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Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Smoothies and Juicing


Smoothies are great for you and are a personal favorite at Healthier Divas.  I'm absolutely obsessed!  Depending on how they're made, they can be a quick meal substitute or just something to go along on the side.  Here are some of my favorites (some that I have mixed up myself, and others recipes that I have adopted from other places).  It is OK to use frozen fruits and veggies, but keep in mind that organic fruits and veggies lack preservatives and sugar.  Feel free to alter your smoothies to your personal preferences. All of my smoothies are single serving smoothies.


Modification:
Since I've become an independent distributor for It Works! Global, I have begun to add Greens to my smoothies and juices.  Greens is a powder that can be added to your favorite juice, water, or smoothie to alkalize and detox your body.  One serving of greens also gives you the nutrients of 8 servings of fruits and vegetables.  Like any supplement, the REAL thing is better, so make sure you're eating your fruits and veggies as well :)





Green Tea Smoothie

I'm a self-proclaimed green tea addict. Green tea has so many health benefits, it's crazy!  This smoothie is definitely my favorite.



  • 1 tsp, matcha powder (matcha is the highest grade of green tea available. You can find it in places like Whole Foods or Trader Joes)
  • peaches, mangoes, strawberries, bananas
  • yogurt (frozen or refrigerated)
  • water and ice
You can use any combination of the fruits listed above.  I'm not a huge fan of bananas. I like the peach by itself, or mango and strawberry together.


Green Smoothie (Energy)


This is more of a juice than a smoothie, but it's so yummy!  The ginger adds a nice kick to it.  The juice is great for providing natural energy and adding some alkalinity to your diet.  This is a that I had to adjust to, so I added sugar to help me get used to the taste and I gradually weaned myself off of it.


  • 2 handfuls of fresh spinach
  • juice of 1/2 lemon
  • fresh ginger (you will need a piece that is about the size of your thumb)
  • 1 apple
  • water and ice

Another recipe for a green smoothie that I have been dying to try can be found here.





Green Berry
Yep, you're definitely seeing a trend.  I'm obsessed with green.  Greens have so many awesome health benefits and help keep your colon happy.

  • Strawberries
  • Blueberries
  • Spinach or broccoli (or both)
  • Vanilla Yogurt
  • Ice and milk (coconut, almond, or soy are fine)





Green Refresher
OK, OK, This is my last green smoothie. I LOVE this smoothie.  It's great in the morning because the combo of the mint and melon is just so refreshing.  A super healthy way to jump start your day.
  • 2 slices of melon (either honeydew or cantaloupe is just fine)
  • A handful of fresh mint
  • 1/2 bag fresh spinach
  • 1/2 mango
  • 1/4 cucumber
  • 4 oz. apple juice
  • plain yogurt
  • ice


Just Veggies
This smoothie is a great way to get in a serving of veggies.  Get that fiber in, make your colon happy, and give yourself a nice little energy boost.  This is one of those smoothies that you have to acquire a taste for, but it's growing on me. Hopefully, you'll love it. It turns out to be a gorgeous orange color too :)
  • 1 Carrot
  • Thumb sized piece of ginger
  • 1/2 ripe avocado
  • 1/4 cucumber
  • 4 oz. apple juice
  • ice


Go Blue (Energy)
This smoothie is phenomenal.  It provides a great boost of energy to get you through the day and it tastes great.  The recipe calls for muesli which is basically a granola cereal.  You can find it in grocery stores, or make it yourself.  I also eat muesli as a snack throughout the day.
  • 1/2 mango
  • 1/2 banana
  • A handful of blueberries
  • 4 oz. apple juice
  • 1 tablespoon muesli
  • plain yogurt
  • ice



Oatmeal Smoothie
This is a Martha Stewart recipe (go figure) but it's so great!  You get all of the benefits of oatmeal and fruit.  This is great for breakfast.
  • 1/2 cup oatmeal
  • strawberries
  • banana
  • yogurt
  • sugar to taste
  • ice and milk

Kick Start Booster
This smoothie packs a serious energy boost.  It's packed full of vitamins and I love to drink this one before I work out.  I'm a berry fiend, so this one definitely goes down in the books as one of my favorites.
  • 4-5 strawberries
  • Handful of raspberries
  • 1 banana
  • 3-4 pineapple slices
  • 4 oz. orange juice
  • ice

Power Punch (Protein)
Seeds and nuts are a great way to get the protein you need in your diet. This smoothie gives you a bit extra to keep you strong and help with post-workout recovery.  I thought this one sounded delish, I haven't been able to try it because I'm allergic to tree nuts.
  • 1 banana
  • 5-10 cherries
  • 4 oz. orange juice
  • plain yogurt
  • a small amount of seed (mixed variety,sunflower, pumpkin...whatever floats your boat)
  • 4-5 walnuts
  • Ice

Chocolate Peanut Butter
  • peanut butter
  • chocolate syrup
  • apples, bananas, blueberries, strawberries (this one is traditionally done with bananas, but I don't like them, so I improvise)
  • yogurt (i prefer vanilla)
  • ice and milk

My Green Juice

  • 1 Green Apple
  • 2 handfuls of kale
  • 1/2 cucumber

Berry Juice

  • 1 cup Strawberries - hulled
  • 1 cup Raspberries
  • 1/2 cup Blackberries
  • 1/2 cup Blueberries
  • 1 Cucumber - whole
  • 1 Tbsp. Agave Nectar

Orange and Ginger
  • 1 Orange or 2 Clementines
  • 3 Strawberries
  • 1 Lemon
  • 2 Large Carrots
  • 1/2 inch Fresh Ginger

This one is supposed to be good for your skin


  • 12 baby carrots
  • 2 cups of cranberries
  • 2 golden apples 
  • 1 handful of kale

This one packs a lot of iron, but I'm not crazy about it


  • 1 beet
  • 1 apple
  • 1/2 cup of broccoli 
  • 2 kale leaves




Depending on my day and activity level, I add protein powder to my smoothies.  Protein is great when you're working out or if you're like me and trying to gain weight.  Adding protein helps your body generate muscle.  The best time to have protein shakes/smoothies is right after a workout so that you muscles can begin healing and rebuilding.

Tweak these smoothies to your personal preference.  There's no right or wrong way to do it.  These are just some of my personal favorites!


Contact: Tabitha Artis
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Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Introduction

Hi ladies! I am so thrilled about the opportunity to be able to share my passion for health and wellness with you!  This blog will provide you with inspiration, healthy eating and nutrition tips, as well as tips for staying fit and healthy. It is so important that we are able to maintain our physical, spiritual, and emotional health.  We cannot function properly when one of these three is out of whack.

As women, we try to juggle the world! We are superheroes! But like many superheroes, we work so hard to save the world without focusing on what is good for US.  This blog will help you pinpoint what areas of your life you can adjust to make sure you are feeling your best at all times. Even Superwoman is allowed to have fun!