Bai Bai Bai

I've been very curious about this new beverage that seemed to be popping up everywhere called Bai 5.  The flavors look so enticing!  
And I start singing *N Sync whenever I say the name!

I was having a craving for something coconut the other week, so I grabbed a bottle of their Bai 5 Molokai Coconut flavored drink.  And then I was hooked!  
I haven't tried them all, but so far my favorite flavors are the 
Bai 5 Molokai Coconut, Ipanema Pomegranate and Malawi Mango.  
The Bai 5 drinks have about 10 calories in a bottle.

I decided to look more into the product and ingredients before posting here, because, as we have seen lately, what might appear healthy on the surface rarely is under the microscope.

GOOD NEWS!!!  It appears that they are actually telling the truth about their product!  Unheard of!  First off, I can pronounce and know what the vast majority of the ingredients are.  The only one I wasn't familiar with was erythritol (labeled as a natural sweetener).  After reading a few articles about it, it's a sugar alcohol that has almost no effect on the body.  That being said, if you are avoiding "fake" sugars, etc, this would be the only downside about this product.  

Bai 5 drinks are gluten free, GMO free, soy free, and besides tasting yummy, they are also packed with antioxidants derived from coffee fruit (the flesh around coffee beans).

I have been making a habit of bringing a bottle with me to the gym.  I find it very refreshing, and hopefully the antioxidant component is having some sort of positive effect as well.

The downside?  Price.  It sells online for almost $3 a bottle (when you buy a 12 bottle case).  I was lucky enough to find it in my favorite grocery store for $2.19 a bottle, still steep, but not bad when I keep it to a workout beverage.  

Bottom line:  It's tasty and low calorie, so don't be afraid to try it!

Need a quickie?

Sometimes, you just need a quick, light hunger solution, but don't have time for a meal.

GNC has a weight loss program called Total Lean.  I know almost nothing about the program as a whole, so I cannot evaluate it, but I have discovered their ready to drink shakes.  Here's why I like them!

Taste!
Each flavor I have tried (swiss chocolate, vanilla bean, and strawberries & cream) actually tastes good!  This is the first "diet" shake I have tried that I like drinking.  I haven't tried making them from powder, so I don't know if it tastes the same, but the bottled versions are yummy!

Portion and Nutrition
Each shake is 14 fluid ounces!  That's almost 2 cups!  It takes a while to drink, and it keeps you satisfied since it's a large amount of liquid.  The shakes are lactose free, high in protein, and low in sugar.  They also have 24 vitamins and minerals.

Here is the nutritional breakdown of each shake:
Calories: 170
Total Fat: 6g
Sodium: 330mg (chocolate has 390mg)
Potassium: 310mg (chocolate has 475mg)
Total Carbohydrate: 6g
Dietary Fiber: 3g
Sugars: 2g
Protein: 25g

I tend to grab one for breakfast on days that I don't have time to make something else.  I also pack one in a lunch bag with ice on days when I will be out running around for a long time.  It keeps me from stopping somewhere and getting something else to eat/drink that would be much worse for me!  

I also like it for days when I'm going to the gym, but I'm hungry!  I don't want to eat a meal before the gym, but working out with a grumbling tummy is only going to make things worse!  A shake is the perfect solution for me.  Quick, easy, yummy, and doesn't hang around in the stomach too long to cause discomfort while exercising.  

Lime Cooler

I enjoy citrus beverages in the summer.  This one is 0 Points+, delicious, and you could always add in silver rum to have an alcoholic beverage.  1 jigger would make it 4 Points+.  I haven't tried it, but it seems like it would go well.

Not beer, but if you enjoy beer, check out Great South Bay Brewery.  They've got some amazing beer!

I didn't measure, but I combined the juice of one lime, Splenda, muddled mint leaves and seltzer, mix and serve on the rocks.  So refreshing!

Green Smoothie

I am a big fan of green smoothies, but never have actually made them myself.  I enjoy the Naked Juice Green Machine, and also a Green Smoothie Protein Powder I used to get (can't remember the brand).


I decided that I want to learn how to make my own.


My attempt for today was a combination of baby spinach, avocado, green apple, strawberries (frozen), blackberries (frozen), peaches (frozen), and agave nectar.  I was surprised that my little blender was able to handle all of the ingredients rather well!  No chunks!  After I strained out the seeds from the blackberries, it was pretty good!  I'm hoping that with summer coming closer, the fresh fruit will enhance the sweetness of the drink without adding any sort of additional sweetener in there.  The blackberries made it more of a purple smoothie, but I'm still calling it green!


I'm thinking that nice, ripe mango would taste excellent next time.  Banana, too!  Come on, summer!  I need nice fruit!!!


Have you ever made a green (or any other color) smoothie?  What do you like to put in?

Pumpkin Smoothie

I've been in a breakfast rut.  I like to use only 4 Points+, and my greek yogurt with preserves fits that bill perfectly!  It fills me up, keeps me satisfied, and it's delicious!  I sometimes make egg whites with center cut bacon and some toast, but that adds up in points, so I usually save that for mornings when Chris and I are home together and want to make a nice breakfast.  


This morning, it's all gray outside, Chris is at work, and I know I need to head to the gym soon or else I won't get my butt out of the house at all today!  I ran out of yogurt yesterday, and bacon and eggs is way too heavy to eat before going to workout.  


I decided that I wanted to make a smoothie.  The problem?  I have no fruit in my house!  My usual stockpile of frozen banana is empty and all fresh fruit has been consumed.  Off to the pantry I go to see what I can find.  


Enter:  Libby's Pure Pumpkin


I am a pumpkin fan.  It's a mild flavor, and I enjoy the texture.  After looking up some pumpkin smoothie recipes, I created one of my own that satisfied my breakfast needs this morning.  It has a mild taste, but I didn't want to overdo the cinnamon.  I might add a bit more next time, but for now, this works!  

Try out this Pumpkin Smoothie.  The best part?  3 POINTS+!!!

Ingredients

1 cup Blue Diamond Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk

1 cup Libby's Pure Pumpkin

2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 tbsp brown sugar

2 packets of Splenda

5 ice cubes

Add all ingredients to a blender, and blend until well mixed and the ice fully broken up.  Enjoy!

Chai? Because we love you!

I love Chai!  Particularly nice, creamy vanilla chai.  Unfortunately, that usually means spending around $4 for a cup made with whole milk.  Not exactly part of this whole weight loss thing, nor is it a good financial decision.

I have made a discovery!  Well, 2 actually!

Blue Diamond makes an Unsweetened version of it's Vanilla Almond milk (in the dairy department of your grocery store).  1 cup is 1 Point+ value, and it's really creamy.  I don't enjoy it plain, but it's great in coffee or this lovely beverage.

I also discovered a brand called Oregon Chai that sells chai tea concentrates (you can find this online or in some supermarkets in the organic section).  One of their varieties is called Slightly Sweet Original (they also make a sugar-free, but I haven't tried it yet).  A serving (1/2 cup) has 1 Point+ value.

For a small cup of tea, combine 1/2 cup of the almond milk with a 1/2 cup of the tea concentrate and a packet of Splenda (or sweetener of preference) for a total of 2 Points+ (more if your sweetener contains calories).  I usually make a larger cup with 1 cup milk, 1 cup tea concentrate and 2 Splenda packets for 3 Points+.  Yummy!!!

Nothing like a nice warm cup of Chai to take your mind off of the snow for a while!