Healthy Hummus!

Eating healthy is a key ingredient to dropping weight, toning up, and becoming a healthier you. When you are giving your diet a makeover, there are many challenges you will face. One of those challenges is adjusting your budget to fit your healthy choices.

At the Vons Credit Union, we know the importance of creating a budget and sticking to it! We also know that the cheapest option is often not the best option for your heart and muffin top. The answer? Find ways to save money with healthy at-home options.

One great healthy delicious snack is fresh veggies dipped in hummus. Unfortunately, a little container of hummus can sometime set you back $4.00 or more. A good solution? Make your own! It's super easy, fast, and CHEAP! Try this version made with edamame from self.com if you want to mix it up.

In the beginning go for a basic (but still heavenly) version from Registered Holistic Nutritionist Rebecca Sutherland at Vive Nutrition.

Hummus

Ingredients

1 16 oz can of chickpeas

1/4 c water

2-3 tbsp lemon juice or more to taste

1 1/2 tbsp tahini

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 tsp salt

2 tbsp olive oil

Pinch smoked paprika

Directions

Drain chickpeas and add all ingredients to a blender or food processer and process for 3 minutes. Serve with a sprinkle or paprika.

The Team Advantage

When the Beatles said, "I get by with a little help from my friends" they were talking about me! We designed The Biggest Winner Challenge as a group competition so everyone has a built in support system. After all, if losing weight and toning up was easy to do on your own, we would already be fit!

If I'm tempted to snack on chips, my teammates are there to hand me an apple. Thinking of sneaking out on Friday afternoon without putting in my time at the gym? Not getting away with that anymore! My team keeps me in check on a day to day basis because my success is their success.

Each team has a team captain, team name, and team colors. Ana, captain of team Chunky but Funky, sends an inspirational message to her teammates every day. Here are the motivating words she shared today! I think they are pretty funny:

ALL OF YOU, SHAPE UP, BY THIS I MEAN, NO CHILE RELLENOS, NO STARBUCKS…DO I MAKE MY POINT?

The Biggest Winner Logo

The Biggest Winner Competition is kicking off and we are pumped! One of our Member Services Representative created this incredible logo for the contest. It's amazing what diverse talent we have here at the Vons Credit Union!

I think I'm somewhere between the guy on the left and the guy on the right. With a little luck and a lotta sweat I'll be down a few pounds and up a few health points in no time! Stay tuned for more updates on our competition as well as health tips from our trainer!

Picking Teams and Taking Names

We are ramping up for The Biggest Winner Challenge! It's going to be a team fitness challenge, so this week everyone is splitting into groups of 3 or 4 and picking team names, team colors, and in one case, a TEAM SONG! That's right, Team Rock chose black pink and white as their colors and The Time by the Black Eyed Peas as their team song.


Here are the team names so far:

1) CTRL X (comprised of mostly IT staff)
2) Quatro Gorditos Gringos (a group of the four whitest guys at the Vons Credit Union)
3) Butt Busters (for a group of ladies focusing on improving their derrieres)
4) Night Shift (because they all work late)
5) Team Sabotage (their colors are black and purple which reminds me of bruises and makes me a little scared!)
6) Chunky but Funky (hilarious!)
7) The Amazing 4
8) The Untouchables (pretty sure they mean speed, not caste)

There are still eight teams who haven't chosen a name yet. Any suggestions?