I can remember when I was young, my mother used to chase me around the house with a glass of freshly juiced carrot juice. I would scream bloody murder, scrunch up my face, hold my nose and act like it was the most disgusting thing I had ever tasted in my life. And to me, at that point, it was. Oh, to be a kid again!!

As I get older, I realize the benefits of carrot juice and now I juice for myself, adding a twist to it now and then. A very easy combination that you can try is Carrot Juice and Almond Milk (using unsweetened Almond Milk). This is a great shake that you can use in the morning with your breakfast or in the evening after a long day. It is very easy to prepare and tastes fantastic. The list of benefits includes promoting heart health, improving skin, helping in bone health and development and so much more.

The directions are very easy to follow:

Step One: Wash and clean carrot.

Step Two: Put them through a juicer to extract the juice.

Step Three: Pour Almond Milk into a glass.

Step Four: Add an equal amount of Carrot Juice (this amount can vary depending on your preference).

Step Five: Mix and enjoy.

So, it's summer and the grill has been whipped out. Your freshly squeezed orange juice is waiting on ice, and the kids are enjoying their homemade fruit popsicles. Now time to focus on the meal for your guests. Impress your guests by offering them a healthier alternative to the usual beef burgers. Try the great tasting Portabella mushrooms between your whole wheat burger buns. Compared to beef slabs, Portabella mushrooms are low in sodium and very low in saturated fat and cholesterol.  They are also an excellent source of thiamin, vitamin B6, magnesium, folate, zinc, and manganese. They also provide dietary fiber, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, phosphorus, potassium, copper and selenium. And if you are concerned about protein, these mushrooms provide you with an adequate percentage of that as well, with the benefits of lower calories, without losing the meaty texture of beef. Try spraying the grill with cooking spray and grill the mushroom for 10 minutes on each side. Top it with your favorite burger extras and enjoy. Keep everyone fit and fabulous for summer.

Almonds are a great choice for your mid-morning or afternoon snack. They provide the much needed magnesium that you require daily, plus they are rich in potassium, manganese, copper, vitamin E , selenium, and calcium. And in case you didn't know, a quarter cup of almonds has almost as much calcium as a quarter cup of milk. So go ahead and grab about one handful of almonds, and enjoy them with your favorite fruit, for a smart and healthy addition to your meal plan.