6 Ways Strawberries Aid Athletes + Best Berry Recipes

Someday I will have a strawberry patch in my garden  . . . I just need to work on getting that garden first!  In the meantime, I’ll continue to visit my favorite produce departments and farmers’ markets, greedily buying up all the plump and pretty berries in my quest for the sweetest and juiciest picks of spring.

Six Ways Strawberries Aid Athletes

Strawberries are not only sweet-tooth satisfying; they are a superfood that should be part of an athlete’s training diet.  I eat strawberries to keep my performance and recovery at a peak – here are the top six reasons why:

  1. An entire cup (about 12 medium berries) of strawberries has only 50 calories and serves as a source of quick energy thanks to healthy complex carbohydrates.
  2. A serving (one cup) of strawberries provides more than a day’s worth of vitamin C. This antioxidant offers a host of important benefits for athletes, including immune system protection and helping the body to recover and repair from intense workouts.
  3. The flesh and seeds of strawberries are a sensible source of dietary fiber, an important nutrient that keeps you from feeling hungry right away and also helps to keep digestion moving along.  Fiber also helps to reduce cholesterol and lower blood pressure, according to many studies.
  4. Strawberries are a great source of potassium and magnesium, essential minerals that are lost through sweat. Runners and other endurance athletes (one hour of consistent exercise or more) require more of these minerals to keep electrolyte balances in check. These minerals are also good for bone health.
  5. Strawberries contain a compound called nitrate that has positive effects on blood flow and oxygen around the body. Some studies have shown nitrates can increase the flow of blood & oxygen to the muscles by as much as 7 percent. This can help prevent muscle fatigue, making exercise easier.
  6.  Strawberries contain an antioxidant called quercetin . This plant pigment has been shown to play a role in heart health and the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Some scientists studying exercise biochemistry suggest quercetin may enhance endurance and overall athletic performance by serving as an anti-inflammatory agent, improving mitochondrial (energy) function in cells, and boosting the central nervous system with a caffeine-like jolt.

So, enough about how strawberries can benefit runners and other athletes and on to the yummy stuff —  strawberry recipes!  I recently made a quick and easy recipe for Strawberry Blackberry Greek Yogurt Chia Pudding and Shooters for Litehouse Foods. This healthy recipes work as a sustaining breakfast, sensible dessert or nutritious post-workout snack – in addition to the goodness of strawberries, this “pudding” is packed with chia seeds and Greek yogurt for an extra punch of protein.

Berry Greek Yogurt Chia Pudding

For the Strawberry Blackberry Chia Shots, all you do is thin the recipe down with a little extra milk (2%, coconut, almond, soy, etc).  It’s a refreshing alternative to a smoothie!

Strawberry Blackberry Chia Shots

And, speaking of refreshing, how about a scoop of Roasted Strawberry Coconut Milk Sherbet on a warm spring day?

jennifer fisher - thefitfork.com - roasted strawberry coconut mile sherbet 1

My Strawberry Greek Yogurt Tart (with Paleo Chocolate Crust) has always been a big winner in the spring and is a gorgeous addition to an Easter dinner, graduation or other special celebration.

strawberry yogurt pie

What is your favorite way to eat strawberries?

Chocolate Raspberry Coconut Chia Pudding with Unsweetened Almond Milk

This post is sponsored by Almond Breeze Almondmilk.

Chocolate Raspberry Coconut Chia Pudding - TheFitFork.comI’ve really grown to love almond milk as a staple in my healthy diet. I’m not lactose intolerant nor do I have any other concern about dairy milk, but I find that the addition of almond milk makes a tasty alternative in my cooking, baking and smoothie-making.  My absolute favorite “flavor” is unsweetened vanilla. With no added sugar, I am in control of how I want my milk or recipe outcome to taste and what type of ingredients I’ll use to do so. I will admit, in the winter, I do have cravings to mix in stevia-sweetened chocolate syrup – it makes a rich, creamy and low-calorie treat.  It’s hard to believe, but one cup of Unsweetened Almond Breeze Almondmilk  just has 30 calories – and, it has no saturated fat or cholesterol and is low on the Glycemic Index.

Trail Running - TheFitFork.comIn addition to mugs of hot chocolate, I can’t tell you how many smoothie creations I’ve made with unsweetened almond milk as the base.  Pear Maple Chia Smoothie, Watermelon Chia Smoothie, Creamy Cranberry Orange Smoothie and dozens upon dozens more. Making a smoothie is such an easy way to refuel after a good run – but I was looking for a new snack to have waiting and ready after an unseasonably warm trail run last week (it’s now cold again, ugh).   Pairing chia seeds with almond milk seemed like the perfect way to pump of the protein for muscle recovery . . . seeing as I did it so often in my smoothies!

Chocolate Raspberry Coconut Chia Pudding with Almond Breeze - TheFitFork.com Just like unsweetened almond milk, there’s so much love about chia seeds. These little guys are an abundant source of Omega 3 fatty acids, surprising high in protein, and rich in other vitamins and minerals like calcium. I’ll be the first to admit, the gelatinous texture of chia seeds – even just the word gelatinous – freaks me out a little. However, blend in some chocolaty cocoa and raspberries and all of a sudden the mouthfeel is marvelous. This recipe makes a stunning and super sensible dessert and is so nutrient-packed; it even gets my approval for breakfast.

Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding - TheFitFork.com

Chocolate Raspberry Coconut Chia Pudding
Prep Time
3 mins
Total Time
8 hrs 3 mins
 
Rich cacao powder and raspberries are perfectly paried -- add chia seeds and almond milk and you have a dessert that is creamy, dreamy and a delight for your healthy diet. Unsweeted almondmilk makes a great base that lets you choose how much sweetness to add.
Course: Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
Servings: 3 1/2 cup servings
Ingredients
Chocolate Chia Pudding Layer:
  • 9 tablespoons Unsweetened Almond Breeze Almondmilk equals 1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon
  • 2 tablespoons chia seeds
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons cocoa powder
  • 3 packets stevia
Rasberry Chia Pudding Layer
  • 12 frozen raspberries
  • 1/2 cup Unsweetened Almond Breeze Almondmilk
  • 2 tablespoons chia seeds
  • 2 tablespoons unsweetened flaked coconut
  • 3 packets stevia
Instructions
  1. Set out two 1-pint microwave-safe containers with tight-fitting lids. In first container, add ingredients for chocolate pudding layer. Secure lid tightly and shake vigorously to combine.
  2. In second container, add raspberries and thaw in microwave on defrost for about 30 seconds, or until thawed and juices released. Use fork to mash up raspberries. Add remaining ingredients for raspberry pudding layer fasten lid and shake until combined.
  3. Set both containers in the refrigerator for at least 8 hours or overnight. To serve, spoon puddings in alternate layers. Top with additional raspberries and coconut. Makes about 1 1/2 cups.

How To Segment Grapefruit – More Fruit, Less Mess!

Peeling Grapefruit - TheFitFork.comDon’t you just love grapefruit?! It’s both sweet and tart at the same time which makes my mouth initially confused, but ultimately happy. Plus, grapefruit is super healthy — just one half of a grapefruit provides 64 percent RDA of vitamin C, 28 percent of vitamin A, 5 percent of vitamin B-6, 166 milligrams potassium and 2 grams dietary fiber (all for just 52 calories).

grapefruit heartThe complex carbs found in grapefruit are your friend, especially if you are looking for some healthy quick energy for your workout. Plus, some studies suggest that consuming ½ grapefruit before meals helps to balance blood sugar levels and encourages the liver to burn, not store, excess fat. And, the antioxidents and flavinoids in grapefruit may help lower cholesterol and reduce in incidence of cardiovascular disease.

So, you can see I have a lot of love for the grapefruit. However, it’s not one of the easiest fruits to prep for recipes. The skin is hard to remove, the pith usually doesn’t peel off easily and the segment membranes are a little tough to chew. Plus, with all the hard work of removing the flesh, there always seems like a ton of waste. However, if you follow this How to Segment a Grapefruit tutorial, you’ll be enjoying juicy whole segments in no time – with less mess and waste!

Check back next week when I share some new recipes I created for the blog at Litehouse Foods – meanwhile, check out past recipes for Broiled Grapefruit with Feta and Zingy Citrus Salad.

How To Segment Grapefruit - numbered-  TheFitFork.com

Step 1.  Using a sharp knife, cut the top and bottom off grapefruit just enough to expose the pink flesh. This creates a stable object to work with rather than a round sphere that keeps rolling around!

Step 2. Slice off grapefruit peel, cutting downward from top to bottom, following the curve of the fruit. After removing all skin, go back to remove any remains of the white, bitter pith.

Step 3. To start removing the grapefruit segments, cut from the outside to the center just inside the membrane on one side of a section. Leave knife in center of fruit and gently “roll up” to the opposing side of the segment membrane, gently lift and remove. Repeat for remaining sections.

Step 4. One large grapefruit should yield about one cup of segments. Enjoy!

What is your favorite way to eat grapefruit?

Tuna Avocado Toast with Tangy Lemon Crema #BeeHealthy

Tuna Avocado Toast with Radish - TheFitFork.com

It’s a New Year and I’ve made a pledge to continue yet another year of striving to be the best me I can be. I’ll stay on this path (although there are always a few detours) by making nutritious food choices, exercising in some way every day, stepping outside my comfort zone with personal challenges and just being at peace with myself. While I don’t have a lot of resolutions (sounds so shaming), I do have one oath of an epicurean nature to make – never make a rash judgment that prevents a delicious healthy food trend from meeting my mouth.

What delicious healthy food trend, you ask? I’m talking about avocado toast, the creamy and crunchy hookup that has been buzzing all over the Internet. I’ve seen avocado toast in some form or fashion on every social media channel imaginable in the last few months, but I dismissed the toast and topping as not protein-rich enough for my diet (although I don’t mind eating an entire avocado in one sitting – wink, wink).

Prepping Tuna Avocado Toast - The Fit Fork - ThFitFork.com

But then, I had a moment of clarity yesterday while trying to come up with a quick healthy meal from the pantry – what about tuna fish?!  I always keep a few cans of tuna from Bumble Bee Seafoods to elevate salads, sandwiches and simple ingredients into yummy and healthy meals. For example, my recipe for Fiesta Tuna Quinoa Salad is still a make-ahead favorite for a whirlwind week as is my Speedy Salad Nicoise.

Tuna is a simple (and frugal) way to add a host of nutrients to your diet, including lean protein, healthy fat, and important vitamins and minerals.  I’m a fan of the single-serve, 2.5 ounce pouches of Bumble Bee® Premium Albacore Tuna and Light Tuna because the packages don’t require a can opener, messy draining, or any cooking!

Tuna Avocado Toast - The Fit Fork

 

Lemon Crema for Avocado Toast - TheFitFork.com

 

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Tuna, Avocado & Radish Toast with Tangy Lemon Crema
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
2 mins
Total Time
12 mins
 
Servings: 2 people
Ingredients
  • 4 slices rustic artisan bread your favorite variety
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tsp minced garlic
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 1 2.5 oz pouch tuna, drained I used Bumble Bee Albacore Tuna
  • 1 radish sliced thinly and then quartered
  • 1/4 cup Greek yogurt
  • 2 tsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tsp lemon zest
  • 1/2 tsp red chile pepper sauce more or less to taste
  • Pea Shoots for garnish
Instructions
  1. Lightly brush tops of bread with olive oil and set under broiler until lightly brown on top. Remove from oven and set aside.
  2. Cut avocado in half, remove seed and score flesh inside of skin. With a spoon, scoop out one half of the scored avocado and add to bowl with lemon juice, garlic and sea salt. Mash together very well. Add in the other half of scored avocado and mix lightly to combine – this will keep a chunkier texture.
    How to Score Avocado
  3. Spread equal portion of avocado mixture on the top of each toast. Top each toast with just a little over ½ ounce of tuna fish and sprinkling of radish slices.
  4. In another small bowl, wish together Greek yogurt, lemon juice, lemon zest and hot pepper sauce until incorporated.
  5. Drizzle lemon crema over tops of toast and garnish with pea shoots.

BeefFit, BeefFast + Soleus Mini GPS #Giveaway

A couple of beefy happenings going on in my life this week – let me share! First up, a guest blog post I wrote for Beef Loving Texans, go check it out. Basically, I talk about my philosophy of NOT dieting in a restrictive way, but instead focusing on filling my plate with wholesome and real foods. You’ll also find some other good tips on portion control and serving sizes along with a crazy-easy breakfast recipe for a super thin frittata that cooks up on a baking sheet.

Eat Real Food - TheFitFork.com

I have another guest post today on Core Power about how beef is a super food for SUPER ATHLETES! The folks at Core Power totally understand the benefits of beef for an active lifestyle – it was like preaching to the choir. Some days I time to grill up a steak, other days I rely on their high protein shakes for convenient refueling after a workout.  Whether beef or a shake, getting enough protein is crucial to muscle recovery after exercise. Protein helps build back damaged muscle tissue, reduces cortisol levels and, when eaten in tandem with carbohydrates, helps the body to efficiently replenish glycogen stores.

Beef - Superfood for Super Athletes - TheFitFork.com

Soleus Mini GPS - Jennifer Fisher - TheFitFork.comNow, I’m excited to tell you about my new Soleus GPS Mini watch. Now, when I say “mini,” I definitely don’t mean that this watch skimps on functionality, not at all! Instead it has a welcomed petite and streamlined silhouette that is NOTHING like that old dinosaur GPS I had been wearing for years. Soleus Running is totally right when they say “big things come in little packages,” — they are referring to the size of watch, but it also applies to the possible end result of wearing this watch – a PR.  IF you are a runner or triathlete of any ability, you know exactly how BIG of a deal that even a super small 1 or 2 second PR can be and this GPS watch can help you get there.  Big things DO come in little packages!

Anyway, onto the awesomeness of this cute GPS watch. It does everything I need it to. It keeps tables on my speed, distance and pace. It has a 100-lap memory, automatic lap slips, a calorie counter, simple 4-button interface, weighs less than 2 ounces, costs only around $100, comes in a variety of colors and more – check out all the other features here. Plus, awesome Olympic runner mama Kara Groucher wears one AND on the back plate the watch says “Sweat can be sexy,” so ‘nuff said.

Pink Soleus Mini GPS - TheFitFork.com

So, whoohoo . . . I get to give a Soleus Mini GPS Watch away to help one of my readers look great while achieving new levels of badassery.

soleus running logo

 

 

This giveaway is sponsored by Soleus, however all review opinions are my own. Enter through the Rafflecopter app below!

 
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