WuLong Tea - Premium Chinese Slimming Tea

Blending Is The Key

You know what you need? A good blender.
If you don’t already have one, get one. If you have one that’s been sitting on the shelf, then get it out, dust it off, plug it in, and get ready for some easier, healthier days ahead.
You want something quick before you head out the door in the morning but don’t have a lot of time?
Smoothie.
Are you hungry when you get home but don’t want to get bogged down with the cooking or excess cleaning duties?
Smoothie.
You want to eat better but don’t have time to become a nutrition expert?
Don’t make me say it.
Okay, I’ll say it.
Smoothie.
It’s a good way to feel full and get all the vitamins you need. It’s convenient, quick, and less guilt ridden than a value meal from some drive through window. You don’t need to be a cook to do it, but you can feel like a culinary creative-type, having fun in the kitchen.
Or a mad scientist…
This isn’t going to be about recipes. This is more of a general guide to a new way of thinking about an appliance you probably only used for margaritas.

Start at the End

Before I give you any other instructions, let me tell you how easy a blender is to clean. A friend of mine told me this tip she got from a friend of hers, and it’s so simple it’s genius. Here’s all you do.
Fill your blender halfway with warm water. Add a squirt or two of dishwashing liquid. And blendy blend blend until clean. Then rinse it all out. Boom, done. You’re welcome.

Base

Now, what do you put in a smoothie?
What you need to start with, aside from the blender, is a base, something liquid to mix with the rest of your ingredients to keep everything nice and fluid.  You can use low-fat Greek yogurt, almond milk, fruit juice, good old fashioned water, or even, dare I say, some brewed tea.

Substance

If you’re trying to do a single serving, use the glass that you plan to drink it from as kind of your measuring tool, but still be ready for a little more than that. If everything you’re using fits in your glass, most of them should fit after blending. But things will expand.
Hey, the more the merrier.
So, you can add to your base. What should you add, you ask?
Oh, there’s a world of options out there…
Fruit, vegetables, nuts, spices; just about whatever sounds good.
And feel free to experiment! The blending will mix the flavors in new, interesting ways, and make a healthier drink. Toss in a handful of spinach to your orange juice. See what a couple snap peas will do in your mango smoothie.
Those vitamins you have a hard time swallowing on their own can be transformed into something more easily taken. (Don’t try it with the gel capsules, though. You may find they don’t work as well.) Other healthy stuff can be snuck into your concoction, like flax seeds, protein powder, or chia seeds. It’s always nice to maximize your nutritional opportunities, so blend in goodness whenever you can.
Frozen fruit might need to defrost in the microwave for maybe 10 to 20 seconds, or it will make an awful grinding noise when you put it in your machine. Fresh fruit should be peeled or deseeded, depending on the type. Chop up things that need to be chopped up, to give your blender a head start. It’s a household appliance, not a super villain’s torture device.
Mind you, you can always add ice.

Ready, Set, Go!

I like to start pushing the buttons from the far left, and working my way across until I get to the last one on the right, then going back down the line to the left again. I repeat until everything is nicely processed, and then enjoy!
Now, some of you may be hesitant to just get in there and mix things up, all willy nilly. So, if you need a real recipe to get started, go to:
http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes_menus/collections/healthy_smoothie_recipes