Posts tagged ‘Guilt-Free’

October 24, 2011

Naked

I have always been a fan of Naked all-natural juice and smoothies. The Green Machine is my jam! That’s why when I was contacted by the fabulous brand to try their new reduced calorie smoothies, I was thrilled. Guilt-free, 100% juice and no added sugars? SCORE! The Reduced Calorie Lychee and Reduced Calorie Citrus Lemongrass are far from watery or tasteless, like other “reduced” drinks. Instead, they provide for satisfying hydration, loaded with nutritional value at just 100 calories per serving! The tropical lychee smoothie made for quite a refreshing post-run fuel with its coconut water base, if I do say so myself. 

I had the Mango Veggie smoothie the other day as an on-the-go meal replacement. Who knew it could be that easy to get your daily dose of veggies? Each 15.2-oz bottle has two full of veggies and one serving of fruit (the ingredients include mango, carrots, sweet potato, sweet corn, apple, chickpeas, butternut squash and a hint of lemon). Can’t beat that! According to Naked Juice’s global nutritional manager Laura Karness, Ph.D., R.D., ”The Mango Veggie blend can help meet the daily requirement for more than 8 nutrients, including fiber, vitamins A, C, E, B6 and B12, niacin and pantothenic acid.”

Thanks again, Naked Juice! I loved the new juice blends and highly recommend them. Two thumbs up from me!

Sprinkled with Love,
Lauren

January 6, 2011

Whole-Wheat Margherita Pizza

Whether you prefer thick crust or thin brick oven style, pizza is an universal comfort food everyone loves and craves. It is simply good for the soul! Instead of caving in to a greasy take-out slice last night, I decided to create my own healthy pie by combining a few different recipes and piling on the veggies. No need to feel guilty nor break your New Year resolutions just yet. This low-fat recipe allows you to go for seconds without remorse. Win, win!

Eating Well’s Whole-Wheat Dough
Ingredients
(Yields 1 lb.)
1 cup whole-wheat flour
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 package quick-rising yeast (2 1/4 teaspoons)
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon sugar OR I substituted 1 teaspoon honey
3/4 cup hot water
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
Flaxseeds (My healthy addition, optional)


Sprinkled with Love’s Margherita Pizza
Ingredients
3 large tomatoes
1/2 yellow summer squash
1/2 zucchini
7 oz. bag of Kraft Mozzarella Fat Free Shredded Cheese
2 garlic cloves
Extra-virgin olive oil (1/2 teaspoon to brush on crust, 1 tablespoon to top pizza)
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 cup thinly sliced fresh basil
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper

Begin by preheating the oven to 400°F. Let’s start with the dough: Combine whole-wheat flour, all-purpose flour, yeast, salt and honey. Mix together with food processor or mixer (I am a poor college kid so used a hand mixer…) Combine hot water and oil in a measuring cup and gradually pour into the mixture, with the motor running. If it is too dry, add one to two tablespoons of water.

Transfer the dough onto a floured surface and knead into a ball. Coat a sheet of plastic wrap with cooking spray and place spray-side down over the dough. Let rest for 20 minutes before rolling.

Roll the dough out to desired thickness. I personally like mine thin! Place dough on pizza stone or baking sheet and sprinkle with flaxseeds. Pop it in the oven for 8 minutes before topping it!

To save time, while your pie crust is baking, prepare the balsamic vinegar/olive oil (whisk together) and salt/pepper. Chop garlic and basil, as well.

Slice up your desired toppings and basil. I added the zucchini and summer squash for color! Once the crust is done, drizzle olive oil and sprinkle the garlic over the flaxseeds. Arrange tomato, zucchini and squash slices leaving 1/2 inch border.

To finish it off, add the cheese! Bake for 12 minutes or until the cheese has fully melted. Once done, sprinkle pizza evenly with salt, pepper and sliced basil. Drizzle the vinegar mixture evenly over the pizza.

It doesn’t get much better than that! Absolutely scrumptious.

Sprinkled with Love,
Lauren

December 12, 2010

Guilt-Free Christmas Cookies

In light of the holiday season, I baked Christmas cookies. Just because the holidays are right around the corner does not mean you have to loosen your belt! These Dark Chocolate Florentines (Eating Well) are the best of both worlds: delish and only 108 calories. They are not tedious like other cookie recipes, which is another plus! Bring these healthy alternative treats to this year’s Christmas parties and I promise you won’t be disappointed, nor will your fellow party-goers.

Ingredients
1/3 cup unsalted butter
1/4 cup canola oil
2 cups quick-cooking oats
3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup whole-wheat flour
1/4 cup soy milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup toasted walnuts (or almonds) finely chopped
1/2 cup semisweet or dark chocolate chips
1/2 cup apricot preserves

Start by preheating your oven to 375°F. Line 2 large baking sheets with aluminum foil.

Melt butter in a medium saucepan and remove from the heat. Add in oats, sugar, oil, flour…

soy milk, salt, nuts…

and vanilla.

Mix it all up! Next, form into level teaspoons of dough and place onto the baking sheet. Press each cooking into a thin, 2-inch circle with a fork.

Bake for 5-7 minutes and let cool completely before removing from the foil. Once the cookies are cool, melt chocolate chips!

Spread the melted chocolate on the flat side of half of the cookies.

On the other half of the cookies, spread a little apricot jam.

Press the chocolate and apricot halves together into sandwich cookies! ENJOY!


Treat yourself to one of these divine desserts and don’t feel bad about it. They are light, gooey and have the perfect amount of sweetness. Again, 108 calories, 6 g. fat, 14 g. carbohydrates, 2 g. protein, 1 g. fiber, 5 mg. cholesterol, 19 mg. sodium, and 14 mg. potassium per cookie! Deck the halls and indulge.

Sprinkled with Love,
Lauren

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