Browsing Category

Drinks

Drinks/ RECIPES

Juice Cleanse Day 1

Well, day one was easy.  Much easier than I thought it would be. I had a slight headache for about 30 minutes in the morning. Probably lack of coffee. I experienced normal hunger right at meal times, until I drank my juice.  The juice really filled me up, which surprised me, so much so, that I could not fit in the 2 juices that one should drink in between the breakfast, lunch and dinner time juices.

Breakfast:
 The Carrot, Apple, Ginger 
3 Organic Carrots
2 Organic Apples
1 Piece Ginger 1″
 I threw a meal into the crockpot for my family, and when serving them I did struggle with wanting some of their brown rice, but not too bad.   The only time I found myself really wanting to eat was late at night, after the kids went to bed.  I usually eat something before bed so this is probably why.  I made myself herbal tea and it actually took away my hunger feeling, which also surprised me.  
My energy level was INSANE all day.  I didn’t expect that.  I have had friends tell me they get moody the first couple days.  There are 2 reasons why I think it has been easier on me.  The first is my diet was really good before starting the cleanse, eating mostly plant food.  The second reason I will get to later, maybe..

As far as my elimination system, (yes I’m going to go there because I was curious myself as to how a juice cleanse would affect this), it was normal.  Well, kinda.  My kidneys got quite a workout having so much fluid in one day, so I found myself going more often, but nothing crazy with digestion/elimination. {blushing}

Lunch
The Mean Green

6 Kale Leaves
1 Cucumber
2 Green Apples
4 Celery
1/2 Lemon
1 Ginger Root (thumb size)
I exercised like normal, actually more than normal.   I ran twice, once in the morning but that was cut short due to my turn to carpool!  I ran again in the evening, only a short 20 minutes, in the rain.  My ears almost froze off.

I lost 2 pounds in one day, and weight is not something I want to lose, so adding food back by day 4 is pretty much a no choice for me.

It was not too time consuming.  Making a juice a rinsing my juicer takes me no longer that making a sandwich and putting everything away, so time wise it is no big deal.  Actually, it makes life easier, not preparing food!

I use the  Breville Compact Juice Fountain and I love it!
I am following a super easy juice plan.  It is called Reboot.  You must check it out if this interests you at all. It is an amazing site made by Joe Cross, the maker of the movie “Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead.  There are 5 different of levels of juice cleanses.  I am still not sure which one I am going to end up doing.  I know for sure that I am doing a 3 day juice only (or long weekend) cleanse, and I am thinking it will turn into one of their other choices, up to a week.

Dinner
The Tangy Cabbage

2 Pears
2 Apples
2 Wedges Cabbage
2 Carrots
1 Lemon 
1 Lime
This tasted like a super tangy limeade.  I used 4 apples because I was out of pears.  The apples made it sweet.  My girls tasted this one and begged for more.  It was really good, but was more of a snack than dinner.  I wanted savory.
I ended the evening with some herbal tea.  Day 1 down–not so bad!

To read my post called “Why A Juice Cleanse?” Click here.
11
Drinks/ RECIPES

Why A Juice Cleanse?

If you have been reading, you already know that I am doing my first ever Juice Cleanse.  My goal is to drink only freshly juiced fruit and vegetable juice for 3 days.  I am on day 2 and so far so good!
Why would one want to do such a thing?  
There are many reasons for juice fasting, most do it to detox and lose weight.  
My purpose is to detox.
This is something I have wanted to do since finishing treatment for breast cancer in May 2011.  I so wanted to be able to go to one of those fancy exotic places that specialize in detox, that give you shots of wheat grass and prepare all your coffee enemas. Have not heard of coffee enemas?  Neither did I until I entered a world of cancer.
Yes, I wanted to go there and get rid of all the nasty toxins they pumped into me.  I couldn’t afford to, so I took steps myself to do what I could at home, mainly with diet and exercise.  I now eat a high plant diet (fruits, vegetables, nuts and grains), but I wanted to take my health up to the next level.
I watched Fat Sick & Nearly Dead and was so inspired by the health Joe found by just juicing and exercising.  I checked out their website and everything was laid out so simply that I thought, “ok, I can do this myself.  Who needs a fancy detox spa?”  

I do believe our bodies were created to detox themselves, but due to an environment of chemicals and toxins in our air, food and water, I think our systems are getting overloaded.  Some can handle this overload.  Others can’t.  Being a 2 time cancer survivor (Melanoma -Stage 1 and Breast Cancer-Stage 3), my immune system obviously needs help, which is why I have so embraced nutrition.

Every book I read on beating cancer focused in on the liver.  If you have cancer, your liver is not functioning like it should.  It is overwhelmed and needs help doing its job. Nutrition, exercise, supplements and detox are all ways to help the liver, but especially detox.
I am following this super easy juice plan.  It is called Reboot.  You must check it out if this interests you at all.  There are 5 different of levels of juice cleanses.  I am still not sure which one I am going to end up doing.  I know for sure that I am doing a 3 day juice only (they call it the long weekend) cleanse, and I am thinking it will turn into one of their other choices, and last up to a week.  
I lost 2 pounds in one day, and weight is not something I want to lose, so adding food back by day 4 is pretty much a no choice for me. 

I will keep you informed on how the cleanse is going.  I will share my juice recipes, let you know what the cleanse cost me, get real with any side affects that come up, and I may even tell you whether or not I embraced coffee enemas.  Now you have no choice but to stay tuned… 😉
_______________________
Meet Joe.  He is the same guy as that guy up in the video picture! Whoa.

“Let me tell you my story: around 4 years ago, I was 45kg overweight. I was taking medication night and day. I had high blood pressure and high cholesterol. My blood test results weren’t great… some things were in the normal range but most were either too high or too low. Basically, I was a mess.
When I turned 40, I looked in the mirror and said: “Enough is enough”. I decided to take matters into my own hands. There was no magic pill to cure me, indeed the pills I was on clearly weren’t cutting the mustard, though maybe they were keeping me alive. So, I got to wondering about radically changing my diet. I’d done juice fasts (what I now call ‘Reboots’) before, with success. So I wondered what would happen if I only drank fruit and veggie juices for 60 days? What would that do to my health? It was literally an experiment I planned myself, based on this question: If I only consumed plant food: vegetables, fruit, nuts, beans, legumes and seeds, would I be able to get off my medication?
I did my first fully-fledged 60-day Reboot in late 2007 and was completely off my medication in March 2008. I’ve been off medication ever since and remain trim, taut and terrific – if I don’t say so myself! So, when we wrapped ‘Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead’, the crew, the medical team that was monitoring me and I all knew we had something very special and inspirational to tell the world. I decided to create a community that would enable everyone to experience this life-changing approach to looking after ourselves.
My vision is that we will have millions of people that join up here as members and make the commitment to increase their plant-food consumption… be it by drinking fruit and veggie juices or by eating more of both. The actual Reboot Plans in here are just the beginning. Once you successfully complete your Reboot you will crave more plant food. Weird but true!”
————————
Inspiring, huh? I was super inspired when I watched the movie.   You can order it here, Fat Sick & Nearly Dead if you do I will get a small percentage, or if you have Netflix you can get it from there.

The Reboot Site has the answer to any FAQ’s out there, so if you have any, make sure you check it out!

18
Drinks/ Healthy Eating/ RECIPES

Ziplock Freezer Smoothie Packs

I found the idea of these freezer smoothie packs on Pinterest from Budget Bytes.  I make a smoothie for myself almost everyday, and I love the idea of not having to lug 10 bags out of the freezer every time I go to make one!  Plus, now my kids can grab a bag from the freezer and make their own smoothies.

This is what my smoothie ended up looking like.  The color will all depend on what fruit you decide to put in it.

I had 5 bananas and a bunch of frozen fruit.

Raspberries, pineapple, blueberries and a cherry berry blend.

Peel the banana, you need one banana per Ziploc bag smoothie.  If you are not a banana lover, frozen peaches or mangoes are a great substitute, as they are hearty and will help make up the bulk of the smoothie.  A banana is so sweet and creamy, that it tends to be my favorite.

Add 1 cup of whatever type of frozen fruit you would like.

I did a combo of berries and pineapple here.

Just choose your favorites.  You can’t go wrong!

To make the smoothie, put 2 handfuls of spinach (about 2 cups) in a blender.

Add 1 cup of your choice of milk. (Dairy, soy, almond or coconut.) I use almond.  Blend until spinach is chopped up teeny tiny.

Add your pouch of fruit containing 1 banana and 1 cup of assorted berries/fruit.

Blend.  See how the green disappears into a nice purple?  The kids will never know what is REALLY in there.  The spinach taste goes away thanks to the berries.

I  like to add Chia seeds for extra fiber and protein.  This is optional.  Some also like to add cinnamon. Some add protein powder or honey if the fruit is not sweet enough.  Make sure you taste.  The one I made today was so sweet, it DID NOT need any more sweetness.

This recipe made enough for a very full 12 oz mason jar…about 15 oz all together.

Enjoy!  So refreshing, and a great way to get in some of your servings of fruits and veggies each day!

Ziploc Smoothie

1 Ziploc

1 banana

1 cup assorted berries/fruit

2 cup baby spinach

1 cup milk (almond, dairy, coconut or soy)

—

Optional ingredients:

1/2 tsp cinnamon

2 tbsp chia seeds

1 scoop protein powder

Honey, Stevia or Agave to sweeten if needed

Make your Ziploc smoothie packs, each containing one banana and one cup of fruit.  Freeze until you are ready to use them, you can use one right away, the banana does not need to be frozen.

Place spinach in blender.  Add milk.  Blend until smooth.

Add Ziplock smoothie pack. Blend until smooth.

Add optional ingredients if desired. Blend until smooth.

—————

A Little Bit About Blenders

Professional Grade High Speed Blender

{Some of the best money I have ever spent!}

 

Vitamix Professional Series 750

This is the model I have.  I drooled over it for a couple of years!

It was a splurge, but worth EVERY penny.  I use it 2-3 times a day.

It makes crushed ice in seconds.  It takes almonds to almond butter in seconds.  It makes the best raspberry fruit purees for pancakes and ice cream–obliterates all those little seeds into smooth puree heaven! We are eating 3 times the amount of fruits and veggies since purchasing this amazing blender, which I know is keeping us out of the doctors’ office and away from those expensive co-pays, so in my mind it has paid itself off.

I’ve never used one, but have heard good things about them.  They are not professional grade like the Vitamix, but the price is much easier to swallow and they are powerful.
{my old Oster on the left, my New Vitamix on the right}
I had one of these for years and it does the job.  You can’t beat the price, and for smoothies, it works, although you have to blend much longer. You will still have chia and raspberry seeds in your smoothies, but if you don’t mind the extra texture, this one will do.  If you have had a high speed blender, you will not be happy with this one.  If you are looking for something to get by until you can get a high speed blender, and to just get those smoothies in you, this will do just fine.
A passion for organics
More From New Nostalgia
56
Cancer Journey/ Drinks/ HEALTH/ Healthy Eating/ RECIPES

9 Reasons To Juice Your Greens

When I was diagnosed with cancer, one of the first things I did was order a juicer.  It was the best 99 dollars I have spent in a long time!  I had read Kris Karr’s “Crazy, Sexy Cancer Life” and knew she was keeping her tumors “quiet” for over 7 years using only nutritional methods.  The main practice that she swears by for her continued health is juicing her greens.  Juicing is also the main practice of the Gerson Therapy for cancer, and there are several blogs out there that I love that tell of survivors experience with this.

I drank green, beet and carrot juices all though my treatment and after when healing from surgeries.  I stayed healthy throughout my entire treatment (except for a weird ear infection from a small cut when chemo had my cell count low) and honestly felt like my immune system was stronger than ever during treatment.  The only time I felt sick and weak was the first week of all 4 cycles of chemo, and that was to be expected.  My doctors commented on how quickly my incisions healed, and I think what I put into my body nutritionally had a lot to do with it!

The last 3 months I have not been as regular with juicing, and I miss it.  It is an amazing way to start the day, and I definitely notice a difference in my energy level and my complexion/skin.  When I juiced regularly, I had a healthy glow about me.  People commented on it all the time.  I have been pretty regular with my green smoothies, but alternating them with fresh veggie juice is definitely the way to go.

Why Juice?

1.  By removing the fiber through the process of squeezing the pulp, we instantly lighten the load on our digestion. Nutrients pass directly into the bloodstream, and within minutes our bodies receive optimum fuel to feed our cells and help restore our immune systems. —Kris Carr


2.  Fresh juice provides vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, essential fatty acids, proteins, phytonutrients, antioxidants and so much more!


3.  You will have increased energy.  This is one of the main motivations.  I love how energized I feel when I juice!


4.  Much of the goodness of fruit is locked in the fiber which is expelled from the body. When we juice the fruits and vegetables, their goodness is released from the fiber and we are able to drink their highly concentrated nutrients which are then able to enter our bloodstream very quickly. —Living and Raw Foods


5. The large amounts of concentrated nutrients one receives from juicing could never be eaten in one sitting.  Imagine trying to make a smoothie out of the same amount of veggies used to make 16 oz of juice.  You could never drink that much.


6. Drinking fresh juice guarantees you are receiving many of the nutrients you need.  Bottled juices on the market have lost most of their nutritional value.  Make sure you drink your freshly pressed juice right away, as nutrient loss happens fairly quickly.


7. It is a great way to use up fruits and vegetables that would otherwise go to waste.  I have felt so much better about my lack of food waste now that I have a juicer.  Fruits and veggies that are almost past their prime are perfect for juicing.


8. No matter how we try, man cannot replicate the amazing goodness that is in food that God through nature has provided for us.  A supplement is necessary at times, but nothing can compare or compete with what nature can give through real food.


9. It increases alkalinity.  It is said that diseases cannot thrive in an alkaline state.  Fresh green juice is detoxifying and contains loads of chlorophyll.  “Chlorophyll contains a powerful blood builder that’s said to increase red blood cells, improve circulation, ease inflammation, oxygenate the body, and counteract harmful free radicals. By eating (and drinking) a diet high in chlorophyll (raw fruits and veggies, especially leafy greens), we dine on liquid oxygen, the very substance we need to stay alive and thrive. —Kris Karr “Crazy Sexy Cancer Life”

My Go-To Green Juice
~big bunch of kale
~2 celery stalks
~1 regualr cucmber or 1/2 of a large
~1 green apple
~1/2 lemon
1 inch chunk of ginger (chunk in pic is too big, it is about 2 inches)
~~~
1 scoop vanilla plant fusion pea protein powder (optional)
Ice (optional)
I use organic produce as much as possible.  Peel your cucumber if not organic.  The peel of lemons, ginger and apple core is just fine in the juicer.  I have recently read that apple seeds contain a toxin, so removing those would be preferred.
After the veggies are washed, the process takes just a minute.
It really is easy, the hardest part being the clean up, which really is not that big of a deal.
Adding produce to the juicer
Liquid gold in my opinion!!
Left over pulp can be used in soups or to make homemade pulp crackers.  Or compost.
I add a scoop of vegan protein powder.  It has the sweet herb, stevia in it, which I think makes the flavor of my juice so much better.  If you like a tart juice, you can eliminate this step.  I put the juice in a mason jar, add protein powder, add ice, put the lid on and shake!  Add a straw and enjoy!!
I use the
I love it!  It is compact compared to most juicers, a great price, and easy to clean!
Really, clean up is easy with this machine.  The most work is that mesh basket, but it comes with its own brush and takes seconds.  The rest is just rinse and dry.
Have you ever juiced?  Do you have a juicer that you love?  Does this interest or intrigue you?
Did you know there are a bazillion juice recipes out there?  One of my fav–2 apples and 2 handfuls of fresh cranberries.  Homemade Cran-Apple juice is AMAZING!


16
Drinks/ RECIPES

Turmeric Chai Tea: For Your At Home Medicine Cabinet

This is a guest post from Andrea at Frugally Sustainable.  I am so happy to know Andrea.  She is a faithful linker to our Anti-Procrastination Tuesdays, and I know you all love her because she often gets “most clicked on link” of the week.

I love everything about this guest post, but I especially love that it contains TURMERIC!  I have read over and over that as one who has had cancer, I need to find ways to get turmeric in my diet.  This is a wonderful, simple way to do just that!

Thanks so much, Andrea!

_____________________________________________________________________________

 

We all have our go-to-remedies and today I would like to share with you one of mine.

Turmeric is one of the world’s most powerful natural healers. Its’ active ingredient curcumin, has been known for centuries to have extremely potent medicinal properties and is documented as being effective in treating a variety of conditions.

Other than the occasional curry, I struggled to add this beneficial root herb to our diet. That was until I created a Turmeric Chai Tea! 

Although my palate rejoices simply at the thought of this drink, I must warn you…this is some pungent stuff! Tasty, but definitely a pretty serious tea. 

10 Reasons Why Turmeric Is One of My Favorite Remedies

  1. Turmeric is an anti-microbial. That means it will attack both bacterial infections and viral infections and destroy both. It is particularly effective in treating illnesses of the respiratory system (this makes it a superb remedy for the cold and flu season).
  2. It has shown to prevent and stop the growth of prostate, breast, skin, lung and colon cancer
  3. Known to reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes
  4. A natural liver detoxifier.
  5. Research shows it may prevent and slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
  6. As a potent natural anti-inflammatory, turmeric may work just as well as many anti-inflammatory drugs. Furthermore, reducing the risks associated with the side effects of those types of medications.
  7. It’s a natural painkiller.
  8. Aids in fat metabolism (i.e. helps with weight management)
  9. Trusted for many, many years in other cultures as a treatment for depression.
  10. Speeds up wound healing and assists in the treatment of acne, eczema, psoriasis, uneven pigmentation, and lackluster skin.

I’ve added it to a list of my most favorite medicinal herbs. In fact, it’s right up there with garlic, ginger, parsley, sage and rosemary.

Turmeric Chai Tea Recipe


Turmeric Chai Tea Powder 
(4 servings) 

-3 tablespoons ground turmeric
-4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
-1/8 teaspoon ground clove
-1 teaspoon ground cardamon
-2 teaspoons ground ginger
-1-2 teaspoons cayenne pepper (optional)

Directions: Mix all ingredients together and store in a glass jar.

Note: Cayenne pepper, although optional in the recipe, will speed the turmeric through the blood stream by relaxing blood vessels down to capillaries allowing more turmeric to get to the infections faster. 


Tea Prep
(single serving)

-4 teaspoons of Turmeric Chai Tea Powder
-1 cup water
-sweetener to taste
-1/2-1 cup warm milk (i.e. cow, goat, almond, hemp, coconut, etc.)


Directions: Bring 1 cup of water to boil. Pour water over spices and steep for 10 minutes. Strain through a fine mesh sieve or a cheesecloth. Add sweetener and milk.


Notes and Tips

-WARNING: Turmeric will turn everything it touches yellow. 

-Using fresh herbs is always the better option. If using fresh turmeric and ginger increase steep time, during the prep, to 20 minutes.

-Turmeric, along with the other spices required in this recipe, is available in a well-appointed health food store, the spice aisle of most grocery stores, and in bulk online through companies such as Mountain Rose Herbs and The Bulk Herb Store.

-Because it stimulates the uterus, turmeric is not recommended for pregnant women. It is also contraindicated for those with gall bladder disease or gallstones. As a good general rule, please consult your physician prior to the use of any herbal/spice remedy.

Inspirational Resources:
Turmeric Superfood 
20 Health Benefits of Turmeric 
New Findings Show Disease Fighting Powers of Turmeric

_____________________________________________________

Andrea is a Registered Nurse turned Frugally Sustainable Homemaker.  Her blog, Frugally Sustainable, is “one of the most featured blogs in its niche! It is host to 4-5 informative posts per week that catalogue the why, the how, and the how-to on: frugality, simplicity, health and nutrition, motivation and inspiration, homeschooling, up-cycling, recycling, and designing a life that is interdependent on like-minded others, ecologically responsible and centered around the home.”

7
Drinks/ HEALTH/ RECIPES

Matcha Smoothie

{Isn’t the light green color awesome?}
* This is a guest post by Jill from “The 411 at 488”

 All you green tea lovers, be well advised to GIVE THIS SMOOTHIE a go!  I had to make an extra big batch this morning to satisfy  LARGE second helpings for both the Mr. and I!  Whew, I can’t say enough about this refreshing and healthful start to my day!  The earthy Matcha (green tea powder) mixed with the creamy frozen banana and the sweet/tart nectarines came together perfectly to make this one of my favorite smoothies yet!  As always, a big hit of protein powder and ground flax seed filled my stomach and kept me very satisfied until later in the afternoon–even after burning up all of my energy stores during an excruciating 90 minute power yoga session first thing this morning!

If you haven’t already picked up a can of matcha to make my green tea panna cotta or lattes, stop by your local asian grocer the next time you are in the neighborhood–it isn’t cheap, but don’t worry, a small amount of the powder goes a LONG, LONG way!
So the dietitian in me HAS to tell you all about the health benefits of this green powder.  I am sure you have all heard the health buzz on green tea, right??  Well, think about the fact that this powder is 100% ground green tea leaves–NOT just the water that the leaves have been steeped in–giving you concentrated exposure to the ‘good stuff’.  So what is so good about it you ask??  To start, matcha provides a whole boat load of antioxidants to help prevent aging (LOVE IT) and chronic diseases (doubly LOVE IT). Fruits and veggies are great sources of antioxidants, but matcha is unparalleled in comparison. In fact, matcha is packed with exponentially more antioxidants than even fruit’s best performers–pomegranates and blueberries!  Experts at Tufts University have uncovered that matcha possesses an amazing twenty times (yep, I said 20x!!) more so than pomegranates or blueberries.

Even better, matcha contains a unique, potent class of antioxidant known as catechins, which aren’t found in other foods. More specifically, the catechin EGCg (epigallocatechin gallate) provides super-charged cancer-fighting properties. Most importantly, EGCg and other catechins counteract the effects of evil free radicals from the likes of pollution, UV rays, radiation, and chemicals, which can lead to cell and DNA damage. Since over 60% of the catechins in matcha are actually EGCg, a daily matcha regimen can help restore and preserve the body’s integral well-being and balance.  Sound pretty good?  Just wait, there is more!
Over a thousand years ago, matcha came to Japan as an aid to meditation practice.  I know, SNOOZE-VILLE, right!??  Which is why they would routinely drink matcha — to remain alert, yet calm. Modern science has recently confirmed the lessons of centuries of tradition. Matcha is rich in L-Theanine, a rare amino acid that actually promotes a state of relaxation and well-being by acting upon the brain’s functioning. While stress can induce beta waves—an excited, more agitated state—L-Theanine creates alpha waves, which lead to a state of relaxed alertness. And while L-Theanine is common in all tea, matcha may contain up to five times more of this amino acid than common black and green teas. As an additional benefit (and maybe because of this), L-Theanine may help memory and learning ability–I am sure we can all use a little help there!  Simply put, it promotes concentration and clarity of mind without any of the nervous energy found in coffee. So a green tea latte (made with Silk’s vanilla coconut milk, of course) really does make a lot of sense as an afternoon snack/pick-me-up!!

{Creamy smooth, lightly sweet, and full of healthy ingredients!}
Guys and gals you are going to LOVE THIS…one of the most unexpected benefits matcha drinkers experience is a boost of energy through the day. In one study, researchers had thought that this was from the caffeine in matcha, but they found that it was actually the combination of matcha’s natural properties. Another recent study in particular found that matcha even improved physical endurance by 24%. Even if you aren’t facing a grueling workout, matcha can help you through the everyday marathon, whether it’s that project due the next day or getting the kids from school to soccer practice.  Oh, and on top of that a recent study shows that if consumed regularly, matcha may boost metabolism and burn calories up to as much as 4 x!
Whew, I am FINALLY done!  So, can you think of anything with health benefits comparable to matcha–all for next to ZERO calories??  Me either!  Fire up your blender and get ready to FEEL the beauty of this sensible, yet delicious breakfast or afternoon drink!  If you discover different scrumptious ways to use your matcha powder please send me a note with the details–I would love to hear your ideas!  Cheers!


Matcha Smoothie
Serves: 2
1 fresh banana
1 frozen banana
1 cup frozen nectarines or peaches (mango could work, too!)
1 scoop ground golden flax seed
2 scoops beneprotein (or your favorite protein powder)
1 tsp. matcha powder (add more to taste)
1-11/2 cups coconut milk (depending upon your desire consistency)
____________
Throw it all in your blender or smoothie machine and let it rip!  Drink and ENJOY!!

Jill has an awesome food diary, The 411 at 488, full of healthful and delicious meals.  I met Jill through a friend (what up, Coop!) and I am so glad to know of her and her awesome site.  She is a registered dietitian and knows what she is talking about when it comes to health.  Visit her at her site and tell her Amy said “Hi!”

Drinks/ RECIPES

Blueberry Banana Chia Oat Smoothie

I’m sipping on this hearty, filling, textured smoothie as I type away at this post.  It is yummy!  It is breakfast in a cup, which was perfect for me this morning.  I’ve been carrying it around, sipping as I get stuff done around here.  


I often use my Everyday Green Smoothie as a perfect base for adding whatever else to my smoothies.  Usually it is frozen berries, but today I wanted the extra heartiness of oats.  I also decided to throw some blueberries in there, which made it a pretty purple.  


The oats make this a “textured smoothie” so if that is not appealing, skip the oats.

Blueberry Banana Chia Oat Smoothie

2 large handfuls of spinach (about 2 cups)
1 cup almond milk (or milk of choice-coconut, soy, dairy)
1 banana
1 scoop vanilla protein powder (I use Plant Fusion, see below)
1/3 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen)
1 cup ice
1/3 cup oats (optional)
2 tbls chia seeds (optional)
Place spinach, almond milk, banana, chia and protein powder in blender.  Blend until smooth.  You should see a cortex in the middle, if you don’t add a bit more milk until you do.  When smooth, add oats, then ice.  Blend a bit more.  Pour and enjoy!
This smoothie contains at least 16 grams of fiber and lots of protein from the powder and spinach.  It is also a good source of iron (spinach), potassium (banana), and antioxidants.

Navitas Naturals Chia Seeds Aztec Superfood, 16 Ounce Pouch
Love ’em.  Why?
~the are jammed packed with protein and minerals and healthy fats and fiber
~they provide more plant based Omega 3’s than any other food, even FLAX
~they have 5 GRAMS of fiber PER TABLESPOON!
~they are flavorless and dissolve in juice, soups, stews, shakes etc..
~they are FILLING!

The protein powder I use is Plant Fusion Pea Protein Powder.  It is vegan and is sweetened with stevia herb. No yucky artificial sweeteners.  Love it!

5
Top