Christine Chowning

I made this last night it is one of my favorites. For two years I was a raw foodie and I love the way I felt. I still eat raw but not 100% and I eat raw more in the summer then I do in the winter. Here is one of my favorite recipes. Cucumber Avocado Soup 2 medium cucumbers,peeled cut in 1/4's  1 avocado 2 Tablespoons Mint (optional ) Juice of 2 large lime 1/4 Himalayan salt Add some spice ( choose one ) 1/4 jalapeno seeded diced ( with all other ingredients and blend ) pinch of chili powder ( add after you have blender ) Directions: Combine cucumber, avocado, lime juice, and himalayan salt mint ( optional ) in your blender, and purée well. If it is to thick add water and serve in chilled bowls or refrigerate until you are ready to serve., You can add the jalapeno during the blending process or add a pinch of chili powder right before you serve Enjoy

Running Tips:  Beginner and experienced runners/walkers can benefit from cross training. I was not always a big fan of cross training but the more I add this into my training the better runner I have become.  I have listed below a few reasons why cross-training can help you become a stronger runner/walker. Cardiovascular Cross-training will help with your cardiovascular,believe it or not getting your heart rate up into the proper zone can help build on your running. One of the best workouts I have done in the past year is T25 , this has help me with my cardio and core.   YOGA/PILATES Stretch­ing and obtain­ing over­all flex­i­bil­ity are just as important as getting your long run in.  Not a big fan of Yoga? I wasn't either until I started doing PIYO  and was amazed at how my focus and concentrations improved as  well as my flexibility. Take the time to do it and see how your run...

Don't these look yummy?! Apricot & Lemon Energy Bars Ingredients ½ cup dried apricot ½ cup large Medjool dates 1 cup raw almonds 1 tsp lemon juice Instructions in a food processor grind the almonds until coarsely ground and place it in a bowl remove pits from dates and process along with the dried apricots in a food processor until creamy combine the date/apricot paste with the ground almonds and lemon juice. Mix all with your hands until well combined press into an 8×8 square baking dish or a loaf pan lined with parchment paper, then cut it into rectangles. Alternatively, you can just skip the baking dish and shape them any way you prefer. Rap each bar separate with parchment paper or foil so you can easily take it with you Recipe makes about six 3 inch bars http://livinghealthywithchocolate.com/…/apricot-lemon-ener…/ ★Share★Share★Share★Share to SAVE on your TIMELINE!

This yummy vegan recipe has more than 13 grams of fiber and almost 17 grams of protein.  With summer around the corner  this will be a great addition to your lunch time meal or a post workout to help refuel your body.  You can also add some scrambled eggs for additional protein and top it off with a touch of salsa. From  Simply Delicious Vegetarian  by Carla Bardi Black Beans in Mango Sauce INGREDIENTS 8 ounces black beans (one can) 10 ounces mango, diced (one small mango) 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 1 tablespoon fresh orange juice 1 tablespoon maple syrup 3 tablespoons cilantro, chopped Salt and pepper, to taste DIRECTIONS Combine black beans and diced mango in a large bowl. Add the lime juice, lemon juice, orange juice, and maple syrup to the bowl. Mix well. Add the chopped cilantro, and mix well. Add salt and pepper to taste, and refrigerate until you're ready to enjoy.

Make your Vanilla  Shakeology  taste like an orange creamsicle with fresh orange juice and fragrant orange zest. Yum! Total Time:  5 min. Prep Time:  5 min. Cooking Time:  None Ingredients ½ cup water ½ cup 100% orange juice 1 scoop Vanilla Shakeology ½ tsp. finely grated orange peel 1 cup ice Preperation 1. Place water, orange juice, Shakeology, orange peel, and ice in blender; cover. Blend until smooth. Click here to lean more about Shakeology.

One of the surest strategies for promoting weight loss and overall weight balance is by planning meals ahead. Advance meal prep will limit the likelihood of impulsive eating and bad decisions. Having access to fresh, high-quality and nutrient dense foods that are ready to eat is the best way to keep yourself from reaching for a fatty, highly-processed and highly-refined snack. What Meal Prep Entails Accountability starts in the grocery store. Planning for healthy, balanced meals requires you to spend the majority of your time targeting foods that will provide the best nutritional benefits and energy support. Loading your cart up with ready-made foods that contain large quantities of preservatives, flavor enhancers and other unnatural and non-essential ingredients is not conducive to weight loss success. While convenience foods are certainly convenient, this is true only in the short-term. The long-term consequences of eating trans fats, refined grains and excess amounts of sug...

I am a very busy mom, probably just like YOU reading this post!! I too struggle with nutrition! I have kids who love chocolate, chips, pop and anything else that I can no longer over indulge in like that ice cream every night.  If you follow me on Facebook, then you have seem me post about Starbucks and my struggle with finding the perfect creamer and giving up the sugary creamers. I decided several years ago I wanted to get a handle on my nutrition. Learn what works and what doesn't and figure out how to make it work with long job hours and kids! I was part of a clean eating group and learned that clean eating doesn’t mean starving yourself, it doesn’t mean boring or bland food it doesn’t have to be complicated. Once I learned what works to fuel my body, help me loose and maintain weight, my life has forever changed. It simply means fresh, natural foods. As a wellness coach I have seen many lives changed after completing my 5 day clean...

These blueberry muffins taste—and smell— incredible. One whiff of them fresh from the oven and you won’t be able to wait until they hit your plate! Total Time:  24 min. Prep Time:  10 min. Cooking Time:  14 min. Yield:  15 servings, 1 muffin each Ingredients: Nonstick cooking spray (optional) 1 cup whole wheat flour ¾ cup + 2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour ¼ cup wheat germ 1½ tsp. baking powder ½ tsp. baking soda ¼ tsp. fine sea salt 1 tsp. ground cinnamon 2 large eggs ½ cup pure maple syrup 1 cup low-fat buttermilk ¼ cup coconut oil, melted 1 tsp. vanilla extract 1½ cups fresh blueberries Preparation: 1. Preheat oven to 375° F. 2. Prepare 15 muffin cups by lining with muffin papers or coating with spray. 3. Combine flours, wheat germ, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon in a medium bowl; mix well. Set aside. 4. Combine eggs and maple syrup in a medium bowl; whisk to blend. 5. Add buttermilk, oil, and extract; whisk to blend. 6. Add flour mixture to eg...