Orange Vinagrette Dressing

Ingredients
1/4 cup mandarin orange slices ( I used one of those serving size cups that you get in a package of 4)
1 T Dijon mustard
2 T balsamic vinegar
2 T honey

Directions
Drain juice from mandarin orange slices.  Drink or save for a smoothie!
Add all 4 ingredients to blend and blend.
Serve over salad.
Refrigerate remaining dressing if there is any!

Creamy Broccoli Soup

Ingredients
1 large onion
6 cups of fresh broccoli chopped
1 large potato chopped
1 tsp. thyme
4 cups vegetable stock or broth (You can use just plain water too.  The soup is so flavorful)

salt and pepper to taste (I like to leave it plain and let others add the salt and pepper if I am feeding other people)

Directions
Saute onion.  Use water not oil.  Watch and stir.
Add thyme, potato, vege. stock and broccoli.
Bring to a boil.  Simmer for ten minutes or until potatoes are tender.
Puree in a blender. Careful to do small amounts and don't burn yourself!
Return to pot.
Serve with rice

Oatey Cocoa Sunflower Seed Balls

Ingredients
2 cups sprouted sunflower seeds ( See how to sprout sunflower seeds link)
1 1/4 cup pitted dates
1 cup raisins
2 T. Cocoa powder unsweetened
3 cups old fashioned oats
1 T honey

Directions
Put all ingredients in a food processor.
Blend until mixed.
Roll into bite sized balls.
Roll in oats
Refrigerate.

How to sprout sunflower seeds.
http://www.ehow.com/how_4430694_sprout-sunflower-seeds.html

Margarita Smoothie

Ingredients
1 cup ice
1 T 100% lime juice (Fresh or bottled.  Fresh is better.)
1 T 100% lemon juice (Fresh or bottled.  Fresh is better.)
4-6 strawberries
3 large slices of pineapple or 6-8 cubes
1 banana
1/2 or whole orange, start with half, add to taste.
1-2 T agave nectar - You can skip this.  It doesn't need it and adds many calories.

Directions
Put all ingredients in a blender and blend. :)

Optional
You can go two directions here...
1 direction (not recommended for health) - Add a shot of tequila.  This version is WAY less calories than the mix you get in the store.
Meal direction - Add a scoop of protein powder and you have a healthy meal or snack depending on your activity level.

*Remember it takes a deficit of 3500 calories to lose 1 pound.  

That's 500 calories a day.  

Make healthy choices!

Good Morning Breakfast Smoothie

 

Ingredients
1 cup frozen papaya
1 frozen banana
1/2 cup almond milk
1 cup fresh kale
1 scoop brown rice powder

Directions
Put into blender and blend.
You may need to add more almond milk or water so that it blends and is drinkable!

Cocoa Date Energy Bites

 

Ingredients

1 cup pitted dates

1 cup dried cranberries

1 cup walnuts or to be heart healthy sprouted sunflower seeds

2 TBSP cocoa powder

2 TBSP honey

Directions

Put all ingredients in food processor and pulse until mixture is able to form a ball in your hands.

Make rounded TBSP sized balls.

Refrigerate.

Blueberry Energy Smoothie

1 frozen banana

1 cup frozen or fresh blueberries

1 handful of fresh baby spinach

1 scoop protein powder

1 cup almond milk

3-5 ice cubes

Put all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.  Makes 2 servings.  Enjoy. :)

White Bean Hummus

Ingredients

2 cups cooked white beans

3 T. lemon juice

1/2 tsp sea salt

1 tsp. basil

1 tsp. oregano

1 tsp. parsley

Directions

Put in food processor.  Add water as needed until creamy consistency.

Serve with chips or vegetables.

Can be used as a sandwich spread!

Yum!

Store in refrigerator.

Tropical Banana Kale Smooothie

2 cups coconut water
2 frozen bananas
2 cups kale
2 scoops protein powder
1/4 cup hemp seeds

Blend all ingredients.
Add garnish of choice.
Makes two servings. Not low calorie.  High Energy!

Apricot Oat Bars

1 cup dried apricots
1 1/3 cup oatmeal
1/2 cup protein powder
2 T. honey
3 T. hemp seeds
1/2 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp. sea salt

Line a 8 inch baking pan with parchment paper.  Set aside.
Place all ingredients in a food processor.
Pulse until well combined.
Spread mixture in pan.
Cover bars and place in freezer for one hour.
Lift bar out of pan.
Cut into bars into even rectangles.
Store in airtight container in fridge.

Triple Green Drink

1 1/2 cups spinach

1/2 cup kale

1 cup almond milk

1 frozen banana

1/2 green apple

1 scoop protein powder

Blend and enjoy.

Garnish with a sprig of spinach or kale.

Share with a friend or pig out!

Makes 2 servings. :)

Greens and Pineapple Protein Smoothie

1 cup spinach
1 cup kale
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup pineapple juice
1/2 cup pineapple crushed or chunks
1 frozen banana
1 scoop protein powder

Blend all ingredients together.  Add a sprig of kale and enjoy!  This makes two servings.  You can share or pig out!

Healthier Food for a Healthier You

 

 
Today starts a new chapter of my blog which will mark my husband's and my journey towards an even healthier way of eating.  This all began by watching the movie Fat Sick and Nearly Dead.  This then led us to Forks Over Knives.  I then bought the cookbook Forks Over Knives.   This led to reading Reverse and Prevent Heart Disease and then finally the China Study.  Basically, we are eating to prevent and reverse heart disease.  We want to be as healthy as we can be.  The bottom line is a plant based diet.

The rules are as follows:
No meat.
No dairy.
No oil.
No animal products.

I have to add no wheat and peanuts because I am intolerant of them.  They cause gastrointestinal issues and skin breakouts.  I am lactose intolerant and do not wish to take Lactaid so that part was easy.

Here are links to the above resources:

http://www.fatsickandnearlydead.com/

http://www.forksoverknives.com/

http://www.dresselstyn.com/

http://www.thechinastudy.com/