The Spiralizer- You can't help achieving your healthy lifestyle goals when you have cool tools

It's been a while- you know- busy with work, school, kids, celebrating and living the healthy life!

June was filled with celebrations for birthdays, staff lunches, Father's days... you know, I counted 16 meals this month that were 'out of the norm' for me. I am very grateful for the love, the celebration and the social fun times this month brought. I reconnected with old friends and made healthy choices and 'celebratory choices'  living 'The Month of Celebration'. 

I visited the Wharton Clinic this past weekend and was pleased with my progress living my healthy lifestyle despite all my celebrations. I lost an additional 3.4 lbs and 2 inches. Yeah me!!! A total of 75lbs lost since the beginning of my journey, now that's a great milestone!

I credit the reason for my success being that I continued with my valiant effort at being a 'Workout Warrior' and making fresh food fun!  Check it out my new toy, the Spiralizer!

Thanks to my sister and her family for this wonderful new gift that I have wanted to try for months! I got a spiralizer and wanted to try and make fresh veggies fun for my family.

Check out my spiralized cucumbers! I got my daughter involved and she had so much fun...' I wanna do it, I wanna do it!" she yelled.

Here's what I made with those spiralized cucumbers:

Cucumber Cilantro Salad

Ingredients:

• 2 cucumbers
• 1 red pepper
• 1 cup shredded carrots
• 1 bunch cilantro

Dressing

• Juice of 1 lime
• 1 Tbsp sugar
• 1 Tbsp canola oil
• 1 Tbsp rice wine vinegar
• S&P to taste

Prep all your veg, mix your dressing and assemble! You can add your favourite veg or fruits... both my daughter and I immediately mentioned that mango would be awesome in this salad.

So after a delicious meal, a night of aquafitness and pool dancing with my daughter, I showed up to the office before 7am the following day and totally owned the day, the short new hair, the hippie blouse and the honest truth about living life in a balanced and healthy way.

Cucumber Melon Salad

Now here's the other delicious salad recipe I wanted to share with you. It's a combination of many recipes I have seen and put together with my favourite little fresh herb... CILANTRO!

I often feel sorry for the poor honeydew melon. No one really eats this green melon on a fruit plate, he's always the one left behind. Well, let me present to you a recipe which will showcase this green melon. The star of the show... it's so fresh and delicious, you are going to want to make this for your next new salad creation for sure.

Here are the bulk of the salad, honeydew melon, cucumber and shredded carrot slaw.

I chopped a whole honeydew melon and English cucumber into bite size pieces and placed them in a bowl with the carrot slaw.

For the dressing, I used some Asian flavours. In a separate bowl, I whisked together the juice of 2 limes, 2 Tbsp of canola oil, 1 Tbsp of sweet chili sauce, 1 tsp sugar, 1/2 tsp salt and and a big handful of chopped cilantro.

Pour the dressing over you cucumber, melon, carrot mixture and cool in the fridge for 30 minutes (or longer). It tastes so sweet, melony, tangy and fresh. I absolutely loved this salad, hope you do too!

Minted Watermelon and Cucumber Salad and smiles...

Look at what my sister made for the party.... this most amazingly fresh and refreshing salad. Minted Watermelon and Cucumber Salad. Absolutely perfect for a hot summer night.

Watermelon Cucumber Salad with Mint, Tarragon and Lime  (adapted from Chatelaine.com)

     2 English cucumbers

    1/4 large watermelon

    1/4 cup lime juice (3-4 limes)

    2/3 cup torn mint leaves (I would use half this amount)

    2 tbsp tarragon leaves, finely chopped

    1/2 tsp salt

 Slice cucumbers in half lengthwise. Scrape out and discard seeds. Chop cucumber and watermelon into small chunks and place in a large bowl. Stir in lime juice, herbs and salt.

Salad will keep well, covered and refrigerated, up to 2 hours.

Ok, I couldn't resist posting one more family photo... reason is... I miss brother and my sister made the lovely dish... and we are cute smiling siblings together!