Drinks – The EatSmart Blog

15 Easter Brunch Recipes

Easter is just a hop, skip and jump away! To help you celebrate and eat smart, we rounded up some of our favorite festive recipes. Whether you want healthier breakfast treats, main courses and sides, or dessert, we have you covered. These tasty recipes will impress your family and guests while keeping holiday splurges under control.

Breakfast Sweets

Carrot Cake Oatmeal Bake
Get the recipe from Slim Pickin’s Kitchen.

Easter Egg Breakfast Popsicles
Get the recipe from Eats Amazing.

Clean Eating Blueberry French Toast Casserole
Get the recipe from The Gracious Pantry.

Carrot Cake Donuts
Get the recipe from Inside Bru Crew Life.

Main Courses & Sides

Herb Crusted and Stuffed Leg of Lamb with Mint Gremolata
Get the recipe from Feasting at Home.

Lemon Asparagus with Pistachios
Get the recipe from The Food Charlatan.

Broccoli Garlic Quiche
Get the recipe from Love & Olive Oil.

Red Wine Braised Brisket
Get the recipe from Food Done Light.

Quinoa, Asparagus, Pea and Lemon Salad
Get the recipe from Taming Twins.

Slow Cooker Ham (Paleo and AIP)
Get the recipe from Southern In Law.

Homemade Cheesy Potatoes Au Gratin
Get the recipe from Yummy Healthy Easy.

Asparagus Salad with Shrimp
Get the recipe from Simply Recipes.

Desserts

Fruity Easter Egg Smoothie
Get the recipe from Amy’s Healthy Baking.

Healthy Vegan Carrot Cake with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Icing

Get the recipe from Ceara’s Kitchen.

No Bake Coconut Butter Easter Bunnies
Get the recipe from Sugar-Free Mom.

Vegan Carrot Cake Smoothie
Get the recipe from Southern In Law.

Do you have a favorite Easter recipe to share? Share it with us on Instagram by tagging @EatSmartProducts. Use the hashtag #getleanin2016 to enter our weekly Instagram giveaway!

11 Healthy and Refreshing Smoothie Recipes

On a warm summer morning, do you really want a hot breakfast? We didn’t think so! The perfect alternative is a cold, refreshing smoothie. Smoothies are a great way to get many nutrient dense foods into one delicious tasting beverage. They are easy to grab for an on-the-go breakfast or snack. Since some premade smoothies have added sugars or less than desirable ingredients, we recommend making your own. We’ve rounded up a variety of our favorite healthy smoothie recipes for you to try.

Do you have a favorite healthy smoothie recipe? Tweet us at @EatSmartScales.

Healthy 4th of July Recipe Round-Up

We have compiled red, white and blue 4th of July themed recipes that will have you feeling good about what you’re serving.

Independence Day inspires us to enjoy the outdoors, watch fireworks and, of course, celebrate with family and friends over yummy foods. This 4^th of July why not impress your guests with some fun and festive foods that are actually healthy? We have rounded up some holiday themed recipes that will have you feeling good about what you’re serving. Your guests will be impressed by the taste and that these amazing dishes are healthy too!

Healthy 4th of July Recipe Round-Up:

Fourth of July Patriotic Popsicles

Get the recipe from Oh, the things we’ll make.

Patriotic Strawberry Blueberry Cream Smoothies

Get the recipe from Daily Dish Recipe.

Healthy Baked Oatmeal with Fresh Fruit

Get the recipe from Kids Stuff World.

Red, White and Blue Salad

Red, white & blue salad with beets, blueberries and goat cheese.

Get the recipe from The Noshery.

Red, White, & Blue Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries

Get the recipe from Snappy Gourmet.

Greek Potato Salad

Get the recipe from Peas and Crayons.

Fourth of July Fruit Pops

Get the recipe from Bakers Royale.

Patriotic Pudding Pops

Get the recipe from Passion for Savings.

Do you have a favorite healthy dish that you like to serve or bring to a 4^th of July celebration? Tweet us at @EatSmartScales.

Quick and Healthy Breakfast Ideas for People “On The Go”

You know that breakfast is important but you’re short on time and just want to grab something quick. We get it – mornings are hectic but breakfast doesn’t have to be a sugary pop tart or calorie-laden deli muffin. Back away from that doughnut! We have 12 healthy breakfasts that will leave you feeling satisfied and energized instead of full and sluggish.

Yogurt Parfait

Pair plain Greek yogurt with fruit of your choice. Frozen fruit works too! Sweeten it up with a little honey and sprinkle your favorite granola on top.

Overnight Oats

Mix ½ cup of rolled oats, ½ cup of berries or ½ a banana – sliced, 2 tablespoons of nuts, a dash of cinnamon and 3/4 cup of milk in a container with a lid. Refrigerate overnight and you’ll have breakfast ready to “grab and go” in the morning.

Peanut Butter and Banana Roll Ups

Take a small whole wheat or corn soft tortilla, spread with 1 – 2 tablespoons of peanut butter and place a small banana in it.

Quick Microwaved Eggs

Beat 2 eggs, throw in a microwave-safe container, add 1 handful of your favorite veggies (cherry tomatoes and spinach leaves work well), and a sprinkle of cheese. Zap the mixture for 30 seconds, stir, and cook another 30 seconds, or until eggs are solid.

Sweet Cheese Waffles

Mix ¼ c ricotta cheese and ¼ c blueberries with 1 tsp sugar. Top two whole grain toaster waffles (preferably organic) with the cheese and berry mixture for a sweet filling breakfast.

Quinoa Breakfast Bowl

Heat ½ c of leftover cooked quinoa and ½ c unsweetened almond milk, top with fruit of choice.

Apple Bowls

Cut an apple in half, remove the core and fill each side with 2 tsp almond butter. Top with a tablespoon of granola.

Coffee Smoothie

Blend ½ cup of cold coffee, ½ cup of milk, 1 small banana, 1 tablespoon of nut butter and a few ice cubes for a quick breakfast with a kick.

“Instant” Oatmeal

Make your own oatmeal packets. Portion out ½ c rolled oats with 2 tablespoons of nuts or seeds, 2 tablespoons of raisins and cinnamon into baggies. Grab a baggie and heat oatmeal with 1 cup of almond milk in a large microwave safe bowl on medium power for 5 minutes.

Avocado Toast

Top 2 slices of toast with ½ a mashed avocado, sprinkle with salt and top with a sliced hard-boiled egg.

Sweet Potato with Peanut Butter

Microwave a small sweet potato for 2.5 minutes, top with 2 tablespoons of natural peanut butter and sprinkle with granola for a little crunch. Drizzle with honey if desired.

No time to put anything together? Here are a few more to literally “grab and go”: a string cheese, an apple and whole grain crackers; a banana, an individual packet of almond butter (we like Justin’s Natural) and a plain yogurt; a hard-boiled egg and an avocado.

Share your favorite quick and easy breakfast recipe with us, @eatsmartscales.

St. Patrick’s Day Recipe Roundup

Everyone is Irish on St. Paddy’s Day, right? However, traditional Irish cuisine and beverages (yes, all that beer), can be tough on our waistlines. We want to provide some inspiration on how to have a healthier celebration this year. Whether you are cooking for your family or attending a party, we’ve compiled a roundup of some festive treats. Why not start your day off with a healthy Minty Green Smoothie?

Mango Avocado Smoothie

Get the recipe from Upstate Ramblings

St. Patrick’s Day Bread

Get the recipe from Skinny Mom

St. Patrick’s Day Chia Seed Pudding

Get the recipe from Susi’s Kochen und Backen Adventures

Shamrock Chips

Get the recipe from Zakka Life

Lightened Up Chocolate Chip Mint Cookies

Get the recipe from Peanut Butter and Peppers

Mint Chocolate Chip Glazed Popcorn

Get the recipe from Cupcakes and Kale Chips

Mint Shake

Get the recipe from The Empowered Plate

Do you have a healthy twist on a traditional St. Patrick’s Day treat? Tweet us at @EatSmartScales!

5 Reasons Why Watermelon Is Wonderful

Watermelon. It’s refreshing, sweet, light and low calorie. This juicy fruit is an excellent after dinner sweet treat and great in other ways too! I love it in salads, soups, drinks, smoothies, frozen treats! And what picnic or BBQ isn’t complete without this iconic bright pink piece of summertime?

I was in the grocery store with my guy the other day and honestly had no idea how to pick out a watermelon. I smelled it (that didn’t work!) and then tapped on it (then jokingly played them like bongos!). I came home and did some research and my intuition was right on! To pick out an ideal watermelon, knock on them. You want to hear a hollow echo.

Watermelon has always been a fun part of summer but the best part? It’s good for you too!

Top 5 Reasons to Slurp up Watermelon!

High in Vitamins A & C as well as B6 and essential minerals, means it’s loaded with antioxidants which helps fight free radicals (that can lead to inflammation and illnesses).
Besides providing 2 grams of protein and fiber, it’s also a good source of lycopene and beta-carotene (which gives it its beautiful pink color!) and helps fight cancer and heart disease.
It’s a low-calorie sweet that helps lose weight and curb your sweet tooth. One slice of watermelon has about 86 calories and less than 1 gram of fat.
It works as a great accent to savory dishes such as salads and soups.
There are so many fun ways to enjoy watermelon during the summer – just cut up in cubes or slices, in drinks (see my Watermelon Mint Cooler recipe below!), sorbets, granitas, popsicles, and even as a punch bowl or fruit bowl!

Bonus Tip! It’s not just for your tummy! Use it as a body scrub for your skin too!

Watermelon Mint Cooler

It’s almost embarrassing how easy this specialty drink is. It’s a great drink to serve on a hot summer day that will really ‘wow’ your guests. Watermelon is hydrating and mint is great for digestion. This is truly a healthy and tasty drink!

INGREDIENTS: (Serves 2)

2 cups seedless organic watermelon
5 sprigs organic fresh mint (I used the wild mint from my folk’s garden!)
3 ice cubes

OPTIONAL:

For a fizzy drink: Splash seltzer (I personally prefer mine without the fizz)
To get your cocktail on: ½ cup vodka (no comment!)
For a chilled version: serve over ice (which I prefer)

DIRECTIONS:

Blend watermelon, mint and ice in a blender. That’s it. No really, that’s it!

ENJOY!

About the Author: Abby Phon, a co-author of Balance for Busy Moms – Cook Your Way to Health, is a Certified Holistic Coach. She leads corporate workshops on nutrition and lifestyle, conducts food tours, cooking demonstrations and offers individual health and nutrition coaching around the world.

Balance for Busy Moms – Cook Your Way to Health is a one-of-a-kind cookbook for moms all around the world. Together with 30 Certified Health Coaches from across the US and Canada we share our stories of better life through mindful eating. This cookbook gives you a fabulous variety of recipes designed to enhance health for a better life. http://www.feedyourmindbodyspirit.com/books

Connect with Abby on all of her sites.

WEB: feedyourmindbodyspirit.com
FB: facebook.com/AbbyPhon
TWEET: twitter.com/AbbyPhon
PIN: pinterest.com/abbyphon
PANGEA: pangeaorganics.com/abbyphon

Kale, Blueberry, Chia Smoothie

Ingredients

1 cup kale
½ cup blueberries, dark cherries, açaí
1 frozen banana
1 tb chia seeds
2 cup milk

Instructions

Tip everything into a blender and mix.

Click here to watch the video on how to make this smoothie!

About the Author: Angela Kim aka The Squishy Monster creates fun cooking tutorials with Tastemade at http://Youtube.com/TheSquishyMonsterTSM and is a food blogger on http://TheSquishyMonster.com which features over 250 original recipes that feature both traditional Korean and American food as well as blended fusion dishes. She also reviews restaurants for a local lifestyle magazine and tours local news circuits to teach people how to cook.

Celery, Cucumber and Lime Juice

Just lately I have made the leap from the safe and reliable Carrot, Apple & Ginger, to trying more green contents in my morning juice fest. One of my yoga pals had been urging me to do it for a while, so I gave it a go, and I have found that this mix works really well for a beginner of green juicing.

Ingredients:

1/4 cucumber

3 celery stalks

1 gala apple

1 inch ginger

juice of half a lime (I squeeze this separately and add at the end)

Directions:
Put everything through the juicer, except the lime (or lemon variation).
If you feel you need a bit more sweetness you can also add a handful of red grapes, I have also tried this with half a lemon instead of the lime and it was equally delicious. Enjoy.

About the Author: Jacquie O’Neill is the author and illustrator of the children’s yoga book Budabebe. She is a full time illustrator, trainee yoga teacher and Mum to 4 daughters, who has a passion for wholesome health & nutrition.

How to Make Your Own Green Smoothie

After indulging in the holidays, it’s a great time to eat lighter and detox your body. If you are new to detoxing, one easy thing you can do is to start drinking green smoothies. They are healthy, easy, fast and great in place of breakfast, lunch or your highly processed sugary, full of fat afternoon snack. Try one today and let me know your favorite combo! Cheers!

Ingredient Ideas:

Greens – use about 2 big handfuls (approx 2 oz).

Kale
Spinach
Lettuce

Fruit – makes it sweet so the amount is to taste.

Bananas (fresh or frozen) – they are used for creaminess too! (½ – 1 whole)
Frozen fruit – strawberries, blueberries, mango, peaches (½ cup – 1 cup)
Apples (pears) (about ½ of the fruit)

Fat – makes it creamy and more filling.

A handful (about a ¼ cup) raw nuts –cashews, almonds, walnuts
½ avocado – will give you a thicker smoothie
Coconut oil

Optional Add-Ins (about 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon).

Ground flax seed
Maca powder (adds energy)
Chia (high in omega fats, protein and fiber)
Lemon
Bee pollen (for allergies, reproductive & sexual issues, increase energy, stamina & immunity)
Cacao powder/ nibs (for a chocolaty version that is full of minerals, vitamins and tons of antioxidants!)
Ginger (for a spicy healthy kick!)
Stevia (for a sweeter version – use only a few drops!)

Liquids – Add enough liquid to blend (enough to cover, 1 – 1 ½ cups).

Water or Coconut Water
Almond, Coconut, Rice or Hemp Milk

Directions

Put all ingredients in your blender. (I highly recommend Vitamix!)
Add liquid of choice.
Happy blending!

What’s your favorite ingredient to add to a smoothie?

About the Author: Abby Phon is a Certified Holistic Health Coach. She leads corporate workshops on nutrition and lifestyle, conducts food tours, cooking demonstrations and offers individual health and nutrition coaching around the world. She is also a certified Shiatsu practitioner, a licensed massage therapist, an AFAA nationally certified group fitness instructor, an IntenSati Leader and a certified Oneness Blessing (Deeksha) Giver.

Website: feedyourmindbodyspirit.com
Facebook: AbbyPhon
Twitter: @AbbyPhon
Pinterest: AbbyPhon

Vegan Egg Nog

Do you love the flavors of the holiday season, but not the way you feel after indulging in heavy sugary treats loaded with dairy? If you’re guilty (like me! GASP!) of purchasing eggnog in a carton, you might be aware that they are still highly processed and loaded with sugar.(Yes, EVEN IF it’s the soymilk, almond milk or coconut milk kind.)

But you’re in luck! I created my own version that is so rich, creamy and comforting it’s hard to believe it’s healthy, too!

I hope you enjoy! Happy Holidays!

Serves 2 (10 ounce low ball glasses)

Ingredients

2 cups unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1 5.5 oz can (full fat) coconut milk
½ frozen banana
1 pitted medjool date
¼ avocado
1 teaspoon maple syrup
1/8 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
½ plus 1/8 teaspoons ground nutmeg
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Pinch of ground cloves
Optional Festiveness: Bourbon or Rum!

Directions

Chill coconut milk either overnight in the fridge or in the freezer for about 30- 45 minutes (until solid).

Place all of the ingredients into the blender.

Blend until smooth.

Garnish with sprinkled cinnamon and nutmeg.

Serve immediately.

Website: feedyourmindbodyspirit.com
Facebook: AbbyPhon
Twitter: @AbbyPhon
Pinterest: AbbyPhon

Pumpkin Pie Smoothie

Guest Post by Janine McHale, owner of the blog, The Empowered Plate.

Ingredients:
1/2 c canned or fresh roasted pumpkin
1 c unsweetened vanilla almond milk (or low-fat milk*)
1/2 large banana
1 -2 tsp maple syrup
1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice (or more to taste)
2 Tbs ground flax seed
ice
*if using low-fat milk add 1/2 tsp vanilla

Directions:
Blend all ingredients until smooth, enjoy!
Serves 1

About the Author: Janine McHale is a certified holistic health counselor and the owner of The Empowered Plate. She empowers busy women and runners to reach their goals of weight loss, better nutrition, stress management and more energy via nutrition and lifestyle tweaks. Need help with preparing quick healthy meals for yourself and/or your family? Send her an e-mail at janinemchale@empoweredplate.com!

Blackberry Smoothie

Guest Post by Brittany Mullins, author of blog Eating Bird Food.

Ingredients:
1 cup of fresh blackberries
1/2 of a frozen banana
1 – (6 oz) container of low fat vanilla yogurt
4 cubes of ice
splash of milk or non-dairy milk, if needed

Directions:
Place blackberries, banana, yogurt and ice cubes in blender and blend until fruit is pureed and ingredients are well combined.
Add a splash of milk (or non-dairy milk beverage) to get the desired thickness.

About the Author: Brittany Mullins is a holistic health coach and the author of Eating Bird Food, a blog that features healthy recipes, fitness activities and tips. Brittany strives to inspire and motivate others by showing that small changes can create a big impact!

Breakfast Sweets

Carrot Cake Oatmeal Bake Get the recipe from Slim Pickin’s Kitchen.

Easter Egg Breakfast Popsicles Get the recipe from Eats Amazing.

Clean Eating Blueberry French Toast Casserole Get the recipe from The Gracious Pantry.

Carrot Cake Donuts Get the recipe from Inside Bru Crew Life.