Showing posts with label Fusion Cuisine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fusion Cuisine. Show all posts

Monday, March 30, 2015

Snack Attack or just Dehydrated? Enjoy Cucumber Water for Hydration #NNM #GardenCuizine

Snack Attack or just Dehydrated? 
Cucumber Water 
for Hydration

On several occasions, I've had people tell me how they drink cucumber water rather than soda or juice as a way to cut out unwanted calories. And, I've noticed that sometimes people misinterpret thirst for hunger and may grab a snack when their body was really in need of a drink of water instead.

We all know water is the best beverage you can drink and that water is essential for life. Enhancing water with a squeeze of fresh citrus or sliced cucumbers is naturally good for your body. I decided to make cucumber water for a recent Inspira Health Network cooking class and at a social event at church. The refreshing taste was a hit at both events. 

Cucumber water makes everyday water special for you, your family and your guests. Here is all you do to make cucumber water:

Ingredients
Water - enough to fill a favorite pitcher
1 Cucumber


Stevia natural sweetener drops (plain)- optional
Fresh Mint - optional

Putting it all together

  • Fill a clean glass or clear plastic pitcher with cold water.
  • Wash and prepare cucumber slices. You can peel the entire cucumber or just a portion (stripes) down the length of the cucumber.
  • Cut into 1/4 inch round slices. Cookie cutters can be used to cut out shapes in the center.
  • Add the sliced cucumbers to the water and refrigerate until serving to allow flavor to infuse.
Relax and enjoy a glass!
 

GardenCuizine Nutrition Data: One cucumber adds trace amounts of water soluble vitamins: Vitamin C, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Potassium
Related Links
Water: Meeting Your Daily Fluid Needs
Fit Facts, Healthy Hydration 
Rethink Your Drink
Blog post and photo Copyright (C)Wind. All rights reserved.

Saturday, June 30, 2012

Cool off ~ Stay hydrated ~ Make your own Vitamin Water! @SweetLeafStevia #GardenCuizine

 Fruit Infused Vitamin Water
Went out today and bought a few Fruit Infusion Water Pitchers to take to my out-patient nutrition counseling offices. Many people I meet for weight management are looking to replace sugary sodas and juices with zero calorie beverages. Fruit infused vitamin water is fun to make and when lightly sweetened with natural stevia is ZERO calories! It's a cool and refreshing way to stay hydrated in the summer heat.
 

This is our first recipe. We used orange and strawberry; you can be creative and combine fruits that you have available. 

Try pineapple, mango, kiwifruit, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, watermelon, oranges, limes or lemons. Fresh cut herbs make a great flavor addition too. Try lemon balm, basil, rosemary, mint or monarda blooms. 

Fresh fruits add a subtle flavor and Vitamin C, which is water soluble and naturally infuses into your water along with other water soluble nutrients.
 
Strawberry Orange
 
Ingredients
  • half an Orange
  • one Strawberry
  • 1-2 SweetLeaf Stevia packets
Putting it all together
First, wash your new fruit infusion pitcher and wash the fruit you plan on using. 
  1. Cut the fruit small enough to fit in the center infusion cylinder. 
  2. Fill the pitcher with cold tap water and add 1-2 packets of SweetLeaf stevia
  3. Give it a quick swirl to stir and refrigerate to infuse hints of natural fruit flavors 
Rethink your drink
Sure beats 130 calories in a 12-ounce soda! Two sodas = 260 added calories. It only takes an extra 500 calories a day to slip on an extra pound of weight gain per week. And, if you're diabetic, just one 12-ounce soda or one cup of sugary lemonade counts as 2 to 2 1/2 carbohydrate servings respectively. Vitamin water has zero carbs with zero glycemic index.

SweetLeaf® Stevia products available also include Liquid Stevia Sweet Drops™ that come in 17 natural fruit, nut, cola, cinnamon or chocolate flavored drops that make a great addition to non carbonated beverage drinks, dessert sauces or foods such as yogurt or oatmeal. Ask for them at your local health food store.

Strive for a healthy body weight. Avoid sugary foods and beverages!
Related Links
Vitamin Water The Yummy Life blog
SweetLeaf.com
Using Herbs and Fresh Fruit to make Flavored Water Dave's Garden article by Melody Rose
Rethink Your Drink
Hydrate Right
How Much Water do Kids Need? 
Make Better Beverage Choices ChooseMyPlate.gov
Photographs and blog post Copyright (C)2012 Wind. All Rights Reserved.