Monthly Archives

October 2014

Oct 29 2014
0

Pumpkin Dip

By | Eat | No Comments

pumpkin-dip

Lately, grocery store aisles seem like endless opportunities to fill a cart with sweet Halloween treats.  And while sometimes you probably do just do need to eat one jack-o’lantern shaped Reece’s peanut butter cup, it’s not the best decision every store trip. But making sweets at home allows you to control portions and ingredients and in just 10 minutes this pumpkin dip will satisfy a treat craving without putting you or your family in a sugar coma.  

Pumpkin Dip
  • ¾ cup of pumpkin puree
  • 1 cup of plain Greek yogurt
  • 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon of ground ginger
  • ¼ teaspoon of ground nutmeg
  • ⅛ teaspoon of ground cloves (or just a pinch!)
  • ¼ teaspoon of vanilla extract
  1. Heat the pumpkin filling over medium heat, stirring occasionally with a spatula for about 3 minutes.
  2. Stir in the spices and allow the puree to cook for about 1 additional minute.
  3. Remove the pumpkin from the heat and allow it to cool for a few minutes.
  4. Combine the pumpkin mixture, yogurt, and vanilla and beat vigorously until everything is fully combined.
  5. Transfer the dip to a container or bowl, cover, and refrigerate for at least an hour to allow the flavors to meld.
  6. Serve with apples or top with granola for an easy on the go snack!
 
Oct 22 2014
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Breast Cancer Awareness and One Rad Runner

By | Blog, Hall of Fame, Train | One Comment

Meet Linda, a RAD runner from Hartford!

breast-cancer-awarness

Linda spent several years training as a long distance runner and was then diagnosed with breast cancer. Linda continued running through chemo and made it through 10 miles of a half marathon while in the midst of chemo treatments. In Linda’s own words:

 

I was diagnosed with breast cancer and used running to get me through chemo – I had signed up for a half marathon – I managed to get through the first 10 miles before the chemo kicked in. I have completed 2 – 10 mile races and a number of fun runs…  I am signed up for 2 half marathons the beginning of 2016 – I am going to cross the finish line…

 

This month we celebrate Linda and all other RAD runners by spreading the word about breast cancer awareness.

Oct 16 2014
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Skinny Pumpkin Frappuccino

By | Eat | No Comments

The frappuccino has been uniting people since Zoolander, and the best time to sip on this cool beverage is when they add a little pumpkin to the frothy mix. Our love for this fall pastime is only hindered by the way it drains our bank accounts and increases our waistlines. One of these babies from Starbucks can add an extra 630 calories to your day, but the alternative we made below is a guilt free treat at 68 calories! So Pumpkin Spices, follow the recipe below to save your cash and alleviate the guilt about drinking your calories.
skinny-pumpkin-frappucino

 

Ingredients:

  • -12 oz (1 1/2 C.) COLD coffee
  • -10 oz (1 1/4 C.) unsweetened vanilla almond milk (or any other milk, but it will change the calorie count)
  • -1/4 C. pumpkin puree
  • -3 Tablespoons pure maple sugar (may also use honey or agave)
  • -1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
  • -fat free whipped cream (optional)

Directions:

1. Brew the coffee and refrigerate overnight. THE COFFEE MUST BE COLD!

2. Whisk together milk, pumpkin, maple sugar, and pumpkin pie spice together. Pour mixture into ice cubes and freeze.

Once the pumpkin ice cubes are frozen and the coffee is cooled, add both elements into a blender and blend on high until smooth and icy.

If the mixture isn’t blending well, add more milk or add extra spices if you want more of a kick and continue to blend. Pour into cup, top with whip cream if desired, and serve immediately.  Kiss your Starbucks goodbye, because this frappuccino is your new best friend.

Oct 14 2014
1

Get a 6 Pack Without Sit Ups

By | Blog, Train | 3 Comments

Summer may be over, but that doesn’t mean we want our ab’s to bulk up with our sweaters. We reached out to our RAD fitness guru Tess who gave up ab work out tips and none of them are sit ups! Tess says, These 3 ab exercises will strengthen your core get you closer to a 6 pack by working different ab muscle groups.

Try to work up to doing 3 sets of all 3 exercises in the circuit.

six=pack-workout

Alternating Heel Touches – 25 times on each side.

Lie down with your back on the ground with your knees bent and feet spread shoulder width apart. Lift your shoulders off the ground. With straight arms touch your left heel and then right heel for 1 rep. Keep your back flat on the mat and neck relaxed while moving from one side to the other.

Reverse Crunch- Do 25

Lie on your back with knees bent 90 degrees. Tighten your core muscles and lift your feet off the ground until your knees are over your hips while maintaining a 90 degree angle with your knees. Slowly bring your feet back to the ground. This exercise is most effective when done in a slow and controlled manner and you will feel your lower abs working the hardest.

Tuck Ups- Do 25

Lie on the ground with your legs straight in front of you and arms straight above your head. Lift your legs and shoulders a few inches off the ground to achieve a hollow position. From this starting position, tuck your thighs up to your chest and sit up. Return to the starting hollow position for one rep.
Thanks to Tess we’re now mixing up our ab routine and feeling good all through fall! To never miss out on a tip from Tess, get on our mailing list!

Oct 07 2014
0

Roasted Pumpkin Salad

By | Eat | No Comments

Salads are consistently a great way to get in your daily greens, but they sometimes seem easier to digest in the warmer months.  So we’ve added roasted pumpkin to a fairly simple green salad  to create a little more fall substance and flavor for the upcoming colder months. It’s great as a main course if you add lean chicken stripes or it’s a nice side to squash soup. And pumpkin is full of beta-carotene, an antioxidant that research shows can help reduce the risk of developing certain types of cancer and offers protect against heart disease, so eat up!

pumpkin-salad

Ingredients: 

  • -2 tsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • -1/4 tsp salt
  • -1/4 tsp pepper
  • -6 cups mixed salad greens
  • -1/2 cup pomegranate seeds
  • -3 cups sliced cherry tomatoes
  • -3 cups pumpkin, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • -1 cup fresh mozzarella, cubed
  • -balsamic vinegar

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.

2. Toss pumpkin with olive oil, salt, and pepper and arrange in one layer on a baking sheet. Roast until pumpkin is tender-firm and edges are caramelized, about 30-40 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool completely.

3.  Combine all other salad ingredients and add salt and pepper to taste

4.  Drizzle with balsamic vinegar just before serving

 

Oct 03 2014
0

5 Ways to Keep Kids Moving

By | Blog, Train | One Comment

As summer temperatures cool into fall and kids head back to their desks at school it can take a little effort to make sure your kids are staying active. And let’s face it, “Who wants to exercise?” doesn’t sound very appealing to most of the young set. The trick is to make play active. Your kids will be so busy having fun, they won’t realize they’re benefiting physically. Here are a few ideas that will help your kids set down the after-school video games and start moving! kid-workout

  1. Nerf Gun Battle Royale: What kid doesn’t enjoy surveillance, teamwork, and shooting Nerf darts? Set up a station for each team far enough apart to ensure the kids will have to run back and forth in battle. Anyone hit by a dart is out. In this version, the winning team turns their darts on each other. The last person standing is the Battle Royale winner. Your kids will run miles trying to beat the darts, and they won’t even know it.

 

  1. Trampoline Fun: Sometimes we don’t think about jumping as a form of exercise, but according to the Center for Disease Control, when done safely, jumping on a trampoline counts as a moderate level of exercise intensity, putting it on par with light yoga and gymnastics. Many cities have indoor trampoline gyms, so jumping can be done in any weather, and 9 out of 10 kids won’t say no to that outing.

 

  1. Ultimate Tag: If you went back into history, the game of tag would probably be the oldest one. It’s a classic game that encourages running away from the player who’s “It.”  In Ultimate tag every player is “It.” Anyone who is tagged has to sit down. When the player who tagged them is tagged, they get back into the game. It’s fast paced, so there is more running and less sitting than most games of tag. Sound exhausting just reading about it? It is. And that’s a good thing.

 

  1. Ropes Course: Some kids are mini adrenaline junkies. They enjoy the thrill of heights, laugh in the face of zip lines, and dream of narrow balance beams. For those types of kids, or even to encourage the others, ropes courses are a great way to actively enjoy physical challenges. There are indoor and outdoor ropes courses that allow kids to move and climb, or you can set up your own mini course at home. Make a bridge out of chairs, jump off a pile of pillows, ride your bike around the driveway, and then crawl across the room with the dog – let your creativity guide you and your kids will follow.

 

  1. Fun 5Ks: Ask a kid if they want to run 3 miles and you may get a blank stare in return. Ask a kid if they want to get covered in color with their friends, and you might be voted Parent of the Year. At Color Me Rad kids are having so much fun tie-dying their t-shirt in the color stations, that they won’t notice the distance. And when they realize they completed a 5K, they’ll have bragging rights at school. Win-win.

Tell us what you do to keep your kids active below, and sign up to run together at colormerad.com.

Oct 01 2014
1

Healthy Vegetarian Chili

By | Eat | No Comments

healthy-vegetarian-chiliWe know it can seem like a hearty vegetarian recipe is hard to find, but this pumpkin chili is so fulfilling, it’ll make you forget there isn’t any meat.  The pumpkin adds a rich fall flavor and the combo of kidney and northern beans add a protein packed punch.  And a nice bonus?  Adding lean, ground turkey or chicken is easy and delicious if you feel inclined so you get a healthy win either way!

HealthyChili-01

Ingredients

 2 15 oz cans of great northern beans

1 15 oz can of kidney beans

1 15 oz. can of pumpkin puree

1 onion, chopped

4 cloves of garlic, minced

½ tbsp chili powder

1 tbsp cumin

1 tbsp black pepper

1 tsp oregano

3 cups vegetable broth

1 tsp. olive oil

Salt to taste

Optional

2 lbs lean, ground meat (cook with the onion and garlic)

3 cups chicken broth instead of vegetable broth

Directions

1. Saute the onion and garlic in the olive oil for about 4-5  minutes or until mostly white.

2. Pour the beans, pumpkin, spices and broth into a large pot or crock pot.

3. Mix in the onion and garlic into the pot and let simmer or if in crockpot set on LOW for 8 hours or HIGH for 4 hours.

4. Garnish with your favorite chili toppings, we love avocado, a little bit of cheese, and a slice of homemade bread!

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