Tea Time

I recently posted this picture on my Facebook, saying how I was enjoying a nice cup of Tea and to thank a new friend for getting me hooked. Now I am used to getting likes on pictures but this time I got comments and lots of them! That's when I realized tea and coffee are the like a universal language.  It's used as a social gathering, who hasn't said "hey let's go for a coffee" or just curled up on a afternoon with a cup of something warm to relax. I'm just starting to explore teas I am usually a coffee drinker.  The only tea I ever really knew was Orange Pekoe and I just can not drink it black I have to have milk and sugar.

However recently I was introduced to Green tea and used it as an aide in my weight loss. I brew up a cup every night, add lemon and then pour it into a one litre jug and fill with water and chill. The next day instead of just water I drink it all day.  This really helped me up my water intake because honestly I really hate drinking water. I realize now I was probably very dehydrated because before this I really only drank at meals and I sure wasn't drinking water. There are some really great benefits to drinking teas and water like having great looking skin, seriously that girl with the radiant glowing face over there probably drank her 8-10 glasses of water a day.  Also both tea and water are good at suppressing your appetite, drink what before your meal to feel fuller faster and drink tea in the evening to stop those late night cravings.  And believe it or not water can also help you feel not as bloated, weird I know but more water will actually help you not retain water.  It helps to flush out salt and other stuff that makes you feel that way. 

So if I wasn't drinking water what was I drinking? Well coffee in the mornings for sure, which I just can't change.  However I did convert my double, double to a 2 milk and 1 sugar, also fruit juice, iced tea and the occasional pop. I am so so happy I was not a heavy pop drinker there is so much sugar in there it's crazy! Did you know a 20 ounce soda has 16 teaspoons of sugar! You can literally drink up your daily calories and because your thirst isn't quenched by sugary drinks you tend to be more hungry thus eating more.  Now I admit Starbucks is my one weakness and I love coffee, but I try to make my choices the "skinny" version (non fat milk, sugar free syrup and no whip cream) whenever I can. I think the next time I'm there I may be adventurous and try a Chia Latte.

Now although Tim Horton's has donuts, cookies and timbits waiting for you to munch on that doesn't mean you can't have a nice treat when you do have your tea and coffee. Why not try out these awesome little bites:

1 cup oatmeal
1/2 cup all natural peanut butter (or other nut butter)
1/3 cup honey (raw honey preferred)
1 cup coconut flakes (unsweetened preferred)
1/2 cup ground flaxseed
1 scoop chocolate Shakeology
1 tsp natural vanilla

Mix all together & form into balls. Wrap with wax paper and store in the freezer.

Note: You can use 2 scoops of shakeology to up the nutrition level and of course make them more chocolatey! Oh and you can throw in 1/2 cup of mixed nuts for some crunch. If you do this, put in a full cup of peanut butter and you may need a splash of water or (just a splash though!). For the ones in the picture I used almond butter, vanilla Shakeology and added dried cranberries, they have been a great afternoon snack!