Smoothies

Smoothies….. one a day in place of a meal can change your life. Change your health. The one pictured here is ‘this morning’ for me….. dates, coconut, french vanilla coconut creamer, water and a ton of spinach. All you taste is the coconut and figs. YUM!

It blows me out of my socks that time after time I see articles come out telling you to make Smoothies with milk or yogurt.

I’m not makin’ it up folks! Check this information out all over the web, from every reliable source: Our bodies don’t process dairy. Similar to: Our bodies don’t process chemicals. Two things you want to steer clear of. What does that mean to you? Maybe you’ll be sluggish afterwards. Maybe have headaches. Who knows? I’m sure it affects each person differently. But the one thing I do know is: it get’s in the way of your body processing everything else.

I get emails daily from all kinds of sources. Here’s what was on the list from (I think) ‘Eating Well’, about the things to absolutely avoid in a smoothie:

• Full-fat Dairy Products, such as Milk or Yogurt

• Flavored Yogurt

• Ice Cream

• Whipped Cream

• Full Fat Coconut Milk

• Canned Fruit in Syrup

Do you see yogurt on that list? And milk and milk products?

WELL, WHAT DO I USE, CHEF MARIAN?

Thank you for asking. How about frozen fruit? Go to the store, buy some bananas, cut them up and freeze them (a portion size is half a banana). Take that frozen banana or frozen berries (I like blueberries and strawberries) and add a half a cup…… cut in an apple or add some unsweetened applesauce. I love chopped dates or any dried fruit. Just a couple of teaspoons…. no more.

It’s YUM! I’ll tell you that whatever fruit is in season, is going to taste great in a smoothie. Just remember: the fruits high is sugar are your melons….. and…. um…. pineapple. I think Dr. Debbie told me to keep away from Mango. But that’s easy for me. I don’t like Mango.

My 4 favorite veggies to add for better nutrition? Kale, carrots, Spinach, and Avocado. And make sure you put in more raw veggies than fruit or fruit juice so you don’t spike your glycemic index…. yes?

YES CHEF MARIAN! THANKS!

You’re very welcome! Did you know our brain needs fat to function well? Fat feeds the brain! How do you like dem apples! Ummmmm… I mean fats. According to The Huffington Post, or the Huff Post as us ‘cooler’ people refer to it (lol), it’s not only about the fat but what kind of fat you consume that affects you. Of course, as in most things related to health, there’s ‘healthy’ debate about that as well. But when in doubt? I say go with what you know to be healthy. Go for the avocado in your smoothie! (Half an avocado is a portion, but just 2-3 slices really does the trick)!

And pullleeease don’t forget the spices: nutmeg, cinnamon, etc. Especially if you are adding apples! And lemon too!

So that’s my motivation of the day for ya! You don’t need a fancy machine. Whatever you make your Margarita’s in, will do. I think the smart thing to do is wake up to a note on the fridge that says Smoothie. If you have kids, get them to draw a picture that says Smoothie. That will make you look at it! No kids? Draw your own! lol

Unless you’re craving something else, go with a smoothie. It’s fast, nutritious and gives you a good start to your day.

Happy Eating,

Chef Marian