Green Tea Frap

I have been really craving a Green Tea Frappuccino from Starbucks... but since I decided to start eating clean making the trip was a no-go.  Instead I used my brain power to use what I had in my cupboard to try to make an imitation.  I had some Tazo green tea (part of my Christmas present, thanks to my future mother-in-law) which is the same brand used at Starbucks.

• 1 Tazo China Green Tips tea bag
• 8 oz. hot water
• 1 scoop Jay Robb Vanilla whey protein
• ice (add as much as you would like)

Allow the green tea to steep in the water for 5 minutes, and then allow it to cool.  Ideally, put it in the fridge over night so that it is completely cold when you add it to the blender so that the ice doesn't melt as quickly.

I use a magic bullet blender (http://www.buythebullet.com/) because it is easier to clean up and you get the perfect amount.

Add all of the ingredients in, and blend until it sounds like all of the ice has been chopped up.  If you notice that you put too much ice in, add a little bit of water and it will thin it out.

Mine was a little watery, I should have added more ice, as you can see.

I was surprised that this turned out like it did.  I was a little disappointed that it was thicker, but I am going to try this again and see if I can improve it.  

Next time I am going to brew 2 tea bags in a smaller amount of water so that the green tea flavor is more concentrated.  Since I made this spur-of-the-moment, I didn't have all of the ingredients I would have liked, so  next time I am going to try making this with soy, almond, or coconut milk hoping that it gives it a thicker consistency.  Adding the alternative milk will also enhance the flavor of the green tea.  Next time I go to the store I will pick up these items and post the new concoction.  

Give it a try and see what you think.  If you have any suggestions let me know :)

You can order Jay Robb protein here: http://www.jayrobb.com/protein/Whey-Protein-Vanilla.asp 

it is also available at the Vitamin Shoppe and GNC

If you are looking for Tazo tea it can be found at most Target and Starbucks stores

Enjoy!

Sugar sugar, ah honey honey

Maybe Winnie was onto something...

If you haven't used honey lately, now is a good time to start.  Honey offers many benefits including: improvement of skin, hair, cholesterol & diabetes, and healing of wounds. It's a cough suppressant, boosts the immune system, and the list goes on and on.

Did you know that honey can be used as an antibiotic because it kills bacteria?  

Honey is an excellent alternative to sugar, just bee (sorry I couldn't help myself) careful that you don't add too much, as honey is packed with calories.  If you want some healthy recipes using honey, check out: http://www.recipe4living.com/articles/our_top_10_healthy_honey_recipes.htm

The obvious way to use honey is to consume it, but it can also be applied topically.  I use honey on my skin, the only downside is the stickiness, I love the way it makes my skin feels and I notice the difference it makes the next day.  Did you know that honey can be used as an antibiotic because it kills bacteria? If you suffer from acne, like me, honey may be a good treatment for you because it draws the bacteria out of the acne sore!  I find it best to put the honey on at night and leave it on when I sleep.  If you want something less sticky check out this video from make-up artist Kandee Johnson

Let me know what you think.  How has honey benefited you?

Sources
Benefits of Raw Honey: http://www.livestrong.com/article/259549-benefits-of-raw-honey/
Eggs-cellent Mask: http://youtu.be/LqBUm0txdhQ
Honey as an antibiotic: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100630111037.htm

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Diet Advice: What you really need to know about your favorite diet drink

Everyday we are bombarded with health information through TV ads, magazine articles, and even radio commercials. "Natural", "made from real sugar", "no sugar added", "moderation". Now, I know the term "natural" is thrown around a lot, so let's define it first. There are so many times you see "natural" on the front of a box or bag, turn it around only to find that you can't pronounce the names of half of the ingredients. According to mirram-webster.com natural is defined as, "existing in or produced by nature : not artificial", and artificial is defined as man made.
America is obsessed with calories. Many people buy items that say "diet" or "sugar-free" in hope that they will lose weight. Little do they know that these product may be making things worse. Most beverages, mainly sodas, are made with artificial sweeteners which allows them to have 0 calories. 0 calories will help you to lost weight if you are monitoring the rest of your calorie intake, but drinking a diet soda will not make you lose weight. You may have seen the word aspartame, saccharine, acesulfame potassium, or sucralose in your favorite diet drink. All of these are the scientific names for the artificial sweeteners found in many products on the shelves of our grocery stores. Many times these are derived from natural sources, but through chemical processes are made artificial. According to the FDA aspartame has been linked to sudden death syndrome, seizures, irregular heart beat, weight gain, and many more. It has been referred to as a neurotoxin, and many of these symptoms have arisen in young people who are healthy. For more information visit: fda.gov
I'm don't want to scare you, but as a consumer you need to be informed about the items you are ingesting. I personally try to avoid any foods that have been modified through chemical processes. Products labeled "diet" and "sugar-free" give the impression that they are better for your health. "Diet" items usually mean low or no calories, which will aid in weight loss if used correctly, but is that worth sacrificing other components of your health? The choice is up to you, be smart, do your research, if something is artificial, there are most likely side effects. Over the next few posts, we will discuss alternatives to artificial sweeteners that will not compromise your health.

Check out this article from Men's Health about diet soda, it will surprise you!:
http://news.menshealth.com/the-truth-about-diet-soda/2011/07/07/





http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Diet/story?id=4271986&page=2

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Nana's Cookies

Its impossible not to be skeptical when you hear of a cookie that's made with no refined sugar, no eggs, no dairy, and gluten free.  In your mind your thinking "sounds like a cardboard tasting disaster", and what else would you expect when other cookies you've tried, that are missing the same ingredients, have all tasted the same... horrible.  Well, I can assure you that these cookies are anything but horrible or cardboard-tasting! When I'm craving something sweet, Nana's cookies come to mind. Now, I'm not allergic to gluten, but I try to stay away from processed sugar as much as possible, and I know that Nana never uses refined sugar and I'm not compromising taste for a healthier alternative.

Nana has formulated a few different flavors, and there is bound to be something for everyone.  Gluten free flavors include, chocolate, chocolate crunch, lemon, and ginger, and there are even more flavors in the original and no wheat variations. If you're looking for a treat for your kids, you can definitely spoil them with Nana's.  I guarantee you'll get addicted!

For more information on Nana's check out the website:

http://www.nanascookiecompany.com/index.html#2

Here's the Skinny on the Skinnygirl Margarita

Well, I guess I'll start out with a confession, this was my first margarita...ever! (Gasp!) Now, I'm not really a drinker, I've grown to dislike beer more and more, and every now and then I like a froo-froo drink, but I'm not a fan of all the sugar (hmmm...). So I've been searching for something to fit me... DING DING DING we have a winner!  I guess I'll make another confession, the first sip I took didn't exactly strike my fancy, but as I sipped again it grew on me and has been growing on me ever since!  This is now my favorite drink! Hats off to Bethenny Frankel, who not only made a tasty concoction but also created a drink that won't hurt your waistline.  Bethenny chose to use agave nectar to lightly sweeten the Skinnygirl Margarita, which I was ecstatic about since I'm not exactly the biggest fan of sugar. Now that summer is fast approaching, you want to look good in your bikini and wont have to compromise your weight loss with this drink.  The Skinnygirl Margarita has the perfect blend of flavors, and isn't too sweet or too bitter... and how cute is the bottle?!  If your looking for something new, or just want a healthier version of the classic margarita, you've got to try this.

 Check out the website to find out where the Skinnygirl Margarita is sold near you!
http://www.skinnygirlcocktails.com/locate.php