Zoku Gluten Free and Healthy Summer Slushes

I had a great find this week at a store in Kelowna! It was the Zoku Slush and Shake maker! It creates healthy slushes and shakes in seven minutes! From what I understand, the liquid in it freezes incredibly cold and then what you place in the cup freezes quickly. You keep stirring the fluid until it reaches the desired consistency. It is great! I have tried two slushes and it really does work in seven minutes. I was thinking that this will be a great way to change up my morning protein shake, however protein powder does not freeze very well because my first slush was a complete bust. However, I made one with almond milk and watermelon puree and it turned out perfectly! My only complaint about the Zoku product is that all recipes require blending first. I am not a fan of this and am going to try to prevent it. If I am going to take the time to blend a shake, I am not going to then place it in the slush maker, I will just drink it from the blender.

I am very excited to see what fun creations for healthy shakes and slushes I can come up with! This one was very easy. It was one cup of almond milk, and one cup of watermelon cut small. It had great flavour and was refreshing! The best part was that it was only one weight watchers point! It was completely quilt free

There are so many possibilities! I want to try making a slush with coconut water and cherries, as well as a milkshake with almond milk and cocoa. You can make them healthy and don't have to run to the store when you are craving a unhealthy treat! This is also the perfect solution to avoid dairy and still enjoy a shake! Zoku has other great products that I would love to try such as a ice cream maker, and popsicle molds.

The last few days have been relaxing. I have been swimming laps every morning at 6, and have been doing my best to eat healthy. Friday involved some wine tastings, so I am counting that as a serving of fruits (sometimes you just have to have a little bit of fun!). This week is filled with many more adventures in Kelowna, so I am going to have to get motivated on my class in order to enjoy the week!


K.

Citrus Cinnamon Fruit Salad Dressing

This fruit salad has a citrus kick that keeps it fresh in the fridge for a few days! It is a great way to change the way you usually eat fruit, and it quick and easy to make! There are so many possibilities and combinations of fruit that you can enjoy it time and time again!

One of the hardest things about eating healthy is finding the time and energy to cook healthy. To make this easier I make a lot of my meals and snacks on Sunday so I am prepared for the week. I do not want to eat the same thing everyday for a week so I either make a variety, or I plan to cook again on Wednesday. On weekends I enjoy fresh meals and my favourite foods! One food that gets boring is fruit. I get tired of eating apples, bananas and kiwis day in and day out. I eat these because they are an easy grab and go snack. However, this week I made a fruit salad that stays fresh for a few days! Fruit salads tend to get soggy and brown fast. While covering them in lemon juice can fix this problem, it can overpower the flavour. Thankfully, any type of citrus juice can keep fruits fresh longer. The perfect fruit salad comes down to using the right fruits and dressings to keep things fresh.

It is finally spring and so many fresh fruits are available! I was so excited to see melons like honeydew, cantaloupe, and papaya in the produce section at the grocery store.  I stocked up on my favorite berries and melons and came home to make a salad. I used all my favorites - strawberries, blackberries, mango, kiwi, and papaya. These are what i find stay freshest in a fruit salad that you plan on eating for a few days. To keep it fresh I added a cinnamon citrus dressing for some punch!


Citrus Cinnamon Fruit Salad Dressing

The juice from one orange
1 Tbs Cinnamon
1 Tsp Honey

Pour over fruit salad and enjoy :)

Seems pretty simple right? Thats because it is! It tastes good, and gives some variety to snacks. Being healthy should be exciting and refreshing! That is one of the keys to staying motivated and excited about your success!

I hope everyone is having a good week!

k.

Summertime popsicles

These creamy and fruity popsicles have a splash of pomegranate juice, and are perfect for a hot day/ They are gluten, dairy, and guilt free! One will not be enough, and that is okay!

Summer is finally right around the corner! The weather is heating up and the sun is shining (or it should be. As always, the long weekend has brought rain with it)! Summer brings cravings for slurpees, ice cream, and other cold delights that aren't always healthy. I have a love for ice cream that is only satisfied by eating A LOT of it. To try and stop these cravings before they start I made fruity frozen snacks with a creamy twist. They are gluten free, dairy free, and healthy! They fit perfectly into the weight watchers points plus allowance and are great on a hot day.


Fruity Frozen Snacks with a Creamy Twist
1 Cup Almond Milk
1/2 Cup Cultured Coconut Milk
1 Cup POM pomegranate juice
1 Banana
1 Cup Strawberries
1 Cup Blackberries

In a blender combine milk, yogurt, and banana until creamy.

Divide strawberries and blackberries into popsicle trays (I used 2 trays with 8 molds. They were $3 at wal mart)

Pour pomegranate juice into trays until they are approx 1/4 full.

Fill with the cream in the blender.

This recipe makes 16 servings.

If eating healthy can be this yummy, I think reaching my goals will be easier AND enjoyable. You should not have to suffer in order to lose weight and get in shape. Its about making the right choices. Depriving yourself of the things you love will only lead to binging later on. Treat yourself and things will seem easier and worth it!

I hope everyone is having a great long weekend! Stay safe.
k.