It's about time...Let's do the TWO STEP

 

 

 

I know! We finally have a rain free sunny day! That means smoothies for lunch! YES!

Today I just felt like something that smacked of milkshake and not so much green smoothie. Yes, I am sure you know what I mean. I didn't feel like a salad or veggies, I just wanted something yummy, but that would not take a ton of preparation or make loads of dishes. It is Friday after all and I am getting ready to relax. ( After the week I have had... I need it! More on that LATER )

So here we go: Peanut butter and banana smoothie a la milkshake - except it does not contain dairy milk, but coconut milk.

STEP BY STEP,

The TWO STEP in fact....

Let the music begin.

STEP 1

Banana, Organic Peanut Butter, Organic Cocao Nibs

STEP 2

Add your coconut milk

 Don't forget to add ICE!

I added in a tiny amount of Agave, but this is an optional extra.

Pour and enjoy....

I poured and enjoyed and forgot to take a picture of the finished product! But it was delicious, light and hit the spot for a Friday afternoon treat without compromising my health.

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Melony Teague a freelance writer and columnist and motivator who lives in Canada with her husband and two young children.
Founder of "Secrets of Body Transformation from the Inside Out" 
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An adventure of a different kind

Life isn't JUST about food you know! Okay so you may think that it is all I do; create recipes and look for healthier food options, but sometimes another sort of adventure pops up. This time it is of a feathery kind and I would like to invite you to come along with me.

I AM GOING TO BE A GRAND DUCK!

Yes it's true, after weeding my front garden this weekend, I discovered this:

I do include gardening and weeding under the title of exercise! So in a way, I was working out when I made this discovery. Ever weeded for a day and not been able to walk the next? I have.

I did not know what kind of eggs these were, but I left the nest just as it was and hoped that it wasn't geese. (They can be rather vicious!) To my delight the next morning the parent showed up!

Apparently the gestation period is 28 - 30 days! How am I going to wait that long? Yesterday while mommy duck was away from the nest doing whatever mommy ducks do I saw a dead duck in the road about a kilometre from our home! I was so worried that the mother duck had been killed! So last night before going to bed I checked the nest again, NO MOMMY DUCK!!!

My heart sank!

This  morning first thing I went out to check on the nest and this is what I found!

Oh my! How am I going to survive the 25 days from the last eggs laid to about 28 days to wait and then the eggs will hatch. If I am this emotional and involved in a Mallard Duck's nest in my front garden I hate to think what state I will be in when I am going to be a grandparent one day! 

Those 9 months may just do me in! And unlike the duck, my daughter might not want me to hover! 

So back to the duck nest...

Apparently the mother duck does all the watching over the nest. What I have observed however, is that she sits on it at night and in the morning and then leaves the nest during the day?
I find that odd! Needless to say I am checking on the eggs during the day all the time, to make sure they are not being disturbed! This could get exhausting! 

It is my little adventure and I am going to treasure the time while it lasts. 

I will be posting updates so that you can see what is happening. As of now, there are 8 eggs in the nest. If you are curious as to what Mallard ducks eat and how they typically behave, click here.

About gardening....

When you garden make sure that you save your back. Guard your spine. Sit on a little chair while weeding, use your knees and core to lift soil bags and try to be aware of your posture at all times. Last thing you want to do is injure yourself! It's easy to do! 

Now that the weather is warmer, take your exercise outside and enjoy some sunshine. Gather some vitamin D the natural way. 

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Melony Teague a freelance writer and columnist and motivator who lives in Canada with her husband and two young children.
Founder of "Secrets of Body Transformation from the Inside Out" 
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Chocolate Decadence secret ingredient revealed!

It all came about when I was looking for a friendly dessert to have on Mother's Day. I came across this recipe by GI 325.  Thank you to Kari for the inspiration.

Well it looked absolutely delicious and the perfect thing for me to try on Mother's day using ingredients that I like and that are good for me at the same time! ( Er...well except the Maple Syrup)

I made it and this is what it came out like...but I must be honest I tweaked the recipe, used almonds instead and made a few other changes.

If you have not followed the link to the original recipe, can you guess what the secret ingredient is?

So the original recipe is scrumptious and decenant, but it used quite a lot of maple syrup, so I adapted the recipe to be the kind of dessert I could have every day if I wanted to! ( It is that delicious!)

So here is MY new version of it:

This recipe serves two (trust me if you make more you will EAT IT ALL!)
and it is easy to make and not at all bad on the waistline.

Decadent Chocolate Bowls

(Serves 2) 

Ingredients:

Filling:

1 Avocado

2 Oz Melted 55 % baking chocolate ( Organic) 

2 Tbsp Maple Syrup

1 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1 Tsp Pure Vanilla Extract

Pinch of Sea salt

Crust:

4 - 5 Tbsp Ground Almonds

1/2 Oz Organic Baking Chocolate ( Semi Sweet) - same as the filling

Pinch of Sea Salt

1 Tsp Pure Vanilla Extract

A drizzle of Maple Syrup

Method:

1. Make the filling first by melting the chocolate in the microwave in a small bowl.
2. Place all other ingredients in food processor and process until smooth and drizzle in the melted chocolate. 
3. Scrape the filling out and set aside in a bowl.
4. Make the crust by pulsing the ingredients in the processor until it looks crumbly and sticky. Spread this crust around the bottom of two similar sized small bowls. I used my fingers to press the crumbs into the bottom of the bowl.
5. Divide the filling into the bowls and flatten the surface.
6.  Refrigerate overnight!
7. Enjoy! But I must warn you....you may have to make it a few times. Don't tell your family what's in it until they have tasted it! ( They will never guess! )

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Melony Teague a freelance writer and columnist and motivator who lives in Canada with her husband and two young children.
Founder of "Secrets of Body Transformation from the Inside Out" 
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Let's talk GMO's! Tip # 7 Guest Blog By Allison Jorgens.

 Fitness Training for Life and Adventures

GUEST BLOG

 By: Allison Jorgens, P.H.Ec.

For more information:

Link to my website
Link to my blog
Link to purchase my books   

To purchase "Read it with a Grain of Salt" click here. 

 Tip # 7

 Genetically modified ingredients are widely used in processed foods. If you are concerned with GMO’s you have two options: 1. Buy organic, or 2. Become an avid ingredient list reader. You can find some of the ingredient names to look out for here - "Ingredients to look Out For." (the fridge guide included in this post is very helpful).

Allison Jorgens is a Professional Home Economist holding a degree in nutritional sciences. She has been working as a food label specialist for grocers and food manufactures in Canada for nearly a decade. Over the past ten years, Allison has reviewed thousands of food labels for many of Canada’s leading private-label grocery brands, large and small manufacturers, distributors, and a variety of importers. It is this wide-ranging experience in regulatory-compliance label reviews that makes her knowledge unique—and her perspective all the more shocking. As a concerned parent and advocate of leading a healthful lifestyle, Allison recommends that all consumers empower themselves with the knowledge needed to make more healthful and informed choices.


Allison sits on the board of directors of The Food Label Movement and the Ontario Home Economics Association. She is a proud member of the Ontario Home Economics Association, Ontario Home Economists in Business Association, Prince Edward Island Home Economics Association, and sits on the advisory council for Eating Disorders of York Region.  
 

Subscribe to Fitness Training for Life and Adventures

  

www.melonyteague.com 
To subscribe to my consolidated newsletter, Click here 
Melony Teague a freelance writer and columnist and motivator who lives in Canada with her husband and two young children.
Founder of "Secrets of Body Transformation from the Inside Out" 
Join me on facebook. 

Tip # 6 Can you Guess the Food?

 Fitness Training for Life and Adventures 

GUEST BLOG

 By: Allison Jorgens, P.H.Ec.

For more information:

Link to my website
Link to my blog
Link to purchase my books   

To purchase "Read it with a Grain of Salt" click here. 

 

Tip #6

Always look for a familiar food name on the front of the label. It is common to find imposter products such as frozen dairy dessert, apple drink, maple flavoured syrup, and chocolaty bars trying to imitate the real deal. Consider these examples and tips the next time you are shopping - (Click on these links)  The Proper Name and Can you guess the food?

Allison Jorgens is a Professional Home Economist holding a degree in nutritional sciences. She has been working as a food label specialist for grocers and food manufactures in Canada for nearly a decade. Over the past ten years, Allison has reviewed thousands of food labels for many of Canada’s leading private-label grocery brands, large and small manufacturers, distributors, and a variety of importers. It is this wide-ranging experience in regulatory-compliance label reviews that makes her knowledge unique—and her perspective all the more shocking. As a concerned parent and advocate of leading a healthful lifestyle, Allison recommends that all consumers empower themselves with the knowledge needed to make more healthful and informed choices.


Allison sits on the board of directors of The Food Label Movement and the Ontario Home Economics Association. She is a proud member of the Ontario Home Economics Association, Ontario Home Economists in Business Association, Prince Edward Island Home Economics Association, and sits on the advisory council for Eating Disorders of York Region.  

Subscribe to Fitness Training for Life and Adventures

  

www.melonyteague.com 
To subscribe to my consolidated newsletter, Click here 
Melony Teague a freelance writer and columnist and motivator who lives in Canada with her husband and two young children.
Founder of "Secrets of Body Transformation from the Inside Out" 
Join me on facebook. 

20 Things I have learned

Here are some things that I learned WORKS! They may not work for you but they work for me:

1. What may be a "healthy food" for you, may not be a "healthy food" for me. We all have different bodies with different chemistry.
2. Wheat does not agree with me in any shape or form. I avoid it.
3. Drinking two glasses of water with a slice of lemon first thing in the morning helps me start my day.
4. Presentation is KEY to enjoying foods. Make your presentation pretty and it will taste better. Make every meal special.
5. Laughter and good company make food taste even better. Focusing on the company rather than the food however, feeds the soul. 
6. Drinking coffee instead of making the effort to prepare a snack when I am hungry is counter productive. My body does not thank me for it.
7. Grocery shopping when I am tired or upset is not a good idea.
8. Serving your water in a fancy glass with a slice of lemon or lime turns it into a treat.
9. When you need to talk, get together with your BFF, husbands are not your BFF. They want the bottom line, reader's digest version, BFF's want details, details, details. Don't get the two mixed up! 
10. Listening is harder than you think, it takes practice.
11. Friends are treasures that cannot be replaced.
12. Kids think you are not listening to them when you don't stop what you are doing and look at them. Wives think the same when husbands don't stop and look at them. Making the effort to stop and look is worth it.
13. Being compassionate to yourself is not a bad idea. It helps you empathize with others.
14. It is the little things that count and there is no such thing as perfection, unless you are talking about ice cream!
15. Life and Death are in the power of the tongue...and an encouraging word goes a long way.
16. Music makes mundane tasks so much more fun
17. Smoothies are the best thing ever! 
18. Sometimes doing what you love and loving what you do needs to be defended, but it is worth fighting for. You never know what adventures lie just around the corner.
19. Stepping back and looking at the big picture helps me to cope. I tend to get emotionally involved in what I do.
20. I love blogging.

Make your own list !

Subscribe to Fitness Training for Life and Adventures

  

www.melonyteague.com 
To subscribe to my consolidated newsletter, Click here 
Melony Teague a freelance writer and columnist and motivator who lives in Canada with her husband and two young children.
Founder of "Secrets of Body Transformation from the Inside Out" 
Join me on facebook. 

Too Much to Swallow - Guest Blog by Allison Jorgerns

 Fitness Training for Life and Adventures

GUEST BLOG

 By: Allison Jorgens, P.H.Ec.

For more information:

Link to my website
Link to my blog
Link to purchase my books   

To purchase "Read it with a Grain of Salt" click here. 

Tip #5

Learn how to recognize when ingredients are hidden. In Canada ingredients can be hidden behind class names (i.e. colour, vegetable oil, sulphites,), ingredients exempt from component declarations when found in prepackaged products (i.e. flour, margarine, prepared meats), and preparations exempt from component declarations (i.e. natural flavours). Check out the impact hidden ingredients can have by clicking here. Too much to swallow, literally!

Allison Jorgens is a Professional Home Economist holding a degree in nutritional sciences. She has been working as a food label specialist for grocers and food manufactures in Canada for nearly a decade. Over the past ten years, Allison has reviewed thousands of food labels for many of Canada’s leading private-label grocery brands, large and small manufacturers, distributors, and a variety of importers. It is this wide-ranging experience in regulatory-compliance label reviews that makes her knowledge unique—and her perspective all the more shocking. As a concerned parent and advocate of leading a healthful lifestyle, Allison recommends that all consumers empower themselves with the knowledge needed to make more healthful and informed choices.


Allison sits on the board of directors of The Food Label Movement and the Ontario Home Economics Association. She is a proud member of the Ontario Home Economics Association, Ontario Home Economists in Business Association, Prince Edward Island Home Economics Association, and sits on the advisory council for Eating Disorders of York Region.  
 

Subscribe to Fitness Training for Life and Adventures

  

www.melonyteague.com 
To subscribe to my consolidated newsletter, Click here 
Melony Teague a freelance writer and columnist and motivator who lives in Canada with her husband and two young children.
Founder of "Secrets of Body Transformation from the Inside Out" 
Join me on facebook.