Empire Healthy update: You dont need to hire a personal chef (as if!) or resign yourself to starvation to get bikini-ready. All you need is a blender. Blending is one of the quickest, easiest ways to prep healthy foods, especially fresh fruits and veggies, says FITNESS advisory board member Harley Pasternak, trainer, nutrition expert, and author of the new book The Body Reset Diet. Get his favorite smoothie recipes plus details on how they can kick-start your metabolism and keep it fired up for good. By Juno DeMelo Build a Better Smoothie Here are the four things you need to create your own tasty, healthy combos. A liquid base Pasternak favors milk -- 1 percent or nonfat -- because its rich in vitamin D and calcium, which can help your body break down fat. But nondairy milks, like soy and almond, are fine too, he says, as is flavored water. Lean protein Getting protein at every meal helps you maintain lean muscle mass, which means you burn more calories throughout the day. Your best bets: plain nonfat yogurt, silken tofu, or unflavored protein powder. Healthy fats These give you energy, make your smoothie satisfying, and help your body absorb vitamins. Use up to two tablespoons of an ingredient that contains the good -- that is, monounsaturated -- kind, like avocado, seeds, or nuts. High-fiber carbs Any fruit will do, but raspberries and blueberries deliver the most fiber and the least amount of sugar. As for veggies, spinach and cucumber have the mildest, easiest-to-mask flavors.
Posted on: Mon, 27 Jan 2014 14:52:27 +0000
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