It's been a couple of years of fully energized mornings, primed with the goodness of greenery and nutrient dense add ins, free from the weight of sugary carb' and fat loaded breakfasts. What was I thinking? That heady sugar high delivered in an array of forms from a combination of grains and sweeteners, served up with an occasional plate of breakfast meats and eggs, made me wonder what all those commercials featuring bright heel kickin' mornings were about. I really do love "breakfast foods", but have found that they really do not love me back!
For the most part, my conclusions have come after actually experiencing the freedom of snappy spirited mornings in contrast with the typical bulk of a standard American breakfast that fails to deliver what our bodies are really craving. It was a
For the most part, my conclusions have come after actually experiencing the freedom of snappy spirited mornings in contrast with the typical bulk of a standard American breakfast that fails to deliver what our bodies are really craving. It was a
clumsy transition that included busting out the blender, assembling a palatable combination of ingredients and the jarring sound of a noisy blender...truly a morning game changer. But as time went by, morning after morning, and a full year of each season's offerings, it became my new normal. Seriously, my husband knows that when we travel, I am always thinking about the logistics of packing my blender, seeds, turmeric and almond milk! The hotel breakfast is not going to cut it; I need my leafy greens!!!
So what exactly is it that turns a simple fruit "shake" into a virtuous breakfast smoothie? The answers are many, depending on how you choose to fill in the components of your wondrous whirl of produce, and also how long you need this beverage to fuel you. Are you going for a light start, followed in an hour by a quick snack, or do you need it to keep you going through the entire morning until lunch?
However you answer the above, the main objective is to start your day with as much of a nutrient dense kick to not only fuel your system with calories, but also to heal, build, restore and flat out free you up to be the best you can be! Too long have we thought of breakfast as nothing more than the initial dose of calories to segue us from slumber to motion...that's about it. And the more deliciously syrupy and/or eggy salty the better! The standard American breakfast is void of living produce, hence, void of antioxidants, phytonutrients, and thousands of other compounds so necessary for our bodies to maintain the bounce and vigor of health. The green smoothie offers several servings of raw fruits and vegetables that most people fail to consume in the rush of life. And if you are missing out on the life giving properties of raw produce, you are forfeiting the enormous benefit of nature's greatest pharmacy, the plant kingdom! Dr Michael Gregor of NutritionFacts.org explains why the green smoothie is such a boost to your health, comparing blended and pureed veggies to chopped and chewed veggies. If you're curious about the difference between juicing and smoothies, see this video by Dr Gregor.
In today's blog, I offer 2 smoothie recipes to get you off and running in the world of whirled breakfasts, a Cranberry Cider Smoothie, and Grapefruit Cilantro Smoothie, with a basic template for creating your own luscious morning concoction. Whatever ingredients you choose, just know that what you're after is not a milkshake sugary sweet drink, but a mix that is mildly sweet, just sweet enough to deliver the goodness of greens with your other additions while keeping the glycemic index in check.
My favorite things to include are turmeric, for it's anti-inflammatory properties, flax seed for it's lignans, berries because they are amazing antioxidants (strawberries and blueberries), and of course, really dark leafy greens like spinach, kale and beet greens. And speaking of beets, I may even through some roasted beets in, especially if I plan on working out because they help oxygenate the blood and boost stamina!
This winter, I have been all over the cranberry smoothie recipe! Enormously better than cranberry juice, cranberries in their whole form are a world of wonder for their health protecting properties. If you have had bladder issues, UTI's, gout, kidney stones or if winter viruses are swirling around you, take note, cranberries are powerful defenders of your health! And with just a bit of apple cider to balance their tartness, a shake of cloves and turmeric, you've got a green guardian in a glass to ward off any threat!
And one final tip: if you need your smoothie to last all morning, add almond butter, cashews, avocado, or any rich nut or seed that will incorporate a sufficient amount of good fat to keep the fuel burning through the first half of your day.
With so many reasons to love a smoothie, let's raise a glass of pulverized yumminess to a healthier you!
So what exactly is it that turns a simple fruit "shake" into a virtuous breakfast smoothie? The answers are many, depending on how you choose to fill in the components of your wondrous whirl of produce, and also how long you need this beverage to fuel you. Are you going for a light start, followed in an hour by a quick snack, or do you need it to keep you going through the entire morning until lunch?
However you answer the above, the main objective is to start your day with as much of a nutrient dense kick to not only fuel your system with calories, but also to heal, build, restore and flat out free you up to be the best you can be! Too long have we thought of breakfast as nothing more than the initial dose of calories to segue us from slumber to motion...that's about it. And the more deliciously syrupy and/or eggy salty the better! The standard American breakfast is void of living produce, hence, void of antioxidants, phytonutrients, and thousands of other compounds so necessary for our bodies to maintain the bounce and vigor of health. The green smoothie offers several servings of raw fruits and vegetables that most people fail to consume in the rush of life. And if you are missing out on the life giving properties of raw produce, you are forfeiting the enormous benefit of nature's greatest pharmacy, the plant kingdom! Dr Michael Gregor of NutritionFacts.org explains why the green smoothie is such a boost to your health, comparing blended and pureed veggies to chopped and chewed veggies. If you're curious about the difference between juicing and smoothies, see this video by Dr Gregor.
In today's blog, I offer 2 smoothie recipes to get you off and running in the world of whirled breakfasts, a Cranberry Cider Smoothie, and Grapefruit Cilantro Smoothie, with a basic template for creating your own luscious morning concoction. Whatever ingredients you choose, just know that what you're after is not a milkshake sugary sweet drink, but a mix that is mildly sweet, just sweet enough to deliver the goodness of greens with your other additions while keeping the glycemic index in check.
My favorite things to include are turmeric, for it's anti-inflammatory properties, flax seed for it's lignans, berries because they are amazing antioxidants (strawberries and blueberries), and of course, really dark leafy greens like spinach, kale and beet greens. And speaking of beets, I may even through some roasted beets in, especially if I plan on working out because they help oxygenate the blood and boost stamina!
This winter, I have been all over the cranberry smoothie recipe! Enormously better than cranberry juice, cranberries in their whole form are a world of wonder for their health protecting properties. If you have had bladder issues, UTI's, gout, kidney stones or if winter viruses are swirling around you, take note, cranberries are powerful defenders of your health! And with just a bit of apple cider to balance their tartness, a shake of cloves and turmeric, you've got a green guardian in a glass to ward off any threat!
And one final tip: if you need your smoothie to last all morning, add almond butter, cashews, avocado, or any rich nut or seed that will incorporate a sufficient amount of good fat to keep the fuel burning through the first half of your day.
With so many reasons to love a smoothie, let's raise a glass of pulverized yumminess to a healthier you!
THE SMOOTHIE RECIPE TEMPLATE
1/4 cups crushed ice
a good hand full of dark leafy greens such as spinach, kale, beet greens, parsley or cilantro
1-1 1/4 cup dairy free milk, or water
1/4-1/2 cup fruit of choice (just enough to make it palatable)
2 TB flax, chia or hemp seed, or any combination
a few dashes turmeric, cloves or black pepper
Optional: small hand full of walnuts, almonds, cashews, pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds
Additional options may include avocado, coconut, cacao nibs
Place your choice of ingredients into a blender, let it whirl for 30 or more seconds. Enjoy!
1/4 cups crushed ice
a good hand full of dark leafy greens such as spinach, kale, beet greens, parsley or cilantro
1-1 1/4 cup dairy free milk, or water
1/4-1/2 cup fruit of choice (just enough to make it palatable)
2 TB flax, chia or hemp seed, or any combination
a few dashes turmeric, cloves or black pepper
Optional: small hand full of walnuts, almonds, cashews, pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds
Additional options may include avocado, coconut, cacao nibs
Place your choice of ingredients into a blender, let it whirl for 30 or more seconds. Enjoy!
Cranberry Cider Smoothie
Into a 3 cup smoothie blender layer:
1/4 cup crushed ice
1 handful dark leafy greens
1/3 cup apple cider
1 cup non dairy nut milk, almond, cashew or hemp milk)
1 handful of fresh cranberries (not dried, but they may be frozen cranberries)
1 Tb flax seed
1 Tb chia seed
4 dashes turmeric
Blend for 30-60 seconds. Adjust for taste and consistency if necessary and enjoy!
Into a 3 cup smoothie blender layer:
1/4 cup crushed ice
1 handful dark leafy greens
1/3 cup apple cider
1 cup non dairy nut milk, almond, cashew or hemp milk)
1 handful of fresh cranberries (not dried, but they may be frozen cranberries)
1 Tb flax seed
1 Tb chia seed
4 dashes turmeric
Blend for 30-60 seconds. Adjust for taste and consistency if necessary and enjoy!
Cilantro Grapefruit Smoothie
1/4 cup crushed ice
1 handful dark leafy greens
1/2 of a grapefruit peeled and seeded, leave the membrane and some white pith
1 cup non dairy nut milk
1 small handful fresh cilantro, leaf and stem
1-2 Tb flax, chia or hemp seed
4 dashes turmeric
Blend for 30-60 seconds. Adjust for taste and consistency adding more liquid if needed, cover and go! Enjoy!
1/4 cup crushed ice
1 handful dark leafy greens
1/2 of a grapefruit peeled and seeded, leave the membrane and some white pith
1 cup non dairy nut milk
1 small handful fresh cilantro, leaf and stem
1-2 Tb flax, chia or hemp seed
4 dashes turmeric
Blend for 30-60 seconds. Adjust for taste and consistency adding more liquid if needed, cover and go! Enjoy!
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