70+ Smoothie Recipes for Better Health!

Since Summer is here, it is my mission to eat healthier. Why? Is it the nutritional benefits? The yummy-tasting summer harvest? Nope.

It’s the hopeful acheivement of losing a few pounds; to trim the waistline; to try and gain the abs that all women want!

Okay, maybe that is stretching it a bit too far – LOL!

I started my trek to better health (and a hopeful slimmer waistline) by concocting a Strawberry-Banana Oatmeal Smoothie recipe I found on the web. It was delicious (you’ll see my rave under the name Sookie’s Kitchen)!

Well, I plan on making more smoothies. Why? Because I am thinking along the concept of following a Slimfast plan: Slimfast drink for breakfast & lunch, a couple of light, light snacks, and dinner as my main meal. A moderate portion, of course. Except that I don’t like Slimfast drinks. Chalky tasting. Bleck. But a Smoothie… well, that can be tasty (and it is)!

I plan on trying a few more smoothie recipes. Really good ones and thought that you might want to try some, too. Being that it’s summer and all. So here are the really good smoothie recipes (by demand).

• Recipezaar: Chocolate-Peanut Butter Smoothie

 

• My Wooden Spoon: The Best Strawberry Banana Smoothie *Looks darn good!

 

• My Meryl: Yogurt Smoothie *I particularily like this one because Yoplait has a zillion of wonderful flavors to choose from!

 

• Smoky Mountain Cafe: Peach Smoothie *Love cinnamon!

 

• Vegan for Life: Green Smoothie(s) *Yup! Gonna try one for health. Couldn’t decide which one so I added the link of 70 recipes!

 

Watch the calories per servings, gals (and guys)! Portion size! LOL!

Do you have a great smoothie recipe to share? I’m all ears!

10 Reasons to Downshift

Here are 10 great reasons to Downshift your Life (click here) (All 10 apply to me in the fullest sense!)

Feel like your life is going round and round with no sight in end?
Feel you have no control of your life?
Is there too much emphasis on work and not on family?

Time to simplify but not sure how?
Visit ZenHabits.net for 72 Ideas to Simplify Your Life

They are all great tips. But, I am dismayed as I start my journey towards acheiving a simple life. This is going to be a not so easy task! #4-Simplify work tasks, #5-Simplify home tasks… I try to do so and then that free time seems to get resorted to other needy undaunting work and home tasks. Perhaps I need to learn #6-Learn to Say No. Have any of you had successes with simplifying your life and keeping it that way?

Another good tip: #8 – Limit your media consumption. You know I’ve enjoyed the Unplugged Moments. The family seems to learn how to bond more (nice feeling to spend time with family).

Visit the sites and let me know what works for you in simplifing your life.

8 Frugal Entertainment Ideas

The sun comes out, the money spending tends to get loose, and plans go a flyin’! But since our family is planning for a big trip to Hawaii for Spring Break next year it is vital that we take part in frugal entertainment for the family. So, I thought I’d share some the great ideas we partake in to help curb our spending. Here are some frugal entertainment ideas for the whole family.

1. Board Games

   Board games are a great investment. We have tons of them! If well taken care of, they can easily last a generation. You can often find them at garage sales for a dollar or two, even the new board games. We have cards, dominos, Scrabble, Uno, Mouse Trap, Othello, Boggle, Checkers… You name it!

2. Movie Night

   Check out a movie from the library or hit up a RedBox, pop some popcorn and entertain the whole family for a couple hours. Take turns picking out what movie to watch. The price for checking out movies from the library: FREE! RedBox: $1.00 per night! WooHoo for cheap fun! Plus we always throw out all the blankets and pillows on the living room floor and make it a party!

3. Minor League Sports

   If your area has a minor league sports team they can be a lot of fun to watch and much cheaper than their major league counterparts. And there are plenty of times when the stars of the major leagues play at some the minor league games. You might also consider college and high school sports teams, too! They are so much fun (or maybe I’m trying to relive my youth)! LOL.

4. Playgrounds, State Parks and Local Parks

   Most parks are free, especially if you are not camping. Pack a picnic lunch or bring some barbecue. Try out different parks in your area until you find your favorites. Bring a frisbee and a dog!

Update(06/2009): National Park Service in the U.S. is sponsering fee-free weekends! Check it out! It’s a great opportunity to experience America’s natural wonders.

5. Support the Arts

   High school plays, talent shows and community theatre are generally inexpesive and a lot of fun. Or try the local University or city galleries. You will be surprised at how much talent there is in your community. One of the historic landmarks in my area just opened up the Catacombs for touring. I am definitely going to hit up this tour!

6. Watch for Free Days and Free Events

   Many museums, zoos and aquariums have free days. This is often one day per month such as the first Tuesday or last Friday. There are a lot of museums that are fun and have areas tailored towards kids. In art museums the ancient cultures exhibits are often fun for kids. The place to stay informed is your local newspaper. You’ll be surprised what information you’ll come across for frugal entertainment.

7. Farmers’ Market and Swap Meets

   You don’t have to spend much money to have a good time at your local Farmer’s Market. Most communities have them on Saturday or Sunday every week during the Spring, Summer and early Fall. Don’t think your kids will like this tip? Oh, they will if you pick up fresh ingredients to take home to help you make something wonderful like an apple betty.

8. Library and Bookstore Events

   Next time you go to the bookstore or library pick up an events calendar. They often have live music or book readings that might interest your family.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. Keep your eyes and ears open and you will find many more opportunities to have fun with your family without spending a lot of money.

What are some of your frugal entertainment ideas? Feel free to post them below.

5 Ways to Stretch a Food Budget

Many people are tightening there budgets for many reasons. Whether it is due to financial set backs, participating in a No Spend Month, or just want to cut back due to setting new budgetary goals. One problematic area affected in budgeting is food. Without sacrificing taste and freshness, here are 5 great tips for stretching a food budget.

 

“…without sacrificing taste and freshness.”

 

1. Eat More Meatless Meals: Meat is one of the most expensive costs in a grocery store. So start making one or two vegetarian dinners a week to cut the costs. Dishes with rice, whole grains, beans, and legumes and added with seasonal produce make for some great meals. Plus, they are healthy for you, too!

 

2. Make a Meal Plan: This is truly a cost saver. Sit down on a Sunday morning and plan your meals for the week. Knowing what you need to buy eliminates mindless spending at the grocery store.

 

3. Do it Yourself: Skip out on the convenience products and take a few extra minutes to make it yourself! Chop your own veggies, make a batch of soup, make pizza dough on the weekend to use during the week, whip up some granola bars, and bake some casseroles. Hey I work a full-time job and have kids. If I can do it, so can you!

 

4. Learn to Stretch meat, poultry, and fish: This is one of my usuals habits. Not because of the budget but because I don’t like to eat alot of meat. Instead of using protein as the center of the plate, use it sparingly for flavor and texture. Toss sliced steak into a salad, toss crumbled bacon on a baked potato or focus larger portions of veggies and grains on the plate.

 

5. Eat in Season: This is a good money saving tip. Buy fruits and vegetables that are in season. When produce is at its peak, there’s an abundance of it – and you can find it for a bargain. In the summer, enjoy tomatoes, cucumbers, fresh herbs, bell peppers and more (thinking Panzanella). During fall and winter, there is winter squashes; dark leafy greens; citrus; and sweat potatoes. And in spring, there is berries, asparagus, artichokes, and fresh peas. Its hard to feel deprived when the budget allows for such riches.

    

The other benefit from these five tips: Research shows eating more foods may lower your risk for heart disease, diabetes and some cancers. Top that! Enjoy fresh foods and more money in your pocket. It’s a win-win situation.

Totally worth making

I received a new cookbook in the mail and tried this FABULOUS recipe. It was pretty funny last night watching my husband and I peeling peaches. Messy, too! But, it was oh so yummy!

The only notes:
*I’m sure frozen peaches make this recipe much easier to prepare.
* 2 lbs of fresh peaches do not make for 7 cups. I say get 4 lbs if you use fresh peaches or cut your recipe in half.

Peach CrispPrep: 20 minutes
Bake: 40 minutes

Ingredients
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
7 cups 1/2-inch fresh or frozen peach slices (8 peaches about 3-1/2 lb.), or 1/2-inch cooking apples, such as Granny Smith
2 Tbsp. honey
2/3 cup coarsely crushed graham crackers (5 squares)
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
2 Tbsp. rolled oats
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/3 cup butter

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. For filling, in a bowl stir together granulated sugar, the 2 tablespoons flour, and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Add peaches; toss to coat. Spread in 2-quart rectangular baking dish. Drizzle honey over peaches; set aside.

2. For topping, in a bowl stir together crushed graham crackers, brown sugar, 1/3 cup flour, rolled oats, and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon. Using a pastry blender, cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle topping evenly over the peach mixture.

3. Bake, uncovered, for 40 to 45 minutes or until topping is golden brown. Serve warm. Makes 8 servings.

Totally Indulge! If I only had Cinnamon Ice Cream…. That would have been so delish!

Next Page »