Fitness4Her

Women's Fitness

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Easy Cranberry Granola Bars

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Love granola bars? You’ll go ga-ga over this fresh and easy concoction. It’s a tasty treat to take to a children’s party or keep at home for a fast and healthy snack.

3 cups quick cooking oats
14 oz. almond milk
1 cup flaked coconut
1 cup sliced almonds
1 cup dark chocolate chips
1 cup dried cranberries

Directions:

1. Oven 350 degrees.
2. Blend together, press flat and spray baking pan.
3. Cook 20 minutes. Cool 5 minutes.

Health Benefits:
Low in saturated fat and low in sodium. An excellent source of both soluble and insoluble fiber; oats are the main ingredient in these delicious bars. Cranberries and dark chocolate are full of antioxidants that help to fight cancer-causing free radicals. Coconut flakes are rich in fiber and may help to lower cholesterol levels.

10 Top Tips For Weight Management

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It’s not just about how great you look that makes losing weight so wonderful. Learning to manage your weight is one of the healthiest things you can do for your body. The scary thing is that carrying around excess weight could be doing more damage than you know. Your back, knees and feet undergo serious strain for every 10 pounds of extra weight. Starting today, make the decision to begin losing the excess pounds. It won’t be easy in the beginning but if you fully support your efforts, you can learn to manage your weight and keep those pounds off.

1. Eat often, but eat in small portions. Plan your meals about 3 hours apart keeping portions about the size of the palm of your hand.

2. Don’t skip meals. This is one of the biggest mistakes dieters make. Skipping meals will not help you to manage your weight.

3. Don’t forget your fiber. Fiber reduces body weight and body fat. It’s rich in vitamins and minerals. For optimum colon health, 25-35 grams of fiber is recommended each day. Fiber helps to stabilize your blood sugar and helps to stave off hunger cravings.

4. Eat plenty of protein, but get it from lean sources. Lean meats, egg whites, vegetables, nuts, yogurt and skim milk are all healthy low calorie choices that are rich in protein.

5. Within reason, eat as many servings of fresh fruits and vegetables as possible. The USDA suggests 5 to 7 servings each day, but you don’t have to limit yourself to those numbers. Vegetables especially are low in calories and fat so you can eat plenty and still manage your weight.

6. Reduce your intake of refined carbohydrates. Limit or avoid soda drinks, cereals that are high in sugar, candy, cookies, cakes and donuts. Go easy on dishes like pasta and bread.

7. Reduce dietary fat generally, and particularly reduce unhealthy saturated fat. Use minimal amounts of oil when cooking and try to use oils such as Olive and Canola. Avoid fried foods, creams, and fatty salad dressings. Squeeze a lemon over a salad in place of salad dressing.

8. Reduce your intake of salt and sugar. Check nutritional labels and pay attention to how much salt and sugar has been added. Gradually decrease the amount of salt and sugar you add to the foods you prepare. If you like coffee, begin cutting back on the sugar and cream.

9. Avoid alcohol. Alcohol is high in calories and slows metabolism. A glass of red wine can be beneficial to the heart but so can grape juice.

10. Drink plenty of water. About 8 glasses a day is suggested to keep you well hydrated. Of course, if you are active you will probably drink more. Strive to replace your higher calorie beverages with water, especially during meals. Water removes toxins from the body and it’s calorie-free!

Tropical Chicken Salad

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Everyone loves this variation of the infamous chicken salad. It’s sweet and crunchy and livens up a sandwich or salad. There’s no need for chips or croutons with this multi-dimensional chicken salad.

2 cups turkey breast, cut-up
4 cups Romaine lettuce, cut-up
1 large red apple, cut-up
Small can of mandarin oranges
1/4 cup dried cranberries
3 Tbsp unsalted walnuts, chopped
3 kiwi fruit, cut-up
Dressing 1 cup jelled whole berry cranberry sauce
1/4 cup frozen orange juice
4 tsp fresh lemon
1 tsp low-sodium soy sauce
2 tsp mustard
1/2 cup chopped pimiento
1/2 cup chopped fresh chives
2 clove garlic, minced

Directions:

1. Combine turkey, apples, cranberries, mandarin oranges and walnuts in medium bowl.
2. In a small bowl mix cranberry sauce and orange juice concentrate.
3. Just before serving mix turkey with dressing.
4. Serve over lettuce and add kiwi slices.

Health Benefits:
Chicken is a great source of protein. It is low in fat, low in cholesterol, low in sodium, low in sugar and low in calories. The immense variety of fruits adds a nutritional twist to this delectable treat. It’s full of antioxidants, the busy woman’s ally for fighting cancer causing free radicals.

Nacho Olive Dip

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Here’s a healthy snack that invites you to dip right in. The beautiful green color is so refreshing that most people will be helpless to resist. A great snack to serve at home or bring it to the next party and impress the guests.

1 cup non-fat sour cream
1/2 cup non-fat mayo
1 can chopped olives, drained
½ cup minced green onions
½ cup seeded, chopped tomato
2/3 cup minced fresh cilantro
2 Tbsp fresh lime juice
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp of hot sauce

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl.
2. Cover and chill at least 2 hours
3. Serve with fresh raw vegetables, commercial baked tortilla chips, whole grain pita wedges.

Health Benefits:
Low fat, low sodium, low cholesterol, low sugar and low in calories—only 9 calories per tablespoon. Olives are rich in antioxidants that fight free radicals. They are high in Vitamin E, a necessary nutrient for healthy skin, hair and nails. Olives contain a high concentration of monounsaturated fats that helps to protect cells. Tomatoes are high in Vitamin C and are also a great antioxidant. Together the ingredients in this dip prove that you don’t have to forfeit taste for healthy foods.

Shrimp and Avocado Salad

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The appearance of food is almost as important as the taste. This dish is delicious, nutritious and ever so pretty. Pink shrimp, green avocado, red bell pepper served in little lettuce cups. Pure delight!

3 Tbsp fat-free sour cream
1 Tbsp light mayo
1-1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 Tbsp chili sauce
1 cup cooked shrimp
1 Tbsp chives
2 avocados, peeled
1/4 red bell pepper
1-1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
3 to 4 pinches of paprika
1 bag Romaine lettuce

Directions:

1. Combine mayo, sour cream, Worcestershire sauce and chili sauce. Mix and blend well.
2. Stir shrimp, red pepper and chives into dressing.
3. Serve shrimp mixture over Romaine lettuce, 1 cup each.
4. Garnish with avocado half and a pinch of paprika.

Health Benefits:
Shrimp is low in fat and low in calories. Rich in tryptophan and selenium, shrimp is an excellent source of protein, Vitamin B6, Vitamin D, iron and Omega 3 fatty acids, essential for all the cells in the body. The red bell pepper and chili sauce provide needed antioxidants to fight cancer causing free radicals.