Green Ryder

I am obsessed with juicing, especially anything green. Because honestly, who really likes the taste of kale? But throw it into any smoothie and you can’t even taste it. However, what I’m not obsessed with is spending $7 on a juice from Whole Foods. Don’t get me wrong, their juices are delicious but I’m on a budget… a budget that makes me cringe when I spend $7 on a 16oz juice.

So today, post swim, instead of making a pit stop at Whole Foods to grab my favorite drink, Green Ryder, I drove over to Kroger for a little DIY action. Last time I ordered a Green Ryder I watched them make it so I could try to do it at home.

At Kroger I picked up:

• 2 Organic Cucumbers
• 1 Bag Organic Celery
• 1 big bunch of Organic Kale
• 1 bag frozen pineapple
• Organic Apple Juice (optional – can also use water)

All this came out to be $15

To make the juice you need:

• 1/2 cup sliced cucumber
• 1/2 cup frozen pineapple
• 2-3 kale leaves (remove the stem)
• 1 stalk celery
• 1/2 -3/4 cup apple juice (or any liquid). I prefer apple juice to make it a little more sweet.

While the smoothie was blending I continued chopping up the left over veggies and divided them up into bags to freeze. With all the ingredients I had left over I was able to make 6 pre-packaged smoothies (that’s $2.50 a smoothie y’all!). All I have to do now is throw it in a blender and add juice! And because they’re bagged up and frozen I can take my time enjoying them rather than worrying about my veggies going bad.

What I love most about the Green Ryder is the vast amount of greens in it. If I’m being honest, I don’t really favor any of the ingredients that go into the green ryder alone. Funny huh? But the cucumber and the pineapple combined with the apple juice gives it just the right amount of sweetness. It made me want to be back in Key West soaking up some rays by the pool!

Thirsty Thursday: Apple Berry

Who’s enjoying this lovely weather and needs a refreshing drink!

Today I opened my fridge and noticed my blackberries and strawberries were going to go bad soon so I decided to make a little juice. It’s nice and fruity for the summertime weather and its also packed with lots of nutrients. For example, did you know strawberries help you think? Fisetin, a naturally occurring flavonoid (vitamin) commonly found in strawberries and other berries, stimulates signaling pathways that enhance long-term memory! With that being said, DRINK UP! Not only will it quench your thirst it will also help you get ready for those dreaded finals.

Here’s what you’ll need:

1 Cup Blackberries
1 Cup Strawberries
3 Large Green Apples

Green Giant

Happy Thirsty Thursday!

Today it’s Green, Green, and more Green.

Yes, I know it doesn’t look like it would taste good. After all, when was the last time you ate a salad and thought it was the most delicious thing in the world? I get it. But y’all- the smoothie is the most delicious smoothie in the world.

Yesterday, I made a huge batch of it. I made 5 cups. FIVE. One for each of my grandparents, one for my parents to share, and two for me. I know what you’re thinking… I originally made one for each of my parents but they were at work when I made them and I got a hankerin’ for some more juice about 3 hours later, so I drank one of theirs. I wasn’t sorry but I know they were because they all loved it- and they were reluctant to drink it too!

Not only is this smoothie relatively cheap (about $9 for all 5 servings) in the world of juicing its also has about 3 servings of vegetables in one glass. You get to drink your vegetables and actually enjoy it! Don’t be afraid of the color, close your eyes and drink it if you have to because it’s DELICIOUS! It’s just the right amount of sweetness!

Here’s how to make it:

1 Cup Spinach, Kale, Chard Mix (from Trader Joe’s)
1/2 Large Cucumber (about 5 inches)
2 Celery Sticks
1 Cup Frozen Pineapple
1.5 cup Water or Apple Juice

Just put it in the blender and you’re ready to go!

Juice “Beets” Wine

Happy Thirsty Thursday Lovers!

I’m sure many of you, like myself, are getting ready for Valentines Day tomorrow! So, why not get ready with some juice! This dark red juice can trick anyone into thinking their drinking wine… that is until they taste it of course but why not make the switch? Why not try sitting down to a romantic glass of juice instead. I know I know, I sound like I’m describing a valentines date we all had in kindergarten but promise me you’ll at least think about it.

This juice isn’t too sweet. It still has a sweet aspect to it but because about half of the juice is made up of vegetables the sweetness of the apples are canceled out but don’t get me wrong: its not bitter by any means. I think this is one of the most enjoyable juices I’ve had to drink in a while.  The awesome part about this juice is that it is PACKED with nutrients from the spinach and kale (scroll down to see the nutrition facts). So, instead of facing a hangover Saturday morning, you’ll be feeling great from drinking this juice all night long!

Here’s how to make it!

2 Large Green Apples
1 Bunch Spinach
4 Kale Leaves
1 Beet with Leaves

A little helpful hint: When buying kale and spinach don’t buy them from the salad section where they’re already boxed up. It’s much more affordable to buy them in bunches from the produce section!

Breakfast of Champions

I’m sure everyone has their own opinion on what a “Breakfast of Champions” might look like. To my brother I’m sure it would include steak, potatoes, and maybe even a good beer (my family is Irish after all.) However, my breakfast of champions is something a little more reasonable: Quiche.

Quiche is one of those breakfast foods that really have to opportunity to be extremely healthy. Keep in mind, you have to be careful when making quiche. If you don’t watch what you’re putting in it (i.e. cream and lots of cheese)  you could end up with a high calorie and high fat breakfast.

sassysarahkate.com

So why do I love quiche so much? Well I can guarantee you that is has nothing to do with the fact that my mom makes me little quiches that I freeze and pop in the microwave every morning. No no… that has nothing to do with it ;).  I love quiche because eggs are the main ingredient and when you combine that with low fat milk, a lean meat, and some vegetables you can get a well rounded breakfast that is high in protein – which keeps you full longer. Livestrong did a wonderful article titled “How Healthy is Quiche?” in which they included the nutritional facts of eggs.

“Eggs are a good source of high-quality protein, making them a good addition to a well-balanced diet. Eggs are a good food for weight management because they offer satiety and energy for a small number of calories. Protein also contributes to healthy muscles, skin and hair. Including a couple of egg yolks in your quiche increases your choline intake, a nutrient that supports your brain by aiding in signal transmission among your brain cells. Antioxidants in egg yolks play a role in healthy vision and protect your eyes from age-related deterioration. Eggs also contain B vitamins for energy and iron, which is important for blood flow. Adding vegetables to your quiche increases your vitamin A and C intake, important for healthy immunity; and potassium intake, which plays a role in healthy blood pressure levels. Low-fat cheese adds calcium, which is important for your bones.”

How can you say no to quiche’s now? Not only is it easy it has a multitude of nutrition.

Now the moment you all have been waiting for ……. (drumroll please) ……. the recipe of my mom’s mini-quiches.

And don’t forget! You can freeze them! After you set them in the freezer and they have had time to freeze you can just throw them in a ziplock back. I take them out in the morning and just pop them in the microwave for a minute and a half! Its as easy as poppin’ a waffle in the toaster- except this is way healthier.

30 Day, 30 Minute Challenge

Its the end of January and if you’re anything like me your New Years Resolutions are starting to fade. Some are still there but the ones that involve “eating healthy” and “working out everyday” are starting to take a back seat.

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear “lets work out?” For me it’s “UGHHHHH okay,” “I don’t have time for that right now” and “struggle city.” I know in my mind that I always feel better after a good workout but getting to the gym can be the hardest part of the whole workout.

One of my biggest excuses is “I don’t have enough time,” because when I think of working out I think of at least an hour in the gym. That seems pretty standard to me but what I’m setting out to prove in these next 30 days is that you can see a difference with just a quick 30 minute workout a day. Not a minute more.   Think about it, just running 1-3 miles a day can result in 7-21 miles a week.

So, put your running shoes on, grab your furry friend (if its nice outside), and lets kick some butt. Spring break is just right around the corner after all. Oh and one last reminder: Remember its “80% in the kitchen, 20% in the gym.” Eating healthy is a huge part of being healthy too.

Thirsty Thursday: Avocado Pineapple Smoothie

Happy Thirsty Thursday Y’all! It’s smoothie time. Last week I was talking to my aunt and she told me how she secretly snuck avocados into my cousins smoothie’s in the morning and they never even notice. I decided to give it a shot and see if you really couldn’t taste it and *drum roll please* YOU CANNOT TASTE THE AVOCADO. To me, it’s like a non-dairy replacement to yogurt. It make’s the smoothie super creamy. It’s like magic.  Here’s how to make the magic:

3/4 Cups Pomegranate Juice
1 Ripe Avocado
1 Cup Pineapple

 Make sure you pit and peal the ripe avocado. For the pineapples you can use frozen or fresh. I used frozen pineapples because it makes the consistency thicker and its colder. After you’ve gathered your ingredients just put it in a blender and go! I hope you enjoy 🙂

Thirsty Thursday: Cold Buster

Good Morning fellow juicers and happy Thirsty Thursday! As the weather is starting to shift from warm to cold, I’ve noticed I’ve been getting a little congested. This week I decided to make a juice with lots of Vitamin C to help fight away any cold that might be coming my way. This was the first time I made this juice but I can tell you it won’t be the last. It’s super tasty and so nutritious!

Here’s what you’ll need

3 Oranges – Peeled
3 Cups Grapes
4 Carrots
2 Red Apples
3 Kale Leaves

I decided to add the apples after I had finished the recipe to add more juice and make it a little more sweet. If your juice ever turns out too tart try adding an apple! They’re the perfect sweetener.

When I’m getting ready to juice I prepare all my ingredients first. For this juice I would peel my oranges, cut my apples and half, and measure out the grapes before hand. This makes juicing fast and easy! I hope you enjoy 🙂 see you next week!

Based on a 2,000 Calorie diet

Thirsty Thursday: Autumn Refresher

Happy Thirsty Thursday my friends! Today I had a little inspiration from one of my best friends Libby. It’s her birthday and she’s from good ole Georgia so I wanted to do a recipe with some juicy Georgia peaches. When I first read this recipe I didn’t think it would taste much like fall but I have to admit, I was wrong. Something about the apples and the pears gave it a perfect fall taste!

This is what you’ll need:

3 Pears
2 (Georgia) Peaches – pitted and pealed
1 Apple
1/2 Lime
2 Kale Leaves

Just put it all in your juicer and then stir! Luckily, this juice is a little thicker than others and doesn’t separate easily. It has a bit of a smoothie like consistency. I hope you enjoy 🙂 oh and p.s. if you take the stems out you can eat the puree too. It looks a little like baby food but it is also delicious!

Thirsty Thursday: Berry A-Peeling

Happy Thirsty Thursday Y’all! Who’s ready to get their juice on? This week I decided to try a new juice recipe and man, it was YUMMY. Who doesn’t like a good combination of apples, strawberries, and limes?

This is what you’ll need:

3 Red Apples
1/2 Lime Peeled
3 Cups Strawberries

(The original recipe only called for 2 apples but after taking a sip I decided to add another because it was a little tart!)

The awesome thing about this recipe is the mass amounts of strawberries. Strawberries have a unique flavinoid that helps reduce inflamation and they have folic acid which helps with memory and concentration! They also help with detoxifying, cancer prevention, mood swings, and relaxation (by aiding in the release of serotonin). It has a high vitamin C content to fight off the cold and flu too! It’s no wonder Strawberries are considered a superfood.

So if you have a swollen ankle, arthritis, your feeling a little under the weather, or you need a snack that will help you get through your all homework try this juice and see if it helps! Even if it doesn’t, I can promise your taste buds will be satisfied.