I can’t help but notice the mason jar fad all over the internet. So much so that I decided to use mason jars to help my husband and I stay healthy and focused this week. I used self sealing, wide mouth quart jars for the salads and self sealing, wide mouth pint jars for the yogurts and infused waters. Here are a few pictures and the benefits.
Fruit Infused Water
The infusion process involves placing all parts of fruits and vegetables into the water including rinds and peels. These contain high levels of vitamins ad antioxidants. It is much healthier than plain water.
No sugar. Infused water is ideal for people with diet and health restrictions. For example, a person with diabetes or one who is on a diet to lose weight must stay away from drinks that are loaded with sugar. Infused water is unsweetened, yet still tastes great.
Hydration. Instead of drinking soda and beverages which do not hydrate the body, infused water keep the body properly hydrated. Many people do not like the bland taste of plain water, but infusing it with natural flavors makes it more appealing.
No Toxin Buildup. Drinking infused water will keep dangerous toxins from building up in the body. A person will not only feel more energized, the skin will also reap positive benefits. The immune system will also receive a boost from the ability of infused water to keep toxins in the body to a minimum. http://expertmassagetherapy.com/thousandoaks/green-trend-alert-fruit-vegetable-infused-waters/
Yogurt Parfaits and Salads
These are great for me. I find that I easily get off track and “just grab a bite on the go/road” way too often. I make unhealthy decisions on the go. Setting these jars up ahead of time helps me grab things on the go. I can grab a jar on my way out of the door. I’m exploring more healthy snacks to load my jars with. I’m heading to the store today to get smaller jars for smaller snacks in between meals.
You can layer all of your favorite salad ingredients in the jars. I made separate jars for my husband and I since we like different things in our salads. I love the works, and my husband likes it simple. It is common to layer the salad with the dressing at the very bottom, but I decided to keep the dressing out of our jars to keep the salad from getting soggy. In my jars, I layered mixed greens (first, especially if you put the dressing on the bottom), red onions, thinly sliced carrots, cheese, strawberries, blueberries, boiled eggs, dried berries, nuts, cucumbers, cottage cheese, and beets.
In my yogurt parfaits I layered vanilla flavored yogurt, different kinds of fruit, and granola. I just kept layering the yogurt and granola until it was full. I think I will try smaller jars next time. They are good, but just a little too much. I usually snack on the yogurt parfait, then save the second half for later in the day.
I hope this helps you find creative and fun ways to stay healthy with mason jars.
