Your kids (and you) will love these cool summer treats, with no added sugar!

It’s so easy, even Dean can do it! :)

As a light and refreshing dessert or a summertime snack for the kids, this easy to make, delicious and nutritious recipe is sure to please!

Here’s two quick and easy stir fry recipes, one chicken, one beef, to add healthy vegetables and lean protein to your meal plan. Oh so good!

Ingredients
8 tablespoons peanut oil
3 pounds boneless pork loin, cut into 2-inch cubes
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 onion, cut into 1-inch dice
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 red bell peppers, seeded and cut into 1-inch dice
3 jalapeno peppers, seeded and minced
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 tablespoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
3 (15-ounce) cans diced tomatoes, with juice
2 Tablespoons agave syrup
1/2 cup prepared black coffee
2 (15-ounce) cans black beans, drained
2 (15-ounce) cans kidney beans, drained
1 small chopped jalapeno, for garnish

Directions
Pour 4 tablespoons of the oil into a large, heavy bottomed stockpot and place over high heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Season the pork with a dash of salt and pepper and brown it in batches, 3 to 5 minutes per batch. Set aside the browned pork.

Pour the remaining oil into the pot and add the onion, garlic, bell pepper and jalapenos. Season the veggies with the brown sugar, chili powder, cumin, cayenne, salt, pepper and cilantro. Sweat the vegetable mixture over medium heat for 10 minutes, until the onion is soft. Add the pork back to the pot along with the tomatoes, agave, and coffee. Add the beans, stir well, bring up to a simmer and then lower the heat to the lowest setting.

Let simmer 2 to 3 hours, until the pork is juicy and buttery soft.

This is the best chili ever! You can adjust the spiciness of the chili with the amount and type of pepper you use. I make two batches, one for the kids, and one for Dean and I to enjoy.

This is a super quick and super delicious recipe that you are not going to want to miss. Keep those potatoes buried in the backyard and whip up a batch of this healthy and delicious side dish. Cashews and coconut milk make it hard to beat!

During my recent trip to Louisville, I had the opportunity to hear Dr. Chris Mohr give us a presentation on nutrition for kids. He and his wife, Dr. Kara Mohr run a successful fitness bootcamp program in the Louisville area, and Chris has a real knack for making nutrition “easy”.

“Is Your Kitchen Making You Fat?” is the title of the Mohrs new DVD, and I wanted to share a brief excerpt with you. Let me know what you think!

We had a blast on Friday playing the “Memory Game” with all our classes.

Nancy shot some video of the 9:00am Ladies class.

Great job ladies!

I wanted to share an interview I did with your doctor. It actually explains a lot! Very insightful, and loaded with advice!

But first, take a look at what Lisa has to say about our 6 Pack 6 transformation contest and the difference it’s making in her life.

Lisa has done an outstanding job and is working hard to look even more fabulous for her upcoming wedding!

Frankly, I am sick of giving her the majority of the prizes – so get after it!

Thank-you Lisa – Great stuff!

***

Ok, now on to the interview, you might want to print out this page for future reference.

Q:  Doctor, I’ve heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life; is this true?
A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that’s it… don’t waste them on exercise. Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up your heart will not make you live longer; that’s like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving it faster. Want to live longer? Take a  nap.

Q:  Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?
A:  You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does a cow eat? Hay and corn.  And what are these? Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system. Need grain? Eat chicken. Beef is also a good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable). And a pork chop can give you 100% of your recommended daily allowance of vegetable products.

Q:  Should I reduce my alcohol intake?
A:  No, not at all. Wine is made from fruit. Brandy  is distilled wine, that means they take the water out of the fruity bit so you get even more of the goodness that way.  Beer is also made out of grain.  Bottoms up!

Q:  How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?
A:  Well, if you have a body and you have fat, your ratio is one to one. If you have two bodies, your ratio is two to one, etc.

Q:  What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?
A:  Can’t think of a single one, sorry. My philosophy is:  No Pain…Good!

Q:  Aren’t fried foods bad for you?
A:  YOU’RE NOT LISTENING!!! ….  Foods are fried these days in vegetable oil. In fact, they’re permeated in it. How could getting more vegetables be bad for you?

Q:  Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?
A:  Definitely not! When you exercise a muscle, it gets bigger. You should only be doing sit-ups if you want a bigger stomach.

Q:   Is chocolate bad for me?
A:   Are you crazy? HELLO – Cocoa beans! Another vegetable!!! It’s the best feel-good food around!

Q:  Is swimming good for your figure?
A:  If swimming is good for your figure, explain whales to me.

Q:   Is getting in-shape important for my lifestyle?
A:   Hey!  ‘Round’ is a shape!

Well, I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets.

AND…..

For those of you who watch what you eat, here’s the final word on nutrition and health. It’s a relief to know the truth after all those conflicting nutritional studies.

1. The Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

2. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

3. The Chinese drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

4. The Italians drink a lot of red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans..

5. The Germans drink a lot of beers and eat lots of sausages and fats and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

CONCLUSION

Eat and drink what you like.  Speaking English is apparently what kills you.

Well there you go – I didn’t say it was good advice!

Laugh a little; no actually laugh a lot – it’s great for you!

Now Make It Happen!

Dean