A Lazy Mom’s Guide to Getting In Shape for Summer #spon

A Lazy Mom’s Guide to Getting In Shape for Summer #spon

This guide to getting in shape is made possible by a product for review.  All opinions expressed here are my  own.

I am a 40 plus woman with 2 children and I am always searching for easy ways to get in shape.  So, like most people who want to learn about a topic I head to my old friend Google to help me learn about it.  What do I find if I Google the term ‘getting in shape”?  I find pictures of buff looking women doing pushups on the beach and links to sports supplements to help me run marathons.  Okay, Google, lets be realistic here a minute, shall we?  I am middle aged and have a lot of things that hurt if I so much bend over to pick up the newspaper wrong.  I have two children who beg for ice cream on a regular basis and I have NO willpower.  My money is spent on piano lessons, not gym memberships and sports supplements.  So, how is this relatively lazy, middle aged woman supposed to get in shape for summer so that she can be seen at the pool in a bathing suit without feeling self conscious?  I am still working on getting in shape but thought I would share a few tips that I came across to help you along this path as well.

getting in shape for summer

Getting In Shape?  Try These Lazy Mom Tips!

 

1.  Put down the soda, vitamin water, and coffee and start drinking more water.  Yes, this is not easy.  It is also not always tasty.  But, getting in shape means that you need to find ways to flush your system and trick it into thinking it is full.  Drinking lots of water is one easy way to do this.  Put a giant pitcher on the counter or in the fridge and vow to finish it by the end of the day.  Add slices of fresh fruit to it or a spritz of fresh lemon or lime juice.

2. Try herbal teas:  So, I am not a doctor, dietitian, or anyone you should actually listen to when it comes to medical advice.  Let’s just get that straight before I continue! I do, however, really believe in the benefits of many herbs when it comes to health issues.  My cabinet is full of herbal teas to help solve just about every ailment you can think about.  I have detox teas, water flushing teas, and even an appetite suppressing tea.  Once a day I have a mug…usually with breakfast.  Great way to increase fluid intake without extra calories and support your digestive system at the same time.  If you are not currently an herbal tea drinker, just an FYI for you:  They don’t all taste that great.  In fact, some of them taste like water that has been added to sticks and dirt.  Add a little Stevia and lemon juice if you have to for a no calorie sweetness and flavor.

3. Get moving:  That seems so simple right?  The most important part of getting in shape is to burn calories.  The only way to burn calories is to get your behind in gear and get moving.  I do not have the time nor the money for gym memberships. I am not investing in a personal trainer or buying thousands of dollars worth of exercise equipment.  I have been trying to do something very simple: walk more!  Instead of sitting in my chair to check email or talk to my mom on the phone I head out and take a walk in the neighborhood while I work or chat.  If you are dropping your child off at soccer practice and sitting in the bleachers how about you go with your walking shoes on and take a few laps around the field while you wait.  If you DO want to get a bunch of exercise equipment, check out Craiglist or ask your friends.  People are always happy to get rid of them since a lot of times they just end up as clothes hangers and storage spaces.

4. Increase your fiber intake:  This goes back to the whole concept of tricking your body into thinking it is full. Fiber takes up a lot of space and takes a while to digest.  Getting in shape isn’t easy if you are constantly hungry!  Apples, nuts, seeds, beans, brown rice, fresh veggies, chia seeds….whatever has a decent amount of fiber in it works to help fill you up.  Eating an apple and drinking a glass of water 30 minutes before your meal will fill you up so you don’t eat too much at your meal.

5.  Leave yourself notes:  Okay, this might sound weird but I am all about lists and sticky notes.  Always head to the fridge at 3 PM for a snack?  Stick a post it note on the fridge with a big NOOOOO written on it.  Or tape a picture of a horribly obese person there, or leave yourself an inspirational message.  Whatever works to help you walk away from the fridge and stick to your diet plan.

6.  Learn what a portion size really is:  I do not count calories, weigh and measure, or in any way try to quantify the food I am eating.  I am far too lazy for that.  Getting in shape means you have to reduce your calorie intake…there is no magic bullet when it comes to shedding pounds.  Eat less, exercise more.  But, if you think that a serving of potatoes is a heaping mound on your plate next to the 12 ounce steak you are sorely mistaken.  Check out some nutrition sites to learn what a serving size is for your age/weight/height/etc.  Eat more veggies that starches, lean meat instead of processed meat food, skip the sauces and just try to make smarter food choices.

getting in shape for summer tips

7. Snack Healthier:  I am a snacker and that is not going to change just because I have to lose a few pounds.  I get cranky when I am hungry!  I am trying to make smarter snacking choices that allow me to still satisfy my need to much but also provide some sort of nutrition and health benefits at the same time.  As much as I love Cheetos, they really are not a healthy snack choice so I have been trying to limit those to special occasions.  Everyday snacking has become things like apples with almond butter, cheese sticks, veggies with low fat dip, or snack chips made from whole grains.  I recently received a package of Way Better Snacks to try out and not only did *I* enjoy them, they were a huge hit with the rest of the family as well.

Way Better Snacks are not made from regular grains…they are made from sprouted seeds!  The grains, seeds and beans are germinated (sprouted) and carefully dried before processing them into their delicious snacks. They  use only the highest quality organic seeds, grains and beans in their products and germination does not at all effect the way these grains and seed taste.  Sprouting them before processing just makes them more nutritious.  They even include things like sprouted broccoli and radish seeds in their snacks!  All of the ingredients are all-natural, non-GMO (not genetically modified) and the highest quality ingredients available. The Way Better Snacks are also Kosher, vegan, gluten free and contain no trans fats.

getting in shape for summer with healthy snacks

I received a nice variety of Way Better Snacks to try out including  Simply Sunny Multi-Grain, Simply Sweeet Potato, Simply Beyond Black Bean, Simply So Sweet Chili, Simply Unbeatable Blues and No Salt Naked Blues.  They include a variety of sprouted ingredients including flaxseed, chia seeds, quinoa, black beans, broccoli seeds and daikon radish seeds.  I served them to my kids and husband and munched on several varieties myself.  I can honestly say that we did not try a single variety that we did not like.  My son like the bold flavor of the Simply So Sweet Chili while my husband liked the plainer Simply Sunny Multi-Grain.  Probably because he covered them with melted cheese and dipped in salsa.  He DOES run marathons and has no reason to skimp on cheese.  I loved the Simply Sunny Multi-Grain eaten plain and think it had a nice, almost nutty flavor to it.  I must admit, no salt chips aren’t my favorite but the No salt Naked Blues were still tasty.  Just didn’t quite appease my salt craving.  Overall, a very tasty selection of healthy snacks that will make getting in shape without starving a tad bit easier!

Enter to Win a Case of Way Better Snacks!

Way Better Snacks would like to give 2 of my readers a case of their sprouted chips to try.  This is a Giveaway Tools contest so just follow the directions in the form to enter!

 

Disclaimer:  In accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials.”: I received product samples  in exchange for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation. All opinions expressed here are mine and mine alone. Some of the links in this post may be “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers.

By entering this giveaway, you release this blog and it’s owner from any liability whatsoever, and waive any and all causes of action, related to any claims, costs, injuries, losses or damages of any kind arising out of or in connection with the giveaway or delivery, mis-delivery or acceptance of any prize.

 

 

Tropical Green Smoothie Recipe and a Nature’s Greens Pinterest Contest #sipyournaturesgreens #sponsored

Tropical Green Smoothie Recipe and a Nature’s Greens Pinterest Contest #sipyournaturesgreens #sponsored

This tropical green smoothie recipe post is brought to you by Nature’s Greens who provided a sample for review and a promotional item for my time.

I have found over the years that one of the easiest ways to boost my nutrition intake is to blend things together into a smoothie.  I throw all sorts of things in them including fruits, veggies, seeds, oils and all sorts of other good things.  Green smoothies have become quite popular nowadays as people are trying to find easy ways to get healthier on the go.  Green smoothies are perfect for the busy lifestyle because you can just blend, pour into a travel mug of some sort and off you go to run your errands.  Sip your nutrients while you shop!

Kale

 

The greens you use in your green smoothie can be anything from kale and spinach to mustard or collard greens.  I like to buy the big bags of greens from Nature’s Greens because they come triple washed and ready to use.  No washing means less hassle and time spend preparing for my green smoothie!  Nature’s Greens offers a complete line of triple-washed, ready-to-use greens such as kale, collard, mustard and turnip greens, along with greens blends.  They are  available in both one- and two-pound packages and are packaged by WP Rawl, a leading producer of fresh bulk and packaged greens based in Pelion, SC.   Nature’s Greens is available year-round and can be found in many large grocery stores like Krogers, Walmart, and Save A Lot.

 

image001

 

If you have never made a green smoothie before here are a few tips you might want to keep in mind when you make it:

1.  Your liquid base can be anything from plain water, apple juice, coconut or soy milk or any other liquid you think sounds good with your ingredient list.  Juices will add sweetness, dairy and dairy alternatives will make it a bit more filling and higher in protein.  Water is just fine but you will not have a smoothie that has quite as much flavor.

2.  Blend your liquid and fruits first, before adding the greens.  This will allow the blades of the blender to move freely and give you the smoothest green smoothie possible.

3.  Choose natural sweeteners if needed.  If you are adding plenty of fruit and/or juice you may not need a sweetener at all.  Taste your green smoothie before adding any sweetener.

4.  For a slightly spicier and bolder flavor try adding fresh herbs to your green smoothie.  Herbs are easy to grow in your garden or landscaping so you can always go  out and grab a handful when you need them.

5.  To thicken your smoothie you can freeze your berries before adding them to the blender or add ice.

6.  Consider adding healthy fats to your green smoothie like avocado oil, flax seed oil, or raw nuts and seeds.

Sip Your Nature’s Green Pinterest Contest

Nature’s Greens is hosting the “Sip Your Nature’s Greens” contest on their Pinterest page from May – July.  They willl be picking a winner once every two weeks to receive a NutriBullet blender.

All you have to do is Follow Nature’s Greens on Pinterest

Create a board called “Sip Your Nature’s Greens Contest”

Repin their Contest Announcement

Pin at least 5 images from the Nature’s Greens Pinterest Board on Pinterest

Make sure to include the #sipyournaturesgreens hashtag on all your pins!

Email your board link to the email address in the contest announcement below.  For extra entries, tweet about the contest  using the contest hashtag!

 For more information, like Nature’s Greens on WP Rawls’ Facebook to stay connected or head over and browse through the Nature’s Greens recipes for some inspiration

PintoWin-Contest

Tropical Green Smoothie Recipe

I don’t have a fancy blender so I just did this in a regular blender and it came out very good.  It had a bit more texture than a plain fruit smoothie but the green color was just amazing!  I love knowing that this green smoothie is packed full of nutrients.  It makes the perfect breakfast or even a filling afternoon snack.

tropical green smoothie recipe

Tropical Green Smoothie Recipe
 
Prep time

Total time

 

A refreshing blend of fruits and vegetables that provide a burst of nutrition
Author:
Recipe type: beverage
Serves: 2 to 3

Ingredients
  • 2 to 3 cups coconut milk (depends on desired consistency)
  • 2 cups fresh chopped pineapple
  • 1 banana
  • 3 cups fresh kale
  • 1 TBSP flax seed oil

Instructions
  1. In a blender, combine 2 cups of the coconut milk, the pineapple, banana and flax seed oil.
  2. Blend on high speed 2 to 3 minutes or until smooth
  3. Add in the kale, 1 cup at a time blending on high speed 1 to 2 minutes after each addition
  4. When all the kale is added, adjust to desired consistency with remaining coconut milk.
  5. Serve immediately

 For more information, like Nature’s Greens on WP Rawls’ Facebook to stay connected or head over and browse through the Nature’s Greens recipes for some inspiration

Disclaimer:  In accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials.”: I received product samples and a promotional item in exchange for my honest review.  Some of the links in this post may be “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission.  All opinions expressed here are mine and mine alone. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers.

Natural Fruit Bars Make Getting Healthy Oh So Sweet!  #FreshNFruti #sponsored

Natural Fruit Bars Make Getting Healthy Oh So Sweet! #FreshNFruti #sponsored

I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community. This natural fruit bars shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias and their client.

I have mentioned many times over the years that I have a weakness for dessert.  Dinner usually includes a little something sweet at the end and when I find myself cruising the pantry for something to snack on,  my eyes are always drawn to sweets rather than the more healthy options in there.  Getting healthy can be difficult if you have a sweet tooth!  My family is always happy to help me indulge my sweet tooth when I succumb so on Mother’s Day I treated myself to a trip to the ice cream shop.  And yes, I ate the whole thing!

frozen treats

On special occasions like Mother’s Day I don’t worry so much about making healthy snacking choices but what about the other 364 days out of the year?  If I gave into my sweet tooth with an ice cream sundae every day I would never fit into my pants!  In fact, after a year of those things I would not fit into my HOUSE!  So, for the other 364 days a year I try to make sure that the treats I indulge in fit with my goals of getting healthy.  When I was asked to try out a delicious and healthy natural fruit bars from Fruti I was thrilled….a smart way to indulge my sweet tooth without the guilt and weight gain of an ice cream sundae!

I have been wanting to get a membership to Sams Club for quite some time now to help reduce the cost associated with getting healthy and eating right.  Healthy foods are not always cheap but buying in bulk at Sam’s Club will help me stay in budget while still eating healthy foods.  I found a nice selection of nuts, dried fruit, organic granola and even organic veggies at Sam’s Club.  I also found the Chunks O’ Fruti natural fruit bars variety pack.  This is a 16 count package containing four different flavors of the tastiest, all natural l fruit bars I have ever had!

getting healthy snacking

Fruti natural fruit bars are made by the Natural Fruit Corporation and come in flavors like Pina Colada, Strawberry, Caribbean Mix, Strawberry Pina Colada and Pineapple Mango.  They select only premium fresh fruit from around the world for these natural fruit bars. Fruti’s fruit bars contain more fruit than any other ingredient.  Because there is so much fruit, there is no need for added colors or flavors.  I love knowing that there are no artificial flavors or colors in these natural popsicles!  There is also no high fructose corn syrup in them which is very important to me.  There is so much fruit in these frozen treats that they require minimal added sweetener at all.  The small amount that is added comes in the form of natural cane sugar.  They are also non GMO project certified, vegan, Kosher, gluten free and made in a peanut free facility.  A great healthy snack choice if you have dietary restrictions you need to follow.

fruti frozen fruit bars

Buying a 16 count package of these natural fruit bars at Sams was a smart choice because once I got them home my children descended on me like ants to a picnic and quickly grabbed their own personal favorites.  Because this is a relatively large box and freezer space is always tricky to find, Fruti natural fruit bars actually come in four smaller boxes tucked inside the larger package.  Each flavor comes in it’s own smaller box which can be removed and tucked into a smaller spot in your freezer.  I like that I don’t have to worry about how to fit a huge box in my freezer.  

all natural fruit bars

When I was at Sam’s Club shopping, I got the change to try out a delicious creation that was being made at one of the demo stations in the frozen food isle.  The woman behind the cart was making a Fruti smoothie with a small amount of plain yogurt and just a touch of water.  It was seriously so delicious I went back for seconds!  Yes, I know, my sweet tooth strikes again but this was a healthy treat so I didn’t feel quite so guilty.  If you want to try the smoothie for yourself or want to see some other creative ways to use these natural fruit bars just check out the Fruti recipe page.   I tried a frozen smoothie with the Strawberry Cream and the Pina Colada and both were creamy and sweet and would make a great summer treat for either me or the kids!

natural fruit popsicles from fruti

I really loved the flavor of these natural fruit bars and even more, I love the ingredients and the commitment to whole foods that the company has.  My kids are happy to eat neon blue artificially flavored things but that is not the kind of food I like to keep in the house.  Fruti natural fruit bars were a delicious frozen treat that all of us, young AND old (or oldER!) can enjoy! The flavor was nice and sweet and the bars are full of chunks of real fruit that gave it a great texture.  These bars are a much smarter choice for healthy snacking than many other frozen treats on the market.  And they are a MUCH better choice for daily snacking than the gigantic ice cream sundae I splurged on for Mother’s Day.  Something like that might be nice to do occasionally but for day to day treats, Fruti is a smarter choice that will ensure I can still fit into my pants for many years to come!

natural fruit bars from frutiGetting Healthy With Natural Fruit Bars!

If you would like to learn more about Fruti natural fruit bars you can check them out on Facebook and Twitter.  Make sure you check out their recipe page.  You can also follow them on Pinterest for more information and some great recipe ideas.  If you want to see more of my shopping experience, check out my Google + album.

 

Disclaimer: I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias and their client.

Nutritious Snacks and #AGiantSurprise from Green Giant #spon

Nutritious Snacks and #AGiantSurprise from Green Giant #spon


My children and I have a game we play almost every day called ‘Are These Nutritious Snacks?”.  They have hit those tween and teen years where they are starting to get wise about mommy’s obsessive need to feed them healthy foods.  THEY might want cookies, candy, and donuts but mommy would rather give them smoothies, homemade granola bars and veggie chips.  So, whenever I present them with a new food they look at it rather suspiciously, wondering whether I am trying to sneak in some nutritious snacks.  They are perfectly happy actually EATING the healthy stuff as long as it tastes good.  Well, we have found some nutritious snacks from Green Giant that we can all feed good about indulging in!

more nutritious snacks from green giant

Green Giant’s new veggie chips are a great tasting chip that snackers can feel good about eating.  They are made with whole grains and contain zero trans fats.  They are also made with real vegetables and contain less fat than traditional potato chips.  Since I am never going to curb my family’s desire for chips, I am happy to have a healthier alternative!  Want to see what other giant surprise Green Giant has unearthed?  Check out  the video below! You can see even more of the Giant’s favorite surprise talents at the Green Giant YouTube channel.

I received the Roasted Veggie Tortilla chips and the Multigrain Sweet Potato chips with Sea Salt to try out with my family.  I really loved the sweet potato chips.  They have just a hint of sea salt on them, which I really like because my husband is watching his salt intake.  It is sometimes hard to find nutritious snacks for him to enjoy that also taste good but these made for very enjoyable snacking.  You can really taste the sweet potato in them and they are light and crispy.   The roasted veggie chips had a natural zesty cheddar flavor to them that gave them a slightly bolder taste than the sweet potato chips.  I honestly could have eaten the entire bag in one sitting but made myself share with the children.  So, what did they think of these nutritious snacks? My son wanted me to hand over the entire bag of the zesty cheddar veggie chips but I convinced him that saving some for later was a better choice.  He enjoyed the light and crispy flavor of the sweet potato chips, too, but the others were definitely his favorite.  I am happy to have found a nice balance with Green Giant Veggie Chips.  The kids get chips they enjoy and I get to feel good about providing them with nutritious snacks.

nutritious snacks from green giant

Nutritious Snacks from Green Giant

Green Giant is offering a printable coupon for 85 cents off their new Veggie Snack Chips! Go ahead and grab the coupon so you can try out these nutritious snacks with your own family!  Here is some more information about the new Green Giant Veggie Snacks if you would like to learn more:

  • The Green Giant™ Roasted Veggie Tortilla Chips – Zesty Cheddar Flavor are made with real vegetables, 17 grams of whole grain per serving (48g are recommended daily), and are naturally flavored.
  • The Green Giant™ Multigrain Sweet Potato Chips – Sea Salt Flavor are made with real sweet potatoes and made with 14 grams of whole grain. Plus, they contains 40 percent less fat than regular potato chips*!
  • *Green Giant Multigrain Sweet Potato Chips (6g per 28g serving) have 40 percent less fat than regular potato chips (10g per 28g serving).

Thank you to The Green Giant™ for being a sponsor. Show the Giant your surprise talent at www.facebook.com/greengiant

Muffin Recipes: Frosted Apple Spice Mini Muffins

Muffin Recipes: Frosted Apple Spice Mini Muffins

My children are forever complaining about what’s for breakfast.  They say they don’t like cereal, are tired of toast and oatmeal is boring.  Well, you know what?  Tomorrow morning they are going to be happy little campers because they will be eating frosted apple spice mini muffins for breakfast!  Mom rocks, right?  I got this recipe from Petite Treats: Adorably Delicious Versions of All Your Favorites from Scones, Donuts, and Cupcakes to Brownies, Cakes, and Pies.  It is a cute little cookbook that offers tons of delicious recipes in bite sized form.  Great for when you just want a tiny something sweet at the end of the meal or finger foods for a party.  This was an incredibly easy recipe to make, although my picture doesn’t look anywhere near as nice as the one in the book!  My frosting technique leaves something to be desired.  So, if you are looking for muffin recipes that your kids will thank you for making, I really recommend you try this one! The recipe will make about 18 to 24 mini muffins.

 

muffin recipes with applesauce

Frosted Apple Spice Mini Muffins

Reprinted with permission

Frosted Apple Spice Mini Muffins
 
Prep time

Cook time

Total time

 

A delicious little bite of apple and spice! From the cookbook Petite Treats: Adorably Delicious Versions of All Your Favorites from Scones, Donuts, and Cupcakes to Brownies, Cakes, and Pies [
Author:
Recipe type: Breakfast
Serves: 8

Ingredients
  • FORTHE MUFFINS:
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ¼ cup (½ stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup brown sugar, packed
  • 2 large eggs
  • ¾ cup unsweetened applesauce
  • ½ cup chopped walnuts
  • FORTHE FROSTING:
  • ¼ cup (½ stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions
  1. MAKE THE MUFFINS:
  2. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line 18 mini muffin wells with paper liners.
  3. Whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves in a medium bowl.
  4. Place the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
  5. Add the eggs one at a time, scraping down the bowl as needed. Reduce the speed to low and add the applesauce. Gradually add the flour mixture until combined. Stir in the walnuts by hand.
  6. Using a 1-inch ice cream scoop and heaping portions, fill each mini muffin liner to the brim.
  7. Bake until lightly browned and a toothpick inserted into the center returns with no crumbs, about 20 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through. Allow to cool 5 minutes in the pan, or until safe to handle. Then transfer to cooling racks to cool completely.
  8. MAKE THE FROSTING:
  9. While the muffins are baking, combine the butter, cream cheese, sugar, and cinnamon in an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on medium speed until combined, about 3 minutes.
  10. Transfer the frosting into a pastry bag and refrigerate.
  11. When the muffins have completely cooled, frost each one.
  12. Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
  13. SWEET TIPS: The frosting is only slightly sweet, to allow the flavor of the muffins to shine like the morning sun

 

 Do you have any good muffin recipes that your kids rave about?

Disclaimer:  In accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials.”: I received one copy of the cookbook mentioned above  to facilitate my review. I received no monetary compensation. All opinions expressed here are mine and mine alone. Some of the links in this post may be “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers.