I don’t know about you, but when the 4th of July rolls around I always feel like summer is nearly halfway done – when in reality, it has still just started! I miss the days of grade school and college when summer meant a few months of work-free, homework-free bliss. Now, I’m grateful for the warm weather and longer days with more sunshine, but still always feel like my schedule is packed full & on the go with little downtime. Do you often find yourself repeating easy meals just because it’s what you can find the time to make? I know I do! But no fear – there are definitely simple ways to incorporate the fruits & veggies into your summer snacks & meals, that won’t add significant time to your food prep.
For snacks, try freezing grapes ahead of time. When you’re looking for a quick, refreshing escape from the heat, have 1 cup of frozen grapes – red grapes offer more antioxidants than green, but both are very low in fat.
How about a super simple meal? Since, technically, an avocado is a fruit, this meal helps you add in your fruit servings.
For snacks, try freezing grapes ahead of time. When you’re looking for a quick, refreshing escape from the heat, have 1 cup of frozen grapes – red grapes offer more antioxidants than green, but both are very low in fat.
How about a super simple meal? Since, technically, an avocado is a fruit, this meal helps you add in your fruit servings.
http://morselsandmusings.blogspot.com/2011/09/grilled-avocado-w-melted-cheese-hot.html
1 avocado
¼ cup parmesan cheese
1 tblsp chipotle sauce
1 tblsp lime juice
Salt & pepper to taste
1.Slice the avocado in half and remove the stone. Prick all over with a fork, or cut criss-cross patterns with a knife. This allows the sauce to penetrate the flesh.
2. Pour the sauce over each half, then top with lime juice and salt and pepper.
3. In the cavity where the stone has been, put a fourth of the cheese on each avocado half. Place under the hot grill for 2 minutes.
4. Top with remaining cheese and grill or broil for another 2 minutes until completely melted and avocado warmed through.
Note – the website mentions this could be a snack, and while indeed it could, don’t forget that avocados are high in fat, even though it is the ‘good’ fat (MUFAs and PUFAs!). It would make a great easy meal! And I mean, look at that photo – how mouth-watering is that!
Another of my favorite summer ways to eat fruit is going back to my childhood and taking them in through popsicle form. I love to get fruit juice (try to check out the labels and look for those that contain the most real fruit juice, and less added sugars and concentrates) and make my own popsicles using popsicle molds. You can find some inexpensive ones here on Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Ozera-Ice-Molds-Maker-Green/dp/B00J93MQ6U/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1404058715&sr=8-3&keywords=popsicle+molds.
Now don’t forget about veggies too! This week Kids Eat Right had a tip (Check out their details here: http://www.eatright.org/kids/tip.aspx?id=6442464251) for grilling fruits and vegetables. As someone who grew up not really enjoying fresh, raw veggies, cooking them up on the grill is ideal for me. The possibilities of grilled veggies are endless – zucchini (my personal favorite), onions, tomatoes, corn, carrots, peppers – you name it, you can grill it. As Kids Eat Right suggests, baste & season vegetables first, then grill until brown and tender in texture. You could grill vegetables as a side dish for your meal, as a snack, or grill them on kabobs with lean chicken to add protein & make a complete meal. Don’t rule out grilled fruit, too – grilled pineapple is a great snack or topping to add on those summer burgers. And for those of you who don’t have an actual grill, I know a staple in my apartment is my trusty little George Foreman grill. It may be a little different, but it still gets the job done!
1 avocado
¼ cup parmesan cheese
1 tblsp chipotle sauce
1 tblsp lime juice
Salt & pepper to taste
1.Slice the avocado in half and remove the stone. Prick all over with a fork, or cut criss-cross patterns with a knife. This allows the sauce to penetrate the flesh.
2. Pour the sauce over each half, then top with lime juice and salt and pepper.
3. In the cavity where the stone has been, put a fourth of the cheese on each avocado half. Place under the hot grill for 2 minutes.
4. Top with remaining cheese and grill or broil for another 2 minutes until completely melted and avocado warmed through.
Note – the website mentions this could be a snack, and while indeed it could, don’t forget that avocados are high in fat, even though it is the ‘good’ fat (MUFAs and PUFAs!). It would make a great easy meal! And I mean, look at that photo – how mouth-watering is that!
Another of my favorite summer ways to eat fruit is going back to my childhood and taking them in through popsicle form. I love to get fruit juice (try to check out the labels and look for those that contain the most real fruit juice, and less added sugars and concentrates) and make my own popsicles using popsicle molds. You can find some inexpensive ones here on Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Ozera-Ice-Molds-Maker-Green/dp/B00J93MQ6U/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1404058715&sr=8-3&keywords=popsicle+molds.
Now don’t forget about veggies too! This week Kids Eat Right had a tip (Check out their details here: http://www.eatright.org/kids/tip.aspx?id=6442464251) for grilling fruits and vegetables. As someone who grew up not really enjoying fresh, raw veggies, cooking them up on the grill is ideal for me. The possibilities of grilled veggies are endless – zucchini (my personal favorite), onions, tomatoes, corn, carrots, peppers – you name it, you can grill it. As Kids Eat Right suggests, baste & season vegetables first, then grill until brown and tender in texture. You could grill vegetables as a side dish for your meal, as a snack, or grill them on kabobs with lean chicken to add protein & make a complete meal. Don’t rule out grilled fruit, too – grilled pineapple is a great snack or topping to add on those summer burgers. And for those of you who don’t have an actual grill, I know a staple in my apartment is my trusty little George Foreman grill. It may be a little different, but it still gets the job done!
DVD review - this month: Women’s Health Look Better Naked!
http://www.amazon.com/Better-Naked-Workout-Leanest-Hottest/dp/1605290572
I’ve had this DVD for a while now, and dusted it off from the depths of the TV cabinet yesterday to try something different. It had been a while since I’d used it, and I was reminded that it really is a great workout! Again, like the previous DVDs I’ve reviewed, it has options – and a girl always needs to have options. The menu allows you to pick from: a warm-up, cool down, 20-minute strength training workout, 20-minute interval workout, or a 50-minute workout which combines all previous options. The interval workout promotes being a metabolism workout, helping to boost your energy and fat burning during the workout and throughout the day. I like that these workouts – both the interval & strength – utilize a lot of different moves, most at 8 repetitions for each. It keeps you moving, yet the moves are all fairly basic & simple; while challenging, the workouts are kept at a level which you can keep up with. This makes the workout feel doable while you still know you are working towards toning up!
Karla
http://www.amazon.com/Better-Naked-Workout-Leanest-Hottest/dp/1605290572
I’ve had this DVD for a while now, and dusted it off from the depths of the TV cabinet yesterday to try something different. It had been a while since I’d used it, and I was reminded that it really is a great workout! Again, like the previous DVDs I’ve reviewed, it has options – and a girl always needs to have options. The menu allows you to pick from: a warm-up, cool down, 20-minute strength training workout, 20-minute interval workout, or a 50-minute workout which combines all previous options. The interval workout promotes being a metabolism workout, helping to boost your energy and fat burning during the workout and throughout the day. I like that these workouts – both the interval & strength – utilize a lot of different moves, most at 8 repetitions for each. It keeps you moving, yet the moves are all fairly basic & simple; while challenging, the workouts are kept at a level which you can keep up with. This makes the workout feel doable while you still know you are working towards toning up!
Karla