This is my new favorite recipe!  I made it last weekend and enjoyed it all week. So easy to make and worth the effort as it tastes so much better than store bought and you'll know exactly what ALL the ingredients are.  Thanks Alice!!!  This recipe is now on my weekly rotation. Check it out!

The Best Homemade Almond Milk Recipe

by Alice Conradt

Today I’m going to share The Best Homemade Almond Milk Recipe. But first let me ask you a few facts if you currently buy almond milk? Did you know…there are harmful ingredients such as synthetic vitamin A Palmitate, D2, E- (Tocopherol Acetate) and Calcium Carbonate (chalk)…yes the same chalk used on chalkboards?

These chemicals cause your body to react defensively as if it’s being invaded by a foreign object. Your body then goes into protection mode to ward off the damage. All of these ingredients can have a harmful effect on your liver, heart and kidneys and stress your immune system as well as contribute to chronic disease, joint and immune system disorders.

The Best Homemade Almond Milk Recipe

Many of us want to make healthier choices for ourselves or our families, but store brands are NOT the answer.

This version takes less than 5 minutes (not including soaking time) and will give healthy omega fatty acids, (which help prevent high blood pressure and heart disease), calcium and vitamin D (for healthy immune function, reduced risk for osteoporosis and arthritis), vitamin E and antioxidants (for healthy skin), and lots of B vitamins and Iron to help promote healing and aid in muscle growth and strength!

Almond Milk Recipe

• 1 cup raw (Organic) almonds
• 10 cups filtered water (divided in half)
• 2-3 Tbsp honey for light sweetness
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon (optional)
• Pinch of sea salt
• Cheesecloth
• Strainer

Soak almonds in 5 cups water overnight, in a covered bowl.

Strain nuts and add them to a blender or food processor with the remaining 5 cups of filtered water. Blend until nuts are pulverized and mixture looks milky.

Place cheesecloth over strainer and drain milk/almond meal into your storage container. Press cheesecloth lightly with wooden spoon or lightly squeeze to express liquid.

Chill in refrigerator or keep at room temperature for up to one week.

*Experiment with other nuts such as Hazelnuts or brazil nuts for a mixed nut milk. Also add a vanilla bean to soaked nuts and process in blender for a natural vanilla flavor or replace honey with Medjool dates or grade B maple syrup, for sweetness.

http://www.gettingfittogether.com/the-best-homemade-almond-milk-recipe/#comment-552

How To Create A Healthy Meal Plan- Nicole Hoffman Review

In my experience, eating healthy can be a challenge if I'm not planning ahead. Jessica SHARES suggestions in her article on how to plan and prepare for your week keeping cost and healthy choices in mind.  What are your experiences or tips with healthy eating and meal planning?

How To Create A Healthy Meal Plan

By Jessica Negrini

Do you struggle when it comes to planning meals? I thought I would share “How To Create A Healthy Meal Plan. In the past, I always struggled in this area of nutrition, and even though I had good intentions of cooking healthy dinners, time would get away from me. Work and other excuses would take over, and BAM I’d be ordering pizza for the family! Not that I’m against pizza or anything, but it’s better for our lifestyles (and our wallets) to not be ordering food out, but rather cooking healthy food at home. Besides, I LOVE to cook, and I love to come up with recipes are healthy AND tasty!

So, I figured out some tricks that work for me, and hopefully they can help you too!

Focusing on one day a week (Sundays for me), I realized I could get more done than I thought I could. I could plan, shop, AND prep, and be set for the upcoming week! Sundays may not work for you depending on your work schedule but any day off could be used.

How To Create A Healthy Meal

I start with the dinner menu for the week. As a typical, crazy-busy family, we decide what we want for dinners based around the protein, how long it needs to cook or heat up, AND what after-school activities we have that day. Then we decide what kinds of veggies and side dishes would go well with the protein. Once dinner is decided, the rest of the meals and snacks are fairly simple. Often we will have leftovers for lunch, and we always have plenty of fruits, veggies and other easy to grab (but still healthy) options for breakfast and snacks.

I check the pantry, fridge, and freezer to see what we have and what we need at the store based on our menu, and food shopping is next. Many things I buy in bulk, especially foods that can easily be frozen and thawed for future meals. This helps keep the budget on track, too.

After shopping, it’s prep time. For me, this typically means baking some chicken breasts, washing and chopping fruits and veggies, and portioning them in easy to grab plastic baggies or containers. I also make home made salad dressings. Meal prep could be different for you depending on your family size and what you eat, but portioning the food items is the biggest help to me regardless. That way there are “grab and go” items, or if we need a quick dinner, it’s all ready to be heated up and gobbled up!

Even though it took some trial and error to see what worked in my house, I now LOVE meal planning, and I’ve become really good at it! Don’t think we don’t order pizza now and again, but for the most part, we are now able to eat healthy and delicious food at home as a family! Try some different things to find what works for you, and make it fun! Happy Planning!

No time for breakfast?  Check out 101 Healthy Nutritious Shake Recipes

http://www.gettingfittogether.com/how-to-create-a-healthy-meal-plan

Here's a great review by my friend Mel i'd like to SHARE. It's a great comparison of the 2 programs. I'm looking forward to starting 21 Day Fix Extreme in April!

21 Day Fix vs Chalean Extreme

By Contributor on February 24, 2015

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By Mel Batterman
The 21 Day Fix and Chalean Extreme fitness and nutrition programs are both high quality programs that will provide you with guaranteed results. The choice comes down to what fits your personal goals, needs, and ability to adhere to a 21 day program versus a 90 day program.

Each program provides you with fitness and nutrition that will bring the results you are looking for with a time frame that will work for you.  The 21 Day Fix is a nutrition and fitness program that makes losing weight simple with easy to follow portion control nutrition and 30 minute workouts.  Chalean Extreme is designed to help you shed weight easily through a 3-phase fitness and nutrition system over the course of 90 days.

Both programs are effective for weight loss and building lean muscle. The 21 Day Fix is quite simple.  You never have to count calories, points, or log your food.  You simply use the nutrition plan with the portion control containers and do one 30 minute workout a day.  Chalean Extreme also has a unique and effective plan that breaks the 90 days into 3 phases of progression to build optimal strength and endurance, while shedding fat.

21 Day Fix

Each program offers a unique process to bring the nutrition and fitness together for guaranteed results.  The 21 Day Fix Is the only fitness and nutrition program that truly combines a portion control nutrition system that is fool proof with world-class workouts that makes it simple and sustainable, which is why this program is often the right fit for those who are starting out for the very first time.  Chalean Extreme is unique because of the resistance cardio training that each workout offers.  This combined style of fitness allows for a greater fat loss, and increased lean muscle which burns a greater amount of fat when at rest.

Besides guaranteed results, both programs offer extreme value. The 21 Day Fix comes with the 21 Day Fix Eating Plan and portion control containers, the 21 Day Fix Start Here Guide, the 3 Day Quick Fix Guide, Six Workouts, and a Bonus Workout. There is also an Ultimate Kit which includes two additional workouts, an additional container for meals on the go, a resistance band, and an insulated tote bag.  Chalean Extreme comes with 15 workouts, Muscle Burns Fat Guide, Fat Burning Food Guide, Chalene’s Healthy Eats and Kitchen Makeover Video, Chalene’s Extreme Motivation Audio CD, Thigh Toner Band, and a Resistance Band.

The best part with both programs is that you can purchase them through a Beachbody Coach, and then have that person as your personal accountability coach.  They will help you stay committed, focused, and reach your goals.

When considering whether the 21 Day Fix or Chalean Extreme is right for you, you must consider the following.  Do you need a very precise nutrition plan like the 21 Day Fix offers? Can you adhere to 90 days versus 21 Days?  Do you want more resistance training combined with cardio like Chalean Extreme offers?  Do you want to stick to 30 minute workouts or are you good with workouts that range between 35-45 minutes?  When you consider these and other aspect of your life you will be able to commit to the program that is right for you.  Either way, both programs will provide you the results you have always wanted.

http://www.gettingfittogether.com/21-day-fix-vs-chalean-extreme/

Eating healthy as a household can be challenging. Christie has some great strategies on how to eat healthy with your family. I’d love to hear your thoughts and tips after reading this article! Have a great weekend!

http://www.gettingfittogether.com/how-to-eat-healthy-with-your-family/#comment-176