The Snack of the Gods

Oh Greece,  full of beautiful beaches, secluded towns, ancient ruins and......oh wait, the perfect snack. Losing weight it's not easy, especially in a time when Photoshop has increased our adoration for being thin. The trick to keep in shape, however, its not eating less, but eating smart. We all know that eating healthier along with exercise can help us shed pounds, but what exactly should we eat? The key on eating smart is on eating foods that are healthy but will keep us satisfied. Our best friend would be, yep, Greek yogurt. And what's so special about Greek yogurt? Well to start off it contains all the helpful "friendly" bacteria needed to maintain a healthy digestive system, plus it contains (depending on the brand) anywhere from 12-24 grams of protein. Protein is a key factor at keeping the midday hunger at bay. Protein keeps us full longer, which means we would eat less throughout the day without feeling hungry, plus it helps regenerate stronger muscles post-workout. Fage Greek yogurt, (my personal favorite) contains only 130 calories, 0 grams of fat and 18 grams of protein. 18 grams of protein!!! a can of tuna contains about 24 grams, and who are we kidding, no one can possibly enjoy eating a can of tuna a day. With yogurt, however, the possibilities are endless; you can enjoy it honey, in a parfait, in a smoothie, and can even make extra smooth soups with it. Yes, I said soups. Also, Greek yogurt works wonders for hair and skin. You can apply it as a repair mask by combining it with olive oil and leaving it on for about 15 minutes. Or you can buy Korres Yogurt Face Lotion to have a glowy complexion. Whatever you use it for you won't regret it. And last, a quick breakfast recipe for a fast morning:

Fage Total 0% Greek yogurt - http://www.fageusa.com

1 tbs pure honey

1/2 tbs lemon zest

1 cup fresh blueberries

*_* pure bliss.

P.S: To know the grams of protein your body needs, go to http://www.howmuchprotein.com/daily-protein-intake.php

With love,
the Guilt Free Girls 

Guilt Free Girls are here!

Welcome to the Guilt Free Girls blog.  There are four of us that will be keeping you up to date weekly with health concience decisions about your eating habits.  We are all students at Cal State Fullerton and are enrolled in a computer information course together.  This blog is our group project.  My name is Joanna and my group members consist of Amanda, Priscilla and Carla.  We will all be giving you weekly updates on healthy options for cooking whether it be an alternative recipe for our favorite foods, cooking tips or resturants that thrive on using healthy ingredients.  Our goal is give you the tools you need to remain healthy and guilt free with the additive benefit of great taste.  We hope you enjoy our ideas and look forward to bringing you a guilt free lifestyle.
I have recently started a new weight loss program using Visalus.  This product is a soy protein based powder that you incorporate in your meals or shakes in order to give you all the nutrients you need with the incentive to shed some pounds.  I have just begun and am proud to say I am down 5lbs in three days.  Not only am I dropping weight but the shakes taste great and I have more energy than I have had in years.  To learn more or sign up please visit www.joannatuso.bodybyvi.com.  My favorite shake mix is:
Chocolate Banana
2 scoops of soy based glutton free visalus powder mix
1 banana
6-8 large cubes of ice depending on what consistency you prefer
2-3 scoops of cocoa powder
cover ice with original almond milk
blend to your prefered consistency

This is also a great shake without visalus and you can incorporate whey protein powder to give your body an extra jump start.  Enjoy this shake in the morning for a great on the go breakfast or for an afternoon lunch or snack.  Which ever you choose you will feel great and enjoy the taste while remaining guilt free.