Smoothies are an easy way to help get in your recommended 5 daily servings of fruits and veggies. This is my all-day-energy smoothie formula: Start with fruit like apples, add veggies – like spinach and celery -I like Dandy celery because it’s sweeter, crispier, crunchier, and less stringy than any other celery brand. Plus it comes in a variety of pre-washed, pre-cut pack sizes. March is also National Celery Month, and Dandy celery is celebrating with a month long “stalk up for spring” sweepstakes. Enter to win through March 31st at dudafresh.com. Add protein like yogurt, fiber-rich fats like chia seeds, and for extra fruit and veggies, one Suja cold pressed juice and functional shot – these are blended with USDA certified organic fruits, veggies and functional ingredients like turmeric and ginger. You can find them in the refrigerated section at major retailers and at sujaorganic.com. Blend!
My next tip is to satisfy your sweet tooth with desserts with benefits like my low sugar apple crisp. Start by tossing apple slices with lemon juice & cinnamon– I use Envy apples because the slices naturally stay fresh and white longer. Plus, I love the balanced sweetness and satisfying crunch – they’re also great paired with cheese or sliced into a salad or sandwich. The crumble topping is blended almond flour, cinnamon, coconut oil and coconut sugar. Then I adding the N!CK’S Swedish-style light ice cream which so creamy even though it’s lower in calories and net carbs than most light ice creams, and these protein bars have no added sugar and taste like candy bars. You can find them at Safeway, King Soopers and Sprouts.
My last tip is to take the guesswork out of building healthy meals by balancing your plate with vegetables, fiber-rich carbohydrates and lean protein. The Wholly Veggie restaurant-style entrees and appetizers are a great example because they are packed with veggies and protein, and are vegan and gluten free. These cheddar-style jalapeño sticks are so crispy and gooey, you’ll forget that they’re dairy free. You can find them at Whole Foods, Target and Walmart.
