Homemade Banana "Ice Cream"! ~ So Easy, One Ingredient! Make This Treat for Under 200 Cals!

What's the perfect way to satisfy your sweet tooth and use up some overly ripe Bananas? 

Homemade Banana "Ice Cream"! :) 

Did you know the longer a Banana ripens the more nutrient dense it becomes? Fortunately there are a lot of great things we can make with ripe bananas including smoothies, breads and this delicious ice cream. I make this ice cream often and wanted to share with you just how easy it is to prepare. The best part is, this great dessert is under 200 calories so you can feel good about indulging without over-indulging. A perfect treat just in time for Summer!

What You'll Need:

Ripe Bananas - about 1 per serving (100 Calories Each)

Freezer bags - to freeze slices

A good Blender - I used a Ninja

Optional:
My Favorite Chocolate Sauce Ever! 

Photo Courtesy of Jen's Zen FB

Toppings of your Choice

I used a Newman's Own Oreo Cookie as a topper (65 Calories)

2 tablespoons of Almond milk Blended with Bananas (10 calories)

(Milk isn't necessary to add, just optional)

Jen's Zen Chocolate Sauce for Decor (& for tasty :) (15 calories)

Making the Ice Cream: (4 Servings)

You'll need 4 Ripe Bananas, Some Freezer Bags, and a Plate & Knife for Slicing Bananas

Peel and Slice bananas into med-thin slices. Divide slices into two small freezer bags and freeze for atleast an hour until bananas are frozen.
(Seperating slices into 2 bags instead of one large bag, helps prevent slices from sticking to each other, making them blend smoother and slices freeze faster.)

Blend on High about 1 minute until texture is creamy and smooth.

You can even mix in your favorite ingredients during this process for an even yummier treat. Try Peanut Butter, Chocolate, Toffee Pieces, Candy, Cookie Pieces, Fresh Fruit like Strawberries, Pineapple, Mango. The possibilities are endless. :) 

Stir Ice Cream and Serve!
Kids love this Ice Cream! Serve in bowl or scoop a super cold mixture onto cones for Summer pefect Ice Cream cones!

This banana ice cream is rich and decadent, so a little bit goes a long way. Enjoy! :) 

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Strawberry Banana Greek Yogurt: Nutritious & Delicious Dessert Under 200 Calories!

After a dinner tonight of broiled Salmon, streamed broccoli and citrus romaine salad I was craving something super decadent for dessert! Feeling like I had been a good girl for dinner I was tempted to go out for ice cream with my boyfriend. He loves going to Baskin Robbins and whenever we go, I always get my favorite, a Mocha Blast Iced Coffee drink.... oh my god, so yum. We decided to take Miyagi for an after dinner walk and I was feeling so good after eating a light dinner that the entire walk I was already feeling the guilt of a Mocha Blast weigh on my conscience. That was when I decided that the Mocha Blast would have made me happy for a few minutes, but the 650 (yikes!) calories would have lasted a lot longer.

So when I came home I looked in the fridge for something sweet I could put together and like a light from the heavens or the Greek Gods (hehe) I seen oh so yummy Vanilla Greek yogurt, a pint of strawberries and a banana looking out to me from deep inside the fridge. Alas, Le Dessert!

I used a half banana, 2 strawberries and 6oz of yogurt accounting for about 190 calories. My boyfriend added extra yogurt and a squeeze of chocolate sauce on his. It was so enjoyable and I feel equally satisfied as I would have having Ice Cream and best of all there is no guilty girl. I had an amazing dinner and a lovely dessert for about 550 calories :)

I had Greek Gods Yogurt on hand (It's not truly Greek despite the name) but I highly recommend Chobani, Fage and Voskos brand as well. They're great for adding to smoothies and enjoying with fruit. When it's healthy and tastes so good, it's definitely a win/win! :) Let's choose Health ladies! ;)

Tell us! Which Greek Yogurt brand is your favorite?

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Eat This Instead ~ Kale Garlic Naan Pizza ~ So Yummy & Vegetarian ~ Quick & Easy!

If I'm having an epic Pizza craving it's so easy to give in to a scrumptious but oh so greasy pie from my favorite Italian place (think Ray's, Gino's, Rosati's, Streets of New York etc)...yum! Or even worse a frozen pizza topped to the brim with nitrate laden sausage and pepperoni! It tastes great going in but once it's in your body it's not doing great things for you anymore...bleh :( It's easy to switch it up with a pizza that is yum to eat, easy to prepare and made with quality ingredients. If you've never tried Naan bread, now is the time!! It's an Indian bread traditionally cooked in a stone hearth like pit over an open fire, much like pita bread in texture, it's gets a nice crisp when cooked in the oven and it's so tastey! You'll only need a few ingredients to put together this delight. :)

Kale Garlic Naan Pizza

Ingredients:

~Naan Bread in Garlic
~Pizza Sauce
~Mozzarella Cheese
~Baby Kale
~Spices to Taste (I used Basil, Oregano, Pepper, Garlic and Red Pepper Flakes)

*Use Organic ingredients whenever possible

I preheated the oven to 425 degrees and put the premade Naan bread on a baking sheet. Spread a thin to medium layer of sauce, spices, cheese, kale, and more spices on top to taste. I baked for 10-12 mins until cheese was melted and Naan was crisp. It doesn't take very long (Careful Naan can burn quickly!) Also it it is best to go light on the sauce so the Naan isn't soggy. :)

The traditional way to cook a Naan pizza is with spicy Arugula leaves and Goat cheese. I'm a Kale lover but the Arugula and Goat cheese is equally good!

Check out the the interesting way Naan is cooked in a Tandoor! You can go to an Indian restaurant for fresh hot Naan. mmm.

The calories in Naan bread are about equal to regular pizza if not possibly a little higher, but I believe quality and organic ingredients over compensates health wise for a few extra calories. :)

Tell me know if you love! Enjoy!

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Four New Year's Eve Drinks Under 200 Cals! Fancy, Fruity & Bubbly!

I have a few solid plans for tomorrow night (New Year's Eve) and they are to Eat, Drink & be Merry! Those would be most people's Holiday plans but I didn't get to celebrate Christmas so I'm making up for it on New Years Eve. It's still technically the Holidays anyway right? :)

I've also been making great progress on some weight loss that I don't want to blow so I did some digging to find some great drinks us ladies watching our calories can indulge in. Fancy, fruity and bubbly, a drink for every taste: 

Fancy:

Pomegranate Martini

A 4oz serving made with pomegranate vodka and pure pomegranate juice (about 50/50) only has 185 calories! Delicious and full of antioxidants. 

Red Wine

A glass of red wine boasts 120 delicious calories per 5 ounces. Remember a jumbo glass can hold 10 ounces or more so remember glass half full ;)

Fruity:

Strawberry Daiquiri

You can whip up your own low calorie daiquiri using frozen fruit with no added sugar. Strawberries make a perfect choice because they're naturally sweet. Mix three partially thawed berries in blender with ice, half oz lime juice and one and half shot of Rum. Add a little water to blend and you're set for 195 calories!

Bubbly:

Champagne

Pour Champagne into flutes and add a few raspberries. Pretty, delicious and only 100 calories per 5 ounce glass. Your best drink option! You can also make your own spritzer with club soda and ice added to white wine. 

4 Delicious drinks under 200! I'll toast to that!

Happy New Year Moxie Beauty Friends! :)

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Craving Chinese Takeout? Eat This Instead! Lunch Under 200 Calories!

Today I had a huge craving for some Asian chow so I made myself an Asian inspired lunch that was wonderful and under 200 calories! Lunch consisted of Mandarin Orange Chick'n (meatless), Kale Salad with Cranberries and Pine Nuts (recipe to come soon!) and delicious Miso Soup! Mmm Mm yummy! 

Go ahead and have Seconds! 

Even though these portions look small we can eat all the Miso soup and Kale to our tummy's desire without packing on much calories. Make sure to buy Low Sodium Miso soup because the regular version is packed with Salt which can make you retain extra water!

The instant Miso soup I use can be found here, I recommend it for you Miso soup lovers out there and I will be doing a full review on it later!

I really loved this light lunch and it satisfied my crazy craving for Chinese takeout! I might have just saved myself thousands of calories! :)

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Not Gluten for Punishment - For Those With Food Allergies, Grain Free Can Be Better For Your Body

With so many Americans deciding to eat Gluten-Free and more people developing Wheat sensitivity everyday, it's no wonder sales on Gluten-Free products has more than tripled in the last 5 years.

There are two types of sensitivities people can have to Wheat Gluten. A total intolerance is called Celiac Disease. When a Celiac patient consumes Gluten, their body treats it like a toxin and their immune system goes into attack mode. This immune response damages your small intestines and is known to cause headaches including migraines, nausea, vomiting, skin rashes, a spastic colon, diarrhea, and neurological problems. It's estimated that at least 1 our 100 people have Celiac disease and the numbers are on the rise. Many go undiagnosed. If you feel you may suffer from Celiac disease testing is easy. A simple blood test by your Dr. can determine if your body develops antibodies to Gluten.

Sometimes you 'know' when something is not right with your body. If you feel your body may be having a Wheat reaction, see your doctor so you can start feeling good again.

The second group has a gluten sensitivity but doesn't have intestinal damage. Those sensitive to gluten will still experience digestion problems just as someone with Celiac Disease. If you think you may have a Gluten sensitivity, cut out all Gluten containing products from your diet for 2 weeks to rule out the allergy. 90% of all sufferers undiagnosed. Though the Dr. will require you have Gluten in your blood for proper diagnoses during testing.

Verdict:: Not Allergic. If you find that you are not allergic to Gluten products, Wonderful! Wheat is full of key nutrients such as Fiber, Iron, Zinc and Vitamin B and eating Wheat is the easiest way for us to get these important nutrients into our diet.

Verdict:: Gluten Allergy: Congratulations, you're now on you're way to feeling better and healthier! Hearing that you'll have to cut out all pastas, breads and baked goods may cause you to become upset thinking that your life of food enjoyment is over as you know it. Take heart because it's not! The days of eating Gluten foods should be in the past but a new adventure in eating delicious Gluten-Free delights have just begun!

You'll be thrilled to know that just about every Wheat product you love has a Gluten-Free free replacement to match! Though Gluten-Free products tend to run a little pricier, your Body and Health will thank you and you will feel much better in the long run.

Below are some of our favorite Wheat foods and their Gluten-Free counterparts: (I had some help decorating my 'boring' images so please don't mind all the pretty colors! :) 

Honestly I think Glutino's Pretzels are better tasting! 

There are so many Gluten-Free bread brands to choose from! Udi's is an amazing brand for us Gluten-Free eaters! They make everything from bread to bagels, granola and muffins! 

Barilla makes wonderful Spaghetti but Lundberg's is delicious too and serves as a healthier alternative even for those who can eat Wheat.

Thank GOODNESS they make one of my favorite Cereals in Gluten Free. Panda Puffs are Yum! Hint: try it with Chocolate Almond, Hemp or Coconut Milk. So good!

Both of these are Great brands. Luckily Amy's has a Gluten-Free option! 

Nothing compares to Homemade cookies and making Homemade Gluten-Free cookies are easy but if you're looking to save some time, Better Crocker has come out with new Gluten-Free boxed Baked Goods kits. Awesome!

Without Wheat There Is So Much To Eat! :)

Lucky for us, mainstream grocers are catching on to our Gluten-Free needs and there are so many options out there that allow us to still eat the foods we enjoy without sacrificing our health. We have to remember that these Gluten-Free options are still very processed foods and that like with any other Gluten containing food we should eat these processed goods in moderation as they are still high in calories, sodium and fat. Nothing substitutes raw fruits and vegetables and good whole foods. Thanks for reading and we'd love you to leave a comment below and share your experiences going Gluten-Free! :)

Tell us: What are some of your favorite Gluten Free Brands and Products? 

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Looking for a Healthy Fast Dinner? Think Chipotle on Eat This Instead

This week I'm Blogging to let everyone know about this great Brand, if you don't know already: Chipotle Mexican Grill.

Chipotle has been celebrated as one of the healthiest 'fast' foods one could get, but not only is it healthy, the food tastes AMAZING!

When you go inside a Chipotle it is alot like a Panda Express or Subway, where your order is made on the spot. You'll see a delicious hot bar of freshly made Cilantro Lime Jasmine Rice (they have brown now!), Fajita Vegetables, your choice of Black (my favorite) or Pinto beans, a variety of meats, and your typical burrito/taco toppers like an amazing selection of salsas, cheese, sour cream, etc.

Chipotle is most famous for their awesome burritos but you can also select other options like hard shell/soft shell tacos, a salad, quesadilla or a burrito bowl. They also offer freshly made chips & salsa.

Burrito Bowls are my personal favorite. They are everything that's awesome inside a burrito but served in bowl, they are not as messy to eat and I feel like you can get more/eat more food this way without that high calorie delicious tortilla! You can always ask for a flour tortilla on the side if needed. Burrito Bowls generally have lower calories than a burrito because there is no enormous flour tortilla. You can also get a great salad and they offer many Vegetarian dishes as well. Did I mention you can order Mexican Beer and a Margarita with your dinner as well? Awesome right? And just when I thought this whole Chipotle thing couldn't get ANY better, they brought in the Tobasco Smoked Chipotle sauce for customers to use on their food. Only my favorite sauce ever! Heaven.

OK so this review is not because Chipotle is the best Corporately owned fast Mexican food a person can get, it's because this brand offers Food With Integrity.

So what is Food with Integrity?

Chipotle's Food with Integrity means that Chipotle supports sustainable farming practices which is super important for our environment these days. It means that their Chicken is raised without any added Antibiotics. It means their Pigs are not subjected to Growth Hormones which hurt pigs and can inevitably be transferred and effect humans. It also means that they support and purchase locally from farmers who grow Organic, respect the land and respect the animals in their care. That's Integrity.

You can visit Chipotle Mexican Grill website here to learn more about their companies values and practices and why we need to support companies that do business this way.

I found something amazing to share with Chipotle lovers like myself:

An easy way to finally count the calories of your Chipotle meal here.

ChipotleFan.com also is a life-saver for Chipole hounds on a budget. This website has all the supposed Recipes needed to make your own Chipotle at home! I will definitely be giving these a try and will post photos and results here on the Blog.

If you've never tried Chipotle, go now! You'll be doing the environment and your tummy a favor...and that's good eats! :)

Tell Us: What your must-have order from Chipotle?

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