Hey everyone!! - it's another smoothie recipe ;-).
'a heart healthy, power packed jar of wonder!'
This one would be another decent 'entry level' smoothie if you haven't yet joined the breakfast smoothie movement! - it's mild, sweet and delicious.
obviously I only design recipes that are going to do your body loads of favours with their nutrient content, so i'm just going to talk a little about the goodies that are in this gorgeous purple powerhouse!
firstly beetroot - aside from being jam packed full of fabulous health giving vitamins and minerals -( vits a,b & c, folic acid, iron, fibre, potassium, magnesium, antioxidants and nitrates) - studies have also shown that it can be helpful in athletic performance, helping to boost blood flow to the muscles and providing more economic oxygen consumption - so great if you are a runner or cyclist etc..
.....I always increase my beetroot intake to 'pink pee' levels on the approach to a race weekend - it helps that I love the stuff - but even if you're not that keen, the other ingredients in this completely knock out any earthy flavours.
blueberries - these famously fabulous little bombs of goodness are known for protecting the body's health - extremely rich in antioxidants, and packed with essential vitamins and minerals.
pineapple - these super sweet heroes also have a long list of health benefits, including their positive impact on respiratory health (pack this into your diet if you have a cough), circulation, the immune system, eye health and their anti inflammatory properties!
so.... all of this and more, packed into one delicious drink!.......what's not to love!
smoothie's are a great way to start your day, packing in fabulous nutrients early on will give you much better clarity and energy levels than sugary cereals or toast.
I topped this one with coconut milk yoghurt (i use coconut collaborative) and a hefty sprinkle of milled linseeds which are high in protein and omega oils.(I buy them premilled to save time, your body can't digest them properly when they're whole).
I always use this yoghurt as I love it, also because I don't like to eat a whole lot of dairy, but if you prefer a good greek yoghurt would work just as well!
when I have a breakfast smoothie like this, I don't get hungry for snacks mid morning, this will usually last me through until lunch!
ingredients:
- 2 medium cooked beets
-1 large handful blueberries
-2 slices or 1 large handful chopped pineapple (fresh or frozen)
-small handful of unsweetened coconut flakes
-approx. 200ml coconut milk drink (I like rude health)
whizz this all together until you have your desired consistency, you can add a little water if your prefer a runnier shake.
then add your chosen topper and slurp away!!
*tip* - take your time.......take at least as much time to drink this, as it would take you to eat these ingredients separately, your body won't thank you for chugging this down in 10 seconds. ;-).
I hope you enjoy this recipe.
please feel free to comment or let me know how you liked it.
much love
Claire Xx
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This was my ACTUAL breakfast this Morning - talk about starting the week on a high!
and its not even bad for you!
in fact it's packed full of protein, fibre, electrolytes, potassium, healthy fats, omega 3, antioxidants...basically a whole heap of good stuff.
I went for a 10 mile run very early this morning, before breakfast, so I needed a good refuel when I got home.
if I do a run before breakfast I basically spend the last few miles in a hunger induced state of delirium, dreaming up and imagining upon what sort of delights I will feast and devour upon my return home.
this pleasantly meditative state is actually more often than not where I create new ideas for recipes.
so after a hazy whirl of imagined plates of fancy and beautifully presented food, a pancake stack was the one which popped out, stayed and carried me for that last mile, like a dangling carrot.
but obviously, I knew my body didn't want a load of wheat flour, butter and sugar in order to recover, so I came up with this recipe to incorporate all the nutrients my body wants after exerting itself, while remaining naturally sweet, super satisfying and treat like!
the fact that they are made with mainly milled coconut means that they are still nice and easy on your digestive system, they won't glue your insides! and won't spike your sugar levels in the same way regular flour might. (meaning you won't get that drowsy post starchy carb fest lull),
this is a good slow release energy which will keep you full for hours on end!!
I added a little gram flour (chick pea flour) into the equation to help bind the mixture a little better - which also adds another hefty measure of protein!! - perfect for muscle recovery.
these are really naturally sweet, no added sugar required!! coconut is a wonderful natural sweetener, mixed with the fruits and yoghurts, it's a lovely, satisfying stack of wonder!!
here's the recipe!
these measurements are quite approximate.
-@75g milled coconut flakes (or pre-bought coconut flour)
-1 tbsp. gram flour
-100ml coconut milk drink (I use rude health organic)
-1 tbsp. chia seeds (chicj pea flour)
-1 tbsp. milled linseed (flax)
-half tsp vanilla powder
-1 egg
beat this all together until you get a good thick pouring consistency and then cook small pancakes in a small amount of coconut oil.
I stacked them up with slices of banana, blueberries and dollops of coconut milk yoghurt. (I used coconut collaborative).
As usual I used this, as I try where I can to avoid dairy, but if you prefer a good organic greek yoghurt will work just as well, also whichever fruits you would like to add - strawberries would be good in this too!.
I hope you enjoyed this recipe!
Much love
Claire Xx
Now this bad boy will help get you set up for the day!
it is smooth, sweet, creamy, filling, will keep you full for ages, and look!! just look how pretty!!
You may have noticed from the heading that one of the ingredients is matcha, this stuff in my book, possesses magical properties, it induces a state of calm wakefulness and alertness (as opposed to the jittery lift of the coffee bean).
Matcha tea is absolutely stuffed with antioxidants and the health benefits of adding it to your diet are fabulous, it's good for your metabolism too and also helps you to feel full.
it contains the compound 'l-theanine' which counteracts any jittery or anxious feelings associated with caffeine and the result for me is a little like switching my brain on!
now if you haven't yet come around to the idea of the green smoothie , this may just be the one to change your mind and get you to climb aboard the smoothie train!!...go onnn! give it a whirl!...
there does seem to be a pocket of folk, labouring under the impression, that we members of the 'green smoothie brigade' are (a) clinically insane or (b) posses the tastebuds of woodland creatures with a penchant for grassy goodness and a nice bit of bark.
usually neither of these are true!...usually..
all joking aside though, this one is a good , gentle, sweet tasting one, so if you find the idea of a green smoothie alarming, this could be worth a shot.
they really are a fabulous way to pack in an inordinate amount of nutrients into one quick to prepare and easy to consume meal.
you do need a half decent blender to get a good smooth consistency though.
this one contains:
-1 handful spinach
-1 small banana
-half and avocado
-1tsp matcha tea powder
-1 tbsp. unsweetened dried coconut flakes or a desert spoon of coconut butter.
-coconut milk drink as your liquid base - up to you how much!
-2 tbsp. apple juice
So just whack all this into a blender until you have a milkshake like consistency.
now for the topping! I used a coconut milk based yoghurt as I tend to choose dairy free where possible and it's also deliciously sweet, however a good organic greek yoghurt would work just as well.
then sprinkle over flaked almonds, or any smashed up nuts of your choice really and finish with a little sprinkle of cacao powder.
fancy jar and stripy straw are obviously optional, but I am a sucker for a bit of presentation!..
I hope that you enjoy this recipe!
much love... Claire xx
