Get down and boogie as chocolate monkeys dance on your tongue. Savour this jungle fever in a glass knowing that it’s low-calorie, nutritious, fresh, delicious and packed with protein that will help you lose weight and lean up!

Cocoa Monkey Jungle Fever

Makes about 40 0z. or 2 servings

Ingredients

Mango, fresh, sliced – 1 cup
Banana, fresh - 1 small (6" long)
Flax Seed, ground - 2 tbsp
Yogurt, plain, 2% - ½ cup
Soy beverage, chocolate – ½ cup
Ruth’s Organic Hemp Protein – ½ serving
3 ice cubes

Blend until smooth. Sip on that smoothie and enjoy the goodness!

Nutritional Information Read the rest of this entry »

This toe-curling smoothie tastes even better than the real rum cocktail we all know and love from our tropical paradise vacations. Which, by the way, I was reminded of today as we hit a humidex of 36ºC (96.8ºF) here in Toronto – minus, of course, the beautiful white sandy beaches and fresh ocean air.

Of course, one sip of this healthy, coconut-pineappley-meal-in-a-
glass and no matter where you are, you’ll instantly be transported to a Caribbean island.

Pina Colada Smoothie

Makes 1 serving, about 20 oz.

Ingredients

Pineapple, fresh – 2 cup
Coconut milk – ¼ cup
Soy Beverage, vanilla – ¼ cup
Yogurt, plain, 2%, – ½ cup
Ice cubes – 3
Living Harvest hemp protein powder – ½ serving
Flax seed, ground – 2 tbsp (optional)

Directions

Blend until smooth.

For smoothie nutrition facts, click here… Read the rest of this entry »

Fresh, delicious, sweet and slightly tart, this smoothie will pucker your mouth and have you licking your lips for hours after. It’s also easy on the waist-line and a great start to your day.

The almonds add protein to make it well-balanced and give it a full, nutty flavour. Grind them into a powder or not so much and try making it a crunchy smoothie!

Peachy Keen Raspberry Dream

Makes 1 serving, about 20 oz.

Ingredients
Raspberries, frozen - 1 cup
Peach, fresh, sliced and pitted - 1 cup
Rice Dream, vanilla flavoured - 1 cup
Almonds - ¼ cup
Honey (optional) - 1 tsp

Directions

Blend until smooth.

Smoothie nutrition facts here…

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Inspired by Dairy Queen, this smoothie is will satisfy your summer ice cream craving and actually help you loose fat and gain muscle! Try this summer succulent smoothie in the morning for breakfast.

Makes 1 serving, about 20 oz.

Ingredients

Banana, fresh - medium
Strawberries, frozen - 1 cup
Soy Beverage, chocolate - 1 cup
Yogurt, plain, whole milk - 1 cup
Flax seed, ground - 2 Tbsp
Living Harvest Hemp Protein Powder - 2 Tbsp

Directions

Blend until smooth.

Smoothie nutrition facts here…

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It’s been awhile since we had an elimination diet adventure post. Several weeks ago, I started the stage that I was most excited about, food reintroduction. It’s the phase of the elimination diet where you slowly and methodically begin eating the foods that may have been causing our bodies to react negatively.

This part, while fun, has also been very challenging. It’s basically a scientific test and I’ve found that it requires a lot of attention, planning and determination. This is how it’s supposed to go down:

1. Continue eating hypo-allergenic foods from the elimination diet.
2. Take one day and eat 2 – 3 servings of a possibly offending food, e.g. eggs.
3. Note any digestive disturbances throughout the day.
4. Wait 1-4 days and choose another food to try, repeating the process until you’ve tried all possibly offending food groups (wheat, gluten, dairy, eggs, soy, sugar and nightshade).

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Many people arriving here on the Live Lighter blog have come in search for detox drink recipes . It seems as if people all over the world are realizing the immediate and future health benefits of eating a diet high in veggies.

What are some of these benefits, again?

Veggies are nutrient-rich and calorie-deficient, which means they will help you lose weight and also help you maintain a healthy weight. We also learned a few days ago about how nutrition is integral to stress management . A few months back we found out how true the statement is, “we are what we eat ” in 8 Foods to Grow Yourself a Younger Bod . And what about their enormous cancer-fighting properties: phytochemicals (with antioxidant capabilities)?

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This smoothie was created out of necessity: ran out of protein powder yesterday and my pineapple was on its last skin knuckles. Try using mixed berries, rice milk and vanilla protein powder for your next “Country, Meet the Tropics” smoothie. Yum.

½ cup – Walnuts, chopped
1 cup - Blueberries, frozen
1 medium - Kiwi Fruit, without skin
1 cup - fresh Pineapple, chopped
1 cup - Soy Milk
1 medium - Mango, peeled and sliced

Blend until smooth. Enjoy!

Makes 2 servings, about 24 oz.

Want this smoothie’s nutrition facts? Follow the link…

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Feeling stressed? Uncomfortable, especially in the digestive area? These might be signs of toxicity or side effects of extra seasonal detoxing. Try a gentle cleansing but if you’re looking for something quick to make you feel better, replace a few meals during the week with green detox juice recipes.

There are a few green juice recipes floating out there that are perfect for juicing in a juicer. But the more I use my blender, the more I’m convinced that it is a better choice rather than just a substitute. Blending maintains the insoluble fiber in the greens (great for gently scraping your intestines clean), plus you can add tasty nuts to the green detox blender recipes for added flavour, substance and muscle building protein.

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This elimination diet adventure has both ups and downs , a thrilling rollercoaster I like to call, The Diet Decimator! It’s been both challenging and extremely rewarding. Between the yummy recipes , the cleansing and, most importantly, a notably improved digestion…I could possibly stay on this diet forever!

Ya, ha! Riiiiiight. I could – since necessity calls for creation and these recipes I’m trying are truly deeeelish - I just don’t want to. Truth be told, I’ve cheated almost everyday since starting this extensively restrictive diet. Mind you, they’ve been healthy cheats, like a handful dried fruit and chocolate chips or a small, black organic coffee.

For awhile, I was feeling guilty about cheating because I know I can do this perfectly… under the right circumstances. If all I had to do was this diet? No problem. There would be no stress and therefore no cravings. And doing it perfectly isn’t just my ego talking, Folks, it means the difference between 3 weeks and nearly 3 months!

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These elimination diet-friendly recipes are just as tasty as regular food, and they ease your woes as you work within your restrictive diet trying to find out if you have any food sensitivities or allergies.

Whether you’re on an elimination diet, have some digestive troubles or just want to watch your waistline, the following 3 recipes are sure to be pleasing in more ways than one. They are super easy to make and if you’re like me, you’ll be expanding your food repertoire at the same time.

Millet is a grain similar to quinoa but less expensive and a little less tasty (quinoa has a nutty flavour while millet does not). Washing these two grains is tricky. The easiest way is to purchase a sieve but if you don’t have one handy: put the grain in a pot of water, swish it around, strain with your fingers and repeat at least once more before cooking.

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