Resolutions…The Healthy Start

We’ve counted down, said goodbye to 2011, and welcomed 2012 with open arms. With every new year, there is a tradition to make resolutions. If you remember in my last post 5, 4, 3, 2, 1…Happy New Year!!!, I told you to “be fair to yourself when making resolutions.”  One of the main resolutions is to eat healthier and lose weight.  Many people fall short on their resolutions before February even approaches. Making resolutions are not easy.  They are habits that have to be formed, due to repetition and consistency. If a person is not dedicated, building a habit can be pretty difficult.

Because healthy eating habits are not easy to accomplish, I am going to give you some tips on simple things that you can change in your diet to give you a place to start. Here are some simple substitutions that may help you in your journey to a healthier life.  A resolution that you just may be able to stick with.

Instead of Bacon...Try Turkey Bacon, Canadian Bacon, or Lean Ham

 

Instead of Dried Bread Crumbs... Try Rolled Oats or Crushed Bran Cereal

 

Instead of Eggs... Try Egg Whites or Egg Substitute

 

Instead of Ice Cream... Try Frozen Yogurt, Soy Ice Cream, or Sorbets

 

Instead of Oils, Shortening, Lard... Try Non Stick Cooking Spray, Applesauce, Prune Puree

 

Instead of Pasta... Try Whole Wheat Pasta

 

Instead of Table Salt... Try Kosher Salt or Sea Salt

 

Instead of Whole Milk... Try Reduced Fat Milk or Fat Free Milk

 

Hopefully this list will give you an easy place to start keeping your New Years Resolution. What are some healthy substitutions that you already use?

Mmm take a bite out of that!

“Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the LORD.”- Lamentations 3:40

A Tale of Two Tails…

2011 is almost over and we are all thinking of how we are going to welcome 2012. No celebration is complete without a fun drink to pull it all together. So my Simply Studded family, I have done my research and found some of the most fun Cocktails and Mocktails for us all to try. Today is our day to be the Mixologist that we all pretend to be from time to time. So get your blenders, shakers, stirrers, and garnishes, and let’s make this happen.

Blood Orange-Pomegranate Mimosas- Delish.com

Blood Orange-Pomegranate Mimosas

Ingredients:

3 cups chilled blood orange juice

3 cups chilled pomegranate juice

1 bottles chilled sparkling wine, such as Prosecco

½ cups pomegranate seeds

Directions:

Combine blood orange and pomegranate juices in a pitcher. Divide among 10 glasses. Top each with Prosecco. Garnish with pomegranate seeds.

Frost Bite Mocktail- TheLittleKitchen.net

Frost Bite Mocktail

Ingredients:

ice
1 oz lime juice
1 oz pineapple juice
2 oz white grape juice
fresh mint leaves
fresh blueberries
3 oz Sierra Mist Natural

Directions:

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, lime juice and pineapple juice. Mix. Add white grape juice, mint and blueberries. Using the back of a spoon, crush a couple of the blueberries. Shake all ingredients well and strain into a large glass filled with ice. Top with Sierra Mist Natural and garnish a few fresh blueberries (optional).

Puerto Rican Coquito: Coconut Eggnog- SavvyHousekeeping.com

Puerto Rican Coquito: Coconut Eggnog

Ingredients:

1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 can light coconut milk
1 can evaporated milk
1 cup white rum
4 large egg yolks
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
½  tsp ground cinnamon

1/8 tsp freshly ground nutmeg

Directions:

Place all of the ingredients in a blender and blend until frothy. Pour into a glass pitcher and refrigerate. Serve chilled with a pinch of cinnamon.

Maple Mocktail- Healthy.Food.com

Maple Mocktail

Ingredients:

1 cup cranberry juice

1 cup apple juice

1 cup sparkling water

1/2 cup lemon juice

1/2 cup maple syrup

maple sugar (to garnish)

8 cinnamon sticks (to garnish)

Directions:

Mix the 5 first ingredients. Dim rim of each tall glasses in the maple sugar. Pour the drinks in the glasses. Garnish with cinnamon sticks.

 

Sparkling Pear and Cranberry Cocktail- Delish.com

Sparkling Pear and Cranberry Cocktail

Ingredients:

2 tbsp dry cranberries

½ cup organic pear nectar

32 oz Moscato d’Asti wine

8 small sprigs fresh rosemary

Directions:

Put cranberries in a small bowl; add 2 tablespoons warm water. Soak until cool, about 15 minutes. Drain, pat dry, and refrigerate until serving. Divide pear nectar evenly among eight tall champagne glasses. Add cranberries, and then gently pour the Moscato d’Asti into the glasses. Garnish each with a rosemary sprig.

Virgin Grapefruit Mojito- HGTV.com

Virgin Grapefruit Mojito

Ingredients:
¼  ruby or pink grapefruit, cut into small chunks and seeds removed
2 tbsp agave syrup or honey
12 fresh mint leaves, roughly torn
½ cup pink grapefruit soda or flavored mineral water, plus more as needed
mint sprigs, for garnish

Directions:
Put the grapefruit pieces, agave and mint in a cocktail shaker. Using a muddler, smash the fruit until the juice is released. Add one cup small ice cubes to the shaker with the half cup soda; attach the lid and shake furiously until combined. Divide between two rocks glasses, add more ice if desired, and top off with additional soda. Stir, garnish with mint sprigs and serve.

Fun Ice Cube Idea…

When fruits are to be frozen in the cubes, fill the tray one-third full with water, then partially freeze. Add the fruit then freeze. This will hold the fruit in position. Then add water until the tray is about three-fourths full and finish freezing.

Fruit Filled Ice Cubes- Squidoo.com

Mmm lets drink to that!

For more drink recipes look at these past articles…

Soothe those Tremors with a PUNCH!

Quench That Thirst