By Stephanie Mansour

Whether you’re hitting the beach or trying to stay cool inside this summer, there are many healthy, easy foods and snacks to prepare in advance or even on the fly. In the warm summer months, ice cream sounds more appealing than usual. But instead of indulging, try this five-ingredient smoothie that tastes just like strawberry shortcake. This delicious smoothie is quick to make, travels well, and is far more healthy and nutritious than ice cream.

• Place a whole banana and a cup of frozen strawberries into a blender.

• Then add two tablespoons of ground flaxseed.

• Add a serving of protein powder for extra energy.

• Next, add a cup of coconut milk. Blend for 60 seconds, and you’ll have a strawberry shortcake treat!

• If you’d like to make it taste like chocolate, add some chocolate flavored protein powder.
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There are stories that Elvis Presley would eat one food, in particular meatloaf, for weeks. It would be the only thing he’d eat. I tend to get in to similar ruts with breakfast. It will be three months of nothing but scrambled eggs and toast. And then I’ll switch to months and months of Cheerios, or yogurt with granola. Last week, it was time for a change, and I rediscovered my blender.

Smoothies are a perfect breakfast. They are fast, simple, and can give you several full servings of fruits and vegetables in a glass. Drink it on the go and you can’t complain about not having time for breakfast!

I assessed the smoothie-making ingredients I had on hand… fresh baby spinach, an avocado, a pint of blueberries, bananas, ice, and Chobani Greek yogurt. I had a few flavors to choose from (because we’re rarely without) and I opted for the brand new blood orange. I hadn’t yet tried it, and figured this was a perfect opportunity to add a burst of sweetness to my smoothie. The color, when all stirred and combined, wasn’t as bold as I’d expected (I mean, have you seen the raspberry Chobani? Pop!), but the flavor was perfect.
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There are many misconceptions when it comes to “health food” or “diet food.” One of the biggest falsehoods is in regards to the health claims of smoothies. Smoothies can be healthy, and they can also be loaded with sugar and higher in calories than ice cream sundaes.

Recently, Smoothie King released a smoothie designed to be healthy and lite. The LEAN 1 smoothie has made some tall claims and may be one of the few on the market that can live up to those assertions.

Knowing that most smoothies are just fancied up milkshakes, I was intrigued by the statement Smoothie King made about their new product.

“Lean 1 is the first-ever smoothie designed specifically to help you lose fat, curb hunger and tone muscle. It’s the perfect pre/post workout companion delivering 20-30 grams of premium protein. It boosts energy levels, fights hunger cravings, speeds muscle recovery and only 300 calories. Lean 1 is the healthy portable option to a meal or snack on the go.”

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I’ll admit it: a mango pineapple smoothie sounds like a pretty refreshing treat on a hot summer’s day. But the McCafé Mango Pineapple Real Fruit Smoothie that’s being promoted as  #ANewMcDFavorite on Twitter right now is anything but real fruit. Unless you consider “clarified demineralized pineapple juice concentrate” and “mango puree concentrate” or “pineapple juice concentrate” to be real fruit, not to mention the multiple forms of added acid.

There are probably items on the McDonald’s menu that are worse for you. A large soda doesn’t have vitamin A or vitamin C, but you’re still consuming a whopping 220 calories. Plus, you’re drinking those calories, which means they aren’t likely make you feel full or satisfied.

It also contains 49 grams of sugar, or more sugar than a can of Coke. Recent research shows that sugar consumed in liquid form is metabolized differently than sugar in solid foods, and may be more likely to be converted into fat.

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If the old adage “the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach” is true, there is no better way to celebrate Father’s Day this year than to honor Dad with omelets, frittatas and more. Treat your father to his favorite breakfast eats because after all, it’s the most important meal of the day.

Eggs:

Crab Quiche: A quiche is an elegant yet simple main dish for any brunch party. If you have leftovers, freeze slices individually for quick weekday breakfasts.

Denver Scrambled Eggs: Ham, onions and green pepper give these creamy, smooth scrambled eggs plenty of flavor.

Ham and Cheese Pie: Use egg substitute and a prepared baking mix like Bisquick to make a quick and easy hearty breakfast pie that will disappear from the table in minutes.

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