Mixed Berry Smoothie

Lately, I’ve been going crazy for smoothies. I love that you can have them anytime of the day and that there are a million different flavors to try. They are also so easy to make and you can take them almost anywhere.

My favorite smoothie for the summer has been a mixed berry smoothie. To make this fruity drink, all you need is a small bag of frozen mixed berries, your choice of frozen yogurt or sherbet, and milk. I found frozen bags of mixed berries at our local grocery store that make 2-3 smoothies and are only $2. I use pineapple sherbet to make any fruit smoothie because it makes the drink tart, but you can’t actually taste the pineapple. 

Once you have the ingredients together, put them in a blinder. I don’t use exact measurements when making smoothies; I just add ingredients until it suits me. Blend the ingredients for about a minute on medium and half a minute on a faster setting for a very smooth smoothie.

After blending, you will have a pretty purple smoothie drink that is full of flavor.

Cinnamon Apple Chips

Because I am someone who is constantly craving sweets, I have been trying to find healthier snacks. Tonight, I made cinnamon apple chips, which I found on a web site called Baked by Rachel.

Although these treats are not the most nutritious, they are a better alternative to candies or pastries. The human body needs natural sugars provided by fruit, and cinnamon is known for its surprising health benefits. (For more information about the pros of including cinnamon in your diet, take a look at this article by Organic Authority.)

Cinnamon apple chips are simple to make, but take a very long time to bake. First, you slice apples into thin chips and preheat your oven to 200 degrees. You can use either red or green apples. I used green apples, which made the snack a little tart.

Mix cinnamon and sugar together in a bowl. For 1 or 2 apples, you will need ½ teaspoon of cinnamon and ½ tablespoon of sugar. Sprinkle the sugar and cinnamon mixture over the apple slices and bake for an hour. Once the hour is over, turn the apples chips and bake for another hour.

Definitely worth the wait, these have been moved to my list of favorite treats. Hopefully I will be able to stay away from desserts that have no nutritional value with cinnamon apple chips.

Starting Line

I am going to dedicate the next 6 months to "at home fitness".

Starting this week, I am going to spend at least 30 minutes, 5 days a week exercising. I'm going to try various techniques, running, and bike riding.

Also during this next 6 months, I want to improve my diet. I'm going to eat more fruits and vegetables and less sweets. I will be trying recipes for healthier foods and snacks.

Each week, I am going to use this blog to state my goals, accomplishments, and new foods. I will be updating a timeline with pictures as I go, to track my progress. The things I try will come from an exercise book, blogs, and Pinterest.

By the end of 6 months I hope to have a better diet and a healthier body.