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Saturday, July 5, 2014

Make Your Own Fruit Roll Ups

Artificial ingredients, preservatives, & harmful chemicals are everywhere in foods these days. And as a mom, I can't stand the thoughts of letting my kids eating all those additives. So today I'd like to share a kid favorite, but the healthy alternative, fruit roll ups!
Take a look at the ingredient list in General Mills Fruit Roll-Ups: pears from concentrate, corn syrup, dried corn syrup, sugar, partially hydrogenated cottonseed oil, citric acid, sodium citrate, acetylated monoglycerides, fruit pectin, dextrose, maltic acid, ascorbic acid, natural flavor and the following food coloring: blue 1, red 40 and yellows 5 and 6.
Here is the ingredient list for my Homemade Fruit Roll-Ups: organic fruit
Which one sounds most appealing to you?! Exactly. 

This recipe is pretty flexible. You have the freedom to pick one fruit or mix different kinds. You can use fresh or frozen fruit. Below the recipe are some fruit combination suggestions, but feel free to try out your own combos too. I suggest making a few different trays of fruit at the same time because these won’t last long in your house and though they are VERY simple to make, they do take a long time to set.
1. Warm the fruit in a pot on the stove and mix it into a puree. If there are seeds in the puree you can pour it into a sieve to get the seeds out (I didn’t).
2. Spread the puree on a oil-sprayed silpat baking mat or parchment paper (BE SURE to spray! If you don’t it will stick!). 1 1/2 cup of fruit puree is enough for 1 baking sheet, and put in the oven on 140°F (or as low as your oven can go. my stove’s lowest temperature is 170). Leave the oven door open a little bit to let the moisture out.
3. They are done when the puree isn’t sticky anymore, you normally need between 5-8 hours depending on the oven and your fruit choices. (If you live in a warm climate, you can just leave the pan in the sun for the day).
4. Use a sharp knife or pizza cutter to cut them and roll them with wax or parchment paper when they are still warm. Enjoy this healthy alternative.
You can also use a dehydrator if you have one! Just check your recipe book for heating times and directions. 
Fruit combination ideas:
Yellow: 1 fresh mango, 200 g dried apricots, 1 orange (the juice)
Purple: Frozen raspberries, frozen blackberries or blueberries and 1 banana
Green: Kiwi and mango
Blue: Blueberries and grape juice
Red: Strawberries and banana

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

3 Day Refresh

Today I started the 3 Day Refresh. It is a healthy, quick cleanse that is meant to give you a boost to get back on track. Think indulgent weekends and feeling blah, this can get you back to feeling good and eating habits back on track.
I figured I could use a good boost myself :)
Day 1 has come to a close for me and here are my thoughts....
It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, meaning I was not a starvin Marvin all day lol
The Fiber Sweep drink is ok, I am just not a fan of lemon flavor drinks aside from lemonade so I put a few drops of water flavoring in it and it was no problem from there! Only one of those a day in the morning. I can tolerate it for 3 days.
The Vanilla Refresh drink was yummy considering you only made it with water. You get 2 of those a day. One at lunch and one at dinner.
I got a wide variety of fruits and veggies to pick from which I love, don't feel deprived. I even feel good enough and full enough to go workout in a bit!
I'll weigh in the morning and report again at the end of tomorrow about day 2 and any changes I've had. Stay tuned! 
Day 3 complete! I ate the same things pictured above for all 3 days, I am not one to require large variety each day. There was certainly room for many combos of foods to eat though!
Results: I lost 5 lbs and an overall loss of 6 inches! Belly bloat is gone and I'm feeling pretty good! I would most definitely do this again especially after a holiday where one tends to overeat or over indulge. I'd also recommend this for those with a vacation or event coming up and would like to lose the bloat, drop a few lbs and inches.
Or if you are ready to jump back into a fitness routine and are way off track, this would be a wonderful kick start to get you started!
If you have any questions or would like to chat, please email me at nicolejonesfitness@yahoo.com I'd be happy to assist you!

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Healthy Ideas for Your 4th of July


Headed to or hosting a 4th of July party this week? Here are 4 healthy options for you! 

  1. Fruit Kabobs are a great option. Easy to make and festive looking! Makes for a great kid project as well. Simply layer strawberries, bananas, and blueberries or blackberries.
  2. Dessert doesn't have to break your calories! Try a simple layering of angel food cake, whip cream, and red/blue fruits for a beautiful dish. This is a household hit every year for me.
  3. Want to make a festive drink?  Place a few strawberries, blueberries, and chunks of pineapple in a glass. Muddle the fruit by mashing it with a wooden spoon. Get your cups, toss in ice cubes, bits of your fruit mix, and top with a ginger ale! 
  4. For another flag dish, simply cube red fruits, cheese, and a dish of blue fruits.        


Happy 4th of July everyone!!! 

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Fish Tacos


Fish tacos can be a healthy meal option for the whole family! It's easy to prepare & very delicious!
I didn't follow an exact recipe, so here's what I did. I have a family of 5 so adjust up or down as you need to.... 2 lbs of tilapia (you can use any fish you want), drizzled with coconut oil and Magic Seasonings {Chef Paul Blackened Redfish Magic}. Add fish to a glass baking dish (sprayed with Pam) & cover with foil. Baked at 425 for 20 min or until fish was flaky and white. While fish was baking, I threw together a fresh mango pico de gallo. 2 tomatoes diced, 1/2 onion diced, fresh cilantro diced, 1 mango diced, and 1 lime fresh squeezed over the top. Toss and let sit. 
Now it's time to assemble the tacos! I layered my tortillas with shredded lettuce, fish, and the fresh pico....wrap it up and serve with a side of dirty rice or quinoa.
 Simple, yummy, & healthy! My kids even asked for more :) WIN for mom! There was plenty for dinner and even lunch the next day. A definite favorite here in this house.


Tuesday, October 15, 2013

How to fix Keratosis Pilaris naturally

What do you know about keratosis pilaris? Typified by clusters of small bumps in the skin, usually on the backs of the upper arms, thighs, or bottom, this is a condition that affects as many as 40 percent of adults. The Mayo Clinic has a picture for you; don’t worry, it’s not super gross.
Keratosis pilaris is caused by keratin building up in your hair follicle, forming a plug of keratiny stuff that looks on the surface like mild acne. Nobody seems to know why it happens. Unfortunately, KP can be exacerbated when your skin is dry, so when you treat it like acne by rubbing it with salicylic acid and the like, you can actually make it worse.
Keratosis pilaris is also known as “chicken skin” eww gross right?!
It smells like.... coconuts. One neat thing, coconut oil is solid at room temperature, but liquefies almost immediately with the warmth of your hands. Neat, huh? Also, it seemed to absorb really fast, so you don't feel all slippery like after putting on say baby oil.
But the best part is that it worked on my keratosis pilaris. Mine is just on a small patch on the back of each thigh. After a solid week of use, the KP was almost completely gone. Also I smell vaguely like a cookie all the time. I also have started using it all over as a skin moisturizer, I gotta say I feel extra soft! My hair is loving it too, and it turns out there’s Real Science behind that: Coconut oil, unlike many other oils used in hair care products, can actually penetrate the hair shaft and deliver its protein goodness to your hungry follicles.
This stuff is my total skincare miracle right now. It’s cheap, it comes in an enormous jar, and it works. All of this, and in a pinch, I can eat it? That’s a near-perfect beauty product for me.
TIP: I use the exact brand pictured here. No need to go to a spa or salon for coconut oil, just hit up the grocery store! It's cheaper and the same stuff :)
TIP: For use on skin, I rub it in after a shower instead of applying lotion. For hair, use before a shower and then rinse rinse rinse!

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

How to keep greens from wilting!

Don't you hate when you buy your salad mixes, greens, or herbs and it seems in just a short few days they turn all soggy and yuck?! Eww, ain't nobody got time for that! So here's a tip to keep your greens crispier longer!

Divide your big container of greens into two to four smaller plastic bags. Close the top of each bag lightly with your fist, blow into the bag, and fill it with air (carbon dioxide). Then seal the bag by twisting the top a few times before closing it firmly with a twist tie. Place it in the fridge, and your greens are good to go.

These puffy bags might take up a little bit more room in your fridge, but the loss of space is worth it; your greens will stay bright, crisp, and flavorful, so you can enjoy healthy salads, smoothies, and sandwiches all week long. This tip works for all leafy greens, including herbs; just be sure produce is completely dry before placing them in the plastic bag. Don't worry about wasting plastic bags since these can be washed, air-dried, and reused for next time.
 

For an added tip, toss in a paper towel before you seal it up. That will absorb extra moisture!

 


Friday, August 16, 2013

Grilled Asparagus Salad with Lemon-Parmesan Vinaigrette

Serves: 4

Prep Time: 10 Min

Cook Time: 5 Min

  1. ¼ cup lemon juice

  2. ½ cup grated parmesan cheese, plus more for sprinkling

  3. 1 clove garlic, finely chopped

  4. ½ teaspoon dijon mustard

  5. ¼ cup olive oil Salt and pepper

  6. 2 bunches fresh asparagus, ends trimmed

  7. ½ cup thinly sliced radishes

  8. ½ cup shredded carrots

  9. ½ cup edamame

  10. 8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled

In a medium bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, cheese, garlic and mustard. Slowly stream in the oil, whisking constantly to combine. Season with salt and pepper. On a heated grill or grill pan, cook the asparagus, turning once, about 3 minutes total. In a large bowl, toss together the radishes, carrots and edamame. Top with the asparagus and bacon. Drizzle with the vinaigrette and sprinkle with parmesan.

NUTRITIONAL INFO 1 SERVING:  CALORIES 206; FAT 11.5 g (sat 5.0 g, mono 4.3 g, poly 1.0 g); PROTEIN 15.9 g; CARBS 11.7 g; FIBER 4.1 g; CHOLEST 22.0 mg; IRON 2.1 mg; SODIUM 503 mg; CALCIUM 257 mg -