Strawberry Banana Crush Smoothie

Makes 4 Servings

2 ripe bananas
1 doz. Medium sized strawberries
6-8 ice cubes
¼ cup orange juice/flavored water (optional)

Method:
Slice strawberries and bananas.
Put ice in the blender (I use Magic Bullet)
Add fruits. If ice takes a while to crush, add juice/water. Blend until ice is crushed and fruit is smooth.

Fresh Fruit Salad

1 medium mango (ripe)
1 red delicious apple
1 sweet peach
2 slices cantaloupe (or honeydew)
¼ cup orange juice

Method:
Cut fruits into cubes. Put all in a salad bowl. Toss and pour orange juice over fruits and garnish with cherries. Enjoy!

It’s summer! It’s hot! And as we try to find ways to cool down and fill up without having to chug down a bunch of sodas and munch on bags chips, we turn to the things we can make from the fruit basket.

You hear all the time that you need to have five servings of fruits and vegetables daily to maintain a healthy immune system and for overall health, but seriously, how many of us do that? Not many. But there is a way to get these servings in without having to eat all that.

Isn’t it amazing what you can do with a basket full of fresh fruits and a blender? Using a blender helps to retain the soft fibers, which are good for cleaning and maintaining a healthy colon.

So, making fruit juices, fruit smoothies or fruit salads can help you to improve your health. And these are based on whatever is in season. And, remember, fresh fruits are always better than the canned or processed variety. Notice all the heavy syrup that accompanies those canned fruits? Yup, that’s the same sugar you are trying to avoid.

Another way to ensure you get the daily required fruit intake is by adding pieces of fruit to your regular meals, for example, fresh bananas and strawberries in your cereal or using fruits for dessert instead of that cheese cake. It’s hard, I know. But you know what they say about cheese cake – 1 minute on the lips, 1 hour in the stomach and forever on the hips.

However, sometimes you feel you just don’t have the time. And in our rush hour lives, it seems quite impossible to make our own foods, so we buy the ready-to-eat variety. But wouldn’t you prefer to wash and prepare your own fruits? You can do this once you take the fruits home from the store especially if you hate to have to peal and cut fruits every time you want them. So, wash all fruits, cut and store fruits like cantaloupe, watermelon and pineapple so it’s easy to reach into the fridge and take some out. It’s easier to grab and go if they are already prepared.

And, don’t forget that you are improving your overall health by adding fruits to your diet.

An adventurer's paradise, Belize is a peaceful, English-speaking country just two hours away from three major U.S. Gateways. With a diversity of adventure opportunities unmatched by any other country, the Belizean people have protected over 40% of the country as parks and natural reserves.

Belize is on the Caribbean coast, nestled between Mexico and Guatemala and offers an intriguing mix of tropical forests rich with wildlife, majestic mountains, mysterious Maya temples, and diving and fishing experiences beyond comparison. In a single day, one can go from tropical forest to the longest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere.

Every destination in Belize offers something special. Throughout Belize, the natural ecology varies significantly and adds to the intrigue and expanse of the country’s environment. Each district also possesses a unique history that has contributed to the social surroundings that exist today. The links below provide visitors with information on the various attractions throughout Belize. And the people are as warm and friendly as the climate.

Traveling to Belize

With so much to see and do it's best to have an idea of the specific destinations you want to visit.

Select your destinations on the basis of the kinds of interests you have, activities you prefer, and the kinds of sights that would most appeal to you.

Abandon the monotony of everyday life and jet-off to the picturesque Islands Of The Bahamas. But don’t sweat it; with 700 islands and cays spread over 100,000 sq. miles of ocean, there is something for everyone. Whether it be world-class diving and fishing, beautiful turquoise water and miles of picture perfect beaches or non-stop excitement and entertainment of Nassau/Paradise Island and Grand Bahama Island to the laid-back lifestyle of the Out Islands, The Bahamas offers the largest assortment of vacation spots of any tropical destination. The only concern you may have is which island or cay is right for your vacation?

If city life and bustle are your fancy, Nassau/Paradise Island is your best bet. This island pair maintains a distinct blend of international glamour and tropical ease, giving you the freedom to do everything or nothing at all. With hotels such as the world famous Atlantis, on Paradise Island, you can live in a lap of luxury for your vacation.

Why not try Grand Bahama with its impressive combination of ecological wonders and manmade attractions? In this spot, there’s something for everyone.

If you want to be removed from the maddening crowd, the Out Islands are perfect for you. They are the most remote in The Bahamas archipelago of islands, where you can soak in the Bahamian culture and forget about the clock… let the days glide into each other on the Out Islands such as Bimini, Harbour Island and Eleuthera.

Bimini is just 50 miles of the east coast of Miami and is a tiny fishing paradise. It is nicknamed the gateway and is the most accessible by boat, is the smallest islands and has the distinction of being the first island in the Caribbean to have a casino.

Being just 100 miles long and a mere two miles wide, Eleuthera effortlessly keeps visitors near its pink and white sand beaches. Together with Harbour Island, Eleuthera charms with colonial villages and pineapple plantations. And don’t forget the visit the extraordinary Glass Window Bridge. You will love it!

To escape from the intensity of everyday life following a much deserved Bahamavention, call 1-800-Bahamas or visit www.bahamavention.com./www.bahamas.com

With devastatingly beautiful landscapes, diverse cultures and peoples, Guyana the rainforest of the Caribbean is celebrating 41 years of independence. The country that has had economic, social and political challenges for many years, Guyana under the leadership of President Bharrat Jagdeo is still very much in the fight to improve its overall status while making a valuable contribution to CARICOM (Caribbean Community) of which it is an integral part.

Guyana, along with Suriname and Brazil, is one of the three non-Hispanic nations in South America. Guyana's culture is very similar to that of the English-speaking Caribbean, to the extent that Guyana is included and accepted as a Caribbean nation and is a founder member of the Caricom (Caribbean Community) economic bloc and also the home of the Bloc's Headquarters, the CARICOM Secretariat. Its geographical location, its sparsely populated rain forest regions, and its substantial Amerindian population differentiate it from English-speaking Caribbean countries.

Guyana’s blend of East Indian (Asian Indian) and West Indian (black) cultures gives it similarities to Trinidad and distinguishes it from other parts of the Americas. Guyana shares similar interests with the islands in the West Indies, such as food, festive events, music, sports, etc. Guyana plays international cricket as a part of the West Indies cricket team, and the Guyana team plays first class cricket against other nations of the Caribbean. In addition to its CARICOM membership, Guyana is a member of CONCACAF, the international football federation for North and Central America and the Caribbean. Another aspect of Guyanese culture is its rich folklore about Jumbees.