Tropical Smoothie

Tropical Smoothie

Prep time: 5 minutes
Yield: 5 servings
Serving Size 1 cup 

Ingredients

1 cup non-fat or 1% milk
2 cups pineapple chunks (fresh, frozen or canned and drained)
1 banana
1 cup cold water

Directions

1. Put all ingredients in a blender. Put lid on tightly.
2. Blend until smooth.
3. Pour into cups or glasses. Serve chilled.
4. Refrigerate or freeze extra portions for a fast, healthy snack.

Notes

• For a thicker smoothie, use frozen fruit instead of fresh fruit.

Strawberry Swirl

Strawberry Swirl

Prep time: 5 minutes
Yield: 2 servings
Serving Size 1 cup

Ingredients

1 cup frozen strawberries, thawed
1 cup (8 ounces) apple juice

Directions

1. Combine ingredients in blender and process until smooth.
2. Serve, or freeze for 1 to 2 hours to make a slushy.
3. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.

Notes

• If you don’t have a blender, mash strawberries with a fork. Add juice and beat with an egg beater until fairly smooth.

Rice Bowl Breakfast with Fruit and Nuts

Rice Bowl Breakfast with Fruit and Nuts

Prep time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 5 minutes
Yield: 2 servings
Serving Size 1 cup

Ingredients

1 cup cooked brown rice
1⁄2 cup nonfat or 1% milk
1⁄2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup chopped fruit (try a mixture - apples, bananas, raisins, berries, peaches)
2 Tablespoons chopped nuts (try unsalted walnuts or almonds)

Directions

1. Combine cooked rice, milk and cinnamon in a microwave safe bowl.  Microwave on HIGH for 45 seconds. Stir and heat for another 45-60 seconds, or until rice mixture is heated through.
2. Divide rice mixture between two bowls. Top with fruit and nuts. Serve warm.
3. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.

Notes

• Use a combination of fresh, canned, frozen and dried fruit in this recipe.
• You can use any leftover cooked grain in this recipe. Try white or wild rice, quinoa, barley or oatmeal.

Razzleberry Shiver

Razzleberry Shiver

Prep time: 5 minutes
Yield: 4 servings
Serving Size 1/2 cup
Chill Time: 2 hours

Ingredients

1 cup raspberries
2 bananas
1⁄2 cup plain, low-fat yogurt
1⁄4 cup nonfat or 1% milk
1 teaspoon Sugar

Directions

1. Put all ingredients into a blender. Blend until smooth.
2. Divide the mixture among four small bowls.
3. Freeze for about 2 hours. Enjoy as you would ice cream!
4. Refrigerate or freeze leftovers within 2 hours.

Notes

• No blender?  Mash fruit well with a fork.
• Make popsicles!  Spoon mixture into small paper cups or popsicle forms.  Add a smooth wooden craft stick.  Freeze until very firm so the sticks don't pull out.

Popeye Power Smoothie

Popeye Power Smoothie

Prep time: 10 minutes
Yield: 4 servings
Serving Size 1 cup

Ingredients

1 cup orange juice (juice from 2 oranges)
1⁄2 cup pineapple juice
1⁄2 cup low-fat plain or vanilla yogurt
1 banana, peeled and sliced
2 cups fresh spinach leaves
crushed ice

Directions

1. Combine all ingredients in a blender.
2. Puree until completely smooth.
3. Serve immediately.
4. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.

Notes

• For a thicker smoothie, use frozen fruit instead of fresh fruit.

Peanut Butter Cereal Bars

Peanut Butter Cereal Bars

Prep time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 5 minutes
Yield: 16 servings
Serving Size 2 x 2 inch bar

Ingredients

1⁄2 cup honey
1 cup peanut butter
2 cups rice cereal
2 cups quick oats
1 cup raisins, or other dried fruit

Directions

1. In a saucepan bring honey to a boil.
2. Reduce heat to low and stir in peanut butter.
3. Add dry cereal, oats and raisins; mix well. Remove from heat
4. Lightly spray or oil an 8 inch square baking pan with cooking spray. Press into prepared 8-inch pan. When cool, cut into 16 bars.
5. Store in an airtight container for up to a week.

Notes

• Try this recipe with 4 cups of unsweetened cereal flakes instead of the rice cereal and oats.
• Honey is not recommended for children under 1 year old.
• To avoid peanuts or peanut butter, try sunflower seeds or sunflower seed butter.

Peach and Carrot Smoothie

Peach and Carrot Smoothie

Prep time: 5 minutes
Yield: 3 servings
Serving Size 1 cup

Ingredients

1 medium banana, peeled fresh or frozen
1 cup frozen carrots
1 can (15 ounce) peaches, undrained

Directions

1. Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor including the juice or syrup from the canned peaches.
2. Blend until smooth.
3. Serve immediately.
4. Refrigerate or freeze leftovers within 2 hours.

Notes

• Juice or syrup can be replaced with ¾ cup water and sweetener of your choice.
• Canned carrots work too! Drain them before adding.
• Try using fresh carrots but cook them first.

Not Your Everyday Apples

Not Your Everyday Apples

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 20 minutes
Yield: 4 servings
Serving Size 3/4 cup

Ingredients

3 medium apples
1⁄2 cup raisins
2 teaspoons soft butter or margarine
2 teaspoons brown sugar
1⁄4 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Wash the apples and chop into small pieces.
3. Mix apples with raisins, butter or margarine, sugar and cinnamon.
4. Place the mixture in a baking dish and cover loosely with foil. Bake for about 20 minutes.
5. Cool slightly and enjoy!
6. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.

Notes

• Try serving this recipe with vanilla yogurt!

Microwave Applesauce

Microwave Applesauce

Prep time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 10 minutes
Yield: 7 servings
Serving Size 1/2 cup

Ingredients

6 apples, peeled, cored and quartered
1⁄4 cup water
1⁄3 cup sugar
1⁄4 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions

1. Place apples and water in a 2 quart microwave safe dish.
2. Cover apples with microwave-safe cover or plastic wrap and cook on high for 6 to 8 minutes or until apples are easily pierced with a fork.
3. Add sugar and cinnamon.
4. Use a potato masher or fork to make smooth or chunky applesauce.
5. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.

Notes

• Frozen apple slices work great in this recipe.

Melon and Mint

Melon and Mint

Prep time: 15 minutes
Yield: 8 servings
Serving Size 3/4 cup

Ingredients

1 Tablespoon lime juice
1⁄4 cup fresh mint leaves
2 Tablespoons brown sugar
3 cups watermelon cubes
3 cups honeydew cubes

Directions

1. Blend lime juice, mint leaves and brown sugar together in a small food processor.
2. Place melon cubes in a bowl. Drizzle dressing over melon and toss gently.
3. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.

Melon Cooler

Melon Cooler

Prep time: 10 minutes
Yield: 3 servings
Serving Size 1 cup

Ingredients

2 cups cubed cantaloupe
1 cup low-fat lemon yogurt
1 cup orange juice

Directions

1. Blend all ingredients until smooth.
2. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.

Notes

• This drink tastes best chilled.
• Try substituting honeydew or watermelon for cantaloupe.
• For a flavor booster, try lemon juice or frozen berries.

Fruit Smoothie 2 (with milk)

Fruit Smoothie 2 (with milk)

Prep time: 5 minutes
Yield: 6 servings
Serving Size 1 cup

Ingredients

3 cups non-fat or 1% milk
3 cups fruit, sliced

Directions

1. Combine milk and fruit in a blender and put lid on tightly.
2. Blend until smooth. Serve immediately.
3. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.

Notes

• Use fresh, frozen, or canned fruit.
• Fresh fruits ideas: banana, mango, papaya or strawberry.

Frozen Fruit Yogurt

Frozen Fruit Yogurt

Prep time: 5 minutes
Yield: 7 servings
Serving Size 1/2 cup

Ingredients

4 cups frozen fruit (try your favorite or a mix - peaches, berries, pineapple)
1 cup nonfat plain yogurt
3 Tablespoons sugar

Directions

1. Combine frozen fruit, yogurt and sugar in a blender or food processor. Blend until creamy, about 2 to 4 minutes.
2. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 1 month.
3. Freeze or refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.

Notes

• To use canned fruit, drain, chop and freeze until firm before blending.
• If leftovers are stored in the freezer, the mixture will be very firm. Scrape into serving bowls with a spoon or freeze the leftovers in frozen treat molds.

Creamy Fruit Salad

Creamy Fruit Salad

Yield: 8 servings
Serving Size 1/2 cup

Ingredients

1 cup pineapple chunks
1 large apple, chopped
1 banana, sliced
1 orange, chopped
3⁄4 cup low-fat piña colada yogurt

Directions

1. Put pineapple chunks in a medium mixing bowl.
2. Prepare apples, banana and orange as directed and add to bowl.
3. Add yogurt to bowl and mix gently with a spoon until fruit is well coated.
4. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.

Notes

• For a different taste, try adding different fruits like grapes, blueberries, huckleberries or peach slices.
• Try other flavors of low-fat yogurt.

Cherry Salad

Cherry Salad

Prep time: 15 minutes
Yield: 4 servings
Serving Size 3/4 cup

Ingredients

1⁄2 cup sweet cherries
1 cup cantaloupe cubed
1 cup green grapes, cut in half
1 medium banana, peeled and sliced
1⁄4 cup orange juice (juice from 1/2 orange)
1⁄4 cup flaked coconut (optional)

Directions

1. Wash all fruit before cutting.
2. Pit cherries by slicing them in half and removing the pit.
3. Mix the cut fruit together in a bowl.
4. Pour orange juice over fruit and stir in coconut if desired.
5. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.

Breakfast Pumpkin Cookies

Breakfast Pumpkin Cookies

Prep time: 20 minutes
Cooking time: 10 minutes
Yield: 24 servings
Serving Size 2 cookies

Ingredients

1 3⁄4 cups cooked, pureed pumpkin (15 ounce can)
1 1⁄2 cups brown sugar
2 eggs
1⁄2 cup oil
1 1⁄2 cups flour
1 1⁄4 cups whole wheat flour
1 Tablespoon baking powder
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1⁄2 teaspoon salt
1⁄4 teaspoon ground ginger
1 cup raisins
1 cup walnuts or hazelnuts, chopped

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Mix pumpkin, brown sugar, eggs, and oil thoroughly.
3. Blend dry ingredients and add to pumpkin mixture.
4. Add raisins and nuts.
5. Drop by teaspoonfuls on greased baking sheet, 1 inch apart.
6. Gently flatten each cookie (use a spoon, bottom of glass, or palm of your hand).
7. Bake 10-12 minutes until golden brown.

Blueberry Tofu Smoothie

Blueberry Tofu Smoothie

Prep time: 5 minutes
Yield: 4 servings
Serving Size 1 cup

Ingredients
3⁄4 cup frozen blueberries
1 ripe banana
1 cup vanilla soy milk
3 ounces silken tofu
1⁄2 cup orange juice (juice from 1 orange)
1 teaspoon lime juice

Directions

1. Combine all ingredients in a blender.
2. Puree until completely smooth.
3. Serve immediately.
4. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.

Notes

• Add 2-3 more teaspoons of lime juice for more tartness.
• Freeze extra lime juice to use later.

Bell Pepper Smoothie

Bell Pepper Smoothie

Prep time: 5 minutes
Yield: 4 servings
Serving Size 1 cup
 

Ingredients
1 medium banana, peeled fresh or frozen
1 can (8 ounces) pineapple, drained
1⁄2 cup red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
2 cups frozen mixed berries
1 cup water

Directions

1. Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor.
2. Blend until smooth.
3. Serve Immediately.
4. Refrigerate or freeze leftovers within 2 hours.

Notes

• For a sweeter smoothie reserve and add juice from the canned pineapple. Use less water if adding juice.
• Use any combination of berries.

Banana Boats

Banana Boats

Prep time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 5 minutes
Yield: 1 servings
Serving Size 1 banana
 

Ingredients
1 banana with peel
1 Tablespoon crushed pineapple
1 Tablespoon coconut flakes

Directions

1. Leave the peel on the banana and make a deep cut down the long side through the peel and into the banana. Do not cut all the way through.
2. Slightly pull the cut apart to make a pocket in the banana.
3. Fill the pocket with crushed pineapple and top with coconut flakes.
4. Wrap the banana in foil. Place on a grill or near the coals of a campfire
5. Heat until warm, about 5 minutes at medium high heat.
6. Carefully remove the foil packet from the heat. Let cool slightly and remove foil. The peel may be black but the inside will be warm and delicious.
7. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.

Notes

• Not grilling?  Bake the foil packets in the oven at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes.
• Try other fillings – peanut butter, chopped nuts, other fruit, a drizzle of honey or a sprinkle of cinnamon.
• Honey is not recommended for children under 1 year old.

Banana Berry Smoothie

Banana Berry Smoothie

Prep time: 5 minutes
Yield: 4 servings
Serving Size 1 cup

Ingredients
1 cup sliced banana
1 cup unsweetened frozen berries
1 cup non-fat or 1% milk
1 cup orange juice (juice from 2 oranges)

Directions

1. Place all ingredients in a blender. Put the lid on tightly.
2. Blend until smooth. If too thick, add 1/2 cup cold water and blend again.
3. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.

Notes

• Try using strawberries, blueberries, and/or blackberries.