Post Workout / Quick Snack Smoothie

Looking for a tasty Post Workout Smoothie/ Quick Snack?

I like to satisfy my sweet tooth without compromising taste or nutrition. This healthy smoothie will satisfy your taste buds and your body will love it.

Almond milk helps improve lipid profiles, decreasing the bad fats circulating in the blood stream and lowering cholesterol, only contains non-saturated fats, high in magnesium, selenium, manganese (important in maintaining strong bones and teeth) and vitamin E, and is a great dairy alternative for people who are lactose intolerant.

Bananas are easily digested which means they provide you with a quick burst of energy. They are nutrient rich containing vitamin B6, folate, and vitamin C and are potassium powerhouses. Potassium helps lower high blood pressure and is necessary for proper muscle function. In addition, bananas are high in magnesium, a mineral that helps bones absorb calcium.

Eating peanuts can lower the risk for coronary heart disease by lowering the total cholesterol, LDL levels (bad cholesterol) and triglycerides. Its high content in monounsaturated fats makes it a heart friendly spread.

Cocoa powder is a great source of fiber which will keep you feeling full longer. It is also rich is antioxidants. Antioxidants fight against free radicals in the body, which can cause damage.

Enjoy!!

Ingredients:

1 cup milk (I used almond milk)

1 banana

2 tablespoons natural peanut butter

2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

Handful of ice

Directions:

1. Throw all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth

Healthy Twist on Shrimp Scampi

Most definitions of shrimp scampi describe the dish as large shrimp sauteed in butter and garlic. Sounds delish but definitely not very healthy since the amount of butter used is usually nearly one half cup per pound of shrimp! Despite its high cholesterol content, shrimp is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids and is a great lean proteinsource. No wonder it is one of the most popular seafood choices.

In my kitchen, I omit the butteraltogether and saute the shrimp in a little bit of heart-healthy olive oil. To add flavor, I will season the dish with lemon juice and white wine. Adding dark green spinach allows me to slip in a little of this fantastic superfood, which is rich in vitamin A, K, folate and illness-fighting flavonoids. In order to round out the dish, I will spice it up with some fresh parsley and serve it with high-fiber, whole-wheat pasta. The trick is to make sure the pasta doesn't dominate the dish, so keep in mind the recommended 1/2-cup portion size.

Serves: 4, 1 serving size: ½ cup

Ingredients

4 ounces whole-wheat linguini

1 tablespoon olive oil

6 cloves minced garlic

6 green onions, sliced

1 pound large shrimp

10 ounces frozen spinach

1/4 cup dry white wine

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 tablespoon lemon zest

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Preparation

1. Cook pasta according to directions on the box.

2. Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add olive oil. Add garlic, green onions and shrimp, and cook until shrimp starts turning pink. Add spinach and continue to cook until the spinach has cooked through.

3. Add white wine and lemon juice and cook until most of the liquid has evaporated. Remove from heat and sprinkle with lemon zest and parsley.

4. Serve with 1/2-cup pasta per serving.

Nutrition Content (per serving)

289 calories, 6 g fat, 1 g saturated fat, 26 g carbohydrates, 2 g sugars, 6 g fiber, 29 g protein, 225 mg sodium