Slimming Vanilla Mate Latte

Try this delicious vanilla mate latte instead of your regular coffee latte for some afternoon energy and reap slimming benefits without the jitters of coffee!

Steep some lose yerba mate leaves in a teapot (the kind made for loose tea leaves w/ strainer)
Combine the following:
1) 1 cup yerba mate
2) 1/2 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract
3) Stevia (an all- natural 0 calorie sweetener) to taste.
4) 1 teaspoon of organic cream.

5) ENJOY!!

FYI: Cream is not "bad" for you, contrary to the "fat free theories" of the 1980's.  Do your research, and you'll find that organic unhomogenized dairy actually has health benefits, not pitfalls.  I recommend Kat James' book "The Truth About Beauty" for some fascinating insight into nutrition and beauty.

The All Important Breakfast Burrito!

As the old adage says; "breakfast is the most important meal of the day" indeed!  Why is that?  Well think about it: breakfast provides your body with the fuel it needs to start the day.  While you slept, your body worked to repair and regenerate cells.  Come breakfast time, it needs to fuel up on the glucose levels (provided by food) for brain function and concentration after 8 or more hours without a meal. 


Breakfast aids in weight management and can curb your hunger for the day if you eat a substantial, balanced meal like the one I'm going to show you here.  It's simple, fast and oh so yummy!!

• 1 whole egg
• 1 whole grain tortilla (I used Trader Joe's whole grain tortilla)
• 1 small tomato chopped
• Handfull of fresh cilantro
• 1 tablespoon shredded white cheddar cheese
• Seasoning: sea salt, black pepper, cumin and hot sauce to taste.

*Be sure to choose your dairy wisely.  Select dairy products that are preferably organic, or at least not produced with growth hormone (rbST and rbGH) and antibiotics.  


Cook the egg to your liking on a skillet (medium heat) with a dab of olive oil.  While that cooks, roughly chop the tomato and cilantro and set aside.  After the egg is done cooking, set it on a plate and warm the tortilla on the skillet for about 30 seconds on each side.  Assemble your burrito with layers of egg, cheese, tomato, cilantro, and then sprinkle on the seasoning over all ingredients- wrap it up and EAT! 


Enjoy =)

Healthy Asian Stirfry Recipe

One of my favorite lunches is stir- fry of any kind.  It's full of healthy carbs from veggies, and protein from either chicken, beef, or tofu.  Today's stir- fry recipe is made with tofu, but you can substitute it with any protein as long as it's good quality, non- growth hormone, non- antibiotic treated meat.

*Fresh produce is best, but if you can't find what you want, frozen veggies are the next best- thing.

Ingredients:

1 Pepper of your choice (sliced in strips)

1 bushel of broccoli

2 Handfulls of String Beans (cut in half)

1/2 Yellow Onion (chopped)

1 Handful Shitaki Mushrooms (sliced)

3 Scallions (chopped)

1 Package of Organic non- gmo extra firm tofu

3 tblsps olive oil

1 tblspn sesame oil

2 tblspoons sesame seeds

3 tblspns peanuts

1 teaspoon fresh or powdered ginger root

Tofu Seasoning:

Salt, pepper, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, coriander, cumin

After-Cooking Seasoning:

Add soy sauce and fresh squeezed lime juice to taste after cooking. 

Wash and chop all produce, set aside and prepare the tofu to be stir- fried.  Pat the block of tofu with paper towels until you have soaked much of the water out.  Next, cut the block in half horizontally and pat dry some more.  Cut the tofu into cubes and sprinkle on a generous amount of seasoning.  

*Note: tofu has no flavor, so it takes on the taste of whatever you season it with, therefore be generous!

Heat the olive oil in a wok or frying pan and add the chopped yellow onion.  Allow it to get golden first, then add garlic and saute for 1 more minute.  Toss in the tofu and let it stir fry for about 5 minutes, then add the sesame oil, ginger root, sesame seeds, peanuts and scallions.  Stir fry for about 7- 10 more minutes until veggies are tender, not overdone.

*Note: the cooking process is short, but you have to watch the wok the entire time to constantly toss ingredients and ensure proper cooking.

After cooking, add soy sauce (preferably non- gmo soy, soy sauce- aka the real stuff, not cheap Chinese take-out packets)

Serve immediately & ENJOY!

Pls send me your comments and let me know what you think!

Diet & Weightloss Books I LOVE

The following are diet and weight loss books I have read and taken bits and pieces of to form my own conclusions.  All of these books possess strong opinions on diet, weight loss and fitness but I think it's important to take these ideas and make them your own.  Be smart about how you approach diet and fitness and act as your own doctor; do your research, research, research!  Only then will you come to conclusions that "resonate" with you that will truly work for you and make you feel good about them.

1. 50 Secrets of the World's Longest Living People- by Sally Beare
2. French Women Don't Get Fat- by Mireille Guiliano
3. The Weightloss Cure "They" Don't Want You to Know About- by Kevin Trudeau
4. The Skinny- by Melissa Clark and Robin Aronson
5. French Women For All Seasons (The Sequel to French Women Don't Get Fat)- by Mireille Guiliano

Go on a STAYCATION instead of a Vacation!

Check out this article on how to get back on track with your health and fitness via a Fitness "staycation!"

Welcome

Welcome to the You Fit Club Blog!  Stay tuned for posts on fitness and wellness sponsored by the You Fit Club =)