Black Bean Salsa Recipe

I was looking for a healthier alternative for salsa and I came across a simple, yet great recipe to make. I made it tonight and can't wait to share it with everyone tomorrow for Football Sunday! If you are looking for a delicious snack that isn't terrible for you, this is it!

Ingredients:

• 3 (15.5-ounce) cans black beans
• 2 (11-ounce) cans extra sweet white/yellow corn
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 1 medium tomato, diced
• 1 small red onion, diced
• 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup lime juice
• 2 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil
• Cilantro (if desired)

Directions:

Drain and rinse the black beans and corn then put them in a large bowl.  Next, include bell pepper, tomato and onion and any other veggie you prefer in your salsa.

In small bowl, mix together red wine vinegar, lime juice and oil. Pour over the veggies and beans and let sit overnight (or longer). Serve with lime chips. Top with cilantro before serving if desired and serve with lime chips.

 

This is a great recipe that can be served at anytime. This recipe serves many, so it would be perfect to bring to work or a party to share with friends! Like us on Facebook for many more healthy substitutions!

 

 

Spaghetti Squash: A Healthy Alternative to Spaghetti

A friend of mine recently let me in on the secret of spaghetti squash after her grandmother gave her a slew of fresh squash from her garden. She gave me a squash and encouraged me to give it a try (to be honest I thought it would rot along with the bananas I always purchase and never get around to eating.)

I felt a little adventurous tonight and wanted to create a healthier substitution to Spaghetti so I decided to give it a try! I love to make new things, and besides the first time I made deviled eggs (they ended up burnt - don't ask) my new culinary creations somehow turn out pretty great.

So here goes, my new favorite noodle - Spaghetti Squash!

Ingredients

• 1 whole spaghetti squash
• 1 jar of spaghetti sauce 

     Optional:

• 1/4 cup of extra-virgin olive oil
• Salt
• Pepper
• Onions

     Preparation time: 2 Minutes

     Cook Time:

• Microwave: 9 Minutes
• Oven: 30-40 Minutes

Directions:
Cut the Squash in Half

It may be a little hard, but nothing you can't handle!

Scrape Out the Seeds and Guts 

It will be just like gutting your pumpkin at Halloween, just without the fun carvings after. 

Prepare the Squash

Next, you may leave it plain or season it as you wish. I would recommend to simply use olive oil, salt and pepper. There are also two ways you can make it:

• For the Simple: Microwave
• Face the half squash upside-down on a microwave safe plate (ceramic or glass) then heat for 9 minutes. (If your microwave cooks faster than others, it could be useful to check at 6-7 minutes to see if the insides have softened to noodles yet.)

• For the Less-Simple: Oven
• Heat your oven to 450 degrees F. Line oven tray with aluminum foil. Next, place the squash upside down on the baking sheet and once the oven is preheated, bake for 30 to 40 minutes until fully cooked. Remove from oven and let cool until it is ready to handle.

Noodles are Ready!

Once your squash is cool enough, take a spoon or fork and scrape the noodles from the squash onto your plate! 

To complete your Spaghetti Squash, add your choice of cooked spaghetti sauce (I used Prego Italian Sausage and Garlic) then add any extra vegetables you would like (I added fresh onions). 

Finally, your dish is complete. Garnish as you wish, serve and dive in! (Don't forget to pair with a delicious veggie of your choosing.)

The final product in my opinion is delicious, it is definitely not your average noodle. I would highly recommend this dish for an easy home-made dinner. 

For nutrition information, see here:

There are many different easy, healthier alternatives out there for your favorite meals, you just need to look. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest for more great health, nutrition and fitness tips - or even more great recipes!

Feel free to comment below and let me know if you have any questions or comments!

Fun Activities that also Burn Calories in the Winter

For most, fitness and health is something they would like to improve in their life, the problem is that running on a treadmill or doing push-ups feels more like torture than an improvement. When people don't enjoy their workout, there is a very slim chance they will continue participating.

There are many activities that burn calories that you can actually get excited about. From playing an indoor game to enjoying the winter wonderland outside.

Here are some activities that people can enjoy in the winter and burn calories while doing it!

Sledding
Go to a local big hill and grab your sled or toboggan and have a great time with your friends, family or on a fun date night! Going down the hill is so much fun that you will be racing to the top to do it over and over again--and burning loads of calories while doing it.

Skiing or Snowboarding
Hit the slopes and enjoy the outdoors with some skiing or snowboarding. There are many Skiing and Snowboarding resorts that offer day passes including equipment and lessons if you don't want to buy your own equipment. It is a fun activity that helps to improve your balance and agility, why wouldn't you want to give it a try?

 

Ice Skating

Whether you go to an open skate in an indoor hockey rink or explore an ice rink on a frozen lake, ice skating is a fun activity to do by yourself, on a date or with friends and family. If it is your first time or don't own skates, not to worry, most places offer free or low-cost skates right at the rink! Follow this link for great tips on how to teach yourself to ice skate. 

Go to a Sporting Event and Cheer on your Team
You wouldn't think that it would be much of a workout to go to a live sporting event but if you are a true fan, with all of the cheering and yelling, you could actually break a sweat! (Just remember to take it easy on the beer and hot dogs!)

Go Horseback Riding
If you have a friend or acquaintance with horses, or a nearby ranch that gives lessons, give horseback-riding a try! Not only will you learn balance, have fun and work your abs and thighs during a trotting adventure, you will also learn to trust the horse to listen to your cues and rhythm.

Playing A Sport
The outdoors can be a little cold in the winter, warm up with some indoor fun! Whether playing basketball, volleyball or some indoor wall ball, you will be sure to have a great time while breaking a sweat.

Dress up with your Friends for a Night of Dancing
Have a girls or boys night out at a place with a great dance floor. You will be having so much fun, you won't even notice the calories you are burning. (If you decide to wear heels, remember to bring spare flats in your purse for the dance floor-- Your feet will thank you!)

Attend a Fitness Class
Many gyms offer a variety of fitness classes to enjoy. From yoga, water aerobics, boot camp and my personal favorite--Zumba, you will be toning your body and gaining muscle during every class. There are also various different moves for the different experience levels. Just remember, the more you put into it, the more you will get out of it!

There are many different ways to stay fit in the winter and although these are just a few I would encourage you to try them out and see what you like, and maybe what you could do without. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest for more great health, nutrition and fitness tips!

Feel free to comment below and let us know what you think or if you have any other fun activities to burn calories in the winter.

Introduction to Health Infinity

 

One thing I have learned through my life is that health is one of the most important things to me and yet it is also one thing that gets left on the back-burner. I still sometimes find myself chugging a beer on the weekend while stuffing my face with pizza. (Or let's face it, more times than I would like to admit.) I decided to start Health Infinity as a way to motivate myself to get back in shape, renew my health, and ultimately feel great about myself and my body.

As a woman, I am very well aware that the majority of women are very self-conscious about their looks and I am one of those people. Instead of letting it tear me down,  I am going to use it as fuel to encourage me to push myself and reach my fitness goals. One thing I have decided to do is set goals and reward myself once I reach those goals. It is good to discipline yourself but it makes it that much better when you have something to really look forward to and be proud of.

Creating Health Infinity is the first step I chose to improving myself by creating a page to share health, nutrition and fitness tips. This page will be a mixture of things I have learned, my insight and things that have (and haven't) worked for me. I have also been talking to many different people about starting to use and sell products to create a healthier lifestyle. (If you have an opinion on what has worked best for you, please leave your insight below). Once I have finished my research, I will be promoting the product of my choosing through this page.

If you would like to see all of the health, nutrition and fitness tips I have to offer please follow me on:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HealthInfinity1?fref=ts
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/HealthInfinity1    (@HealthInfinity1)
• Instagram: http://instagram.com/healthinfinity1
• Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/healthinfinity1/
• Blogger: http://healthinfinity1.blogspot.com/

Feel free to comment below and let me know of anything you would like to see on my page!