Smoothie Snacks

Brock loves getting creative in the kitchen.  I'm hoping someday I'll be able to turn him loose on dinners at least once or twice or week if he keeps up his interest in playing around with different foods.

Smoothies are a snack favorite of his.  We regularly make Green Smoothies, but today tried adding a little more to shake things up a bit.

For a basic green smoothie you need orange juice, banana, yogurt, and spinach.  Amounts depend on your taste, but I usually do something like:

1 1/2 c OJ
2 bananas
2 spoonfulls of plain yogurt, probably around 2-3 tablespoons, I don't really know I just use a spoon from my utensil drawer
1 small handful of spinach, just enough to make it green!
ice, I usually do a couple of handfuls

Be careful to not over do the yogurt or spinach or it will get a bitter taste.  If for some reason it does end up too bitter, just add a little more of something sweet to balance it out.

So for something a little different today, we made PURPLE smoothies!  We added strawberries and blackberries to the mix.  I cut back on the banana and only used 1, and I actually had french vanilla yogurt instead of plain and then all the other stuff as usual.  I don't fret if I don't have a particular ingredient I normally use, I just use what I have.  Seriously, it's hard to mess these up.

Yum!

Goals and a Plan

I've decided it's high time I get down to business in the healthy living area. 

Goals

1. Be healthy as can be

2. Feel better, have more energy

3. Lose weight

4. No bondage (to food)

Plan

1. Smaller portions

2. Drink water

3. Less carbs

4. Tues/Thurs Workout with friends

5. Wed/Fri Treadmill

This is just my simple little outline.  I have these printed, as well as choice scripture, on index cards and posted on my frig and in my kitchen area.

I prefer "all things in moderation" as opposed to starving myself or denying all cravings.  That wouldn't last a week!  I can't drastically change our meal habits either, so I'm opting to make a few healthier substitutions and control portions.  I think exercise alone has helped a lot, as my diet isn't all that horrible to begin with, well, except for maybe my carb addiction and my Starbucks habit. 

I've steadily worked out twice a week since this past September.  I know that's not the recommended number of times, but it's more than I was doing!  I'm very thankful to the ladies that meet together, they are so encouraging and keep me motivated.  And thanks to Rick purchasing a treadmill, I'm easily able to add in a couple of more workout times each week.     

Also, I've been reading Reshaping it All and Made to Crave , both have been encouraging and helpful.