That sugar-laden mall smoothie is not the best call. Fitz says smoothies are really dessert. Yet Jacki recently shared a better time to enjoy a smoothie is when you make it yourself -- with the right mix-ins, of course.

Check out these smoothie recipes from Men's Health targeting breakfast, pre/post workout, snacks and even dessert (just make sure you work out first). Check out the Hawaiian Five-O and Cereal Killer -- never thought of tossing All-Bran cereal in the blender.

Calories in, calories out count the most for weight loss. Whether you consider smoothies a necessary gym snack, a dessert to avoid or a handy meal replacement on occasion, each recipe offers complete nutritional information to factor that dreamy drink into your total allowable daily calories, protein, carbs and fats.

Source

Smoothies are quick and can be completely nutritious with all the superfoods you can sneak into the mix. But beware of retail smoothies, says Love + Blueberries, because they are no strangers to refined sweeteners, ice cream and sweetened frozen yogurt. The best way to enjoy smoothies and benefit nutritionally, then, is to make them yourself. At minimum, all you need is a blender, a handful of fruit and some unpasteurized juice. Add some veggies, nuts, seeds and a bunch of other wholesome add-ins, and a smoothie is definitely worth it.

Source

Ready to take on those unhealthy eating habits? Maggie's got three tips for nixing those bad habits once and for all. (Hint: Quit eating in front of the TV.)

Scarlett Johansson slims down for "Iron Man 2," but 55 percent of "That's Fit" readers think she looks healthier with her curves.

Caffeinating before a workout -- do you do it? Eighteen percent of you said yes, but only because you're caffeine users anyway.

Can't get rid of that cellulite no matter how many squats and lunges you do? Do what celebs like Kim Kardashian and Marisa Miller do and camouflage those lumps and bumps with a good moisturizer and a little bronzer.

Next time you're at the gym, Fitz wants you to remember this: Smoothies are great as an occasional dessert, but they are not a required snack after your workout.

Remember the can't-look-away grossness of "This Is Why You're Fat?" Now there's a healthier version, "This Is Why You're Thin." Check it out!

Diet and exercise isn't about creating the perfect body, it's about taking care of the body your momma gave you. Laura teaches us how to love our bodies, Hollywood perfect or not.

Live too far from work to commute by foot or bike? Try public transit. It still beats driving your car for personal fitness.

Eight weeks after her arm lift, Karla's ready to go sleeveless. Read more about her surgery and recovery. Are you ready to bare your arms this spring?

Feeling angry? It's not doing much for your waistline. In fact, research shows that angry men gain more weight. Don't worry, Jacki's got some tips to help you keep that temper under control and avoid emotional eating.

If you missed our daily postings this past week, we invite you to take some time to catch up on our prior week's news and gear up for a new week of healthy living information and inspiration.

Bringing your workout inside for the winter or too frugal to hit the gym? Liz has an excellent list of 10 DVDs you should be shopping for. And she knows, because she's tried out each one.

Don't kick that coffee habit just yet! Laura has five good reasons to enjoy caffeine (happiness! and sex!) ... as long as you drink it in moderation, of course.

Think you're too busy for that workout today? President Obama worked out on Inauguration Day. If he had time, so do you.

Is skinny in? Maybe, says Fitz ... if you like to hide behind small trees. If not, then maybe you should shoot for healthy and active instead.

Get fit for free, says Martha, and exercise during commercials. Here's one to start with -- the plank.

Oscar nominee Mickey Rourke put on 33 pounds of muscle for his role in The Wrestler. Find out how he transformed his body in seven short months.

The Office's Angela Kinsey compares breastfeeding to running a marathon (when it comes to losing the baby weight, at least), but Jacki's not so sure. What do you think?

Virtual smoothies aren't very nutritious, but Maggie says that The Wonder-Juice Machine game has great smoothie ideas ... and relieves stress at the same time. Who knows, maybe you'll discover a new favorite recipe!

Bob Greene thinks you should skip the bedtime snacks and after quitting them for a whole week, I have to agree. What about you? Could giving up late-night treats help you shave off a couple of pounds?

Holy cow, you guys! You lost 68 pounds last week in our America Takes it Off: Shrink a Size challenge! Only 36 to go, and we know you can do it!

Have a great week, everyone!

Do you have a few minutes to waste? I know, I know ... you're busy. But everyone deserves a few minutes just to relax, right?

Check out this new game on Shockwave.com. The Wonder-Juice Machine is a fun way to give your brain a little challenge. A minor mental workout like this is a great way to take your mind off of your troubles for a few minutes and relieve a little stress.

As as added perk, the game includes actual recipes for nutritious smoothies that you can try at home. And keep your eye out for the health tips about different fruits and vegetables. Who knew a game could include such handy health advice?

Smoothies are all the rage these days. Forget meals -- you can get all your nutrition in liquid form, served in a handy to-go cup. Not that there's anything wrong with giving in to the smoothie craze -- I myself have forgone the traditional meal in favour of a quick energy fix from the nearest smoothie vendor.

And there are smoothies to fit all needs -- whether you're looking to bulk up on protein, trim fat, get as many antioxidants as possible or fulfill all your daily fruit and veggie requirements in one drink. All that and they're usually absolutely delicious.

But conventional wisdom tells me that when something tastes good, it probably has lots of calories. Still, how many calories can there be in fruit juice and yogurt? What do you think?

Source

Fruit overripe? Don't let it go bad -- there's an easy and healthy way to preserve those fruits for future eating.

Source

Let's face it -- who doesn't want a flatter belly? Even super-skinny celebs probably look at their profile and see a bit of a paunch. But the secret to slimming your Buddha doesn't lie in slimming panties or crash diets or magic pills. According to Prevention Magazine, flat bellies come from MUFAs -- mono-unsaturated fatty acids.

But it's not like you're going to drink fish oil. You need tasty, healthy ways to get your MUFAs. Luckily, Prevention put together a list of 10 smoothies that are low in fat, calories and sugar, and high in MUFAs and taste. Click here for the recipes.

Other tips for a flat belly? Cut down on sugar and sodium, and make sure you're getting your fiber.

Source

Across the country this morning, kids are heading off to their first day of school. Hopefully, they're hitting the books with a solid, nutritious breakfast in their stomachs. Research shows that not only do breakfast eaters tend to eat fewer calories overall during the day, but kids who eat breakfast are more alert, do better academically, and feel better all around.

Not everyone is a morning person, however, and not everyone is a breakfast eater. That can make getting a good breakfast into a child or teen challenging. One way around a reluctant eater is the smoothie. Smoothies can pack an enormous nutritional punch, are easy to make, and are simple for kids to grab and go.

Diet-Blog has the basics on smoothie-making for beginners, as well as a few easy recipes. Once you get the hang of making smoothies, it's easy to play around with flavor and ingredients. You might even be able to turn a tween or teen on to the process, and before you know it, they'll be whipping up their own smoothies!

If cleaning a blender scares you off of smoothies, consider a product like the Shake and Take blender, which allows smoothie-lovers to mix up a single serving smoothie in a grab-and-go cup with straw and lid.

Source

Current dietary guidelines recommend five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables every day, and some groups are starting to say we should be eating up to 12 servings. Though a serving is usually only 1/2 cup of veggies or a small piece of fruit, it can take some planning to squeeze that many portions into your day, especially if you're new to healthy eating.

Ediets has several suggestions for working fruits and vegetables into your diet. Some of my favorites include:

• Throw a fistful of berries on top of your cereal in the morning. In the winter, I buy mine frozen and don't even bother to thaw them. The berries are so sweet that they soften quickly in milk.
• Get creative with smoothie recipes. Not only are smoothies a great way to add to your fruit intake, you can often sneak in spinach and other veggies without your taste buds even noticing.
• If you allow yourself snacks, make sure they always include a fruit or veggie. (Red bell peppers and hummus are a favorite at my house.)
• Plan ahead and try to eat two servings of fruit or veggie at every meal.

Fruits and vegetables are rich in fiber and antioxidants, both crucial for your good health. Can you squeeze in an extra serving today?

Source

Now you may think the words "smoothie" and "october" don't exactly go together, and although I do agree that they're mostly a summer food I don't agree that that means they can't be enjoyed at other times of the year also. The trick, for me anyway, is to switch up ingredients for something fresh and new and seasonal. There are several good recipes over at Mother Earth Living, including one based on tomatoes, one based on blueberries, and even one focused for flu-fighting. Now if that isn't season-specific I don't know what is!

I'm thinking I'll be trying the "Zippy Tomato" first.

Source

Have you ever had a green smoothie? If you have them available in your area they're a great way to get more greens in your diet, and no, they don't all taste like grass or mint. Marisa McClellan over at Slashfood recently shared her favorite green smoothie, found at Trader Joe's. It's the "Green Protein" smoothie and it's full of all kinds of good things and tastes like strawberries. Strawberries I can do.

For recipes on making your own green smoothies check out A Veggie Venture -- and from now on don't be afraid to try ordering the green smoothie option off your local cafe's menu! You'll probably really like it.

Source

Fruit smoothies are delightful ways to have a satisfying and generally healthy snack or even meal replacement. But, you have to know if the smoothie you are drinking has added refined sugar or other additives that can boost calorie count.

While I enjoy all-fruit smoothies (natural sugars), the calorie count of smoothies made with prepared ingredients have concerned some. Result? Sugarless smoothies that are tasty (I guess) but have little to few calories.

The replacement for sugar is the sugary-hybrid Splenda, which is an interesting product in and of itself. It combines regular sugar and ingredients that do not occur in nature to give no-calorie sweetness without adverse health affects (at least, not yet). Great concept, but I'm sticking with fresh fruit myself.

Source

Every now and then, when I can't sleep, I come across Jack Lalanne and his over-enthusiastic infomercial touting his 'fabulous' juicer, which he in part credits to his longevity. Due to my practical nature, I never buy anything I see on an infomercial (except for the first season of Bewitched!)

But sometimes I think: there are worse things I could spend $100 than a juicer. I'm a big smoothie drinker and sometimes the blender doesn't cut it. Plus, it's a great way to get a big, healthy serving of veggies when I don't particularly feel like scarfing down a big salad. Should I cave and buy a juicer? What do you think?

Source

Breakfast is one of the yummiest meals of the day, if you ask me. Eggs, bacon, waffles, syrup -- unfortunately, it also tends to be the unhealthiest meal of the day. After all, who ever heard of a breakfast salad?

Since breakfast is the most important meal of the day, make sure it's also a healthy one. Spark People has some tips on preparing a healthy breakfast for you and your family. Some tips:

• Prepare a healthy breakfast casserole ahead of time and place it in the fridge for easy eating
• Make a fruit salad ahead of time and enjoy it with fat-free yogurt, or in a smoothie
• If you're often in a hurry, pick up some whole grain frozen waffles. Or, make your own!
• Enjoy some quick, satisfying cereal. Forget the sugary ones -- opt for whole grain, fiber-packed stuff.

What's your favourite healthy breakfast?

Source