Yogurt Firecracker Popsicles

Looking for that perfect 4th of July dessert? Do you like popsicles but dislike all the sugar that comes along with said popsicles? So do I and that is why I wanted to share this recipe. It is healthy, simple and satisfying. It only includes three ingredients: blueberries, strawberries and vanilla Greek Yogurt.

The flash made my blueberries look like cartoon blueberries.

I prefer Oikos Vanilla Greek Yogurt but Publix didn't have any large containers. There are less calories in the Dannon Oikos Greek Yogurt than in this brand so your calories and nutrition information can vary if using that brand.

Ingredients:

1/2 Carton of Blueberries
1/2 Carton Strawberries
1 Cup Vanilla Greek Yogurt

Directions:

1. Wash fruits (de-stem strawberries) and puree separately in a blender until desired consistency.
2. If blueberries are more purple than blue feel free to add blue food coloring.
3. Layer each fruit into a popsicle mold until filled to the top.
4. Freeze for a couple of hours and enjoy!

Servings: 8   |  Calories: 61   |  Fat: .73 g   |  Cholesterol: 3.1 mg  |  Sugars: 9.45 g   |   Protein: 2.8 g

Homemade Baked Fries

Last night Nick and I had grilled turkey burgers, fries and delicious pickle spears! I knew when I woke up yesterday that I wanted homemade french fries, but I knew I had to find the perfect recipe because I don't like cooking fries at home for many reasons.
1. I don't fry at home.
2. I am very particular about my home-cooked fries. They always turn out too burnt or too raw; never just right.
3. If I buy pre-made fries we never eat all of them and they get freezer burn. Plus they're processed and I prefer not to cook processed foods.

So I researched some recipes and found the perfect one at Simple, Savory & Satisfying The fries were delicious, crispy and healthier than the processed fries you'd normally buy at the grocery store.

 
Ingredients: 

4 red potatoes
3 tablespoons of coconut oil
Onion powder
Garlic Powder
Paprika
Steakhouse onion burger seasoning


Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425º
2. Wash potatoes, slice into fries and place into a mixing bowl.
3. Sprinkle seasonings and oil onto fries and mix together.
4. Bake each side for 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Enjoy!

Military Diet: Lose Weight Fast

So you're looking to lose weight fast? Maybe to fit into a wedding gown, bridesmaids dress, swimsuit or even all of the above? I have you covered.

I read about this diet called the Military Diet several years ago and I saw it again over the weekend. I despise the word diet simply because all of my success has come from eating right and exercising on a regular basis. Diets aren't usually permanent nor are they healthy, but I did some research on this diet and decided I would try it.

1. It consisted of food that I would eat on a daily basis as is.
2. It had me eating roughly 1,000 calories a day and I only eat 1,586 a day so I figured I would go for it.
3. I have plateaued so hard you wouldn't believe and I found this as a good way to detox my body of the bad foods I put in it over the weekend. Who knows, since I will be doing this on a weekly basis until I feel the need to stop some of the pounds that I shed could stay off instead of being gained right back as in most diets.

My results were great and I will be doing this diet each week on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesdays schedule permitting; otherwise, I will be doing it some three days of each week until I feel it isn't working or I simply don't want to do it anymore.

My results: 
Day 1: Lost 4 pounds 
Day 2: Lost 2 pounds 
Day 3: Lost 1 pound

Have a look at the diet here. You can view the Military Diet packet I put together in case you decide to try it for yourself. The packet is really worth a look.

The Military Diet packet contains:
1. A detailed chart of what to eat each day
2. A detailed shopping list of all your supplies
3. A photo guide of my progress
4. Additional comments and suggestions from me.
5. A notes section where you can write your own suggestions, substitutes, etc.

To download or view the packet click here.

Homemade Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

I was reading the Food Babe's article regarding homemade coconut milk ice cream and tailored it to my own specifications. Since I don't have an ice cream machine, I would suggest to stick to her technique since she uses a machine and the end product would be better.

If you're looking for a big spoonful of mint chocolate chip ice cream such as Breyer's then this might not be what you're looking for, or at least my recipe isn't. I altered the chocolate ingredients and the preparation process.

Cons of my ice cream recipe vs. the original recipe:
1. My ice cream texture was that of homemade snow cream (if you've had that before).
2. I suggest using more mint extract than either of us mentioned. I like my ice cream to have a kick and this tasted a lot like the coconut milk as opposed to mint chocolate; although, it did taste like mint chocolate chip ice cream.
3. Use sweetened chocolate as she mentions, instead of my unsweetened cocoa and coconut milk alternative.

Please remember the nutritional content of my ice cream is exactly that, the recipe I used. Although the ice cream suffices, next time I will be using sweetened chocolate instead of unsweetened and dropping more mint extract into the mix! 

If you'd like the original recipe simply visit the Food Babe's article! She has a great explanation for why you should eat homemade ice cream instead of frozen yogurt from large chains!

Avoid Beach Bloat

For those who are lucky enough to be on the beach or near water on Memorial Day Weekend, such as myself, can definitely benefit from avoiding the bloat!

It might seem common sense to avoid things like a large glass of milk or a big donut before sliding your toes in the sand, but did you know you should also avoid, one of my favorite foods, kale?

Well, if you'd like to see some more foods you should avoid before the beach check out Fit Sugar's article.

Swim Suit Do's and Don'ts

Looking for ways to preserve your bathing suit instead of purchasing numerous suits throughout the course of a few summers? Well, I was reading some tips from Who What Wear and thought I would condense their suggestions down to put on my blog. If you would like to visit the original post click here.

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How To Avoid Melanoma

I can't tell you how to prevent melanoma all together, but I sure can give you a tip on how to avoid it! 

1. WEAR SPF 30+.

It is as simple as that.

If you're wanting some more tips feel free to check out my info book by clicking here.

Why Wear Sunscreen

With the summer months rearing their head, please remember to soak in sunblock before you soak up the sun. I was reminded of this the other day as I was traveling home and the sun was shining brightly in my eyes. I was stuck in traffic and I am very pale so I tend to get red just on my commute home, but as I sat in traffic I watched the joggers on the sidewalk and took note of something surprising.

I saw a lady jogging while pushing her child in a jogging stroller. They were headed into the sun. The stroller did have a canopy, but the kid's legs were not covered and I noticed that his legs were beet red. I just thought to myself I really hoped she had put sunblock on that child.

As adults, we don't think about applying sunblock that often before we venture outside, but we should because melanoma statistics are shocking. I am working on a future post that will allow you to download a PDF file of some statistics and tips for staying safe in the sun, but for now please remember to protect your skin and your children's skin!

Coming Soon!

Look for this downloadable PDF coming soon!