GREEN EATS: Ice Cream Alternatives!

When I was a little girl and visited my lovely grandparents, in the evening after dinner one of our favorite pastimes was sitting out on the screened-in porch, listening to the Cardinals baseball game and eating a bowl of cherry vanilla, neopolitan or mint ice cream. Oh how sweet it was! In my life I've been a lover of all types of ice cream treats: from frozen eclairs, to Dairy Queen Blizzards and of course Ben & Jerrys! In the last couple of years, I've tried some of the more lowfat ice cream alternatives and even started making my own fruit smoothies to fulfill my ice cold, sweet treat craving. Here are a few of my "healthier than ice cream" picks for frozen treats! PLEASE NOTE: Some of these treats contain sugar, cane sugar, brown rice syrup or corn syrup for those of you watching your sugar intake.

• Tofutti Cuties - These little individual treats are just like the ice cream sandwiches we had as kids, minus all the chemicals. This product is milk free, no butterfat, lactose free.


• Rice Dream - I enjoy all of the flavors of this treat which comes in 1pint servings or quarts. It has flavorful, natural ingredients and no dairy. Rice Dream is also not "too sweet." If you don't like alot of sugar, this is a good treat for you. My favorite flavors are: carob almond, cookies n' dream and mint chocolate chip.


• Rice Dream Frozen Pie: Hhhhhhm! My favorites: chocolate pie and mocha pie. Absolutely delicious on a hot summer day!


• Haagen Dazs Fat Free Sorbet: One more way to enjoy your favorite fruit flavors. My favorite is mango!


• Natural Choice Organic Frozen Fruit Bars: These wonderful frozen fruit bars come in a variety of flavors. My favorite is strawberry!

Now for my scrumptious and nutritious fruit smoothie:

Measure 2 cups of frozen fruit (pineapple, strawberry, and/or wild berries): Cascadian Farms or Dole brand varieties and place in your blender

Add 1 tablespoon of honey or brown rice syrup or agave to sweeten

Add a dash of nutmeg or cinnamon for a spicy kick

Add powdered vitamin c and/or protein powder

Add 2 1/2 cups of soymilk (plain or vanilla), or rice milk or fruit juice

Now blend all of your ingredients until you have a smooth and creamy consistency. You may have to put your blender on liquefy just to get all of the frozen smooth nice and blended with your sweetner, juice and spice. You can taste it just to see if it's sweet enough for you. This mix makes 2-3 servings depending on the size glass you use. Enjoy!

Yours in a sea of green,

DuEwa Frazier

GREEN EATS: Wanna be more green? Eat your greens!

Greens and other vegetables are filled with nutrients which our bodies just cannot live without. It's amazing how when we are stressed and busy, shuffling from job to home, to class , to job, to pick up kids, etc., some of us actually eat less fresh vegetables and less of a balanced meal period. Well if you are a busy professional, busy mom, busy student...you need more of the good stuff: greens, fresh, whole foods to carry you through your day. So this is the basics of what we were taught as kids. Just to take this advice a "green step" further, how about mixing several kinds of greens in with a salad? How about juicing your greens? How about taking your greens in the form of a "superfood" supplement in tablet form (hey some people would rather take a green pill than cook a pot of greens or make a large raw salad)?

The green issue with veggies and fruits: buy your produce locally, from a farmers market or buy organic produce. Many proponents or natural and organic foods believe organic is better for you and better for the environment. Organic produce is grown without hormones and pesticides and it is not genetically engineered "cloned" food. Others believe as long as the produce is locally grown it is healthier than what you might buy in your grocery store. If you buy organic produce, just know that it is organic because its' been certified as such by the government in regards to how a farmer grows their product. Most of us were not raised on organic produce, but we know that the quality of our food has changed from 10, 20 and 30 years ago. This includes produce. And if you are a parent, you may be more concerned about the produce you buy because you want your children to ingest only the purest, highest grade of food there is. And that is understandable.

More greens, more fruits and other veggies means decreased chance of disease, less stress and more nutrients and energy for your mind and body. Now that's eating green!

Favorite greens: kale, collard, mustard, bok choy, arugula, spinach, broccoli and dandelion. I like to steam my greens and mix them with other ingredients or soak them in a homemade marinade over night with seasonings! You gotta make eating fresh veggies fun for yourself.

Favorite green juice smoothie: Odwalla Superfood! Yum! It has several fruits in it and barley, wheatgrass and spirulina. Don't just take my word for it, try it for yourself!

Yours in a sea of green,

DuEwa Frazier