Google the word “Smoothie”
and you’ll get dozens of pages of website listings claiming to have
just the information you need to start a new healthy lifestyle. Although the
Smoothie has been around for decades, over the past couple years it has really
taken off in popularity. You see the ingredients front and center at all the
grocery and big box stores. From Chia Seeds to Protein Powder, suddenly these
things that we were not all that familiar with are anywhere you shop.
A few months ago we were
staying with friends and I was introduced to this delicious new breakfast habit
that now I cannot seem to live without. For one thing, it was so easy. Most of
the ingredients came right out of the freezer, adding in any fresh produce ripe
and ready to use from the counter. If you didn’t use the counter
produce in time, cut and freeze it for another day’s Smoothie. Even
the kale was chopped and frozen. Freezing all these ingredients was a new idea
to me, but it is the key to making the daily creation of your Smoothie so
simple and easy. Of course, you need a Magic Bullet for ease of preparing your
single servings each day.
There are books and websites that will provide you with hundreds
of recipes and nutrition information on the endless supply of ingredients you
can use, but you will also want something you love to taste. Here is the recipe
that I currently use each morning:
•
Fill the Bullet with about 2-3”
of chopped frozen kale
•
Add about 2”
of water
•
Two handfuls of assorted frozen (or fresh)
berries: blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries
•
One half fresh (or frozen) sliced banana
•
One teaspoon of PB2 powder
•
One teaspoon of Chia seeds
•
One teaspoons of Flax seeds
•
Blend and drink. Makes one large glass of
delicious. I like my Smoothies kind thick so I use a little less water than
some might.
The only ingredient on my current list that can over ripen are
the bananas. If I don’t use all the bananas in time, I slice
them and freeze for another day. Now I’m a newbie at this so I anticipate my
recipe will be changing regularly over time as I explore this new drink. I
adopted this one I use from my friend. I have since collected many other
ingredients in my freezer that I occasionally use, such as pineapple, peaches,
and mango. I would imagine the development of the perfect Smoothie can kind of
take many years.
I love a habit that is so effortless to maintain and at the same
time tastes so good. You also feel good about doing it. What could be a better
start to your day than a handful of kale and berries? Now don’t
just settle for my recipe, do some experimenting on your own. You definitely
want to create something that you look forward to drinking. When you explore
the various recipes out there, you’ll see that some are obviously meal
substitutes drinks, while others are designed to simply add more fruits and
vegetables to your day. Protein powder or other high-protein ingredients such
as whole milk, eggs, yogurt, or seeds help keep you satisfied for longer
periods of time.
Another friend recently told me about some “superfoods”
that she adds to her Smoothie. I thought I would give some of them a
try. One is Maca, which claims to provide energy and increase memory retention.
Another is Acai, which is loaded with antioxidants. One other she currently
uses are Goji Berries, which helps eyesight, boosts the immune system, and
promotes longevity. Do these special ingredients really work? I cannot say for
sure. My friend swears by them and reports an obvious change when she is eating
them. In doing my own research, numerous books and websites also claim these
ingredients to be extremely beneficial. But that is the beauty of the Smoothie.
I’ll try these out and see what I think. If I do not feel any
benefit, I’ll try something else. The wonderful thing is that you feel
good about the journey and you learn about taking better care of yourself.
Other foods that are commonly used in smoothies are cucumber,
avocado, apple, coconut, jicama, celery, spinach, beets, almond milk, orange,
yogurt - the list goes on and on. So go ahead, google “Smoothie”
and see what you find. Head to your local grocery store and explore the
produce department in a whole new way. If you end up loving this habit half as
much as I do, you’ll be starting out your days with a
refreshing custom-blend Smoothie.
-Christine Schiltz
Owner & Catering Director
Lake Elmo Inn Event Center
