Sweet and Salty!

The weekend is a time to relax, BUT not to forget about good nutrition! This salad adds good for you ingredients with a little indulgence(mozzarella and prosciutto) to add a sweet and salty mix to your lazy summer days, without weighing you down! ENJOY!

 

 

Grilled Asparagus with Melon (and Mozzarella!)

 

 

 

(Courtesy of Giada DeLaurentis)

• 2 ounces thinly sliced prosciutto
• 1 pound asparagus, trimmed
• 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus 2 tablespoons
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 small melon (about 12 ounces), peeled, seeded and cut into 3/4-inch cubes
• 4 ounces fresh mozzarella or burrata cheese, cut into 3/4-inch cubes
• 2 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted* see Cook's Note

 

Place an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the prosciutto in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 12 to 14 minutes until crispy. Drain on paper towels. Chop the prosciutto into 1/4-inch pieces.

Place a grill pan over medium-high heat or preheat a gas or charcoal grill. In a medium bowl, toss together the asparagus and 2 teaspoons olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Grill for 2 to 3 minutes each side until crisp-tender.

In a medium bowl, combine the lemon juice and 2 tablespoons olive oil. Whisk until combined. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Add the melon and mozzarella cheese and toss until all ingredients are combined.

Arrange the asparagus on a platter. Using a slotted spoon, spoon the melon and burrata cheese on top of the asparagus. Drizzle any remaining vinaigrette over the top. Sprinkle the prosciutto and pine nuts on top and serve.

*Cook's Note: To toast pine nuts, arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake in a preheated 350 degrees F oven for 8 to 12 minutes until lightly browned.

COOL recipes for a HOT summer!

Whether you have a great garden of your own,or the local farmer's market is calling your name, veggies are a great way to stay trim, hydrated and FIT, especially during those hot summer months! But when the old crudite plate seems so boring, they are a ton of recipes out there where VEGGIES are the STAR of the SHOW! One of our favorites is GAZPACHO! Chilled soup for a hot day, what could be better? So filling, refreshing, and sooooooo goooood for you! It's a winner and will make you slimmer, too!

Gazpacho (courtesy of simply recipes)

Don't let this laundry list of ingredients make you nervous, you throw it all into a blender and GO! :)

• 6 ripe tomatoes, peeled and chopped
• 1 purple onion, finely chopped
• 1 cucumber, peeled, seeded, chopped
• 1 sweet red bell pepper (or green) seeded and chopped
• 2 stalks celery, chopped
• 1-2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley
• 2 Tbsp chopped fresh chives
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 Tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• Salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
• 6 or more drops of Tabasco sauce to taste
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce (omit for vegetarian option)
• 4 cups tomato juice

Method

Combine all ingredients. Blend slightly, to desired consistency. Place in non-metal, non-reactive storage container, cover tightly and refrigerate overnight, allowing flavors to blend.OR EAT RIGHT AWAY~YUM!

Stay Hydrated!

This SUMMER and ALWAYS, STAY HYDRATED!

 

Very often we think we are hungry when actually we are THIRSTY!

AND with all the time you'll be spending outdoors during these warmer weather months, it's important to keep yourself hydrated!

 

WATER is BEST! But things like Unsweet Tea (or lightly sweetened with lemonade and mint is what we love around here!) OR make yourself things like blended frozen fruit with water (aqua fresca) OR even milk (great protein pickup in the afternoon) OR KEEP A PITCHER OF WATER IN THE FRIDGE FILLED WITH CITRUS AND CUCUMBER (a great refreshing way to keep you full and you guessed it, hydrated!) 

 

SO remember, before reaching for that snack,

THINK...Am I REALLY JUST THIRSTY?

 

 

 Watermelon Aqua FRESCA Recipe (Whole Foods)

Ingredients:

• 6 pounds seedless watermelon, cut into 2-inch pieces
• 2 cups cold water, divided
• 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
• 1 tablespoon agave nectar or honey
• Ice cubes
• Lime slices and mint leaves for garnish (optional)

 

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Method:

Cut the watermelon flesh from the rind. In a blender, process half the watermelon pieces with 1 cup of water until smooth. Pour through a strainer into a pitcher. Repeat the process with the remaining melon and water. You should end up with about 8 cups of juice. Stir in the lime juice and agave. Pour into ice-filled glasses and garnish with lime slices and mint.

 

Happy weekend!

An open letter to your SOUL.....


This weekend take the time to count your blessings! It's summer, maybe you have a graduating family member from school, your pool has finally opened, your husband is home from traveling, your toddler has picked you a wildflower with the biggest smile, or you're going to spend time with family. However you choose to spend your weekend, choose to B-FIT4U, not only feeding your body with good nutrition and exercise, BUT feed your soul! See that beauty around you and your many blessings. Take time to exhale. Bring a beautiful existence of peace around you by seeing it in every flower, tree, smile, friend. This weekend remember, each and every day...You are BLESSED by the positive energy you put out to the world.


Always in good health, ~FoodieGIRL oxo

Rum vs Vodka

Yes, we're going there today...RUM VS. VODKA!

Why is it that when the weather gets warmer aka. summertime! we all want to cocktail more than we ever have before? Is it the sun, the sand, the pool, the beach?

Well, whatever your drink of choice is think sugar....you don't want your alcoholic beverages to have tons of sugar. SO choose vodka over sugar-laden rum when making your cocktails (or only have 1 rum drink on occasion) AND whatever cocktails you consume, use sensible portion control, just as you do with food.

WHY? Because your drink beverages add up in calories just as FAST as food calories! 2 drink minimum. Drink Sensibly! B-FIT4U!

And ladies (and gentlemen, too) refreshing white wine, that you oh so love to have chilled on a delightful summer pool day is full of...you guessed it...SUGAR! So again, don't over do it.

You worked hard for that healthy bathing suit bod, don't get the alcohol belly pudge this summer!

Alcohol LOVES to slow down your metabolism and your inhibitions, too causing you to munch munch munch and crunch the wrong foods. So think before you drink this summer!

Watermelon and Bathing Suits

Summer is right around the corner...bathing suits, bathing suits, bathing suits...AAAAAH! Inevitably you're going to be wearing a bathing suit this summer..Are you ready? Listen, you don't have to be a model to rock a suit, you also do not have to wear a bikini to feel young! Just like regular clothes, wear what SUITS YOU! There's off the shoulder, skirted, one piece with a cinched waist...the list is endless. WEAR what you LOVE and you will never be uncomfortable. AND you have worked hard for that B-FIT4U attitude and body, rock it out this summer!


Watermelon Salad....a great healthy salad to keep you slim and trim all summer long!

2 cups watermelon cubed
1 seedless cucumber sliced
1 tomato sliced into bite size pieces
1/4 cup sliced red onion
2 tsps fresh mint
1 tsp honey
1 tbs red wine vinegar
1 tbs olive oil
pinch of sea salt and pepper
* crumbled feta cheese is fun to add to this salad too, try it!)

Toss everything together and ENJOY! Refreshing and FIGURE FRIENDLY, we like it!!

FREEDOM to EXHALE

Happy Friday B-Fitters!
How has your WELLNESS WEEK been?

Have you taken time to BREATHE?
(hey 10 minutes of breathing and meditating can do a world of good!)

Have you beeen THANKFUL for the many BLESSINGS in your LIFE?

Have you put yourself FIRST?
(making yourself a priority will give you the energy to give back to the world around you)

Listen, let's get real here, you're busy, I'm busy, we're all busy...BUT "busy" is a choice. If you want things to be simple, YOU have the POWER to MAKE things SIMPLE in your LIFE. WHY? Because this is YOUR LIFE!

You are the painter of this empty canvas, you can add color, take it away, start again, explore your options and get as creative as you want with YOUR LIFE!

You are already a perfect creation, now go out there and spread that smile to the world, be the person you want to be! When in doubt.......just breathe~~~~~exhale~~~~~and breathe :)

A Blessed weekend to you all!

See you next week with lots of new recipes to keep you on track this summer and feeling great!

Always in Good Health~FoodieGIRL

CHANGE

In some sense of the word, we all struggle with "change".
 Whether it's with food, relationships, work, or exercise, we all inevitably fall into a "rut" AND nothing good comes from rut status, ya dig?

Break out of your norm! Feel free to change everytime the wind blows...(ok don't get wishy washy on us all though..)
BUT CHANGE IS A GOOD THING!!

How's about this statement as powerful:" YOU CANNOT BE WHO YOU ARE GOING TO BE IF YOU REMAIN in THE PAST staring AT THE PERSON YOU ONCE WERE"...

That's right, flex those change muscles this week and do something out of the ordinary to make you feel truly extraordinary! Move out of your comfort zone by doing something new, or trying something you've always wanted to try AND turn that green light on>>>GO!
You're ready to move to the fast lane of CHANGE and it's going to FEEL GREAT!

A little "food" for thought....

In continuing with our WELLNESS WEEK....a little "food" for thought:

Life's journey is just that...A JOURNEY......you're going to want more, be more, have more....BUT the secret to creating all the magic you long for....is to be THANKFUL for where you are right now. BE IN THE PRESENT, HOLD CLOSE TO YOUR HEART YOUR MANY BLESSINGS, and LIVE FOR THE MOMENT, right now, this glorious beautiful moment that is your life. Don't take it for granted, and always keep moving towards the good, that is you!

Wellness from the inside out!

It's Wellness Week here at B-FIT4U, and we're going to inspire you to take care of yourself from the inside out with inspirational quotes and tips! It's time to take at least 20 minutes out of your day and focus on just you!! Have your heard yourself breathe lately? Time to EXHALE.....


A wise woman once said...."There is only one YOU in this world...create, inspire and dream around this one beautiful you, and let your light shine as a gift to everyone you meet."

So as you trample through perhaps the barb wire filled busy week of yours, look out to the field of daisies and know that they are yours for the choosing. You make your path, you make your HAPPY, you're in control of YOU, just BREATHE......

Quick Meal Replacement

I've mentioned these before, BUT since you've all been asking for quick meal/snacks on the go, here it is again BELVITA breakfast biscuits. FOUR biscuits in a package for 230 calories, they are great for a small meal replacement OR snack on the GO! And not just for breakfast! They are nutritional, sustainable energy to get you going! So toss them into your bag, briefcase, purse or car to have on hand, instead of that drive thru, ya dig? 19g of whole grains in one 4 biscuit serving, now that's what I'm talking about. DID WE MENTION THEY COME IN CHOCOLATE TOO? YUM!

 ENJOY and Always B-FIT4U!~FoodieGIRL

Soul Searching

It's Monday, and as far as Mondays go....well, Mondays get such a bad rap. For many, it's the start of a new week, and although fresh starts are wonderful, it seems many of you dread getting back to the grind. But hey, it doesn't have to be that way. Sure there are inevitably going to be outside forces that are going to sway you throughout your week, make you work to the bone, and make you feel tired, tired, tired. BUT you don't have to let the outside always effect your inside.
YOU have the power to THINK POSTIVELY, REACT POSITIVELY, and MOVE in a direction that is good for your SOUL!

So when your busy life gets in the way of your happiness, remember three things, BREATHE, THINK POSITIVELY, and YOU have the POWER to REACT in a way that is good for your SOUL!

Eat well.
Be well.
A Positive MIND is a POWERFUL thing! USE IT to your ADVANTAGE and overcome the negative that binds you to a busy life. YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE IN CONTROL of your SOUL'S HAPPINESS :)

~always in good health!~FoodieGIRL