EZ Melts Health Blog

Read Time: 3 minutes It’s time to break out the Dad bods and tuck into some awesome brunch recipes that any parent would love to eat on Father’s Day. These recipes are inspired by grilling, chilling, and spending summer days with family and friends. #1 Dad’s French Toast Casserole  You know the drill: this sweet bread pan fried and served with butter and maple syrup is a classic brunch fave. Plus, a casserole makes it easy to serve many people. Try this unique spin, made with fresh blueberries and cream cheese. Just make sure the eggs and bread mixture sits for a minimum of 2 hours before baking. Ingredients 1 french bread loaf or brioche loaf (approx. 8-9 cups) 8 eggs 2 1/2 cups half and half or whole milk 1/2 cup sugar 1 8 oz package cream cheese, light or regular cubed 2 tsp vanilla extract 2 tsp cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 ½ cups fresh blueberries or frozen blueberries (fresh preferred), rolled in 1 tbsp flour  To Make:  Butter or spray a 9 x 13 casserole dish. Cut bread into medium cubes(doesn’t need to be perfect). In a large mixing bowl, combine eggs, cream or milk, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla and salt. Whisk until mixed and smooth. Put half of the bread cubes in casserole dish. Top with half cream cheese cubes and half of blueberries rolled in flour. Layer the remaining bread cubes and top with the remaining blueberries and cream cheese cubes.  Pour egg mixture over bread cubes. Make sure all bread cubes are covered. Cover with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours to overnight. The Day Of: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Remove plastic wrap and sprinkle casserole with raw sugar. Cover the casserole dish with foil and bake in oven for 30 minutes. Take off the foil and bake an additional 20-30 minutes or until the center is firm and bread is golden. Serve up!  Grilled Supreme Sausage & Fruit Skewers  Okay, we KNOW this is an excuse to use the grill, but hey, you can’t beat the smell and taste of chargrilled food cooked out in the open. Pair these with some sweet fruits like sliced mango, pineapple and peaches, and soak it all in syrup for a sweet spin. Ingredients 8 large pork or chicken sausage links (10-12 oz. total, check out deli) uncooked and halved in two pieces each Assortment of pineapple, peach, and mango, cut into medium chunks 1-2 cups maple syrup, or syrup of your choice 1 tsp. cayenne pepper Wooden skewers To Make:  The night before, make a mixture of syrup and cayenne pepper in a large bowl. Cut sausages in half and fruit into 1-2 inch chunks. Place in sausages and fruit in bowl. Let sit overnight. The morning of, soak wooden skewers in water for 30 minutes, then alternate putting sausage and fruit on skewers. Should make 8 skewers. Prepare grill on medium-high heat.  Grease the grill. Grill skewers turning once, until charred in spots and the sausage is cooked through, 7 to 10 minutes. Enjoy! Father’s Day Frittata Cups Eggs are a brunch staple for many, and round out the rest of our menu nicely. Plus these frittatas are made with a muffin tin, so they are grab-and-go sized. They also make a cute bite-sized tower on any breakfast table. Add whatever you want to them, but we like fresh veggies in ours. Ingredients 10 large eggs ½  cup milk or milk substitute 1 garlic clove, minced paprika sea salt black pepper 1 cup of thinly sliced zucchini 1 cup diced red and green bell peppers ¼ cup scallions ⅓ cup cheddar cheese To Make Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 12-cup muffin tin In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, garlic, and a sprinkle each of salt and pepper. Pour a little egg mixture into the bottom of each muffin cup. Put peppers, zucchini, cheddar, and scallions into each cup then pour the remaining egg mixture on top (or whatever veggies/meat/cheese options you want). Bake for 20 to 22 minutes or until the eggs are set. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Let cool, stack and serve!  

Read time: 4 minutes We all have different needs according to our bodies, but in general, men and women have different needs that need to be met when it comes to vitamins. According to research, men are more prone to certain conditions like liver disease and diabetes. They also need to take more of some vitamins and less of others compared to women, mainly due to physicality and the different biological tasks each sex performs. It can be hard to keep track of all of the vitamins and minerals one gets in their diet, on top of making sure it is all balanced, quality nutrition. Supplements make it easy for men to fill the gaps...but what mens health supplements should men be focusing on? We sifted through all the research and created this handy guide so you know exactly what to look for in minutes. Iron Iron is a mineral that is critical to endurance, strength, and vitality. Iron is essential for blood to carry oxygen through your body. It’s also necessary to create blood cells in general, hence why a shortage of iron = higher risk of conditions like anemia. Iron helps to move oxygen throughout the body efficiently, and also supports muscle tissue regeneration after physical exertion. The recommended daily dosage for men is around 8-11-mg, according to the NIH. Vitamin B-Complex B-complex supplements cover all eight essential B vitamins, and are safe to take even if you do get some of your vitamin Bs through nutrition. B vitamins support your brain, immune system, metabolism, energy levels, and much more. Vitamin B-complex also supports heart health, which is good news especially for men, who are at higher risk of heart disease and other heart conditions. The daily average recommended amount for all the Bs can be found here on the NIH website. Magnesium Most magnesium in your body is stored in your skeletal system and it is absorbed through diet and supplements. Many people, however, are deficient despite this mineral being necessary to function and live. Magnesium has been linked to supporting mood levels, preventing the likelihood of migraines, and is involved in hundreds of biochemical processes in your body, such as DNA creation and energy levels. It also supports healthy blood pressure and a strong heart, which is especially important for men, as throughout life, men are more prone to high blood pressure. Unfortunately, magnesium is not as readily bioavailable without certain other vitamins and minerals, so taking a supplement is extremely helpful. The NIH’s daily recommendation for adult men is around 400-420mg. Zinc Zinc is a trace mineral not naturally produced by our bodies, so we have to get it through diet and supplements. Zinc is essential in aiding over 300 enzymes that exist to help with digestion, metabolism, nerve function and the immune system, to name a few. Zinc is also critical to hormone health—in fact, it helps to balance estrogen and testosterone, and aids in preventing testosterone loss as men age. The daily recommended dose for adult men is around 11mg, according to the NIH. Vitamin D Vitamin D not only aids in calcium absorption by helping with cell transportation of nutrients. In general vitamin D supports major organs, proper immune function, and the musculoskeletal system. It also helps support your mood and energy levels throughout the day. In addition there is some evidence that claims vitamin D can support healthy testosterone levels. Research has also connected vitamin D to supporting the body against diabetes and even cancer. A lot of people get vitamin D3 through sunlight, but not enough. There are many with vitamin D deficiency, so try pairing your outdoor time with a supplement. The recommended daily dose by the NIH for adult men is around 600 IU, or 15 mcg, but it may vary according to your needs. The EZ Melts Difference Many people don’t get adequate nutrition from their diet, which is where supplements come in! EZ Melts supplements are fast melting, EZ to take, and have a delicious customer approved flavor. Unlike many major vitamin brands, our tablets do not include harmful toxic ingredients, artificial flavors, or GMOs. Try us out and see the difference!  ___ Written by Annie-Eliza Stevens