Warm Pumpkin Pie Smoothie - Recipes for New Mommies

       Warm Protein Pumpkin Pie Smoothie

This is a combination of warm pumpkin pie, protein packed nut butter, and hints of earthy spices for a warm smoothie recipe. It is easy to whip up and should to be served at 142 F.

The main reason for this temperature is that during the healing process of postnatal procedures, a women's body will heal faster with warm foods. This can include common abdominal pain associated with post-birth and help prevent bloating.

You will need to warm up the ingredients over the stove to prevent "hot spots" that can occur when using the microwave. Remember to heat the ingredients over low heat to keep the vital nutrients and enzymes in their natural state.

Makes 1 24 ounce smoothie

Ingredients:

·         1 cup pumpkin puree

·         1 teaspoon cinnamon, ground

·         1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, ground

·         1/4 teaspoon ginger, ground

·         1/3 cup agave nectar, pure maple syrup, or honey

·         4 Tablespoons nut butter, such as all-natural peanut

·         1 cup unsweetened almond milk

·         1/4 cup flaxseed meal

Directions:

1.)    Place the ingredients in this order: flaxseed meal, peanut butter, spices, pumpkin puree, almond milk, and then the sweetener of choice.

2.)    Pulse the ingredients a few times and then turn the blender on high for 2 minutes. Use a rubber spatula to scrape down the sides and blend for 3 more minutes.

3.)    Serve the smoothie in a tall warm glass and enjoy at once. 

The Perfect Vinaigrette: Easy Recipe for Salad Dressings

There is an art to making the perfect vinaigrette; it cannot be too sweet or have an over bearing tang of vinegar. But how do you know which type of vinegar to use; what is the perfect ratio, is there a perfect vinaigrette recipe out there can complement all dishes?

Yes, this is your perfect vinaigrette base recipe; it is incredible to serve as it; however, you can add a few additional ingredients to tweak it to a specialty food item. The recipe is perfectly flavored with the right amount of vinegar, sweetness, and has a touch of creaminess that is sure to satisfy any foodie.

The ingredients are simple for the recipe; but it is the quality that will make the recipe impeccable; so don’t skimp on the goods.

This vinaigrette recipe will make a big batch, about 2 quarts of vinaigrette; so standing mixer with a whisk attachment will work best when it comes time to emulsifying the ingredients.

You will want to deliver the vinaigrette the day you make it; so shop now for unique one-of-a-kind dressing jars that have an air tight top.  You can also include the recipe for your gift; or a card with optional ingredients to add to the already perfect salad dressing.

This dressing also works great as marinade for fish, shrimp, and chicken.  So, be sure save a little for you to enjoy. A good tip for checking for salt and pepper is to use a piece of lettuce; this will give you a clearer palette to test the flavors.   T

Recipe for the perfect vinaigrette

It will depend on the size of your giftware on how much you can give to each person. The dressing will last up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator.

Difficulty: Easy

Preparation time: 20 minutes ~ Ready in: 20 minutes

What you will need

·         *Dressing jars with tight lids; glass blown jars are exceptional for this idea!

·         Recipe cards for giving the recipe

·         Decorative ribbon

·         2 cups aged balsamic, at least 12 years

·         2 cups red wine vinegar

·         ¼ cup Dijon mustard

·         ¼ cup organic mayonnaise

·         ½ cup organic honey

·         ½ cup shallots, finely minced

·         8 garlic cloves, finely minced

·         4 ounces of fresh thyme leaves

·         3 to 4 cups extra virgin olive oil

·         Kosher salt to taste

·         Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Directions:

1.)   Place all of the ingredients, except the oil, salt, and pepper in a standing mixture with the whisk attachment; blend on medium speed for 4 minutes.

2.)   Keep the motor running; slowly add the olive oil in a steady stream to emulsify the ingredients.  Once all of the oil has been added; season with salt and pepper.

3.)   Use a funnel if necessary to fill your bottles, secure the lids, and decorate with the ribbon.

Other ingredient ideas for the perfect vinaigrette:

~Substitute champagne vinegar for the red wine

~Add ¼ cup of poppy seeds.

~Substitute sweet-hot mustard for the Dijon

~Add orange or lemon zest

~Caramelize the shallots before adding them in the dressing for sweet onion vinaigrette.

Easy Paleo Snacks | Oven Dried Crispy Kale Chips

Vibrant oven dried Kale chips !

Making Easy Paleo Snacks for On the Go

Going full paleo can be challenging when it comes to wanting a quick "paleo friendly" snack you can grab on the go. Grocery stores are slowly incorporating caveman diet snacks and other foods, but at a hefty price and if you can find them. 

Kale Chips Now On Grocery Shelves...but at what cost??

As I shopped I noticed that one company took the Paleo train and packaged up the ever popular Kale chip in the produce section. For one little pint, size not weight, it was over 5 bucks!! You can make these easy Paleo snacks in little time at a fraction of the cost - less than 2 dollars! They are super easy and can last for up to one week in an air tight container. This recipe has a fun and healthy twist by dashing the crispy kale chips with apple cider reduction that is known to help in digestive tract function, boost immunity, and other weight loss benefits. 

Recipe for Oven Crispy Kale Chips

Prep time: 25 minutes ~ Cook time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 bunch kale
• 4 Tablespoons coconut oil
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 cup raw apple cider vinegar
• 2 Tablespoons raw honey
• Zest of one lemon
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper

Directions:

1. Heat the oven to 250 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment and set aside.
2. Place the cider vinegar and honey in a saucepot over medium heat and bring to a simmer. Reduce the mixture to 1/4 cup and set aside.
3. Wash and dry the kale and remove the thick stems. Tear the leaves into bite size pieces and place in a large mixing bowl. In a small saucepan over medium heat, add the coconut oil and garlic and bring to a simmer then remove the pan from the heat. Cool for 5 minutes and add to the bowl of kale. Gently massage the oil and garlic into the leaves and scatter onto the baking sheet. Bake the kale pieces for 20 minutes, gently turn the leaves over, and roast for 8 more minutes. Remove the sheet pan from the oven and sprinkle the chips with the salt and lemon zest.
4. Cool the chips for 5 minutes and then use a pastry brush to splash the chips with the cider reduction and sprinkle the cracked black pepper over the chips.
5. Store the chips in an airtight container at room temperature for three days.

Nutritional Facts: Calories: 156 ~ Fat: 13 grams ~ Cholesterol: 0 mg ~ Sodium: 433 mg ~ Carbohydrates: 9 grams ~ Fiber: 1.1 grams ~ Protein: 1.7 grams

The Activia Challenge | Does Activia Really Promote Weight Loss?

The Activia Challenge: Does It Really Work?

Okay, we all know that keeping "regular" helps weight loss in a big way. It keeps the colon healthy, prevents that bloating feeling, and stabilizes our metabolism. So, after many commercials about Activia yogurt, I decided to go for it. Really give a week or so. The results? 

For me, it did help ease constipation and the bloating that comes along with being backed up. However, it Activia takes about 2 to 3 days, on average, to "kick" in. But it does not cause any cramping, tastes pretty good, and there are low to non fat options. If you look at the container closely, you will see its serving size is only 4 ounces, thus the low-fat, low caloric intake. 

This particular yogurt brand is ideal when you a.) love yogurt, b.) looking for a weight loss food, and c.) need a little help in the back door department. 

If you are taking any kind of medication that causes constipation, then stock up on Activia and eat one container per day to help the constipation often associated with certain meds. 

This is the type of weight loss/constipation fighting food where prevention is key. It helps, but does not cure. And the effects of one container will last one day's "passing."

So, does Activia promote weight loss?

yes and no. It is good to incorporate it in your weight loss plan, but you should already be eating a high fiber diet for long term weight loss. Like I stated above, its serving size is only 4 ounces so it is ideal to have a serving along with 1/4 to 1/2 cup of low-fat granola or even stir in some sesame seeds. 

Sesame seeds help break up the roughage in the lower intestine and don't cause cramping like prunes or prune juice does. Or at least for me. 1 to 2 Tablespoons per day can regulate your system and help things keep a flowin'.

What is Bifidus Regularis?

This term is strictly for promotional purposes; its core terms are, Bifidus Actiregularis, Bifidus Regularis, Bifidus Digestivum, Bifidobacterium Lactis; which are not great for marketing.

These terms are associated with the probiotics and bacteria found in yogurt. Activia just has more of it. Personally, I found that regular yogurt is not effective for constipation as Activia is, at least for me. 

Since I am a yogurt lover, I choose this brand just to play it safe with a healthy functioning lower intestine. The cost is a little higher; however, its properties really do work for me. 

Being regular plays a big part when weight loss is concerned. You got to keep things flowing in and out at a constant and regular rate to maintain your weight loss goals. 

Pregnancy Hormone Can Make You Lose 30lbs In 30 Days | HCG Drops Found At Walgreens

Is it possible to safely lose 30lbs in 30 days by taking HCG drops found at your local Walgreens?  HCG is a the pregnancy hormone that makes that little test tell you that you are expecting.  So how does HCG help you lose weight?

Well there is a catch, of course.  You will need to cut out sugar, starch, and dairy and only eat low caloric meats, veggies and low sugar fruits that do not exceed 500 calories a day.  The HCG drops help replenish the body of fat proteins that a woman produces while she is pregnant to help hold fat proteins for her expecting child.  In other words the drops help prevent your body going into starvation mode while you are consuming a low caloric diet. 

There are some positive side effects to taking the HCG drops like a sense of well being, that might be due to the fact you are losing up to 3 lbs a day.  Or better sleep and increased energy, again you are on a strict diet so no sugar can actually increase you energy over time. 

It is important if you do purchase the drops at Walgreen to check for the quality of them.  Only high quality HCG drops will benefit a dieter, stay clear of ones that contain a lot of additives. 

As always the diet also has negative side effects like moodiness, dizziness, and possible blackouts.  That is why it is very important to check with your physician first to make sure, one you are not pregnant and two you are healthy enough to go on a very restricted diet of only 500 calories.

Here is a link to a forum with some testimony and websites that offer the drops online for sale.  So you can decide if the diet is worth the sacrifice of no: pop, sugar, starches, fatty meat, processed meat, starchy veggies, fruit juice, and anything else that makes you happy when it comes to food....

HCG Diet.

What Is Negative Calorie Foods | What Foods Are Negative In Calories

What is a negative calorie food and do they really count?  The term negative calorie food simply means that it take more calories to consume the food than the food has.

Although keep in mind the food has to be consumed raw, or slightly cooked, and only one serving of the food item.  These foods are low in calories to begin with and by the time the body digests the food it has required the body to burn extra fuel to process it. 

Okay so what foods count as negative calories?

• Apples
• Cantaloupe
• Mangos
• Tomatoes
• Limes
• Blueberries
• Papaya
• Strawberries
• Pineapples
•   Honey Dew
• Cranberries
• Lemons
• Oranges
• Peaches
• Raspberries
• Watermelon
• Tangerines

How Negative Calories Work:

Let's say you eat a food with 50 calories, but it takes the body 100 calories to process and burn the digested food, you are left with - 50 calories.  So if you ate a salad with loaded with leafy greens, tomatoes, lean protein and a squeeze of lemon juice with a little evoo and the salad totals 300 calories, but half the salad contains negative caloric foods, then you really only consumed half the amount of the meal. 

So for breakfast eat some low fat yogurt and strawberries, large tomato for a snack, lean white meat and spinach with lemon for lunch, watermelon and honeydew for another snack, then some fish with whole grains for dinner, you will have eaten a high protein diet and only consumed half the calories.

Protein is key as far as burning fat, your body needs protein in order to nourish the muscle that when worked will act as a natural fat burner in it self, providing the body with berries and tropical fruits you will also supply enzymes that speed up the break down of foods.

Boost Your Body Image With Self Tanning Products

A quick way to boost your body image is to slather on some self tanning lotion and create a natural beautiful glow, with out the effects of harmful UV rays.  Self tanning lotions are a quick result to seeing a slimmer you in the mirror.

I don't know about you but I always feel thinner when I am tan, plus it hides the fat and cellulite too.  I personally do not like tanning beds for the damage it can do to my skin, extra wrinkles, the cost, and the time it take to get tan as well as driving in crappy cold weather to get naked for 20 minutes.  Sorry,  I just don't feel like driving in the snow for 20 minutes of fake sun.

Why not use some self tanning lotion to slim down 10 lbs instantly?  Yes you can look like you lost about 10 lbs but using some self tanning lotion. 

You will need to purchase a face self tanner as well as a body one, they have different elements that comply with the different chemical reactions that adhere when using a home tanning lotion, also choose the same brand for each.


 I like the Neutrogena brand, it produces a healthy glow and does not clog your pores.  If you have the time and money you can also get a spray tan at tanning salons, they start around 35 dollars and can cost as much as 150 dollars. 

Having a little glow this time of year can also boost your winter blues as well. 

Top 5 Sunless Tanning Products

How To Get Rid Of Double Chin and Neck Fat Without Surgery

Getting rid of a double chin along with neck fat without surgery can be achieved with the right products and exercise.  Sometimes we can handle a little extra love around the belly if only we didn't have to "face" our weight issues.

There are products on the market that can help reduce the look of a double chin although it will require daily applications and usually cost a pretty penny, but when surgery is out of the question for most people who want to lose neck fat, this is a better alternative. 

StriVectin:  This is normally a cream that helps reduce wrinkles and is compared with botox, although the components in this cream can reduce neck fat by tightening the skin.

Roc Retinol Correxion:  Another anti wrinkle cream that also aids in the sagging look of aging.

Clarins:  This beauty cream is highly recommended for its minerals and nutrients for the face and neck.  It has anti aging agents that promote radiant looking skin.  You can find this product at major department stores and choose the type that best fits your skin type.

The key to applying a facial or neck cream is consistency.  Include the cream into your daily or nightly routine, applying at night is best for this is the best time your face avoids toxins and while you rest the cream is left undisturbed to do its job.  It can take up to 2 weeks to see results and about 6 weeks to see significant changes in you neck. 

The true way to fight neck fat or double chin with out surgery is prevention.  When you use your favorite face wash and moisturizer always include your neck area, the effects of aging that happens to your face is the same with your neck area, they are made up off the same elasticity.

The 7 Day Diet | All You Can Eat

Okay, when I see all you can eat I immediately think of a Chinese buffet with endless sweet and sour chicken that I pack in my lined purse to take home.  So when I saw this "all you can eat" diet or the 7 day diet I was intrigued and skeptical.  As you read this your should be too.  If you like all you can eat veggies, fruit, and water....and some low fat protein then here you go, this is your diet. 


While searching the web for some laughs I came across a website that was all about those crazy fad diets, like the cabbage soup diet, Hollywood diet, and the chicken soup diet.  That's where I came across the 7 day diet | all you can eat diet, which is a real diet plan as like all the fad diets listed on the website.  So if you need a break from your hardcore diet and need a laugh or you really are interested in knowing more about the "lemonade diet" here is the link.


7 Day Diet Link


Enjoy!

Green Smoothies | How To Make Low Fat Smoothies

How to make smoothies that are low fat as well as great tasting are essential to a healthier diet and green smoothies are an incredible way to load up on your veggies and vitamins fast.  With so many smoothie recipes to choose from it can be difficult to known which recipes offer both a low fat alternative and that taste great.  There are some base guidelines to follow to ensure you are making a low fat green smoothie that offers the health benefits and is low fat. 

Ingredients To A Low Fat Green Smoothie

1. Low fat plain yogurt
2. Greek yogurt
3. Rolled oats
4. Fresh spinach
5. Avocado
6. Blueberries
7. Cucumber
8. Watermelon
9. Bananas 
10. Flax Seed

These ingredients may seem random and may not sound too appetizing when blended and it is not necessary to pile them all in your blender in one smoothie recipe.  Pick and choose from the veggies and fruits along with the yogurt, oats, and flax seed.  I like adding 1/4 cup of rolled oats to my morning smoothie because it creates a thick texture as well as keeping me full longer. 

A cool little trick to keep the flavor of your smoothie with out adding ice is to place watermelon chunks in your freezer and use in place of  ice.  Watermelon is a great natural diuretic that helps to cleanse the toxins quickly from your system.

Green Smoothie Recipes

Fat burning tips for a healthy body

Sometimes it's the little things when trying to lose weight that make all the difference, to gain a healthier body the main focal point should be about burning fat.  So if you are obsessed with your scale it is time to throw it away, and turn to your clothe and natural balance of healthy eating.  Here are some quick fat burning tips for a healthy body.


Spice Up Your Food
Spicy foods are filled with endorphins that ease pain and lift spirits, and a good mood will make your body want to move and not think about wanting to eat more.  Spicy foods will also heat up the fat cells, causing a higher response for them to dissolve in a sense. 

Holy Mackerel Batman!
Up your fish consumption to at least twice a week.  All fish is great for you, salmon is known for its omega fatty acids that aid preventing cancer, and mackerel contains tyrosine, a material of fat burning hormone, and if you want a virtually fat free fish try some sole.

Midnight Munchies
There are all kinds of theories about eating at night, some say to never eat past a certain time, while others find it hard not to go to bed with out a little snack.  For those of you who like a little bedtime snack, you are on the right track, it just depends on what type of snack you eat.  Stick to protein with a little carb intake, for instance eat a half serving of plain low fat yogurt with some homemade granola, this will help stimulate the fat burning process while you sleep.

The Tomato
Tomatoes are popular for containing lypocene, popularly found in ketchup.  But what you may have not known is that tomatoes contain minerals that stimulate fat burning, like magnesium, calcium, iron, and zinc.  It is suggested to consume about 20 grams of tomatoes a day to help burn fat, a medium sized fresh tomato.



Sometimes it's the little things to focus on daily versus getting caught up with the end results that can make all the difference.

Healthy Granola Recipe | Low sugar easy recipe

I love making my own granola and if you are not careful about the ingredients you use to make granola at home, you could be packing on extra sugar calories that can harm your diet.  Healthy granola recipes should be low in sugar and low in fat and many store brands carry a lot of sugar and unnecessary calories.

Healthy Granola Recipe
Making healthy granola at home is not complicated and very easy to do, the ingredients for this particular recipe are easy to find and very accessible.  Homemade granola can be stored in an air tight container up to a month, if it lasts that long.



2 Cups rolled oats, not instant
1/2 Cup toasted nuts, almonds, walnuts, pecans, etc.(roughly chopped)
1/2 Cup flax seed
1/2 Cup dried cranberries
1 egg white (whisked with fork)
1/2 Cup canola oil
1/2 Cup brown sugar


**Some recipes call for honey although brown sugar is considered a better low sugar choice than honey which is just as harmful to your diet as granulated sugar.  I stay far far away from sugar substitutes, they tend to give me a stomach ache due to the synthetic properties.
**The egg white will help "glue the granola and creates yummy crunchy clusters

• Preheat oven to 350 F.
• Line a baking sheet with tin foil, this will help sticking.
• In a large mixing bowl combine oats, nuts, flax seed, and dried cranberries toss with hands
• Add brown sugar, toss again with hands
• Next add canola oil and gently rub granola mixture with the oil.
• Add egg white, using a spatula gently mix granola then lay out on your baking sheet.
• Place in oven and bake for about 15 minutes, stir mixture and continue baking for another 10 minutes, or until granola is golden brown.
• Cool till completely cooled and store in air tight container.