Blendfresh in Spanish

I speak Italian, but not too much Spanish.  So when I set up my blog I didn't think I'd need materials in Spanish, but I should have seen the bigger picture!  I'm posting here a Blendfresh document about the foods and the new Consultant income opportunity through Blendtec so it can be easy to read in either language.  Enjoy and buenos dias!

http://my.blendfresh.com/pdf/en/BlendfreshLifestyleBrochureSpanish.pdf

Easy Blender Salsa

Easy Blender Salsa

4 oz can green chilies, not drained (or 1 jalapeno chopped)

Juice of half a lime

1 clove garlic, quartered

1 tsp cumin or to taste

1 chunk onion, about 2 Tbsp

1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves

1 scoop Blendfresh Red 12 fruits and veggies (optional but tasty and beautiful!)

salt to taste

2 cans diced tomatoes 14.5 oz, not drained

Add first seven ingredients to blender jar and pulse 3-5 times. Add tomatoes and pulse again  3-5 times.  Serve with whole grain chips or a veggie platter.  For variety and good fats try serving with guacamole with Blendfresh Greens added to it!

It is SO yummy you will forget that it's good for you and just keep eating it for fun!  (Another reason to serve with veggies!).

Apple Cinnamon Protein Oatmeal

 Fresh Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal with Protein

1/2 C whole rolled oats

1 diced apple

Sprinkle cinnamon

Dash of sea salt

Blendfresh Protein powder (or your own)

Put first 4 ingredients in a large bowl and microwave three minutes.  Stir then sprinkle half a scoop (about 2 Tbsp) of Blendfresh Protein Powder and add almond milk if desired.   Yum!  It has a slight reminder of apple pie to it.  Great way to start the day with healthy carbs and Blendfresh Protein from plants.   You only need the natural sweet from the apples, not extra sugar.  It's a perfect way to stay satisfied and wake up your metabolism for the day.

Blendfresh Plant Protein Powder

Blendfresh 8 Whole Food Plants Protein Powder

We all know we need protein daily.  It becomes your muscle, your skin, your hair, your fingernails.  Getting enough protein daily is important for health, but especially vital when you are transitioning to a healthier state like dieting or building more muscle as you become more fit through exercise.

Here's what you need to know.  Protein is needed to increase lean muscle.  It assists in muscle repair and rebuild.  It minimizes muscle loss and fatigue during physical activity.   Your body demands protein and if you don't take in enough, it will begin to break down your own muscle mass for it's own needs!  Since muscle burns more calories than fat, we all want to be more lean these days.  Protein also has fewer calories which is a bonus.  So protein should be a big focus for anyone seeking transformation to a healthier body.

I really like this Blendfresh Protein Powder for several reasons.  I find as a fitness coach that if you are a meat eater and go on a diet or restricted plan (like Paleo, Atkins, low carb, 17 day diet, etc) the focus becomes eating a large percentage of calories from protein and the most common sources are chicken, turkey, fish, and dairy.  These are all heavy to digest and can constipate if not enough fiber is taken in.  A great solution is to get part of your protein from plant sources that come naturally with the fiber from nature.  This also gives variety to the diet and additional nutrients that would have been missed.

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This source of proteins provides a diverse blend of eight seeds, legumes, beans and whole grains, yet is gluten free, soy free and dairy free.  So if you have tried whey protein powders in the past and they have upset your stomach, this may be a better choice for you.  My husband is a very dramatic testimonial of that.  He is lactose intolerant, and suffers symptoms like IBS if he has dairy, but is able to enjoy Blendfresh Protein daily without getting an upset stomach or gassy.  So if you have allergy to soy, gluten, milk, casien, whey or any dairy this is a good source of easy protein.  The last two ingredients are plant enzymes to aid in digestion.

The proteins in plants are different from the proteins in meat, and in this product there are enough sources together to make a complete protein from an amino acid standpoint.  If you are vegetarian or vegan this is a natural choice.  It can be used both in smoothies and recipes, like on oatmeal, in energy bars or snack balls, and baked goods like muffins, pancakes, and cakes as well as almond milks and healthy hot chocolate.

How much protein do you need?  The general recommendation to develop lean muscle is to aim for 0.8 to 1 gram of protein per pound of body weight per day.  If you are very active and lead a lifestyle that's physically demanding, it may be to your advantage to increase this amount to 1.5 grams per pound of body weight per day.For example, if I weight 130 pounds, my protein intake should be 104-195 grams each day, depending on my activity level.

Currently Blendfresh only offers a Vanilla flavor that has a slightly sweet taste from honey, a healthy sweetener.  It's very creamy and perfect as a post-workout shake, breakfast smoothie that will keep you full, or even to add protein to your other recipes like home made energy bars.

All plants in this blend are of the highest quality.  Pesticide free, non-GMO, and clean.  One scoop provides 20 grams of plant protein.  And best of all is the taste!  I have tried MANY vegan protein powders and it is very hard to find one that I look forward to drinking instead of dreading.  This I enjoyed from the first sip!  And I'm hearing from many people who use this as part of a meal replacement smoothie that it keeps you full for hours, 3 or 4 or 5.  I've experienced this too and I've been surprised at the lack of hunger and cravings.  I can only attribute it to the good nutrition and regulated  blood sugars that come with the Blendfresh lifestyle, including the Protein.

You can blend it in a blender bottle with some almond milk or even water to keep it simple, but the best way I like to use it is making a 180º Smoothie which is blended with frozen fruit and Blendfresh Colors and Probiotic.  Yummy!

The official list of ingredients is: Protein Blend (Pea Protein, Rice Protein, Potato Protein, Quinoa, Black Bean, Flaxseed, Alfalfa Juice, Spinach), Honey, Oat Bran, Agave Inulin (which is just fiber), Natural Flavors, Guar Gum (from Guar Beans), Stevia Leaf Extract, Citric Acid (from Beets), Xanthan gum, Tara Gum (from Tara pods), Orange Fiber, Papain (from Papaya), Bromelain (from Pineapple).

On a side note, Blendfresh Protein provides selenium, a critical nutrient for the production of thyroid hormones and proper metabolism.  It is found that individuals with higher levels of selenium exhibit more strength, making more of your workouts.  So add Blendfresh plant protein to your regimen and enjoy the benefits of a more plant based diet!

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Fat 0.5 grams, Total carbohydrate 5 grams, Dietary Fiber 3 grams, Sugars 2 grams, Protein 20 grams   Non-GMO Project verified

Blendfresh Orange

What is Blendfresh Orange?

Wouldn't it be great to get the health benefits of 12 different fruits and vegetables without having to plan, shop, wash, chop and cook?  What about specifically orange fruits and veggies that boost the immune system, give you energy, help you see better, prevent heart disease and cancer and wouldn't spoil in your fridge?  If that sounds good you'll like Blendfresh Orange!

What is it?  It's a dozen raw, orange fruits and vegetables "Fresh Dried" at low temperatures to preserve enzymes and nutrients, and then made into a whole food powder.  Specifically;  Organic Carrot Juice, Organic Sweet Potato, Organic Pumpkin, Butternut Squash, Banana, Organic Mango, Pineapple, Organic Acerola, Apricot, Peach, Yellow Bell Peppers, Organic Lemon Juice, Orange Juice (straight off the label).  

Yes, we know that they're "good for us", but what does it really matter?  Is is worth the effort to really put it into our body?  Let's break down what each of them does for us -

Yellow Bell Peppers - an incredibly high amount of vitamin C, they contain 500% of a day's worth (4 times as much as an orange).  In addition they are a great source of vitamins A and E, B6 and folate.   These boost the immune system and can reduce the risk of gout and gout related complications. 

Butternut Squash - very high in vitamin A which protects eye function and helps maintain healthy skin and mucus membranes, and new research suggests it can help prevent lung and oral cavity cancer.  It's also high in vitamin C, vitamin E and B6 as well as folate, thiamine and riboflavin.

Pumpkin - also high in vitamins C and A, and zea-xanthin, a natural anti-oxidant that filters harmful UV radiation from the retina, helping prevent age related macular disease (ARMD).

Sweet Potato - the highest for any root vegetable in beta carotene, a powerful natural anti-oxidant.  It also contains essential vitamins that are co-factors for enzymes during metabolism that the body must obtain from an outside source.

Carrot - food source vitamin A can help protect from skin cancers, help with reproductive health, and its vitamin C helps support healthy teeth and gums.  Carrots may seem like old news, but they also have falcarinol which may destroy pre-cancerous cells in tumors.

Banana - provide instant energy, high in vitamin B6 which helps neuritis and anemia and helps decrease homocystine, a causative factor in coronary heart disease and stroke.  It also has magnesium for bone strength and copper required for red blood cell production, as well as potassium that helps control blood pressure by countering the effects of sodium.

Mango - according to new research study, "mango fruit has been found to protect against colon, breast, leukemia, and prostate cancers"!  Also high in vitamins A, C, B6 and copper.

Pineapple - contains bromelain, an enzyme that breaks down protein and has anti-clotting (heart disease) and anti-cancer properties.  Regular consumption helps prevent arthritis, indigestion (enzymes), and parasites.  It's high in vitamin C which is required for collagen synthesis to maintain healthy blood vessels, organs, and beautiful skin.

Acerola - this cherry from the Caribbean has the highest vitamin C of any plant, about 1864% of rda!  This vitamin C combined with the other phytochemicals in the fruit help rid the body of free radicals protecting the body from aging, degenerative disease, inflammation and infections.  Studies also suggest that their chlorogenic acid may help lower and control blood sugar in type 2 diabetes patients.

Apricot - also high in vitamins A, C, carotenes, anti-oxidants and heart healthy potassium to help regulate heart rate and blood pressure.

Peach - the simple peach is also full of the same family of nutrients found in the other orange fruits and vegetables, and also contains iron and small, natural amounts of fluoride to help prevent cavities in teeth.

Lemon - contains the natural preservative citric acid which aids in digestion and helps dissolve kidney stones.  It has special phytonutrients that can reduce anti-oxidant injury to DNA, contains B complex vitamins, and a healthy amount of iron and calcium, as well as high vitamin C, potassium and the other similar nutrients we find in Orange produce.

Orange - contains pectin which helps protect the colon from toxic substances and reduce blood cholesterol, has phytochemicals that act as immune system modulators, is also high in vitamins A, C, B complex, potassium and calcium, and helps cut the risk for some diseases like cancers, arthritis, obesity, and coronary heart disease.

Blendfresh Orange is a sweet and tangy combination that provides phytonutrients like gallic acid, gallotannins, mangiferine, syringic acid, phytoene, peonidine, phenoalalic acid and many more.  English please?  Eat these and you'll feel better and be healthier.

Would an antioxidant supplement do just as well?  Not according to nutrition.answers.com where they say

"There are supplements of these complements available. However, they may or may not provide any actual health benefit. While eating lots of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains is highly beneficial, and the substances they contain are widely thought to improve health, these benefits usually don't translate to supplements. Two schools of thought are that the body only absorbs these compounds through food sources, and that different compounds work together to provide the benefits. Eat lots of fruit and whole grains in order to get more phenolic acids in your diet." 

Do you see the advantage to eating a dozen, symbiotic plants together?  Packing all that concentrated nutrition into a daily, easy to add scoop!  What if you could put it in your smoothies, sauces, recipes or even in warm water and drink like a tea (one of my favorite ways!).  We want ALL the benefits of good nutrition, and the only thing stopping most of us is that we don't have time to prep it and we don't know how to make it a regular part of our diet.  Blendfresh solves this!  Why wait one more day to start getting all the disease fighting, energy  giving, eye sight protecting, age preserving benefits of these whole foods the easy way?  If you are ready to start now...

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If you like the idea of Blendfresh and want to learn more, click here!

Time to sign up for The Blendfresh 90 Challenge!

What is Blendfresh 90?

Blendfresh has partnered with Blendtec, the producers of “The Worlds Most Advanced Blenders” to help create the world’s most healthy fast foods. The ability to use a Blendtec Blender to mix the Blendfresh Products creates the most effective way to establish more sustainable, healthy lifestyle.

Click to register now

(use Coach Jenn Gibbs or id #2534 when prompted)

The Blendfresh 90 Day Challenge

It seems as though everyone is looking for the latest diet that will quickly give them the results they desire. In fact, many are willing to try multiple diets and programs as they do not seem to achieve their physical and health goals.

With this in mind, Blendfresh wanted to create more than just a program, we wanted to create a lifestyle. Our focus on more than just a limited number days or a start and end date, our focus is on getting you on a path of living a more healthy lifestyle every day, for the rest of your life.

As you will see, the Blendfresh 90 Challenge is all about creating healthy eating and physical eating habits. It will be these habits that truly improve one’s life. With all the noise out there it can be tough to find a program that works for you. We are confident that if you will dedicate and commit yourself to the Blendfresh 90 Program, you will see new habits form that increase your health and happiness.

What is Included?

To become an official participant who will be eligible for the contest rewards you must:

1. Accept the Challenge
2. Submit a Before Photo along with requested health measurements
3. Sign-up for the monthly (3 month subscription) Challenge Pack for $229 a month (regular discounted package price is $249). This pack includes the following:
1. 1 Blendfresh Protein
2. 1 Blendfresh Fiber
3. 1 Blendfresh Reds
4. 1 Blendfresh Greens
5. 1 Blendfresh Purples
6. 1 Blendfresh Orange
7. 1 Blendfresh Pre & Probiotics
4. Join the Blendfresh 90 Challenge Facebook Group for access to:
1. Recipes
2. Workout
3. Ask the Trainer
4. Group Discussion
5. Updates
6. Official Contest Rules

Need to know more about Blendfresh?

How It Works

Nutrition Plan

As you begin the Blendfresh 90 Challenge, for the first 10 days you will follow the 180 Cleanse plan by drinking 2 smoothies per day, using the 180 Smoothie Recipe as a guide. You can use just one Blendfresh Fruit & Vegetable powder in each smoothie, or mix them up as you like. These smoothies can be taken whenever it’s most convenient for you, and should replace two meals per day.

Other than two smoothies, you should consume 2-3 small sensible meals or snacks per day. These meals should be approximately 2.5-3.0 hours apart, and no more than 4 hours apart. The Blendfresh 15 Whole Food Fibers should also be incorporated by mixing into smoothies, or taken nightly before bed mixed with water or juice.

Other meals and snacks during the 180 Degree cleanse should be based on whole, clean food such as: fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, beans, lean protein, and healthy fats. 90% of nutritional intake from clean food and fast-foods, processed, packaged, sugary, etc. restricted to 10% or less. Please remember that this time period is meant to be a 180 degree turn away from the typical lifestyle and is a great way to jump start your lifestyle and body transformation! To assist you with your goal, try to cleanse your home and workplace of all processed food, junk food, soda, alcohol, and other tempting food items that will keep you from reaching your goal.

For the remaining 20 days of the month, simply consume 1 smoothie per day, as well as 3-4 small sensible meals or snacks. During this phase, 80% of food intake should be fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, beans, and healthy fats. About 20% from whole-grain carbohydrates, lean protein, and some less-ideal foods may be included.

Recommended caloric intake per day for women: approximately 1,500 calories, men: 2,200 calories. Please refer to sample meal plans to see recommended portion sizes and breakdown of caloric intake during the day, using healthy fats, carbohydrates, and protein in proper amounts.

Use of Blendfresh Products

• Blendfresh Protein
  • Participants will add to their smoothie one serving of protein powder, but will also include fruits and vegetables and other ingredients in their smoothie
• Blendfresh Fiber
  • Participants will consume one serving of the Fiber daily, best results when taken at night before bed. Can be mixed with water or 6 oz. of juice.
• Blendfresh Pre and Probiotic Product
  • Participants will consume one serving of the probiotic product daily. This should be included in the morning smoothie
• Blendfresh Fruit and Veggie Blends (Red, Green, Purple & Orange)
  • Participants will consume at least one serving of one of the Blendfresh Fruits & Veggie Blends each day, ideally added to smoothies but can be consumed with other foods as desired

Exercise Program

Participants will participate in a regular exercise program for 45 minutes daily, 6 days per week. This exercise should include cardiovascular exercise, for a minimum of 4 days per week, or a combination of weight training and cardio for 5-6 days per week for a total of 45 minutes per session. All activity should be according to the level of the individual, and when in care of physician please consult a doctor first.

Daily Journal and Meal Planner

Participants are encouraged to record all meals and exercise. Blank tracking pages are available for download. It is also recommended that participants use apps/tools available, such as: My Fitness Pal, Map My Fitness, Nike Fuel Band, Jawbone UP, etc.

How to Register

1. Accept the Challenge
2. Complete Form to register  (use Coach Jenn Gibbs or consultant #2534 to register)
3. You will receive an email from Blendfresh letting you know what the next steps are. Included in that Next Steps Email will be the following:
1. A request for you to send a before photo
2. Your personal story
3. Waist measurement (inches), and estimated body fat using calculator at http://www.active.com/fitness/calculators/bodyfat
4. You will receive a call from Blendfresh or you can call Blendfresh to sign-up for the Challenge Pack. You will be asked to join either as a Preferred Customer for only $10 or if you want to join as a Blendfresh Consultant capable of earning commissions you can do so for $35.
5. Accept invitation to join Blendfresh 90 Challenge Facebook group to stay updated, get motivation, receive fitness tips, recipes, meal plans, workouts, and more!

This is the chance you've been waiting for!  Motivation, support, a specific plan with accountability and a long enough committment to bring lasting healthy changes into your life.  It's time for you to take care of your body and learn to do it for the rest of your life!

Click here to register

(use Jenn Gibbs or Consultant #2534 when prompted)

#blendfresh #blendtec #blendfresh90 #weightloss #fitness #health #challenge # recipe #fun

Roasted Root Vegetables and Garbanzo Beans - easy version

I promise this is WAY easier and WAY tastier than you think!

Roasted Root Vegetables and Garbanzo Beans

10 carrots, peeled and cut into about 1 inch pieces

10 medium red potatoes, cut into 1/2 inch cubes

1 red onion, cut to chunks

1 can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained

olive oil to preference (about 1/2 C)

Italian seasonings spice blend (about 2 tsp)

Sea salt to taste (1-2 tsp)

Super simple.  Just throw the ingredients into a large bowl and toss to coat with the oil and seasonings.  Pour onto a sprayed sheet pan and bake at 400º for an hour, turning every 20 minutes.  You can bake more or less for your favorite texture.  I turned on the convection fan when I turned it the first time, so had convection running for 40 minutes.  The serve steaming hot!  

Before

So pretty!

I kept picking at this, snitching tastes before we sat down.  Vegetarians and meat eaters at my table both finished their plates without argument.  This was my answer to the traditional pot roast dinner as I'm focusing on making more meatless meals.  I've heard of roasting garbanzo beans (otherwise known as chic peas).  Potatoes have protein, but to add more I threw the garbanzos in and it's a delicious win!  And so simple that my kids can easily make it.  

I did not add Blendfresh to this recipe since I had already had a huge smoothie earlier in the day, but it would be very easy to sprinkle on Green right as it came out of the oven, or Orange if you were doing just a pan of roasted carrots.  Blendfresh adds such good flavor (and nutrition), but this time I was more focused on making sure this passed for a new comfort food recipe than experimenting.

As a bonus, I felt like a total 1960's home-maker as I peeled potatoes and carrots.  Good old-fashioned workin' in the kitchen.  It made me realize how long it's been since I actually did that simple task.  Plan for half an hour of peeling and chopping, and just enjoy the process.  If you finish early then celebrate.

While I was at it, I ate a big, long carrot once I peeled it.  I totally felt like a kid again.  Baby carrots just cannot take the place of a ten inch crunchy snack!  Long live old school nutrition!