Monday, August 12, 2013

Green smoothie love

I tend to drink a lot of smoothies for breakfast when summertime comes around. They are super easy to make, and a super great way to pack in a lot of different nutrients that you might not otherwise be able to get in your morning meal. For example, how many of us could easily incorporate kale and spirulina into our breakfast routine? Check out my latest favorite smoothie recipe below for a yummy breakfast treat.

Add to a blender:

1.  Kale (avoid the stems)
2.  Half an avocado
3.  Cold almond milk (or your favorite dairy alternative - flax, hemp, coconut, etc.)
4.  Dash of spirulina powder
5.  Fruit, frozen if possible (Banana, blueberries, watermelon are all good options that I've tried in this recipe. If the fruit is not frozen, add an ice cube to the blender.)
6.  Heaping spoonful of peanut or almond butter
7.  Dash of stevia (Please only use stevia or a natural sweetener. Artificial sweeteners are very dangerous to consume.)
8.  Blend. If not mixing properly, add a little more almond milk. Taste and add more stevia as needed, but be careful - a little stevia goes a long way.
9.  Enjoy!

Health benefits: This smoothie is a perfect balance of healthy fat, fiber, carbs, protein, and nutrients. Almond milk is high in calcium, non-dairy, and vitamin-rich. Spirulina is full of protein, iron, vitamin A, and other nutrients. It improves digestion, fights free radicals, and more. (I use Earthrise Spirulina Natural powder.) Kale is a wonder plant. No joke. Check out my blog post "Incredible, wondrous kale" to learn more about the benefits of this leafy gem. Avocados are good for your heart, high in fiber, have anti-inflammatory properties, are high in phytonutrients, and so on, ad infinitum. Yes, they contain fat, but it is AMAZING fat that is super duper good for you. Trust me, eat them. Finally, depending upon what fruit you choose, it will have various vitamins and nutrients that it provides you. As always, try to buy organic fruits and veggies. Avocados and bananas have thick peels, and so are slightly less damaging bought non-organic (I don't buy them organic), but no pesticides always equals healthier people.

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