my two most recent tests were 91/60 and 93/57. I don't recall my blood pressure ever being this low ... at least not in recent years.

So, I thought to myself, "What have I been doing differently?"  And then it occurred to me, "Well, I've been eating a lot of bananas [in smoothies].  Could that be it?"  Then I went to the internet, did some digging, and learned that there are dozens of references to the high potassium in bananas helping to lower blood pressure.  Here are a couple of abstracts worth reading:

ROLE OF POTASSIUM IN REGULATING BLOOD PRESSURE
EFFECT OF BANANA ON COLD-STRESS INDUCED HYPERTENSION

MORE READS:
BLOOD PRESSURE CHART AND TIPS

DISCLAIMER: Please speak with your doctor before changing your diet.

Healthy Eating || Becoming a Tea Drinker

I've never been a tea drinker (and, I mean never), but in mid-October, I decided to get to work on some tea I purchased under hypnosis.  (Okay, maybe I wasn't under hypnosis, but I was under something I guess.)  The tea is actually really good quality and tastes exquisite relative to your average store-bought tea.  However, what I also like about it are the health benefits.  For me, the biggest one I am noticing within myself is the stress reduction.

Below is an excerpt of the article on WebMD.  Full article: TEA TYPES AND THEIR HEALTH BENEFITS

• Green tea: Made with steamed tea leaves, it has a high concentration of EGCG and has been widely studied. Green tea’s antioxidants may interfere with the growth of bladder, breast, lung, stomach, pancreatic, and colorectal cancers; prevent clogging of the arteries, burn fat, counteract oxidative stress on the brain, reduce risk of neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, reduce risk of stroke, and improve cholesterol levels.
• Black tea: Made with fermented tea leaves, black tea has the highest caffeine content and forms the basis for flavored teas like chai, along with some instant teas. Studies have shown that black tea may protect lungs from damage caused by exposure to cigarette smoke. It also may reduce the risk of stroke.
• White tea: Uncured and unfermented. One study showed that white tea has the most potent anticancer properties compared to more processed teas.
• Oolong tea: In an animal study, those given antioxidants from oolong tea were found to have lower bad cholesterol levels. One variety of oolong, Wuyi, is heavily marketed as a weight loss supplement, but science hasn’t backed the claims.
• Pu-erh tea: Made from fermented and aged leaves. Considered a black tea, its leaves are pressed into cakes. One animal study showed that animals given pu-erh had less weight gain and reduced LDL cholesterol.

Another article (excerpt below): TEA BENEFITS

Studies of humans, animals, and petri-dish experiments show that tea is high beneficial to our health. Research suggests that regular tea drinkers -- people who drink two cups or more a day -- have less heart disease and stroke, lower total and LDL cholesterol, and recover from heart attacks faster. There's also evidence that tea may help fight ovarian and breast cancers.

Tea also helps soothe stress and keep us relaxed. One British study found that people who drank black tea were able to de-stress faster than those who drank a fake tea substitute. The tea drinkers had lower levels of cortisol, a stress hormone.

How to Have a Healthy Turkey Day

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By Stephanie of Infinite Life Fitness

Tis the season to fill your belly!

The key is to fill your belly with the right food! The national “fill your belly” holiday is upon us. I hear so many people wish (and some who do not) that they had NOT eaten as much as they did during the holiday. For those who are on a new health and fitness journey, being consistent with your healthy eating and fitness routine is KEY to reaching your goals.

Key tips for this year’s feast:

• Ask what people are bringing. If they are making a high calorie/fat dish either pass it on when you see it OR ask them to make a few substitutes to make it a healthier dish. 
• Do not be afraid to measure out your portion sizes. If you are afraid to do it in front of your family do it in the kitchen and bring your plate out to the table. They goal is to make sure you are eating enough NOT too much. It is hard to look at your plate and say “yes that is a cup full of veggies”. Do not be afraid to grab a measuring cup and scoop out the right serving size! 
• When worse comes to worse, double up on the veggies! If you are worried about your plate looking “too bare” compared to those around you try doubling up on the green veggies! You can never go wrong with having more veggies as opposed to more creamy cheese potatoes, or 4 dinner rolls. 
• Try to make a healthy dish and bring it along with you. I do this EVERY year with my family. And I usually will not tell them it was healthy, low fat and low calorie until they have eaten it all! Nothing makes your feel better than seeing your friends and family rave about a healthy dish. Just because it is healthy does not mean it is not tasty! 
• Water, Water, Water! Do not forget to drink your water! It is ok to have egg nog, wine, or other fruit drinks…but those drinks pack a TON of calories. Would you rather drink your calories or enjoy a piece of pie? 

Everyone’s FAVORITE part of turkey day? Well…it should be spending time with your friends and family…bbbuuuut we all know it is the dessert tray!

Do not be afraid to eat dessert! BUT do not forget to get a double or triple serving of your grandma’s famous pie. Yes it is good…and yes it will make you happy…but you have to remember that you have a goal to reach in a certain amount of time so do not let one HUGE piece of pie render that success! 

Ok…so you did have that extra piece of pie…or you already know that you will have that pie. Try working out BEFORE you meet the family for dinner and try to plan a late night walk or jog. Doing activities before and after such meals is a great plan and it will help you feel less guilty about indulging on the holiday treats.

Need some suggestions for some healthy desserts…try looking at these sites:

Pumpkin Pie

Recipe

Chocolate Doughnuts

Recipe

Chocolate Ice Cream Sandwiches

Recipe

I hope these holiday tips were helpful! Have a WONDERFUL, SAFE, and HEALTHY Thanksgiving!

This is Stephanie from Infinite Life Fitness. Please feel free to stop by my blog anytime for more health and fitness tips!!

Healthy Eating || How to Store Green Vegetables

Prior to watching the following video, I would just freeze my greens in order to lock in their nutrients.  Then I came across this video and kicked myself for never thinking about the method she uses.  It makes so much sense and is a simple way to keep your green vegetables fresh AND full of nutrients.  No need to freeze them anymore.

In the video below, Chef Ahki discusses this nifty, simple method to store green vegetables.   If you don't know about it already, you'll kick yourself too!  Trust me.

Happy HEALTHY Halloween!

By Stephanie of Infinite Life Fitness

Happy HEALTHY Halloween!

As you all well know, one of the BEST candy/junk food holidays is RIGHT around the corner! Free candy everywhere you look!

I know my job even has people bring in baked goods to snack on during the week of Halloween!

The key to getting past any holiday is to find healthier alternatives that you can create that taste just as good. In order to start getting healthier you HAVE to start cooking healthier and finding alternatives to create healthier dishes for you and your family.

Well today I will share with you some HEALTHIER dessert options you can make for yourself, your friends, and your family so you can still indulge a bit during this Halloween!

Chocolate Oatmeal Balls

Ingredients

* 1 ripe banana, mashed well
* 1 cup sugar
* 1/4 cup cocoa powder
* 1/2 cup nonfat milk
* 1/2 cup peanut butter
* pinch of salt
* 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
* 3 cups instant oats

Directions

Being inspired by a recipe I saw for no bake cookies that used a banana in place of butter, I decided to try my hand at creating a healthier version of my family recipe. One mashed banana replaces the one stick of butter, the sugar is cut in half, and a low fat milk (skim or almond) is used instead of whole or two-percent. Of course, there is quite a bit of sugar (one cup) in the recipe but it’s still much healthier than traditional no bake cookies. I think regular old fashioned oats might work in place of the quick oats, but I had quick oats on hand so that’s what I used. This recipe was orginally posted on my healthy living blog.

1. Place all ingredients except the vanilla and oats in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat – stirring often.
2. Let the mixture boil for one minute, remove from heat and let the mixture cool for one minute.
3. Add the vanilla and oats and stir well to combine.
4. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto waxed paper and cool to room temperature.

Healthy Chocolate Cake

Ingredients

1 cup cake flour
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
Pinch salt
2 tablespoons applesauce
1/2 cup 2 percent low-fat milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon instant decaffeinated coffee
2 (2 1/2-ounce) jars prune baby food
1 ounce semisweet chocolate chips, melted
2 teaspoons almond extract
2 egg whites

For icing:
2 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted
1/2 cup 0 percent Greek yogurt

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Spray one round cake pan with nonstick cooking spray and sprinkle with flour.
2. Sift together all the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
3. In a small bowl, mix applesauce, milk, vanilla, coffee, prunes, chocolate, almond extract, and egg whites. Fold into the dry ingredients.
4. Bake for 40 minutes.
5. While the cake is baking, you can create the icing. After melting 2 ounces of chocolate chips, fold them into the 1/2 cup of 0 percent Greek yogurt. Refrigerate until you're ready to ice your cake for the best consistency.
6. Allow cake to cool before icing and slicing. It's best to slice and serve when it's still warm!

Serves 8.

Nutritional information (per serving): calories 260, saturated fat 1.8 g.

Whole Wheat Mini Pumpkin Muffins

Ingredients

1/2 c. vegetable oil
2 eggs
1 2/3 c. whole wheat flour
1 1/4 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/3 c. water
1 c. canned or homemade pumpkin puree
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F
2. Combine eggs, oil, water and pumpkin puree (use straight pumpkin, not pumpkin pie mix). Sift dry ingredients together and gradually beat into first mixture.
3. Pour into greased mini muffin pans (I actually use a cookie scoop to get it in the pan…it’s the
4. perfect size for mini muffins). Bake for 10-12 minutes. Makes about 36 mini muffins.

Rich Double Dark Chocolate Brownies

Ingredients

• ¾ cup organic canned black beans, rinsed
• ¼ cup olive oil
• ¼ cup unsweetened apple sauce
• 1 banana (I used a frozen one)
• 1/3 cup organic sucanat or brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon stevia
• 2- 1 ounce squares unsweetened chocolate
• 1 teaspoon instant coffee
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 egg
• 1/3 cup flour
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup 60% cocoa baking chips (I used Ghirardelli)

Directions

Place a pan over medium heat and add the ¼ cup oil. Add the banana and cook until golden in color. Add the unsweetened chocolate and melt. Remove from heat. Place the black beans into a food processor fitted with a blade. Process the beans until smooth. Add the applesauce, banana and chocolate mixture, sucanat, stevia, instant coffee, vanilla extract, and egg. Process a few more seconds to combine. In a bowl combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir in the wet mixture from the food processor to combine. Stir in chips. Bake in a 8 X 8 baking pan at 350 F for 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.


This is Stephanie from Infinite Life Fitness. Please feel free to stop by my blog and check out MORE health and fitness tips!

Healthy Recipes || My Mango Smoothie

I've been on a smoothie kick for some time given that it is an easy way to absorb multiple nutrients (especially via fruits and veggies) at once.  My staples are green smoothies and banana smoothies, but lately I've been wanting to experiment with other fruits -- like the mango.

Mangos are a good source of vitamin A, vitamin C, dietary fiber, and vitamin B6.

After playing around with various ingredients and having a few failed attempts, I've finally created a mango smoothie that I find tasty while being nutritious.  It contains mango (vitamins and fiber), peanut butter (protein), almond milk (calcium), ice, and a little honey (optional sweetener).  A banana can be thrown in for extra nutrients and/or in place of honey for added flavoring.

Ingredients
1 cup mango
1-1 1/4 cup vanilla-flavored almond milk (amount depends on your desired consistency)
2 tbsp natural peanut butter
4-5 ice cubes
1/2 tsp honey (optional, depending on your palate)
OR 1 banana (in place of the honey)

My smoothie regimen: one every morning, whether mango, banana, or green.

Smoothie suggestion: If you want to incorporate berries (antioxidants), I'd suggest blueberries and blackberries.  Stay away from raspberries because they tend to give the smoothie a sour taste (unless, of course, your palate does not mind).  Some strawberries can also do the same but not as intense.  If you do use raspberries or strawberries, I suggest sweetening their flavor a bit with the addition of a banana in your smoothie.

My green smoothie.  Contains kale, banana, almond milk, peanut butter, ice, and sometimes blueberries or blackberries.  (I no longer use soy milk.)

Healthy Recipes || Simple Two-Ingredient Ice Cream

Two-Ingredient Ice Cream with a blueberry on top.

I first came across this recipe while on one of my favorite blogs: The Natural Selection.  I just had to try the ice cream since all that was required was a frozen banana, a little almond butter, and a few minutes of puree-ing in the blender.  And guess what?  It is so delicious!  It kind of tastes like a banana split - amazing!

This is my new "non-guilty" pleasure, and I say non-guilty because there is no sugar added.  There are also no ingredients-you-cannot-pronounce.  It's just a banana and almond butter (preferably natural).  How's that for healthy!?!

So, without further ado, here is the recipe (snatched from The Natural Selection) in a nutshell.  Feel free to modify it to your liking:

Ingredients:
1 banana
1 tbsp of almond butter
Note: I used natural peanut butter in place of almond butter, which worked just fine

Instructions:
1. Peel and chop the banana into quarters and freeze for at least 1 hour.
2. Blend on pulse with the almond butter.
3. Keep going until its whipped to a smooth consistency.
4. Pour into a bowl and enjoy or refreeze for later.

Optional: add berries, cocoa powder, honey, or anything else "delish and nutrish" (Cassidy's words)

Before puree-ing.

*smile*

Do you have any healthy dessert recipes you'd like to share?

Free Range Chicken vs. Natural Chicken: Is the Difference Worth It?

Chicken is big part of my diet.  To put it simply, about 60 percent of the meat that I eat is poultry while the remaining 40 percent is split between salmon (about 30) and other meat (the other 10 percent).  That being said, I want to buy the freshest, purest chicken possible ... which is next to impossible ... or is it?

Normally, when I go to purchase chicken at the grocery store, I look for labels that say "natural", "no antibiotics", "no added hormones", and other indicators of minimally-altered poultry.  In particular, I usually pick up the following brand and label at my local market:

Natural chicken. No antibiotics, no added hormones, 100% vegetarian diet, raised cage free.

Now, last week, the store apparently introduced a new labeling for "free range, USDA Organic" chicken.  I immediately substituted that poultry in place of the one I usually purchase because the "free range" and "USDA Organic" labeling are the ultimate indicators of the least-tampered-with chicken ... or are they?

Organic, free range chicken.  No antibiotics, no added hormones, organic vegetarian feed, no preservatives.

I will admit that I want to do more research on just what exactly I am putting into my body when I'm buying my usual "natural" chicken versus this "organic" and "free range" chicken versus just "free range" chicken.  In the mean time, I will leave you all with this snippet from Wiki (not exactly the best place to do research, but it will suffice as an intro to the topic of "free range").

"Free range is a term which outside of the United States denotes a method of farming husbandry where the animals are allowed to roam freely instead of being contained in any manner.  In the United States, USDA regulations apply only to poultry and indicate that the animal has been allowed access to the outside. The USDA regulations do not specify the quality or size of the outside range nor the duration of time an animal must have access to the outside." - Wiki

You can now find HHB on Facebook: 

http://www.facebook.com/healthyhairandbody.

Healthy Body || My Fitness Pal

By Stephanie of Infinite Life Fitness

How many calories are in this?

How many calories did I just burn?

How many calories did I consume today?

How many grams of fat/carbs/sugars did I consume today!?

These are all VERY good questions and these things can be VERY hard to track when embarking on your own health and fitness journey. I know when I speak with clients I suggest that they get a fitness/food journal. I suggest this so that they can keep track of their workouts and what they have been eating. But have you started a journal only to find that you left it at home that day….or even worse you lost it!?!? Well today I have great news for you!!

Today I would like to introduce to you myfitnesspal.com.

This website can be logged onto on any internet ready computer AND they also have easy to use apps for your iPhone, other smart phones, ipad, and other tablet devices! So no matter where you go you will have access to this website.

What is this website?

This website is a virtual fitness journal! It allows you to plug in the food that you have had for that day (anything that you have had! They have an ENORMOUS data base with practically every food you can find on your grocery isle! And if you cannot find it or you create your own meal you can add it to the data base and have access to it when you need to add it to your daily meal log!) This website allows you to keep track of how many calories….grams of fat….grams of carbs….and practically ANY other things that you consume that day! It also has an area for notes (so you can write a quick note, include recipes, or any other notes you want to leave to yourself) and at the end of each day just press the “complete this log entry” button and it will log it on your “news feed”. It helps you to track how many pounds you lose and it even suggests how many calories you should eat each day!! It also allows you to enter in what you did for your workout that day and the best part….if you work out that day it ADDS calories to your daily intake. So it will let you know how many extra calories you can eat that day since you worked out!

It clearly indicates when you go over your daily calorie intake. But no worries! Just eat better tomorrow! My goal is to try to stay UNDER my calorie intake each day so that I know that I am getting the best out of my meals and my workouts!

This app/website also allows you to add friends so you can track their progress and you can have your own online support system! You can send each other messages or simple words of encouragement. You can choose if people see what you are eating each day….or they can just see that you worked out or lost 2 pounds that week! The settings can be changed so you can share what you want with your friends! And if you do not want any friends then you do not have too. It is totally up to you! You have the freedom to put what you want in your logs and share it with whomever you want.

They also have a blog section where you can journal about your health and fitness journey and you can keep that secret or share that with the world as well! They have badges and tickers you can add to your blog/website/or any other social media pages that you have. This site is an all-around AMAZING guide for you to use to help aid you in your health and fitness journey.

This website is an amazing tool for beginners and advanced fitness gurus. I personally use this tool and I would be so lost without it! NO THIS IS NOT A PAID POST THAT IS SPONSORED BY THIS WEBSITE! I just find that this website has been so useful for my clients as well as my personal health and fitness success.

I hope that you guys take a second and try it out! Signing up is quick and easy and getting started is easy too. The program is very user friendly and very easy to figure out and navigate!

So now you have NO EXCUSE at all not to start keeping track of your exercise and healthy eating! Start today so you can start to reach your health and fitness goals!

My name is Stephanie from Infinite Life Fitness. Please feel free to stop by my website for more health and fitness related tips!

Do Sandwiches Always Equate to Healthy Eating?

Check out this slideshow on the "10 Worst Sandwiches".  Schlotzsky's Original Style Turkey Sandwich even made the list.

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Summer Recipes

By Stephanie of Infinite Life Fitness

As the summer time is slowly creeping by, more and more people are starting to instill healthier eating habits and a new fitness routine to their busy schedules. Becoming healthy is a full lifestyle change. It is not just a fad you can stick with for a few weeks to see the results that you are wanting. It takes WEEKS of dedication and hard work insides and outside of the gym. The biggest part of getting healthier is eating healthier. Today I am sharing with you some easy, yummy, and not too hard recipes of some great meals you can try this summer!

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Rolled Lasagna

Prep: 25 mins

Cook: 35 mins

Makes: 4 servings

INGREDIENTS


• 8lasagna noodles
• 3tablespoons olive oil
• 1clove garlic, minced
• 112 ounce can crushed tomatoes
• 2ounces goat cheese
• 1/2cup chopped sweet onion
• 1large leek, white part only, chopped
• 1 3/4cups sliced cremini mushrooms
• 1bunch asparagus, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 2ounces low-fat mozzarella, grated
• 1/8teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4teaspoon salt
• 1/4teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2cup chopped fresh mint
• 1/2cup chopped fresh basil
• 1/4cup grated Parmesan

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cook the lasagna noodles according to package directions. Drain, rinse and set aside. Reserve 1 tablespoon pasta water.
2. Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a medium pot over medium-low heat. Add the garlic; cook 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes; cook 15 minutes. Whisk in 1 tablespoon of the goat cheese until combined. Set aside.
3. Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Add the onion; saute 3 minutes. Add the leek; cook 3 minutes. Add the mushrooms; cook 10 minutes. Add the asparagus; cook 3 minutes.
4. Turn heat off; add 1 1/2 tablespoons goat cheese and the mozzarella, reserved pasta water, nutmeg, salt and black pepper. Add the mint and basil, reserving 1 teaspoon of each.
5. Spread 1/2 cup tomato sauce on the bottom of a baking dish. Spoon 1/2 cup vegetable mixture onto each noodle, roll up and place seam side down in baking dish. Drizzle with remaining tomato sauce; crumble remaining goat cheese on top. Bake 15 minutes. Remove from oven, sprinkle with the Parmesan and reserved mint and basil; serve.

Nutritonal Informaiton:
Amount Per Serving:
Calories426
Protein(gm)17
Carbohydrate(gm)51
Fat, total(gm)18
Saturated fat(gm)6
Dietary Fiber, total(gm)6

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Lemon Basil Pasta With Summer Squash

INGREDIENTS


• 2ounces (2/3 cup) dry whole-wheat penne
• 1/2cup chopped zucchini
• 1/2cup chopped yellow squash
• 1/2cup canned white beans, rinsed and drained
• 1lemon, juiced
• 1/4cup chopped fresh basil
• 1tablespoon Parmesan cheese
• 1tablespoon olive oil

DIRECTIONS
Make it:
Boil pasta and drain. Toss with remaining ingredients.

Nutritional Information:
Amount Per Serving
Calories497
Protein(gm)21
Carbohydrate(gm)74
Fat, total(gm)16
Saturated fat(gm)3
Dietary Fiber, total(gm)8

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Spinach-Mushroom Pizza

Prep: 20 mins

Cook: 15 mins 425°F

Makes: 6 servings

INGREDIENTS


• 112 ounce whole-wheat pizza crust, such as Boboli
• 1/4cup pizza sauce
• 1/2cup frozen spinach, thawed and drained well
• 1/4small red onion, thinly sliced
• 1cup shredded part-skim mozzarella
• 6medium cremini mushrooms, sliced
• 1/4cup part-skim ricotta
• 2tablespoons grated Parmesan
• 1tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 2teaspoons balsamic vinegar

DIRECTIONS
Makes:

1. 6 servings
2. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Place a large heavy baking sheet on the bottom of the oven. Lay the pizza crust on a work surface.
3. Spread the crust with the sauce, followed by the spinach and onion. Sprinkle with the mozzarella and mushrooms. Dollop the ricotta over the pizza and sprinkle with the Parmesan. Drizzle the olive oil all over.
4. Use a thin cutting board or the back of a second baking sheet to carefully transfer the pizza to the preheated baking sheet on the bottom of the oven. Bake until the crust is puffed and beginning to color at the edges and the cheese is melted, 10 minutes. Take the sheet out of the oven and preheat the broiler.
5. Broil the pizza, watching carefully, until the cheese is browned and bubbling, about 2 minutes. Let pizza cool on the sheet for 5 minutes. Sprinkle with the balsamic vinegar, slice into wedges, and serve.

Nutritional information:
Amount Per Serving
Calories252
Protein(gm)15
Carbohydrate(gm)30
Fat, total(gm)10
Saturated fat(gm)4
Dietary Fiber, total(gm)5

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Mushroom and Asparagus Fettuccine

Prep: 25 mins

Makes: 4 servings

INGREDIENTS


• 8ounces dried fettuccine or linguine
• 8ounces asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1-1/2-inch pieces
• 3cups sliced fresh shiitake or crimini mushrooms
• 1medium leek, thinly sliced, or 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 3cloves garlic, minced
• 1tablespoon olive oil
• 1/3cup mushroom broth or vegetable broth
• 1/4cup half-and-half or light cream
• 1/4teaspoon salt
• 1/8teaspoon black pepper
• 1cup chopped plum tomatoes
• 1tablespoon finely shredded fresh basil
• 1tablespoon finely shredded fresh oregano
• 1/4cup pine nuts, toasted
• Finely shredded Parmesan cheese(optional)

DIRECTIONS

1. Cook fettuccine or linguine according to package directions, adding asparagus the last 1 to 2 minutes of cooking; drain. Return pasta mixture to saucepan; cover and keep warm.
2. Meanwhile, in a large skillet cook mushrooms, leek, and garlic in hot oil over medium-high heat for 4 to 5 minutes or until most of the liquid is evaporated. Stir in broth, half-and-half, salt, and black pepper. Bring to boiling. Boil gently, uncovered, for 4 to 5 minutes or until mixture is slightly thickened. Stir in tomatoes, basil, and oregano; heat through.
3. Spoon the mushroom mixture over pasta mixture; toss gently to coat. Divide among 4 bowls or dinner plates. Sprinkle with pine nuts and, if desired, Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.

Nutritional Information:
Amount Per Serving
Calories416
Protein(gm)15
Carbohydrate(gm)69
Fat, total(gm)12
Cholesterol(mg)6
Saturated fat(gm)3
Monosaturated fat(gm)5
Polyunsaturated fat(gm)3
Dietary Fiber, total(gm)6
Sugar, total(gm)5
Vitamin A(IU)777
Vitamin C(mg)19
Thiamin(mg)1
Riboflavin(mg)1
Niacin(mg)6
Pyridoxine (Vit. B6)(mg)0
Folate(µg)230
Cobalamin (Vit. B12)(µg)0
Sodium(mg)193
Potassium(mg)503
Calcium(DV %)71
Iron(DV %)5
Vegetables()2
Starch()4
Fat()2

I hope that the few recipes I just shared you will try! And remember…you can always add/subtract/or substitute ingredients for things that you want!

This is Stephanie from Infinite Life Fitness. Please feel free to check out my website at infinitelifefitness.com for more health and fitness tips!

Happy Healthy Independence Day (US)

By Stephanie of Infinite Life Fitness


Yes it is that time of year again!

Time to call your friends and family and plan a BBQ out at the park or at the lake. Just because it is a holiday does not mean you can ditch your healthy eating habits for the holiday celebrations. There as SO many HEALTHY options you can incorporate into your BBQ that will be tasty for you and your guest.

Here are a few things to consider when planning your menu:

• Lean Turkey Burgers
• Grilled Vegetables
• Boiled Shrimp (or you can grill it!)
• Watermelon (or other types of melons)
• Chicken Kabobs/Veggie Kabobs
• Corn on the cob
• Frozen Fruit bars (chop up fruit get a low calorie fruit juice and freeze it!)
• Strawberries and Berries with Light Cool Whip

Here are some other tips that may help you out:

• Watch what condiments you eat with! Try to stay away from ketchup and mayo and BBQ sauce! Try mustard or salsa or spices to help add flavor to your meals.
• Chicken and fish are some of the best choices of meats you can cook/grill for the BBQ
• This may be a far stretch but try the hamburger WITHOUT the bun! You can have it with mustard (or salsa) and put some lettuce on it (or you can even wrap it in lettuce!) This can help cut out the calories that are found in the bread.
• Grilled veggies are ALWAYS a good option. Try some onions, bell peppers, and squash (you can even add fruit like pineapple or mangos to add some great flavor!)
• Try to stay away from the macaroni salad and cole slaw! Those are jammed pack with mayo and other ingredients that make it a high calories side dish. Try some seasoned corn on the cob, grill mushrooms, or even so grilled sweet potatoes.
• Fruit salad can be a great dessert! Combine some of your favorite fruit with a dash of honey (or splurge and get some low fat whip cream) and you have a sweet healthy treat to snack on while you light your sparklers! You can even try Jell-O or frozen fruit popsicles!

Like I said there are dozens of healthy options you can still have your BBQ that will be delicious and nutritious! Try not to forget your salad and drink lots and lots of water! It is supposed to be hot in most parts of the country and you do not want to get dehydrated!

This is Stephanie with Infinite Life Fitness. Please feel free to stop by my site (infinitelifefitness.com) for more health and fitness tips.


Hope you have a happy and safe 4th of July!

Light Pasta Dishes for Summer

"Pasta shouldn’t be reserved for the winter months. If you’re craving the carbs but not the calories this summer, these lighter pasta dishes will hit the spot."

For the full article and recipes: 6 Light Pasta Dishes for Summer.

You can now find HHB on Facebook. Share with your friends:

http://www.facebook.com/healthyhairandbody.

How to Barbecue Healthier

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Here is an excerpt from an article geared towards healthier barbecuing:

"The key is to cut down on the greasy ribs and switch to lean cuts, which have a higher protein-to-fat ratio. Try flank steak. With only 176 calories per 4-ounce serving, flank is one of the leanest cuts at the meat counter, and it offers an impressive 24 grams of protein. "

To read the FULL article: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3.


For a previous post on summer eating: Summer Time Meals

You can now find HHB on Facebook. Share with your friends:

http://www.facebook.com/healthyhairandbody.

Food Substitutions

By Stephanie of Infinite Life Fitness

Everyone has that one favorite recipe that their mom or grandma created. Naturally that recipe is jam packed with some unhealthy things but it is your favorite dish and you cannot resist making that dish to help ease those homesick feelings.

Today…you are in luck!

I am going to share some ideas to help make some of your unhealthy recipes a little bit healthier. The reality is that everyone has their favorite dish that they like to make. But if you are able to make it a little bit healthier than it is ok for you to incorporate it into your weekly meal menu. Using healthy substitutes will allow you to greatly cut out the extra fat, sugar, sodium, and overall calorie count of your favorite meals. The trick is to make it a few times so you can figure out all the things you can substitute and still have the meal taste just as good!

Thanks to the Mayo Clinic, they have provided an easy to read chart for you to use (and also easy to copy and paste into a word document so you can print it off and post it in your kitchen!) {WEBSITE: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/healthy-recipes/NU00585}

Your guide to ingredient substitutions for healthy recipes
If your recipe calls for this ingredient:	Try substituting this ingredient:
Bacon	Canadian bacon, turkey bacon, smoked turkey or lean prosciutto (Italian ham)
Bread, white	Whole-grain bread
Bread crumbs, dry	Rolled oats or crushed bran cereal
Butter, margarine, shortening or oil in baked goods	Applesauce or prune puree for half of the called-for butter, shortening or oil; butter spreads or shortenings specially formulated for baking that don't have trans fats Note: To avoid dense, soggy or flat baked goods, don't substitute oil for butter or shortening. Also don't substitute diet, whipped or tub-style margarine for regular margarine.
Butter, margarine, shortening or oil to prevent sticking	Cooking spray or nonstick pans
Cream	Fat-free half-and-half, evaporated skim milk
Cream cheese, full fat	Fat-free or low-fat cream cheese, Neufchatel, or low-fat cottage cheese pureed until smooth
Eggs	Two egg whites or 1/4 cup egg substitute for each whole egg
Flour, all-purpose (plain)	Whole-wheat flour for half of the called-for all-purpose flour in baked goods Note: Whole-wheat pastry flour is less dense and works well in softer products like cakes and muffins.
Fruit canned in heavy syrup	Fruit canned in its own juices or in water, or fresh fruit
Ground beef	Extra-lean or lean ground beef, chicken or turkey breast (make sure no poultry skin has been added to the product)
Lettuce, iceberg	Arugula, chicory, collard greens, dandelion greens, kale, mustard greens, spinach or watercress
Mayonnaise	Reduced-calorie mayonnaise-type salad dressing or reduced-calorie, reduced-fat mayonnaise
Meat as the main ingredient	Three times as many vegetables as the meat on pizzas or in casseroles, soups and stews
Milk, evaporated	Evaporated skim milk
Milk, whole	Reduced-fat or fat-free milk
Oil-based marinades	Wine, balsamic vinegar, fruit juice or fat-free broth
Pasta, enriched (white)	Whole-wheat pasta
Rice, white	Brown rice, wild rice, bulgur or pearl barley
Salad dressing	Fat-free or reduced-calorie dressing or flavored vinegars
Seasoning salt, such as garlic salt, celery salt or onion salt	Herb-only seasonings, such as garlic powder, celery seed or onion flakes, or use finely chopped herbs or garlic, celery or onions
Soups, creamed	Fat-free milk-based soups, mashed potato flakes, or pureed carrots, potatoes or tofu for thickening agents
Soups, sauces, dressings, crackers, or canned meat, fish or vegetables	Low-sodium or reduced-sodium versions
Sour cream, full fat	Fat-free or low-fat sour cream, plain fat-free or low-fat yogurt
Soy sauce	Sweet-and-sour sauce, hot mustard sauce or low-sodium soy sauce
Sugar	In most baked goods you can reduce the amount of sugar by one-half; intensify sweetness by adding vanilla, nutmeg or cinnamon
Syrup	Pureed fruit, such as applesauce, or low-calorie, sugar-free syrup
Table salt	Herbs, spices, citrus juices (lemon, lime, orange), rice vinegar, salt-free seasoning mixes or herb blends
Yogurt, fruit-flavored	Plain yogurt with fresh fruit slices

Here are some other options that were not listed above:

USE: Mini Chocolate Chips
DO NOT use: Chocolate Chip Chunks!
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Having the little chocolate chips means that you will still get the sweet chocolate taste with every bite, BUT with not as much chocolate in the overall dish. This will help cut out calories and you can also try to use fine dark chocolate as a substitute to help cut back the calorie count as well.

USE: Reduced-Fat Cheese
DO NOT use: Regular cheese
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Also make sure the cheese is low in sodium as well! This will help you cut calorie and cholesterol that is in the original recipe.

Be sure to look at your recipes before you get in the kitchen and you are ready to cook! The worst feeling is to have all but ONE ingredient that you need to cook a meal. Like stated before, substituting some of the above items with your favorite recipe will allow you to enjoy it but with less calories and it will make it a healthier option for you as well.

This is Stephanie from Infinite Life Fitness; please feel free to stop by my site for more health and fitness tips!