Project Audeo: Kirstin (krys) Douglas

Survive the Holidays

Survival Tip #1: Party Smart

Don’t go to a party starving. Have a pre-party snack. Try a small bag of nuts and low-fat string cheese to load up on protein so you don’t overindulge at the big event.

Avoid the food pile-up at the holiday buffet. Choose the smallest plate, do not stack your food, and make sure there is space between each food item. You must be able to see everything on your plate clearly.

Skip the eggnog – it can be up to 450 calories a glass. Try these 100-calorie cocktails instead: 1 vodka on the rocks, 1 glass of wine, or 2 wine spritzers.

If you need to bring dessert to a party, buy something on the way to the event. Don’t bake it ahead of time, as this can lead to snacking.

Choose only 1 dessert. Take it all in visually and make your best choice. One dessert is fine – all of the desserts and you’re facing a dieting disaster.

Do your holiday shopping after eating a full breakfast, lunch or dinner. You’ll be less tempted to grab something convenient and unhealthy in the food court. If you must eat at the mall, share 1 slice of pizza and a side salad with a friend.

Pack snacks like a dried fruit and nut trail mix, and dark chocolate to hold you over until you can get back to a source of healthy food.

Don’t wait until New Year’s Day to weigh yourself. Keep track of everything you eat and what you weigh throughout the holiday season to keep yourself accountable to the promise you made to follow the Just 10 Challenge.

Smoothies are a wonderful way to sneak nutrients into a diet, and you can make endless variations. My trick is, don’t use ice — use frozen fruit instead! In one fell swoop, you get the fruit and the ice and so much more flavor. Plus, frozen fruit often tastes better than fresh because they are picked at their ripest and sweetest, and they require no cleaning or rinsing. Bananas got too ripe? Just stick them in the freezer, the riper the better, and when you need them, run them under warm water—the peels will come right off.

Make a large smoothie batch and save the rest for later in the blender. If the mixture separates, give the blender a few turns again. If you’re thinking of offering grownup brunch drinks, simply add half a cup of vodka to the mix!

Berry Smoothies

Makes 5 cups

1 cup cranberry or pomegranate juice
1 cup silken tofu, soy or other non-dairy milk, such as almond, rice, coconut or hemp 
2 cups frozen berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, alone or in any combination)
2 tablespoons honey, maple syrup, or cranberry or pomegranate concentrate (health food stores), only if you like it sweeter

Mix all ingredients in the blender a full minute at high speed until smooth and frothy.

Green Smoothie

Try your best to stick some of the fruit in the freezer for an hour before blending. No need to have all of these fruits on hand; even a combination of two in larger amounts will be delicious in this green power house.

Makes 5 cups

1 cup green grapes
1 large pear or green apple, unpeeled, cut in chunks
3 ripe kiwis, peeled
1 cup chunks honeydew melon
1 cup white grape juice or natural apple cider
A few leaves fresh mint, if you have them on hand 

Mix all ingredients in the blender a full minute at high speed until smooth and frothy.

Chocolate Almond Date Smoothie

Consider this a whole meal. Nutritious and fabulous! This is the only smoothie I use ice with, to chill the heated mixture.

Makes 5 cups

1/2 cup whole almonds
1 cup pitted dates, packed
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1 cup boiling water
1 cup silken tofu, soy or any other non-dairy milk (almond, rice, coconut, hemp)
A dozen ice cubes

Place the almonds, dates, cocoa, and water in the blender. Cover and let the mixture rest, unblended, 5 to 10 minutes. Add the tofu or non-dairy milk and ice and blend a full minute at high speed until thick and frothy.

Tropical Smoothie

If you decide to get a little naughtier with this smoothie, add 1/2 cup dark rum. You know how the saying goes: If you can’t go to the tropics…

Makes about 6 cups

2 cups canned unsweetened pineapple chunks, juice and all
1 cup coconut milk
3 cups cubed mango, papaya, or peaches: try your best for frozen
1 banana: try your best for frozen

Mix all ingredients in the blender a full minute at high speed until smooth and frothy.

Beet Smoothie

Here is your chance to eat your beets! Who knew they were so delicious? I did; we grew up eating them every day. In America, they are sometimes treated like a poor stepchild of the vegetable family. I think it is time to adopt them wholeheartedly. They are so good for you.

Makes 1 serving

1 small can beets, juice and all
1 cup tofu or unflavored non-dairy yogurt

Mix all ingredients in the blender a full minute at high speed until smooth and frothy.

All Recipes Provided By: Levana Kirschenbaum