Made-at-Home Smoothies– Give ‘Em a Whirl!

Hurray! Tomorrow is the first official day of spring, the weather is beginning to warm up and it’s time to start enjoying a run, workout or just some well-deserved relaxation in the great outdoors. I don’t know about you, but sipping on – or  swigging down, as the case may be – a delicious smoothie is one of my favorite ways to recover from a hard workout or just treat myself to a healthy breakfast or midnight snack.

So, it’s no surprise for me to say that the friendly folks down at my nearby Jamba Juice refer to me by my favorite flavor profile –  “How are you today Ms. Mango Mantra® with Immunity and Whey Protein Boost?”  Sometimes I just can’t get down to the shop but need my smoothie fix to get through the day, so I was really excited to find out about the frozen smoothie kits from Jamba Juice that you can purchase at your local grocery store.  Before you head out to stock the freezer, remember to check out the Jamba Juice website to find a retail carrier in your area.  Each kit (found in the frozen food aisle) makes two smoothies each that are loaded with all-natural fruits (1 full serving of your daily requirement), fat-free yogurt, and a good-for-you antioxidant boost. Whipping up a batch is super easy – just add juice and blend!

Since I’m a an awesome ‘Jamba Juice Ambassador of Wow’, agreeing to try it out and then share my honest opinion with other enthusiasts of healthy blended beverages was a no-brainer.  I tried the Razzmatazz® and I would definitely give it a thumbs up – convenient, easy to make and super yummy. I also liked the fact that I had some control over the ingredients and whipped up my second round with my preferred flavor of protein powder and some freeze-dried acai berry – fancy, I know!

Give ‘em a whirl! Smoothie Kits from Jamba Juice come in these five fun flavors based on top-sellers in store:

Mango-a-go-go®

Razzmatazz®

Strawberries Wild®

Caribbean Passion®

Orange Dream Machine®

And, come back to The Fit Fork tomorrow to sign up for our very first giveaway. If you need a hint, all I can say is it’s one sweet prize!

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Tired of Egg Whites and Chicken? Time to Meet Meat!

Attention carnivores!  The April 2012 edition of Runner’s World has hit the stands, tackling the meaty issue of whether or not eating beef and other red meats is beneficial for the athlete.  Go ahead and indulge in moderation, the scientific verdict shows that lean red meats in moderation helps to rebuild and strengthen muscles by replenishing vital protein and amino acids lost during training. Additionally, iron is plentiful in beef, making a steak dinner a fine way to refuel for endurance athletes who require approximately 30-percent more of this nutrient than the general population.  Plus, a modest 3.5-ounce serving of lean beef provides 34-percent of the daily requirement for Zinc, a mineral that encourages a resilient immune system.

For many of us, this renewed belief in beef is nothing new.  I’ve been blabbing about beef and how it’s helping my running performance now for a couple years.  Thanks to the Texas Beef Council, I gave up my boring grilled chicken breast existence to enjoy the bounty of delicious lean beef – did you know there are actually a whopping 29 cuts of lean beef?  And, when I say ‘lean,’ I mean each 3-ounce serving contributes  ‘less than  200 calories, less than 10 grams of total fat, less than 4.5 grams of saturated fat and less than 90 milligrams of cholesterol,’ according to the nutritionists at TxBeef.org.

Check out this delicious tenderloin I roasted up for dinner the other night. It’s basically a ‘no recipe’ recipe. Simply season the outside of the beef (about 1 pound) with salt and pepper and chunk on a wire rack in a big roasting pan. Cook in the oven at 375 F degrees for 45 minutes to 1 hour (or until meat thermometer measures at least 135 F degrees).  Let rest for 5 minutes, slice and enjoy!

Welcome to The Fit Fork

Hi, I’m Jennifer and I’d like to extend happy, healthy greetings from The Fit Fork! From delicious recipes and fun fitness ideas, you’ll find news you can use to enjoy a better bite out of life. We’ll even review some of the latest gear and goodies in the health and fitness industry and invite you to join in the fun with opportunities to share your ideas and enter for some sweet swag.