GREEN SMOOTHIE

June 25, 2020 Julie Sanchez

Do you feel like you need more greens in you life? This creamy delicious smoothie may be just what you need. For breakfast I always eat scrambled eggs with spinach or a smoothie with spinach. Getting my greens in the morning simply makes me feel better!

You must freeze the banana and spinach the night before you make your smoothie. If you are not familiar with matcha powder it is known as a energy booster and it is high in antioxidants.

To prep the bananas for the freezer, I cut up each banana and place each banana in its own ziplock bag.

My bananas packages are ready to freeze.

I always keep spinach in the freezer…mainly because I use it for almost every breakfast. When you buy fresh spinach it has a limited time span of freshness in the fridge. Freezing it insures you have spinach anytime you need it.

Ingredients ready to go into the blender.

Ready to blend

GREEN SMOOTHIE RECIPE

Serves: 1 person
Prep Time: 10 minutes

INGREDieNTS

1 cup cold water
1 banana, cut into pieces and frozen
handful of fresh spinach, frozen
1/2 or 1 teaspoon matcha powder (1 teaspoon is a normal serving, but I use 1/2 teaspoon for a milder matcha taste)
wedge of avocado ( 1/4 of an average avocado)
4 pitted dates
1 tablespoon unsweetened almond butter

preparation

See above how to freeze bananas and spinach.
Combine ingredients in blender and blend till smooth.

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HEALTHY CHOCOLATE SHAKE

September 22, 2017 Julie Sanchez

My name is Julie and I am a chocoholic. I love chocolate more than cheese and margaritas, which is a big statement. To satisfy my cravings and not feel guilty, I combined all the flavors of a Almond Joy candy bar: coconut flakes, almond butter and cacao powder into a smooth rich chocolatey shake. I recently discovered that combining avocado to the mixture created a smoother creamier shake while adding healthy fat.

Cacao Powder has amazing health benefits:

40 times the antioxidants of blueberries
Highest plant based source of iron
Full of magnesium for a healthy heart and brain
More calcium than cow's milk
A natural mood elevator and anti-depressant
Contains four times the antioxidant content of regular processed dark chocolate

Whole Foods has an almond butter machine that makes fresh almond butter with a press of a button. Make sure your coconut chips are unsweetened; I buy mine from Whole Foods as well. And keep your coconut water stored in the fridge to keep you smoothie colder longer.

These are additional items I often like to add to the smoothie. I use flaxseed and psyllium husks for fiber, and protein in the morning to keep myself from starving during the day. Once opened, flaxseed needs to be stored in the fridge.

The secret of this smooth and cold smoothie is the addition of a frozen banana. I have found if you do not chop it first it takes a while for your Nutribullet or blender to breakdown the banana. This is why I cut the banana is pieces and freeze bags with one banana in each bag. Buy a bunch of perfectly ripe bananas and it takes 5 minutes to prep for the week.

HEALTHY CHOCOLATE SHAKE RECIPE

Serves: 1 serving
Prep Time: 5 minutes

INGREDIENTS

1 cup coconut water, chilled (keep your coconut water in the fridge)
1 tablespoons cacao powder
2 tablespoons unsweetened coconut flakes
1 tablespoon almond butter (unsweetened)
1 teaspoon agave or honey
1 banana, chopped and frozen
3 ice cubes
1/3 of a large avocado, or 1/2 of a small avocado

Optional ingredients

1 tablespoon flax seed
1 tablespoon protein powder
1/2 teaspoon psyllium husks

PREPARATION

Buy a bunch of perfectly ripe bananas. Chop one banana at a time into pieces, place in a baggie and freeze the bags with a banana in each bag. (This makes your blender’s work a little quicker and easier.)
Combine all ingredients in your Nutribullet or blender and blend till smooth.

Note: This shake is great as a mid day snack when you are craving something sweet. It is also delicious for breakfast if you add protein powder (so you will not be starving by 10:00 am).

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BLUEBERRY SMOOTHIE

January 8, 2016 Julie Sanchez

This blueberry smoothie is not only packed with super healthy ingredients, it is super yummy and refreshing! It is our standard breakfast Monday through Friday. If you overindulged over the holidays as we did, and your looking for ways to eat healthier, you can begin the new year by getting into a routine of eating a healthy breakfast. Smoothies are great since they are portable, I hand my husband his smoothie as he walks out the door, and he drinks in on the way to work.

I know what your thinking...wow that is a lot of ingredients, but do not be scared, this smoothie takes less than 10 minutes to prepare. If you are not a morning person, you can measure out all the dry ingredients the night before, or even measure them out on Sunday for the entire week. I use fresh spinach and bananas in this smoothie, but I freeze them ahead of time. I buy a bunch of bananas every week, peel them and put them in a ziplock bag in the freezer. I also do the same with the fresh spinach, since the frozen spinach you buy in the frozen section of the grocery is cooked and slimy...fresh, raw spinach is better for you! I freeze the bananas and spinach for several reasons. First you want a smooth creamy consistency for your smoothie, without having to add ice. Secondly, your bananas will not sit on the counter all week and turn brown since you froze them at their perfect ripeness.

My nutribullet is by far my most used kitchen tool. If you do not have one it will change your world. My nutribullet has replaced my vitamix blender and my margarita machine because it blends things so smoothly and quickly, its easy to clean, and it takes up very little space on your counter.

Coconut water is rich in nutrients, it contains 5 essential electrolytes including calcium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorous, and sodium. ( Which makes for a great hangover cure...just saying) It helps with your digestion process, helps prevent indigestion, and reduces acid reflux. Keep it in the fridge to give your smoothies a nice cold base.

I added the protein to help keep you energized till lunch. Additionally, protein provides the amino acids your brain needs to function at its peak level.

Psyllium is high in fiber and helps lower cholesterol. For intestinal health it 1. reduces your appetite 2. improves digestion and 3. cleanses your system. Bottom line (excuse the pun) if you are irregular, this can be your new best friend.

Flaxseed is a high fiber superfood. It also contains omega 3, and vitamin B-1.

Hemp hearts contain both omega 3 and omega 6 (essential fatty acids that have heart health and anti inflammatory benefits). The protein and fiber in hemp hearts slows digestion which helps sustain your body's energy throughout the day. They have a nutty flavor and are great to sprinkle on salads.

BLUEBERRY SMOOTHIE RECIPE

Serves 1 for breakfast or a snack

Prep Time: 10 Minutes

INGREDIENTS

8 ounces (1 cup) coconut water (keep it chilled in the fridge)
1 tablespoon hemp hearts
1 tablespoon flax seed (buy the finely ground flax seed)
1/2 teaspoon psyllium husks
1 tablespoon protein powder
1/3 cup frozen blueberries
1/2 of a frozen banana
1/3 cup frozen spinach (a small handful), (fresh spinach that has been frozen, not cooked spinach)
1 teaspoon agave

PREPARATION

Pour coconut water in blender or nutribullet, then add remaining ingredients. Blend till smooth.

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Note: If you want to be super organized and are usually rushed for time in the morning, you can combine all the dry ingredients in separate containers the night or week before. This will speed things up if you slept late!