A slice of summer has finally arrived!
Over the last few days the air has turned hot and heavy with moisture. My fitness clients have been doggedly trudging through their workouts despite the heat - drenched almost to the tips of their ponytails by the end.
In this weather, anyone with a diet not on point is quickly revealed - heat tends to cause extra water retention and bloating. In just 1-3 days, a person who enjoys a few too many processed foods or late night snacks becomes visibly pudgier around their mid-section, as the temperature rises. For a trainer, this is useful information because it tells me when a person is in need of some gentle nutritional nudging.
Personally I crave, and therefore choose, watery fresh fruit over processed crap when it's hot. I suggest others do the same, but I often hear that fruit does not do enough to satisfy their sweet tooth. This is where turning it into a simple frozen dessert can help.
Smoothies blended with frozen fruits, plus a 1:1 ratio of coconut water and orange juice for a bit of sweetness, can hit the spot. Another trick is to blend frozen fruits with unsweetened nut or soy milk and a tablespoon of jam for that extra sweet kick.
Fresh fruits can be turned into sorbet-like popsicles. With watery fruits like melon and berries, the trick to preventing a solid "rock-sicle" effect, is to add a small amount of simple syrup. This ingredient is generally not necessary when using pulpy fruits such as mango, pineapple or bananas, which also have higher concentrations of sugar.
To kick off the season and motivate you all to start making your own healthy treats, I'm posting a very basic recipe. No veggies, herbs or strange ingredients in today's post.
If popsicle molds are not among your kitchen gadgets, just pour the purée into freezable serving glasses or a container. When ready to use, allow it to sit for a minute at room temperature before scooping it out.
Go ahead and bookmark this recipe! The next time you find yourself suffering from a post indulgence puffy tummy, toss out the ice cream and any other junk food you have stashed - literally throw it in the garbage - and make this instead!
{Follow me on Instagram for more healthy recipe inspiration!}
Over the last few days the air has turned hot and heavy with moisture. My fitness clients have been doggedly trudging through their workouts despite the heat - drenched almost to the tips of their ponytails by the end.
In this weather, anyone with a diet not on point is quickly revealed - heat tends to cause extra water retention and bloating. In just 1-3 days, a person who enjoys a few too many processed foods or late night snacks becomes visibly pudgier around their mid-section, as the temperature rises. For a trainer, this is useful information because it tells me when a person is in need of some gentle nutritional nudging.
Personally I crave, and therefore choose, watery fresh fruit over processed crap when it's hot. I suggest others do the same, but I often hear that fruit does not do enough to satisfy their sweet tooth. This is where turning it into a simple frozen dessert can help.
Smoothies blended with frozen fruits, plus a 1:1 ratio of coconut water and orange juice for a bit of sweetness, can hit the spot. Another trick is to blend frozen fruits with unsweetened nut or soy milk and a tablespoon of jam for that extra sweet kick.
Fresh fruits can be turned into sorbet-like popsicles. With watery fruits like melon and berries, the trick to preventing a solid "rock-sicle" effect, is to add a small amount of simple syrup. This ingredient is generally not necessary when using pulpy fruits such as mango, pineapple or bananas, which also have higher concentrations of sugar.
To kick off the season and motivate you all to start making your own healthy treats, I'm posting a very basic recipe. No veggies, herbs or strange ingredients in today's post.
If popsicle molds are not among your kitchen gadgets, just pour the purée into freezable serving glasses or a container. When ready to use, allow it to sit for a minute at room temperature before scooping it out.
Go ahead and bookmark this recipe! The next time you find yourself suffering from a post indulgence puffy tummy, toss out the ice cream and any other junk food you have stashed - literally throw it in the garbage - and make this instead!
{Follow me on Instagram for more healthy recipe inspiration!}
Ingredients:
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup water
1 heaping cup cubed watermelon
1/2 cup chopped strawberries
fresh sliced strawberries for garnish, optional*
Directions:
Pour the sugar and water into a saucepan. Bring to a boil and stir until the sugar dissolves, to make a simple syrup. Remove from heat and set aside to cool. This makes about 2/3 of a cup.
In a blender, add the watermelon, strawberries and 1/2 cup of the simple syrup. Purée until smooth and refrigerate any leftover syrup in an airtight container for future use. Pour the purée into popsicle molds, garnish with a thin slice of fresh strawberry and freeze for at least 2 hours.
Yield: 6-8 popsicles
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup water
1 heaping cup cubed watermelon
1/2 cup chopped strawberries
fresh sliced strawberries for garnish, optional*
Directions:
Pour the sugar and water into a saucepan. Bring to a boil and stir until the sugar dissolves, to make a simple syrup. Remove from heat and set aside to cool. This makes about 2/3 of a cup.
In a blender, add the watermelon, strawberries and 1/2 cup of the simple syrup. Purée until smooth and refrigerate any leftover syrup in an airtight container for future use. Pour the purée into popsicle molds, garnish with a thin slice of fresh strawberry and freeze for at least 2 hours.
Yield: 6-8 popsicles
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