Makeover Momma

     This original Makeover Momma™ recipe for personal pizza* uses healthy pureed vegetables, hummus and simple frozen crust to create a protein and nutrient rich mini meal. It only takes 15 minutes to assemble and cook, all the while using whatever left-over ingredients you have. Vegetables from last nights salad, pasta sauce from last weekend’s crock-pot meal…whatever you want to add! It also makes a perfect meal or snack to share with your kids!

Prep Time: 4-5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

• Frozen pre-made gluten-free pizza crust-Glutino brand Premium personal pizza crusts
• 4 tablespoons of (left-over) pasta sauce-Newman’s Own pasta sauce, or pre-made mix from Classic Cheesy Pizza recipe
• ¼ cup of pureed vegetables: peas, small amount of onion, and small amount of spinach
• 3 tablespoons of gluten-free natural hummus-Atheno’s brand Original hummus
• 1/3 of left-over whole tomato, or chopped tomato pieces (optional)

Instructions:

          This recipe facilitates all of your left-over or unused vegetables and sauces, and combines them into a fun mini meal. Before assembling the pizza, make sure to combine 1 cup of sweet peas, 1/3 cup of chopped onion, and 2 tablespoons of spinach into a blender, and puree until a fine paste (resembling the texture of pesto).

 Preheat the oven to 400 degrees, and place the un-covered frozen pizza crust on a flat pan or surface. Spoon ¼ cup of the pureed green vegetables onto the pizza, and 3 tablespoons of hummus spreading evenly over the surface. Spoon 3-4 tablespoons (as much as needed) of gluten-free pizza or pasta sauce over top, and cover with chopped tomatoes if desired. Cook for 10 minutes, and get ready to eat!

Serves 1.

*All meal suggestions at Makeover Momma™ will include allergen information and suggestions for children with allergies, celiac disease, or additional health concerns. The above recipe is GLUTEN FREE and DAIRY FREE!

                                                                                             Get fit with your toddler outside like busy mother Jennifer Garner.

            It can seem nearly impossible to get fit when your hands are full with an infant, toddler, or tween…but fear no more! Our monthly Fit With Family suggestion will have you feeling slim while you play and interact with your little ones.

• Baby Groove Game – Bond with your baby (and tone your own body) by trying this dancing challenge, which helps your little one learn about music and tempo, while you get fit. Hold baby in your arms for added weight, and put the radio on shuffle or “scan”. Practice dancing or rocking deeply (using your legs) to slow music, bouncing gently around the house for more up-tempo, or full on shaking it to fast songs. Use your entire body (and carry the weight of your baby) and you will be sweating in no time while your baby learns!

• Toddler Animal Game – Help your little ones learn (and stay healthy) by creating your own “Act an Animal” game at home. Practice taking turns choosing an animal (or pulling the name from a hat or picking from a book), and then actively act out the creature. Jump all over the living room like a bunny, crouch and leap as a frog, or run extremely fast through your yard as a cheetah. Get creative, and just get moving!

• Teenage Nature Knowledge Game – As the weather gets warmer, try taking your tween or teen outside for a walking game. As you stroll your neighborhood or park, pre-assign a certain speed to a certain animal. A flying bird is a slow stroll, a bird making a loud noise is a fast walk, a dog that is barking is a light jog, a squirrel or chipmunk is a fast run, and an unexpected animal is a quick break. Every time your teen spots one of the animals, you can change the pace of your walk accordingly. This will keep you moving, engaged, and learning about nature just by hitting the pavement!

·          *Have new ideas, comments or suggestions? Pitch an idea, share a tip or simply discuss by leaving word below!

New Momma Mayhem: A beautiful blush is typically thought to be a good thing… but many new mothers find themselves with red, aggravated skin due in part to a killer combo of hormones, broken blood vessels, long hours and sensitive skin. Try creating a simple skin care regimen that helps soothe and heal if you’re short on time:

THE FIX:

· Start Protecting – After gently cleansing skin with a calming cleanser, smooth a soothing moisturizer over inflamed skin that includes SPF. Sun can aggravate angry post-partum complexion, so protection is key.

We Recommend: Purpose Redness Reducing SPF 30 Moisturizer, which won’t clog pores, is hypoallergenic and spreads on quickly with just a few pumps.

• Balance Blush- After your skin is cleansed and hydrated, try using a green-toned cream or concealer to counteract and reduce redness (great for spot treating certain areas!)

We Recommend: Eucerin Redness Relief Redness Reducing Concealer – is a miracle pen filled with green cream that can be used over or under makeup and fits easily into any purse. Best of all? It makes a fantastic pimple cover-up too!

* All product suggestions at Makeover Momma™ can be purchased at your local Wal-Mart, Target, similar drugstore, or online at www.drugstore.com.

                Although new mother Jennifer Lopez may seem more like Jenny-with-a-crib than “Jenny from the Block” these days… her fashion sense is sharper then ever. Jennifer looked stunning recently in a professional and classic ensemble, despite a hectic lifestyle as mom to twins Max and Emme. Pairing a longer top with flattering (not too tight) jeans creates a lean shape, while the cropped pea coat helps conceal any post-baby padding.

Get The Look: Achieve Jennifer’s classic style with a summer spin and fraction of the cost…

Jacket: This Rampage Canvas Swing Jacket is just as cute, cropped, and flattering as J.Lo’s but with a summer friendly vibe.

Jeans:  Achieve the same relaxed feel with slimming, curve-friendly jeans that don’t show too much…Try Woman’s Classic Rise Bootcut from Old Navy in “The Sweetheart” Curvy fit.

Long Top: The Twelve By Twelve Luxe Waffle Knit Top comes in a soft cream color and is extra long and lean for a slimming look.

Have a celeb momma fashion that you love, and want to know how to get it on a budget? Let us know, and we will help!

The Diet:  NutriSystem Diet Delivery.

            How many newbie mommas have heard celebrity mothers attribute sudden weight loss to their meal delivery program? Whether Tori Spelling (avid fan of Nutrisystem) or even Denise Richards- the majority of famous mommas seem to shed pounds quickly and easily with pre-delivered and prepared meals.

The Pros= Nutrisystem is good for mothers who need to lose a large amount of weight or simply don’t have time to weigh, prepare and plan their meals. Meal delivery programs like Nutrisystem truly take the guess work out of portions, calories and cooking…they even take grocery shopping out of the equation.

The Cons=  Nutrisysteme dso not teach you the very basics of healthy eating (which is neccessary for long-term weight loss or maintanence.) If users do not learn proper portion or daily calories from their plan, than they will gain all of the weight back. In addition, Nutrisystem comes with a high price tag for your average mothers (ie. Makeover Mommas), so unless you are a celebrity spokesperson and receive your meals for free… many of us simply cannot afford home delivered meals.

Is It Motherhood Friendly? – If you cannot afford Nutrisystem or meals delivered to your home, than try creating your own “portion control” mini meal plan right from your own kitchen.

•         Begin by eating a lunch and dinner that are pre-portioned, prepared and can be cooked via microwave (similar to Nutrisystem), such as Lean Cuisine, Healthy Choice, Amy’s Meals or South Beach Diet. Try to make each meal be between 200-400 calories and add additional fresh produce like a small side salad, cup of steamed vegetables or piece of fruit to create a well-rounded plan.

•        Try using pre-portioned whole grain cups of cereal, cups of egg white omelets or a low-calorie breakfast bar by Slim Fast, Kashi or Luna Bar for breakfast. Add an additional piece of fruit or a small cup of berries for color and nutrients.

• Add 1 to 2 small snacks per day, either from fresh sources of portioned control 100 calories packs of almonds, crackers or a small snack bar under 150 calories.

•  If all else fails, save the microwavable meal containers and begin preparing your own meals according to these portions. If your healthy meal does not fit into the container…than they probably won’t help you stay fit.

* NOTE: If you are breastfeeding, you may need to add more calories than this by including an additional snack or larger portions of fresh fruit and vegetables.

JUST FOR FUN TREND:  The Fit Flop. A new line of flip-flops designed to tone and tighten your lower half while you walk around all day.

MAKEOVER MOMMA™ RATING: B

REVIEW: We admit that we love the concept of the Fit Flop. How many hours a day do you spend on your feet at the playground, grocery store or just generally chasing after your children? The Fit Flop has been said to help tighten your leg, thigh and butt muscles by stimulating your muscles more than average shoes…giving you a mini workout without even trying.

Although the shoe has been said to provide a real “burn” in the lower legs, the major downside of the shoe is its hefty price tag of $50 and that Fit Flops are typically available only online. We mothers may love to multi-task and certainly stay on our feet all day, but the majority of us would rather spend $50 on electricity bills or diapers in bulk than flip-flops. On the flip side (cheesy pun intended), if a generous spouse or friend is willing to give you a pair of these clever sandals…by all means, get your burn on!

Celeb Beauty – Jamie Presley is not only a new mother to son Dezi and star of TV’s My Name Is Earl, but she is also rocking an award worthy haircut for any mom.

The Look – A choppy bop that is part elongated pixie cut, part Meg Ryan circa “cute”, and part perfect-mommy-hair style.

Who This Look Works For – Anyone with naturally straight hair (or hair that straightens when it’s short.) This is a fix-on-the-go hair style that can be super flattering and fashion forward, but would not work for wavy haired mommas (unless you are willing to blow dry and straighten for an hour every morning.) What makes this style perfect is that it can be imperfect and still look styled.

Make It Work For You – Make this style work by combing a creamy conditioner through hair while showering like Sunsilk Straight To Perfection Straighten Up Conditioner, before rinsing, Afterwards, apply a straightening cream such as Pantene Pro-V Extra Straight Comb in Cream while hair is still damp, and leave strands alone to avoid further heat damage or styling time. If hair is still not straight, try slicking into a low tight ponytail when ¾ way dry and shaking loose at the end for subtle volume and choppy definition at the ends.

            Every mother needs an arsenal of “no brainer outfits” in her closet, which she can turn to during harried mornings (practically every morning.) This month’s example of the No Brainer comes via super-busy-mom Angelina Jolie, who as a mother of four (soon-to-be five) exemplifies simple chic.

NO BRAINER OUTFIT: long flattering dress + comfortable chic sweater wrap + basic ballet flats + big sunglasses

WHY THIS WORKS: A long, empire-waist dress can conceal all sorts of newfound curves after having a baby, while flattering your most womanly assets (the décolletage.) It is elongating and comfortable, and made even more chic with a lengthy sweater or wrap. Ballet flats can take any outfit from cute to chic, and are a far better alternative to clogs or world-weary sandals. The entire look is pulled together with oversize sunglasses that expertly conceal the significant lack of concealer (or anything else you may need to hide.)

LESSON LEARNED: Add this to your closet of No Brainers, and be ready to throw it on at a seconds notice. You will be prepared and pretty!

                               TOP 5 TIPS FOR FAST FOOD MEXICAN

1. GO AL FRESCO — Fresco Menus are awesome for easy, healthy ordering. If you research the Fresco Menu at Taco Bell online before driving-thru, you can even learn the calorie count of their menu items (try the Fresco Zesty Chicken Border Bowl for 350 calories!)
2. GET THOSE BEANS — Try skipping meat whenever possible to save calories and fat in Mexican dishes, and try a simple bean burrito or taco instead. Add salsa, low-calorie hot sauce, and tons of lettuce and tomato for flare.
3. LEAN FOR LUNCH – Try choosing lean chicken instead of beef and pork Mexican dishes, and watch what goes into your orders. To save calories, ask for no cheese (or less cheese), no creamy sauces, and no sour cream.
4. GO FOR CORN — When possible, ask for a corn tortilla instead of flour* (helpful for gluten-free diners, if cross-contamination is not an issue) for added nutrient value.
5. DON’T FEED A SMALL FAMILY — We at Makeover Momma have a simple rule for on-the-go eaters… “if you order small, you’ll be small.” When in doubt, order what you want but try ordering a small (or stick to one portion.) Instead of 4 tacos, an enchilada, and cinnamon dessert, opt for a nice fresh bean burrito or chicken taco…and move on!

*All meal suggestions at Makeover Momma™ will include allergen information and suggestions for children with allergies, celiac disease, or additional health concerns.

     If you are a mother who simply has no time to do cardio one day, strength-training another, and core work the next…why not try combining everything whenever possible? One of our favorite fitness tips for mothers is making the investment of buying a small step machine (typically $40-60.) They are portable, can be stored anywhere (no bulky machines in your way), and can be used in more ways than you’d think. You can even jump on one and get moving while your kids watch Super Why!, vibrate in their baby swing, or do their homework…anything goes!

How To Use: You can split up the cardio, strength, or core moves throughout the week (or day) when busy, or create a routine combining all 3. TRY: Stamina Electronic Mini Stepper from Target (or similar.)

Cardio Step Moves:

• Interval steps - start out doing 30 seconds at a steady pace, and alternate with 30 seconds of speedy, full-on stepping (really push yourself.)
• Karate kicks- using your core for balance, start to alternate stepping, and kicking in front of you with the free leg…keep switching this “step and kick” pattern. It will take time to master, but truly challenge your muscles and balance…
• Knee-Ins -  continue stepping, but switch from front kicks to alternating “knee-ins” (like an exaggerated march), making sure to tighten your stomach every time.

Toning Step Moves:

• Balance Squats – Stand so that feet are stable on the stepper pedals and even across (balancing.) From here, try to squat down deeply, return to standing (balancing with even feet) and repeat.
• Inner Thigh Taps – Hold the balancing squat at the bottom of the motion and begin to tap knees together. You may look silly, but continue doing this until you feel a deep burn in your inner thighs. Repeat as needed…
• Elevated Split Lunge – Place one foot on the pedal of the stepper and the other on the ground behind you. From here, dip into a low lunge, raise, and continue repeating until muscles fatigue. Repeat on the other leg.

Core Step Moves:

• Twisting Balance Squat –Imbetween stepping cardio, dip into a balance squat once more and hold (keeping feet stable.) From here, begin to twist upper body to the right and left in a fluid motion, to tighten core and abdominals.
• Open Chest Twist – Balance standing on the stepper (so feet are level with one another on the pedals), tighten stomach, and raise arms in front of your chest. Twist chest open and reach one arm to the wall behind you. Return, and repeat this opening-twist to the other side. Continue alternating…