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Recipe Tip: Use a Water Bottle as a Homemade Salad Dressing Container

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I am a person who enjoys making my salad dressing at home. It’s healthier, simple and delicious. My only dilemma was that I wasn’t sure what kind of salad dressing container I could store the dressing in. The idea came to me to use the empty water bottle to make and store the dressing. I went to the kitchen, removed the cap and added my ingredients to the bottle. My last step was to simply poke three tiny holes in the cap, so I could control the amount of dressing that I put onto my salads. Voila!

It’s also a way to find a second use for your plastic containers instead of throwing them away (other than redeeming them at a machine of course).

Posted by Eve

5 Easy Ways To Cut Calories

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If you are thinking about trimming your waist line, but you do not have time to go to the gym on a regular basis. Here are 5 easy ways to cut calories and lose some unwanted pounds.

1- Monitor and minimize your carbohydrate (carbs) intake. For example, use 1 slice of bread instead of 2 when making a sandwich.

2- Switch out unhealthy snacks, such as potato chips. Instead, grab a handful of nuts or cherries.

3- Try baking or grilling your food instead of frying. Fish and chicken taste great fresh out of the oven.

4- Increase your vegetable consumption. 3/4 of your plate should consist of salad and vegetables.

5- Eat your biggest meal at the beginning of the day. Enjoy a hearty breakfast, then taper the amount consumed at lunch and dinner.

These 5 easy ways to cut calories has helped me lose a considerable amount of body fat. I hope it helps you too!

Homemade Red Wine Vinaigrette

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Here’s a simple and quick recipe for homemade red wine vinaigrette.

I rather enjoy salads on a daily basis. I use to add creamy dressings, such as ranch to enhance the salads taste. I was amazed one day when out of curiosity I read the labels nutritional facts. I thought I was eating healthy because of the green salad that I was consuming on a daily basis. I was so wrong, the amount of fat, sodium and preservatives in the store bought dressing was astounding. What I then realized was how the dressing was destroying the benefits of my eating healthy leafy greens. I thought myself such a fool! I decided to make my own salad dressing from simple ingredients that I had in my cupboard. To my amazement, I only used five ingredients to make the best salad dressing of my life!!! Here’s my recipe for my homemade vinaigrette salad dressing.

Red Wine Vinaigrette
Homemade Red Wine Vinaigrette

Ingredients

Red wine vinegar
Salt
Olive Oil
Italian seasoning
Water

Instructions

In a container with a lid combine:
1 cup olive oil (brand of your choice, I prefer extra virgin olive oil)
1/2 cup red wine vinegar ( I like vinegar )
2 teaspoons of Italian seasoning
1-2 teaspoons of salt
1 tablespoon water

Shake contents vigorously. Taste before applying to your salad to ensure it suits your taste. Add more ingredients of your liking such as chopped garlic, dijon or spicy mustard to add to flavor. Enjoy your homemade red wine vinaigrette!!!

 

Posted by Eve

Health Tip: The Health Benefits of Papaya

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There are some awesome health benefits to adding the tropical fruit papaya to your daily diet.

  • Photo Credit: Flickr: Janine
    Photo Credit: Flickr: Janine

    Papaya, has a digestive enzyme called papain. Papain assists in the digestion and the fiber in the fruit also helps prevent constipation. It is recommended that you consume 4-5 servings a day.

  • Papaya also contains a high amount of vitamin C and therefore protects you against poly arthritis. It also contains vitamins A and E which aides your immune system to function at its best.
  • I also learned that papaya is an outstanding source of recommended daily fiber. It helps with weight loss because the fiber in the fruit makes you feel full and it is also low in calories. Also, the digestive enzyme, papain, increases your metabolism, digests fats and mimics carbohydrates in your body.

I purchase 2 large papayas from my local grocers, weekly. I generally first peel, cut the fruit in half and remove the seeds. I then slice the papaya into long slices and store them in a airtight container in my refrigerator. I either add them to my daily smoothie or eat some slices in the morning along with my breakfast. I even at times enjoy the fruit as an evening snack.

I hope you enjoy the health benefits of papaya as much as I do every week!

Posted by Eve

Health Tip: The Health Benefits of Red Beets

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I recently discovered some health benefits of red beets. I learned that:

  • Red beets contain a chemical called betalains, that is said to kill cancer cells, according to a study named “Anti Cancer Agents In Medical Chemistry” written in March, 2011.
  • Red beets help improve athletic performance and lower the risk for heart disease. Since the chemical betalains is what causes the beet to be colored red it is said to be the most healthiest beet to consume.
  • Beets also, contain a high amount of fiber, so you feel more satisfied after consuming them.
Photo credit: Flickr: notahipster
Photo credit: Flickr; notahipster

I prefer to purchase organic raw red beets from my local grocer instead of the ones that are repackaged in a jar or can. I soon learned that i do not care for the taste of the raw uncooked red beets. So, I came up with the perfect solution! I simply put some beets into my daily smoothie that consists of kale, blueberries, strawberries and protein powder that I sweetened with a few drops of liquid stevia.

The size of your beets can vary, so you should use your own judgement as to how much to add to your smoothy. I generally, after purchasing my beets wash, peel and chop it into chunks. I then store the beets in an air tight container at the bottom of my refrigerator to stay fresh. I generally use 3-4 chunks per day in my smoothie. I don’t find the flavor of the beet to be overwhelming. What I do believe, it that it gives the smoothy a earthy mellow flavor that is pleasing to my pallet.

So these are the health benefits of red beets, which may convince you to try incorporating them into your diet. Note: if you plan to eat the red beets daily as I do, don’t be concerned if you see a slight reddish color in your urine. It is simply the red beets. Always consult a doctor or professional dietician before making changes to your diet.

Posted by Eve

Recipe Tip: For Juicy, Tasty Chicken

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The quickest and easiest way to get juicy, tasty chicken is…

Robusto Italian Dressing

I personally prefer Wish-Bone brand, but you can experiment with others.

Poke a few holes in the raw chicken thighs, breasts or drumsticks and let them marinate in a ziploc bag for at least 15 minutes. Pour the chicken and excess dressing in the frying pan or pot on med-high heat to cook for extra flavor. Add additional seasoning (salt, pepper, garlic powder, etc) to taste.

Enjoy!

Posted by Jasmine