Health Food

Coffee Frappucino

Ingredients

1 cup unsweetened almond milk (use the make it yourself almond milk I posted earlier)

1 teaspoon instant coffee

2 packets of stevia

4-5 ice cubes

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla

Directions

1. Blend until it becomes the frothy, cold goodness it’s supposed to.

Nutritional Information (serves1): 46 calories, 3g fat, 180mg sodium, 2g total carbs, 1g fiber, 1g protein

Make Your Own: Raw Almond Milk

Ingredients

• 1 cup raw almonds
• filtered water

Directions

1. Place almonds in a container and cover with filtered water.  Leave them in the fridge to soak for at least 8 hours, preferably overnight.  Make sure to add plenty of water, since the almonds will absorb and expand.
2. Rinse the almonds in more filtered water and then place in a sturdy blender (I use a Vitamix, it’s amazing).  Add 3 cups of filtered water.  For creamier milk you can add less water.
3. Puree the almonds and water.
4. Place a fine mesh strainer and cheesecloth over a bowl large enough that there is space at the bottom.  Allow the almond mixture to strain for at least 2 hours.
5. Discard the leftover pulp or, even better, look online at the assortment of recipes using almond meal.
6. If you want to flavor the milk so it tastes more like store brands, try adding a splash of vanilla and agave nectar.
7. Consume within 3 days.  Don’t worry if you see separation in the milk.  Stir it!  Unlike this all-natural milk, store brands contain stabilizers and preservatives.

Slimtastic Smoothies: 20 nutritious and delicious smoothie recipes

1. Banana: Blend 2 bananas with 1/2 cup fat-free Greek yogurt, 1/2 cup skim milk, 2 teaspoons honey, 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon, and 1 cup ice.
2. Strawberry Shortcake: blend cups strawberries, 1 cup crumbled pound cake, 1-1/2 cups skim milk, 1-1/2 cups ice, and splenda or stevia no calorie sweetener to taste.
3. Raspberry Orange:Blend 1 cup orange juice, 1 cup raspberries, 1/2 cup plain yogurt, 1 cup of ice and splenda or stevia no calorie sweetener to taste.
4. Honeydew-Almond: Blend 2 cups chopped honeydew melon, 1 cup almond milk, 1 cup ice, and honey to taste.
5. Strawberry-Kiwi: Blend 1 cup strawberries, 2 peeled kiwis, 2 tablespoons sugar and 2 cups ice.
6. Cherry-Vanilla: Blend 1 1/2 cups frozen pitted cherries, 1 1/4 cups milk, 3 tablespoons sugar, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1/4 teaspoon almond extract, a pinch of salt and 1 cup ice.
7. Grape: Blend 2 cups seedless red grapes with 1 cup concord grape juice and 1 1/2 cups ice.
8. Blueberry-Banana: Blend 1 banana, 1 cup blueberries, 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut milk, 1 tablespoon each honey and lime juice, 1/4 teaspoon almond extract and 1 cup ice.
9. Creamsicle: Blend 3/4 cup frozen orange or orange-tangerine concentrate with 1/2 cup cold water and 1 cup each vanilla ice cream and ice.
10. Spiced Pumpkin: Blend 1/2 cup each pumpkin puree and silken tofu, 3 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar, 1 cup milk, 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, a pinch of salt and 1 cup ice.
11. Black Raspberry–Vanilla: Blend 1 pint blackberries, 1/2 cup raspberries, 1 cup vanilla yogurt and 1 tablespoon honey.
12. Banana PB&J: Blend 1 frozen banana with 1 cup soy milk, 1/4 cup each creamy peanut butter and wheat germ, and 2 tablespoons seedless strawberry or raspberry jelly.
13. Vietnamese Coffee: Blend 1/2 cup chilled espresso or strong coffee, 1/4 cup sweetened condensed milk and 1 1/2 cups ice. Top with chocolate shavings and/or chocolate syrup.
14. Pineapple-Mango: Blend 1 cup each chopped pineapple and mango, 1 cup coconut water, a dash of ground allspice and 1 cup ice. Sprinkle with toasted coconut.
15. Chocolate-Banana: Blend 1 banana, 1 cup chocolate ice cream, 1/2 cup milk, a pinch of salt and 1/2 cup ice.
16. Peanut Butter–Apple: Blend 1 chopped peeled apple, 3 tablespoons creamy peanut butter, 2 tablespoons flax seeds, 1 1/2 cups each soy milk and ice, and honey to taste.
17. Veggie: Blend 1 1/4 cups tomato juice, 1/4 cup carrot juice, 1/2 peeled cucumber, 1/2 celery stalk, 1/4 cup each parsley and spinach, and 1/2 cup ice.
18. Lemon–Poppy Seed: Blend 2 teaspoons poppy seeds, the zest and juice of 1/2 lemon, 1 cup plain yogurt, 1/3 cup sugar and 1/2 cup each milk and ice.
19. Strawberry-Maple: Blend 2 cups strawberries, 1 1/2 cups milk, 1/4 cup each maple syrup and wheat germ, a dash of ground cinnamon and 1 1/2 cups ice.
20. Apple-Spinach: Blend 2 cups spinach, 1 chopped peeled apple, 1/2 cup silken tofu, 1/4 cup each soy milk and orange juice, 1 tablespoon each wheat germ, honey and lemon juice, and 1 cup ice.

Find more here…

Peach Mango Smoothie

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup frozen sliced peaches
• 2/3 cup frozen mango pieces (such as dole)
• 2/3 cup peach nectar
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 (6 ounce) container peach fat-free yogurt

Directions

1. Place all ingredients in a blender; process 2 minutes or until smooth. Serve immediately.

Nutrition Information (makes two 1 cup servings): 185 calories, 0g fat, 50mg sodium, 2g fiber, 4g protein

Tip: for a lighter smoothie try plain fat-free yogurt so it’s less sugar dense