Cuban Christmas

To escape from the hot weather and stay hydrated, summer means indulging in juicy summer fruits and refreshing drinks. Making these beverages with summer fruits is the finest way to enjoy them. Some of them can be also used to make detoxifying post-holiday drinks. 

But, what stands out for us is the muskmelon. Muskmelon not only tastes good, but it also offers lots of nutritional benefits.

Vitamin C and A, which improve immunity, are abundant in muskmelon. It is packed in antioxidants, which assist to purify the body and skin, and it has a high fiber level, which aids digestion.

Summer Drinks from Muskmelon

Let’s just see how you can enjoy this fruit in the version of hydrating and relaxing drinks now that we’ve given you far too many reasons to consume it.

MUSKMELON JUICE

All you have to do is combine cut muskmelon pieces with some water, similar to that of watermelon juice. After that, add a pinch of black salt and some mint leaves.

MUSKMELON MILKSHAKE

The inclusion of cream with vanilla extract enhances the flavor of this shake, which is then scooped with ice cream plus crushed ice to create the perfect summer atmosphere.

MUSKMELON MOJITO

Combine muskmelon pieces, sugar, mint leaves, and lemon juice in a blender. Pour it into a glass, then top with white rum and soda water.

Ready-to-eat meals are great for those days when you need to make dinner but don’t have the time. But sometimes these pre-cooked meals can be high in sodium, sugar, and calories. A healthy eating plan includes eating fresh fruit and vegetables, lean protein like chicken or fish, whole grains like brown rice or bread, dairy like milk or cheese, and healthy fats like olive oil. So how can you make your pre-packaged meal healthier? Learn more ways to do just that!

Number 1. Add more Vegetables to the Dish

Adding more vegetables to the dish is a great way to make your ready-to-eat meal healthier. You can simply cook up some veggies or buy some fresh ones at the store and add them to the package.

Vegetables packed high contents of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Adding them to your pre-packaged meal will help you stay full longer without all of the guilt.

Number 2. Choose a Lean Protein

Protein is a nutrient that provides your body with energy and helps you feel full for longer so it’s important to choose a lean protein when deciding what to have in your pre-packaged meal. Lean proteins include fish, skinless turkey breast, or chicken breast. If you’re having a soup, choose a broth-based soup over a cream-based soup.

Number 3. Reduce the Sodium

One of the best ways to make your meal healthier is by reducing the sodium. Too much sodium you’re your heart at risks and also, increase blood pressure. So pay attention to the sodium levels in your ready-to-eat meal and try to find ones with less than 400mg of sodium per serving. The lower the sodium level, the better!

Number 4. Reduce the Sugar

The first thing you can do is reduce the sugar. Since it’s so easy to eat too much sugar, it’s important to focus on reducing it in your diet. Sugar is often hidden in foods like pizza sauce and ketchup, so look for these ingredients when reading the food label.

Number 5. Add more Healthy Fats

You want to add healthy fats to your meal for satiety, flavor, and because they are filling.

If there’s one ingredient nowadays that you can predominantly see everywhere, it is none other than hibiscus. Well, it is not surprising as this ingredient is highly enjoyable especially when you taste its rose-pigmented flavor.

This well-known rosey flavor are popularly present on red tea, Champagne, some holiday desserts, and tonic water with pink tints. Aside from that, hibiscus is also a meatless filling used in tacos.

Parts of the Hibiscus Plant that are Edible

Hibiscus sabdariffa is the scientific name of hibiscus. And the sabdariffa race ruber is its impressive variant that shows all of the great tasting feature of such. The term ruber refers to the red color of the calyx that is responsible for making the plant being an edible one.

Buying Hibiscus and Using It

You can generally source out dried hibiscus over online stores worldwide. Hibiscus are available in the form of syrup. This can be added on sparkling water or brighten the color of the cocktails. You may also try to use hibiscus to pan the roasting meat’s juices.

The calyx that was preserved in which syrup was extracted will then become a candy-like substance. This form of hibiscus can be deliciously used as garnishes or ingredients in bakes and stuffings.

Another use of hibiscus is to dry it out on a parchment paper. The area should have low humidity to dry the hibiscus here for number of days. Afterwards, it will become sweet-tasting, chewy craisins, the one that looks like dried cranberries.

Winter is the season in which sumptuous foods are laid down in platters over the table. But, one major concern here is the fitness goal of every individual during this season. As we indulge on eating over delectable foods, gaining of unnecessary weights would be a possible result. With that, many would be concerned on their compromised fitness goal.

So, in order to avoid that issue, we are giving this list of healthy yet yummy ingredients. Do not worry as these would not hinder your diet plan.

Healthy Food Supporting the Fitness Goal

Delicious foods doesn’t always need to compromised your target weight. You can still satisfy your taste buds while staying healthy and fit. Check this out and know how to maintain your weight while munching in those palatable treats.

MUSHROOMS

Mushrooms contains low levels of calories. But, it has high protein and fiber levels. Through that, mushrooms can support digestion, development of lean muscles, and weight loss.

SWEET POTATOES

During winter, sweet potatoes seem to be the star of the season. Having an abundant amount of fiber and antioxidants, sweet potatoes help in maintaining the warmth of the body.

LEAFY GREENS

Eating leafy greens on a regular basis is of big help in reducing obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and high blood pressure.