Baked Carrot Fries

I am totally addicted to these "fries" and they taste super yummy. They are easy to make too!

Ingredients:

CARROTS!!!!
Olive oil
Salt (I used sea salt)

Preheat over to 350 degrees F. Then chop the carrot up in thick slices. I personally cut the carrot in half & then I quarter each half. Toss in a bowl with a tad of olive oil & salt to taste. Bake for 15-20 minutes. 

Sooo yummy! Bon appetite!

xo,
Nancy

Cream Cheese Pound Cake

I know, it sounds sinful, however I was able to make it slightly healthier. This recipe will be difficult to figure out the exact nutritional information since it makes 1 4x8 loaf & then 9 1x2 mini loaves. But either way, below is the recipe with healthier substitutions. Enjoy!

Ingredients

1/2 cup of butter (I used Smart Balance) 

1 cup unsweetened applesauce

1 pkg (8 oz) of cream cheese, softened (I used the reg, but healthier versions are available)

3 cups of stevia

1 cup of yogurt (I used vanilla Greek yogurt)

2 tsp vanilla extract

3 cups of flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

After doing this recipe a couple of times, the easiest way to mix everything together (if you don't have a mixer) is to mix everything BUT the flour first. Once everything is smooth & consistent (sometimes I'll stick the entire bowl in the microwave for 30 seconds to make sure the cheese is fully melted) I then add the flour.

Spray your mold & pour in the mixture. 

Bake at 325 degrees F. The 8x4 mold will bake for approx 1 hr & 15 mins & the smaller 1x2 molds (pictured) will bake in approx 35 mins. 

Once done, let them cool for about 10 mins before removing from the pan (or if you're like me, I'll pry one of the smaller ones out & burn my tongue when I try to bite into it! lol)

Bon appetite & enjoy!

xo,
Nancy

What a year can do!

Although I started my weight loss journey in September 2011, I was "good" for 99% of 2012. It is hard for me to look in the mirror & see my progress, so every now & then I put together a before & after picture. Hope you're inspired! I cannot believe the difference. There is approx a 60-70 lb difference. Feel free to "fan" me on facebook: Health - The Ultimate DIY!!!

Cannot wait to see what 2013 holds for me! Here's to a healthy & active you!!!

xo,
Nancy

Orange Carrot Muffins

I bought a juicer a few days ago & I hate food going to waste...so I searched for things to do with the leftover pulp & found All About Juicing, and they had soooo much information! I took their recipe & tweaked it a bit. The end result was delicious! I took them to our office's Christmas party & they got an A+ from everybody! Even prompting a few to have seconds and thirds! It's a fairly easy recipe, don't get too scared of all the ingredients!

Ingredients


2 cups flour
1/4 cup carrot/orange pulp (after juicing)
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup stevia
1 tbsp orange zest
2/3 cup orange juice (made fresh juice just for this occassion!) 
1/4 cup applesauce (unsweetened)
1/4 cup smart balance butter
1/3 cup egg whites

Topping

1 tbsp meltedbutter
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon

***Keep in mind, these are the ingredients I used...be creative & alter what you need!***

First mix the dry ingredients & then stir in the wet ones. I made mini muffins (and got 35) but you can use the regular muffins & should make around 12'ish. If you're doing the minis, bake at 350 for 10 mins, if you're using the reg cupcake tins, bake for 20-25 mins.

Once you put the batter into the cupcake molds, combine the "topping" ingredients together & sprinkle over each muffin. Voila!

The nutritional information below is based off of 1-cupcake size muffin.

Calories 121
Total fat 2.3g
Saturated fat .3g
Cholesterol 0mg
Total carbs 21.8g
Dietary fiber .9g
Sugars 4.9g
Protein 3g

Good points

No cholesterol
High in selenium
High in Vitamin C

NO BAD POINTS!

Bon appetite!

xo,
Nancy

2nd Juice of the Day - With Swiss Chard!

I think tomorrow I will strictly be juicing & thinking of alternating juicing days. It'll be good. I just hope Christmas falls on a non juicing day! lol. Here is what I had for lunch today.

Ingredients

1 cup kale

2 swiss chard leaves

1/4 cup parsley

2 apples

2 carrots

1 orange

I have learned that kale & some greens don't let out a whole lot of juice, however there is a ton of nutrients in the juice that it does produce, so enjoy!!! Again, this made approx 25-30 oz of juice.

Calories 383

Total fat 1.9g

Cholesterol 0mg

Sodium 330 mg

Total carbs 94.8g

Dietary fiber 20g

Sugars 62.0g

Protein 8.2g

The following is based off of a 2000 calorie diet:

Vitamin A 769%

Vitamin C 418%

Calcium 30%

Iron 27%

Good points

Very low in saturated fat

No cholesterol

Very high in dietary fiber

High in manganese

High in magnesium

High in potassium

Very high in Vitamin A

Very high in Vitamin C

Bad points

Very high in sugar 

Let the juicing begin! Bon appetite!

xo,

Nancy

My First Juice - Sour Green

I finally *FINALLY* got a juicer this weekend & I am super excited for so many reasons. With a lot of things going on that I cannot control, what I put into my body is one of the few things I can control, so I am going to take that & RUN with it! I love how it froths on top & gives you a mustache. Oh, it's the little things in life. Below is the recipe & I used, along with the nutritional information. 

Ingredients:

8 oz spinach 

2 carrots

1 grapefruit (I swear, this was the mother of all grapefruits!!! Local too!)

2 oranges

I can't remember off the top of my head how many oz this made, but I want to say around 25-30 oz & nutritional information is based on this recipe as a whole.

Calories 316

Total fat 1.7g

Cholesterol 0mg

Sodium 263mg

Total carbs 73.5g

Dietary fiber 18.6g (75%!!!!)

Sugars 50.1g

Protein 11.9g

The following is based off of a 2000 calorie diet:

Vitamin A 873%

Vitamin C 518%

Calcium 43%

Iron 39%

Good points (Brace yourselves!!!)

Very low in saturated fat

No cholesterol

High in calcium

Very high in dietary fiber

High in iron

Very high in manganese

High in magnesium

Very high in potassium

High in riboflavin

High in thiamin

Very high in Vitamin A

High in Vitamin B6

Very high in Vitamin C

Bad points 

Very high in sugar

As always, nutritional information was calculated at Calorie Count.

Cannot wait to post more!!! Bon appetite!

xo,
Nancy 

DIY Toothpaste & Mouthwash

I am unsure who the originator of these images are...but I just had to share!!! I have made them both already. They are super easy to make & taste wonderful. Keep in mind, if you don't like peppermint, simply choose another flavor! 

Enjoy & start living the DIY today!!!

xo,

Nancy