Saturday 22 November 2014

BEVERAGES



As this is my first post, I want to again extend a warm welcome to all my followers ;)

My posts are honest accounts of the healthy tips and tricks that work for me i.e. foods, beverages, work outs, you name it!  I aim to be as transparent as possible, as what I do not want is to make things complicated and complex for you.

Ok where do I start?  I've decided why not start with "Juices", “Healthy Juices”,  as this was my first step, or should I say "kick start" to healthy eating and dropping the pounds.  My Dietician told me that I would first need to do a major clear out of all the shop bought beverages from my refrigerator!  The first thought that came to my mind was "really?? I don't think so!"   I was what you call a "shop bought drink /  juice addict" and absolutely loved my drinks!  More so the very reasonably priced ones that I could easily get at the popular high street shops.  I later realized that I was so addicted to these juices because they are high in sugars and this is commonly known as "sugar addiction".  Unfortunately the more you consume these juices that are high in sugar,  the more you crave for them and the harder it is for you to abstain or kick the habit.  In a nutshell, the juices to avoid are ones labelled "from concentrate" and it's always advisable to check the sugar level content on the labels before purchasing.  Unfortunately too is that these beverages are normally cheaper than the healthier options.



My option:
I decided to take on board the Dietician’s advice and chose the route of the 100% natural juices.  Of course this meant that I had to invest in a fruit juicer extractor.  These vary in prices, but you know what?  They all achieve the same purpose, which is to liquefy fruits and vegetables.  Having said that, my opinion is, if you are looking to save money, go for a "Cookworks", priced at £20 and up,  but if you don't mind splashing out,  then by all means,  go for a "Novis Bita" priced at around £300 or "Bosch" at £200 and up.  Of course I opted for a Cookworks, which only cost me 30 quids (another word for pounds) and it came with a handy jug too!   I purchased mine at Argos and it does the job well!  I absolutely love it!  The only downside is that I have to clean the pulps and bits afterwards,  but this is no biggie.





My Juicer:



The thing I love about using the Juicer is that you can throw in any fruits and veggies of your choice and it's quick, simple and easy.   There are no rules as to what fruits to combine with what, etc.  I like to throw in at least one veggie with my fruits,  to balance it off and to give a well-rounded nourishing drink but if you prefer you could go all out fruits or all out veggies or a balanced mixture of both.  I'm always looking for deals, and to avoid spending unnecessarily,  so I purchase my fruits and veggies at the local market in bulk or from the Fruit Vendors on the street pavements that sell a portion or bowl of fruits / vegetables for only £1!  As for my followers who reside in The Caribbean, America, Canada, other parts of Europe, you name it, I'm sure you will know where to get your reasonably priced fruits and veggies so go on, start hunting!

It's great to include the kids too as it is also important that they too have a healthy diet. Research shows that childhood obesity is rapidly on the rise and is one of the most serious public health challenges today.  Globally in 2013 the number of overweight children under the age of 5 is estimated to be over 42 million and close to 31 million of these are living in developing countries. (source: World Health Organization)



Tip for the kiddies:
I often whip up what I call my "berry merry" for my kids.  I simply throw in a portion of all the berries I can get my hands on

  •   Strawberries, Blueberries, Raspberries, Blackberries 
  • Pineapples 
  • Red or Green Apples 
  • Pears (not Avocado)
This combination is not only healthy and nutritious, but packed full of Vitamin C.  It's sweet and tasty, and the kids absolutely love it!


Tip for you:


This pic shows one of my many juices.  This Juice has a combination of:
  • Carrots 
  • Broccoli
  • Red Apples 
  • Pears (not Avocado) 
  • Thumb of fresh Ginger and squeeze in a juicy Lemon for that kick! **Do not add water**                                                                       
There you have it.....Voila!.... your juice is ready!  Quick , Simple , Easy and last but not least Healthy.



Trick:
This Juice will cleanse and help to flush the system.  Yes, you will be going to the loo (toilet) more often, and this is a positive sign (no pun intended) that you are on your way to a healthy start!


Non-regimented as promised.  Having said that,  as you will be changing your drinking habits, this new transformation will take discipline and dedication, but believe you me it gets easier and natural the more you do it!  If I can do it, you sure can too!

I am intrigued to know how you get on with this, so please update me on your progress!

Have a great day all!

Lesley  C  ;)



15 comments:

  1. Ok so it's just fruits and vegetables no sugar to taste? Will that fill you up for the day? I'm an addict when it comes on to sugar.. I need help .. This method sound good I need a juicer now . Thanks sis I'm Gonna get a juicer this weekend and start my journey.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi perfect couple, absolutely, no sugar. The natural sweetness of the fruits will substitue for the sugar. You can juice as much as you like in one go and fill up a large container to last you for a week or so, preferably glass as bio degradable containers tend to make the contents go off quicker. Refrigerate! Enjoy!! ;)

      Delete
  2. You go girl, I'm gonna try this for the summer body!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks andra! Absolutely! The journey starts here! ;)

      Delete
  3. Looking great mom and fit everyday,and beautiful every time

    ReplyDelete
  4. Looking great mom an fit every day and beautiful every time am going to try it

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Steven! Hard work = Great benefits! ;)

      Delete
  5. Thanks for thr great tips especially with how to make delicious juices
    Looking fab

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Kelly! The pleasure is min! Subscribe stay tuned and let the journey begin! ;)

      Delete
  6. Really like what you have done and accomplished LeslyAnn. J

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thanks J! Keep following and be inspired! Let the journey begin! ;)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Waiting on that second blog cant wa!t ma

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thanks perfect couple! It's coming very soon!

    ReplyDelete