I’m a snacker. Throughout the day I’d much rather snack on something than to eat a full meal. Now snacking in and of itself isn’t a bad thing, it’s what you snack on that’s key.  So following are a few of my favorite snacks that can work as meals on their own or as between meals munchers.

1. Fruit – Yes, this isn’t exactly original, but it is a great way to get in your servings of fruit and fiber for the day and satisfy your sweet tooth. Fruits are naturally sweet and really convenient when in need of a quick and easy snack. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous make a nice fruit salad filled with all your favorite fruits. If that sounds like too much work, just pay a little extra and buy a pre-packaged fruit salad from the grocery store, you can’t get any more convenient than that.

2. Homemade Trailmix – I like a good trailmix, but most store bought trailmixes come with things I don’t eat or are completely unhealthy (marshmallows and chocolate chips I’m looking at you) so I make my own. My favorite is a mix of pecans and raisins. It’s tasty, filling and easy to mix and transport. Just buy a big bag of pecans, a big box of raisins and some sandwich bags. Mix 1/4 cup of raisins with 1/4 cup of pecans in a sandwich bag, seal and you’re ready to go.

3. Yogurt – Or what I like to call a mini-meal in cup. Yogurt is a great snack between meals, an easy way to get a serving of fruit and calcium in during the day and a nice way to satisfy a sweet tooth without munching on cookies, candy or some other undesirable sweet snack.

What are some of your favorite snacks? Take to the comments and let us know what you like to snack on during the day.

New Activia Harvest Picks is a deliciously fruity and silky smooth yogurt. You will enjoy a Harvest of real fruit in every silky spoonful.

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Activia via Glam Media.  The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Activia

I LOVE yogurt. So much so I fancy myself a bit bit of a yogurt connoisseur. So when I was presented with the opportunity to try Dannon’s Activia Harvest Picks of course I said yes, and I can honestly say I wasn’t disappointed. I look for three things when I decide if a particular brand of yogurt is right for me:

1. The consistency – Is it smooth and creamy or lumpy and bump?
2. The mix of yogurt to fruit – Some yogurt brands give you lots of yogurt and not so much fruit.
3. Taste – Obviously you want your yogurt to taste good. You’re not going to buy if it doesn’t.

I’m happy to report that Dannon’s Activia Harvest Picks passes my yogurt test with flying colors. It’s very smooth and creamy with the right mix of fruit and yogurt and it tastes great which is ultimately what matters right?

Now, since I love yogurt so much I often use it in various recipes throughout the day. My favorite however is my Power Breakfast Smoothie. It’s simple, quick, nutritious and filling.

Power Breakfast Smoothie

Ingredients

• 1 Dannon Activia Harvest Yogurt
• 2 Scoops Favorite Protein Powder
• 8oz Soy Milk (or your milk or mix of choice)
• Ice

Directions

Add ingredients to a blender and blend until mixture is smooth and creamy. Pour in your favorite glass and enjoy!

Notes

Remember, new Activia Harvest Picks is a deliciously fruity and silky smooth yogurt. You will enjoy a Harvest of real fruit in every silky spoonful.

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Activia via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Activia

The Before

Apparently whether I drove or not seems to be the topic of conversation for those at LensCrafters.  I was asked once again once the LensGrafters employee realized I didn’t have on glasses on contacts. LOL. Shows you just how blind I really am.

How you like me now

So did you guess correctly? My frames of choice? Anywho my LensCrafters experience was a great one and my frames and lenses look and feel great. It’s amazing what you don’t realize you’re not seeing. It’s like a whole new world. And with their AccufitSM Digital Measurement system, LensCrafters offers a clearly different optical experience by helping you find your perfect pair of eyeglasses that allows you to see 5x clearer.

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by LensCrafters via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of LensCrafters

Getting my Dr. Evil on after having my eyes dilated

Saturday I went off to LenscCafters to get some new glasses since my last pair were cracked and truth be told I was long overdue for another eye exam. Well, you know I said I wasn’t really blind as a bat, just a bit farsighted? Well, seems like the joke was on me:

Doctor: Did you drive over here?

Me: No. I don’t know how to drive

Doctor: I see why.

Doctor: 1 Me: 0

SMH.

So outside of learning that I just can’t see. No. Really can’t see. I had a blast. My Godsister and I spent the down time trying on frames and took plenty of pictures so I could decide which pair were right for me:

Grrrr

It's Zoolander!

You see me. Cause I see you.

Hmmm...Yes? No? Maybe?

The Sexy Face

So after playing with trying on frames, it was time for me to get my lenses fitted with LensCrafters state of the art AccufitSM Digital Measurement system that’s supposed to deliver the most precise fit for your lenses.  It’s a new, state-of-the art digital measuring technology. They are the first Eye Care retail chain to introduce advanced digital optical measurements in both the U.S. and Canada.

It was actually rather painless and simple. You put on your frames. They use a measurement to make sure they are aligned property, take your pic with and voila, you’re done. Simple. All in all I’d say it was a really great experience and a fun day. So which pair of frames did I choose? Well you’ll just have to wait and see. Since my lenses weren’t stock I have to wait 7 to 10 days to get my glasses. Feel free to guess in the comment section below. All in all, LensCrafters offers a clearly different optical experience by helping you find your perfect pair of eyeglasses that allows you to see 5x clearer.

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by LensCrafters via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of LensCrafters

Me without my glasses

I’m blind as a bat.

Okay. Not really. But I have been wearing glasses since I was in Kindergarten. They do that first eye exam at school, and lo and behold my mom got a letter in the mail saying “Your daughter is in need of glasses.” Way to go Mom and Dad for giving me that great vision.

Now some twenty-odd years later, I’m in need of a new pair of glasses because my wonderful, perfect eyesight having child managed to (accidentally) crack my frames. Oy ve.

Me and my temporary glasses

So I’m off to LensCrafters so they can tell me again how very farsighted I am and to check out their new AccufitSM Digital Measurement system that’s supposed to deliver the most precise fit for your lenses.  It’s a new, state-of-the art digital measuring technology. They are the first Eye Care retail chain to introduce advanced digital optical measurements in both the U.S. and Canada  Gone are the days of the ginormous binoculars and hand fitting of your lenses. Everything else is going digital these days, why not the way you get your lenses fitted.

Of course I will write all about my Lenscrafters experience and what it’s like getting your lenses fit digitally. So, for once, I’m looking forward to a visit to the optometrist since LensCrafters offers a clearly different optical experience by helping you find your perfect pair of eyeglasses that allows you to see 5x clearer.

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by LensCrafters via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of LensCrafters

Six Keys to Staying Motivated

:
1. Vary your routine every so often to prevent boredom and provide enhanced benefits by working different muscle fibers within the same broad muscle groups. Try different exercises; try doing more reps and lighter weights one day; more weight and less reps another day, etc.

2. A little bit is much better than nothing and in fact goes a long way. While an hour or so 3 to 4 times a week is great, exercising for 15 to 20 minutes once or twice a week is much better than no exercise.

3. Work with a trainer when bored or discouraged– even if it is just for a few sessions – to get you back on the right track, learn some new things and rejuvenate your workout.

4. View work-out time as “your time” to escape from the demands placed on you from others and take care of yourself. Get in a “zone” by focusing on the music you’re listening to, the results you will achieve or how good you will feel after your workout.

5. Write down your goals – You are more likely to remain committed to them. Also, keep a diary of your workouts and your progress – what gets recorded and measured gets improved.

6. Workout with a friend – you will push each other and time will go by faster..

What do you think?

Do any of these tips resonate with you?

What would you add to the list?

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Minimizes wrinkles Yoga can reduce stress by nearly a third, reports a German study of 24 women. As a result, clenched jaws and furrowed brows relax, helping to smooth away wrinkles. Yoga may also rejuvenate skin’s glow by reducing oxidative stress, which breaks down skin’s elasticity. In an Indian study of 104 people, oxidative stress levels dropped by 9% after just 10 days of yoga.

Slows weight gainDuring a 10-year University of Washington study of 15,500 men and women over age 45, those who didn’t do yoga gained up to 13.5 pounds. Those who practiced regularly lost up to 5 pounds.

Eases pain Yoga is twice as effective as stretching at relieving back pain, according to another University of Washington study that had 101 people with lower-back pain do either yoga or stretching once a week for 3 months.

We all have those older relatives who are in their 60′s and easily look like they are in their 40′s, yoga just seems like it woul add a little “umph” to Black women’s ability to age gracefully. Nesides, being healthier, slimmer and more relaxed is something we all can benefit from, regardless of age.

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This mushroom and asparagus salad makes a great lunch or a light dinner. It’s also an excellent way to make your 30 grams of daily fiber quota. Enjoy!

Ingredients

• 1 whole-wheat English muffin (or 1 slice whole-wheat bread), torn into pieces
• 4 teaspoons grated Parmesan
• 1/3 cup plus 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons minced shallot
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
• 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves, chopped, or pinch dried thyme
• 1 1/2 pounds thin asparagus, trimmed
• 3 cups trimmed and sliced cremini mushrooms
• 5 cups salad greens
• 2 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and finely chopped

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. In a food processor, pulse the English muffin into large, fluffy crumbs. Transfer bread crumbs to a medium bowl; toss with the Parmesan and 2 teaspoons of the oil. Season with the salt and black pepper to taste.

Whisk together remaining oil and the shallot, vinegar, soy sauce and thyme and a pinch of black pepper in a small bowl.Spread the asparagus evenly on two rimmed baking sheets. Drizzle each sheet with 2 tablespoons of the dressing; shake to coat.

In another medium bowl, toss the mushrooms with 2 tablespoons dressing. Scatter mushrooms evenly over asparagus, reserving bowl. Roast the vegetables 10 minutes.

Toss roasted asparagus and mushrooms to coat with their cooking juices and scatter bread crumbs over each sheet. Return sheets to oven and roast another 8 to 10 minutes or until vegetables are tender and bread crumbs are browned.

In reserved bowl, toss the salad greens with 2 tablespoons dressing; store leftover dressing in the refrigerator. Pile the salad on dinner plates. Top with asparagus and mushrooms, sprinkle with the chopped egg and serve.

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Here, we use healthier extra-virgin olive oil with a bit of butter added for its flavor instead of the tablespoons of butter usually used to make classic “amandine” sauce for pan-fried catfish fillets. The results are delicately flavored and have only a third of the calories, fat and sodium of a classic version.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon plus 1 1/2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 tablespoon butter
1/4 cup sliced almonds
3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1/2 cup low-fat milk
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 pound catfish, cut into 4 portions
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

Preparation

Heat 1 tablespoon oil and butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add almonds and garlic and cook until both are just beginning to brown, 1 to 3 minutes. Set aside.

Combine milk and egg in a shallow dish. In another shallow dish, combine flour, salt and cayenne. Dip fish in the milk mixture, then in the flour mixture; shake off any excess flour. (Discard any leftover mixtures.)

Heat the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add fish and cook until lightly browned and opaque in the center, 4 to 6 minutes per side.

Return the almond-garlic sauce to the stove over medium heat. Add lemon juice and heat through, 1 to 2 minutes. Pour the sauce over the fish and sprinkle with parsley.

Nutrition

Per serving:
336 calories
21 g fat ( 5 g sat , 11 g mono )
117 mg cholesterol
10 g carbohydrates
25 g protein
1 g fiber
353 mg sodium
452 mg potassium

Nutrition Bonus:
Selenium (33% daily value)
Vitamin E (20% dv)
Carbohydrate Servings: 1/2

Have a Great Recipe?

We’re always looking for great recipes. Show us the dishes you use to stay fit and healthy. Upload your recipe to our Tasty Healthy Recipes group and we will feature your recipe on the site. Simple as that!