I originally posted this at my website The Raw & The Cooked. If you are looking for an alternative to the sugary drinks that is delicious without packing on a lot of pounds why not trying something that is naturally sweet and delicious. Even though this smoothie includes greens it’s still sweet. This recipe is easily customizable if you don’t like a particular fruit substitute it with something that you do like.

I’ve finally decided on the direction that I want to take with Weight Loss Diva’s and I’m eager to work on the upcoming features.

Rather than refer people to my website The Raw & The Cooked. That website is strictly about food recipes. The majority are low in calories and they all are healthy, delicious, and fairly simple to make. I’ll also include simple meals that you can make at home. I’ll also include the nutritional information with the recipe because I know some people to maintain their goals do be attentive to them.

Eventually I would like to include a section where people can give testimonials on what has worked for them. If you have any suggestions please feel free to leave them in this post. I have seven websites and at times updating them can be a challenge especially since I only do this as a hobby. It’s something I truly enjoy writing about. I think updating a few times weekly will be the best option.

I’m currently working on an article that looks at natural suppressants for weight loss. In my brief article Does Apple Cider Vinegar Help You Lose Weight I wrote about one product that people have used in their goals to reduce their weight. It’s important to note that this is only part of it to effectively lose weight naturally you need to be proactive and focus on what you are eating. Start reading those labels.

If you haven’t already thought of ways you can introduce simple, low calorie meals into your daily regime now is the time to do so. If you are a child that is looking for ways to lose weight you might have to talk with your parent or guardian and ask for assistance in helping you reach your goal, especially if they are cooking the meals. If your beating yourself up because of the food choices you have made try not to do that. It can be hard. Take baby steps.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynXGA6fCEgU

I thought I would include this video. I stumbled upon it last year a few months after I switched to an all raw diet. Although the reasons I switched to raw foods was not for weight loss I noticed improvements. I was mildly surprised since I’m already very healthy.

My former co-worker lost 80 pounds in about six months by mainly eating an all raw diet. I included a simple meal plan that she found effective she was able to eat a lot of food because fruits and vegetables are naturally lower in calories. She was ecstatic.

I gave her my copy of Alissa’s Cohen’s book Living On Live Food and purchased another. I’ve never struggled with my weight loss but I found the book to be inspiring.

It’s 574 pages and loaded with simple recipes along with numerous testimonials from people who have converted to eating all raw or a high amount of raw foods.

Many of the testimonials came from people who wanted to lose weight, not only did they lose weight but they also experienced noticeable health improvements.

I liked the book so much that I went on and purchased the Living On Live Foods DVD. There are two. On these DVD’s she shows two women how simple it is to make some of the meals. The ladies were amazed at how simple and delicious these raw food meals were.

The problem I faced on an all raw food diet was weight loss, lol. This was something I did not want to do however when I started adding more fats to my meals such as avocados, nuts, and seeds, and included more fruit smoothies into my daily routine. The weight returned.

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Raw Zucchini Pasta

I have a friend that loves pasta but has always been concerned with the amount that she eats since she knows she’s putting on unnecessary pounds. I suggested that she should make raw veggie pasta.

She would still get her noodles, but they would be low carb since the noodles are made out of vegetables. The above pictures is zucchini pasta. How was it made?

Plastic Spiral Vegetable Slicer

I use the plastic spiral vegetable slicer that I’ve listed above to make my noodles. My daughter calls it “the winder”

Creating noodles with the spiral slicer is simple, and it’s a much healthier alternative to traditional pasta. My friend and former co-worker lost 80 pounds in I believe 6 months. She lost the weight by sticking to mainly an all raw vegan diet. It was quite a change for her since she wasn’t even vegetarian.

The meals that I assisted her in preparing were simple on tastes but flavorful and they were packed with nutrition. Her first meal of the day was a smoothie. This simple meal was one of her favorites. I shared the simple recipe with her and I’m passing it along to my readers.

Raw Zucchini Pasta

1 Medium Zucchini
1 Medium onion thinly sliced
2 cups of pasta sauce

Directions

1. Using your plastic spiral vegetable slicer “spiralize” your zucchini
2. Place in a large bowl adding the thinly sliced onion
3. Cover with pasta sauce
4. Enjoy!

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She said it was cleansing. I tried it forget about cleansing that stuff was hard for me to drink!

A few years ago I started looking for natural ways to cleanse and low and behold I stumbled upon Apple Cider Vinegar. It seems that Apple Cider Vinegar not only works as a natural laxative it also is considered to be a *natural fat burner*.

What to Buy

You should purchase *organic apple cider vinegar*. You want the vinegar that has the mother (enzymes) floating around. You will know that the product has the mother if you see something resembling stringy globs floating inside the bottle. It’s a good thing.

If your not keen on drinking the apple cider vinegar you can purchase the apple cider vinegar capsules.

How It Works

Apple Cider Vinegar helps detoxify the liver which plays an important role in weight loss. I have heard that it aids in speeding up metabolism and I’ve read that it helps burn the calories.

I take apple cider vinegar daily. I add two teaspoons to a cup of water. I sip it slowly. If it too acidic you can add a natural sweetener, like honey or agave nectar to the mix) I’m at my ideal weight it does seem to curb my appetite and it also helps keep me regular. I think of it as my *natural laxative*.

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Alright so we know that choosing salads can be a healthy way to shed those pounds while loading your body with vital vitamins and minerals. Unfortunately you can have some salads aren’t healthy based on the amount of fat and sodium they can contain.

How Can I Make A Healthy Salad?

Make sure you add plenty of vegetables and fruits in your salads. some examples are spinach, carrots, cucumbers, grated carrots, onions, dandelion greens, apples, oranges, and cranberries. Not only is the salad colorful but it’s also packed with vitamins, fiber, and other minerals

Spice it Up

I usually eat salads daily there was when I didn’t like them at all. I add whatever fruit or vegetable I’m craving. Today I’ve been craving greens in a major way so I’ll be adding later this week I’ll ease up on the greens and toss apples, grated carrots, raisins, and walnuts into the blend. I add vegetables and fruit that I’m interested in so it never gets boring.

If you’re looking to lose weight or simply improve your healthy don’t forget to add salad to your menu. Eating a healthy salad is an excellent way to keep the calories down and shed those unwanted pounds.

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Healthy salads are filling, naturally low in fat and calories. If your looking for healthy meals that will help you with weight loss or your just looking for healthier food choices make a salad.

A healthy salad is loaded with nutrient dense foods that are good for your health. If you’re not doing so already kick it up a notch and start adding more greens to your salads. You will receive a boost on your fiber intake (think of it as your natural laxative) and it also gives you a healthier option than the meals that many of us are guilty of eating.

Hidden Calories In Salad Dressings

Be aware of what you are putting on your salads. Read the labels! Many are high in fat and sodium. Choose a healthy salad dressing. I’m sure you’ve seen the enticing commercials for salad dressings. Make sure you read the labels many are high in fat & sodium content which isn’t good for you it sort of defeats eating a low calorie meal.

Next Article: What’s Makes A Salad Healthy?

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Increasing the intake of vegetables in our diet can help with a variety of medical conditions such as bowel disease, heart diseases, and some cancers.

We’re Not Listening
Evidence shows however, that many of us are not listening to this healthy eating advice. Recent research shows that only 1 in 7 of us achieve the 5 a day quota. Many of us aren’t listening to this advice.

There has been research that has shown that only one in seven are getting five servings of vegetables and fruit daily. It can be hard to make changes in your dietary eating habits. I always recommend making changes slowly.

Why Aren’t You Eating Five A Day

1. It’s too expensive

There are numerous healthier and in many cases cheaper choices that you can make and still add high quality nutrient dense foods into your diet.

2. Lack of Time

This is something that many of us struggle with. We want to make a change with our eating habits but finding the time can be challenging. I prepare meals in advance and I’m a big fan of fruit and vegetable smoothies. That is my favorite way to incorporate 5 A Day into my dietary intake.

I dislike vegetables and fruit!

If you often don’t eat them, the tastes and textures might seem strange to you. I suggest, adding them with dishes that you do enjoy, try a different fruit and vegetables, adding them to smoothies.

Ways To Get Five A Day

1. Salads

Adding a healthy salad to your diet is a smart way to make sure you are eating a nutritionally based meal along with increasing your dietary intake of vegetables and fruit.

2. Smoothies

Invest in a blender and make delicious fruit and vegetable smoothies.

3. Add To Meals That You Enjoy

You can add them to stir fries, soups, baked dishes, ets.,

4. Fruit Puddings

You can puree fruit in a food processor to make fruit puddings.

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