Very Cherry Coconut Smoothie {Hydrate yo self}

June 11, 2017Leave a comment

After nearly a 2 month hiatus, I’m back ya’ll. It’s hard not to feel guilty for not being consistent posting on the blog but I’m trying not to make this a “chore.” Cooking is not a chore for me and neither is sharing my recipes. I want this to be fun, enjoyable and share some random stories I have for you. I have intentionally created time and space (I got da power!) for, well, recipe creation. I’ve been focusing on simplifying my life even though it seems there are more things filling the space from the things I’ve released. Does that make sense?

Okay, I’ll explain teehee. I recently resigned from my job as a nutrition educator at an elementary school. Around the same time (like less than a month ago) I started my work as a Doula (a birth worker, advocate for mamas) and now I’m working towards completing requirements for certification. I get to nerd out on everything about prenatal, birth and postpartum care. I’m literally reading ALL the time and have hit up the library weekly for books on books on books. While researching up the wazoo (as my husband would say), I’m finding different ways to tie all my passions together. Writing. Cooking. Holistic Wellness. Self Care. Birth. I mean, who said we have to CHOOSE ONE THING. We can do it all without having to do it all, right?

Anywhoooo…even while my brain is on overload, I’m ready for a summer of adventures (and hopefully some births, if ya’ll need a doula holler over here). After a week of weird October feeling weather, it finally feels like June and that heat, is absolutely delicious. Any other heat lovers out there? Or am I alone?

A common theme for me in the glorious heat is to sip on smoothies. I’m really not too big on heavy eating when it’s hot, so anything slurpable and grabable (yes I just made up 2 words) is da bomb dot com. And I don’t know about you but I like things that taste good and keep me feeling AMAZEBALLS as I attempt to get shit done. AMIRIGHT?! lol

Fresh strawberries (they’re in season right now and so damn good) combined with dark sweet cherries and coconut butter, this very cherry coconut smoothie is cooling, hydrating and rejuvenating with high antioxidants (from the berries, YAAAS) collagen (check out Further Food, Vital Proteins or Reserveage), and healthy fats for a gorgeous glow from the inside out.

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Lovin’ Them Hemp Hearts Tho’

March 5, 2015March 6, 2015Leave a comment

It’s March but I don’t think mother nature got the memo. It’s freaking snowing again. They’re calling it Winter Storm Thor. Basically, the god of thunder is manifesting himself as a snow storm. And my crazy self decided to trek it to Manhattan to get a blowout (I mean hello, it’s my book release party tomorrow!) and treat myself to sensational hot cocoa at City Bakery (so amazingly delicious, it’s almost like chocolate soup with a marshmallow crouton). I actually had to go get a spoon because there was no way I was going to be able to slurp this bowl of cocoa soup.

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Super Green Smoothies

January 22, 2014January 25, 20141 Comment

I am a smoothie lover. I really enjoy making smoothies, seeing how much I can cram into the blender and trying out different flavor combinations (even though I have my goto’s). I began my smoothie journey back in 2012 when I bought a Ninja blender and vowed to make a smoothie every single day ( even in every season, winter too). It just so happened that a 30 Day Green Smoothie Challenge with Simple Green Smoothies was starting up at around the same time I began my new-found obsession. I never really thought of putting greens in smoothies (when you have a crummy blender, you understand why–think chunks). 2012 really marked the beginning of my journey to a healthier me so this was really perfect timing. The challenge asked us to replace at least one meal a day with a smoothie. My first thought, “Um, I am going to starve. Are you crazy?” Mind you this was before I did a juice cleanse so I was extremely attached to the idea of chewing and eating (boy do I love eating). The moment the mood swings, purging and attachment to chewing disappeared, I fell in love. I am super serious. I fell in love with green smoothies.

My friends over at Simple Green Smoothies offer 5 great reasons to LOVE green smoothies:

Natural energy booster to keep a little pep in your step in the morning (and during those afternoon slumps).
Natural weight loss can he a happy side effect of gulping these in place of a typical breakfast (just make sure to include healthy fats and protein to make it a more complete meal).
Stay healthy all-year-long. Simple way to boost your immune system when you’re feeling under the weather.
Packed with disease-fighting antioxidants. The phytonutrients in leafy greens boost your body’s immune system and keep it functioning properly.
Hands down— The best fast food. It takes less than 5 minutes to make a green smoothie (and clean up!) and they’re super easy to take on the go– especially when you prep ahead.

I have started to crave green smoothies. If I’m not in the mood to cook, I just whip out my greens, fruit and choice of liquid and create something delicious and nutritious. After acquiring my brand new blender of the Gods, the Vitamix, making smoothies is more fun than ever. To give my smoothies an extra boost, I include superfoods. But G, what is a superfood? Well, according to Oxford Dictionary a superfood is: a nutrient-rich food considered to be especially beneficial for health and well-being. Here are a few of my go-to superfoods that are a must in all of my smoothies (or at least most of them- depending on the flavor):

Maca: an ancient Peruvian tuber is a great natural source of energy. This adaptogen helps improve and attain balance in the body. It especially balances out the hormones helping tame PMS (you know those awful mood swings), increases fertility and helps boost mood as well as immunity. How can you go wrong with a little bit of maca? For maca newbies, start off with just a tablespoon in your smoothie and slowly increase to two tablespoons. An added perk? It spices things up in the bedroom. Read more about the benefits of maca here.
Camu Camu: this superfood has a sweet and sour flavor, which I really enjoy. It is an amazing source of vitamin C
containing 60 times more vitamin C than an orange! Camu is also a great anti-inflammatory, less inflammation equals less sickness.
Flaxseed Oil (or Udo’s Omega Oil) is a great source of Omega 3’s. Not only do your Omega 3’s keep your heart healthy and deliver a healthy dose of good fats to your system (more good fats help burn the bad ones), it boosts your mood. Ladies, that time of the month has us all over the place and we need all the help we can get. Aside from that, your skin becomes more radiant and supple. Winning!
Raw Cacao Powder: I am a chocoholic. Anything with chocolate in it, I am all over it. I only recently started adding this tomy smoothies (obviously not the ones with orange juice or tart cherry juice as a base- mostly coconut water or unsweetened nut milk). We all know that chocolate is loaded with flavonoids and increases endorphins in the body giving you a feeling of etherial bliss, right? But in its raw form you are getting much more! It is high in magnesium, zinc, protein, calcium, fiber and more. Raw cacao can also improve digestion, promote cardiovascular function & health while also lowering blood pressure. I know I have more of a reason to LOVE chocolate (raw, of course).
Green Powder: I love my smoothies extra green. Even though in most of my smoothies I put at least 2 cups of greens, I love to add an extra scoop or two of green powder to give it more of a boost. I can instantly feel the energy and power (unlimited power said in Darth Sidious’ voice). Right now I have two favorites: Amazing Grass Green Superfood Powder and Philosophie’s Green Dream. I’m starting to favor the Green Dream powder more since it comes with hemp protein and I don’t have to add something extra to my smoothie (not that I really mind!). Green powders give you an extra boost of energy and liveliness. Say goodbye to caffeine (okay, maybe not goodbye) and hello to a rejuvenated version of you!

If you need a little help getting started with your green smoothies the infographic below really helps you put one together or you can sign up for free smoothie recipes at Simple Green Smoothies:

(**NOTE: OMIT THE SWEETENERS YOU DO NOT NEED IT. Chopped Medjool Dates are a great alternative to sweeteners)

I hope you start to enjoy some green smoothies and experiment. Make it your own! Add superfoods and be merry!

Peace, love and NO beef!

Guramrit

And that’s me enjoying a super delicious green smoothie after some yoga!

625 Easy, Nutritious and Delicious Smoothie Recipes

February 2, 2013Leave a comment

Let’s face it, we are a society of convenience. If it isn’t convenient or easy, why bother? When it comes to your health, convenience doesn’t have to equal fast, greasy or gross foods. Those moments especially in the morning or even when you feel a craving coming on, why not opt for a smoothie? Why a smoothie, you may ask. Well, if you’re on the go like most people, you may not have the “time” or “energy” or even “motivation” to eat the right things for your body. A smoothie is a way to get all the nutrients, vitamins, minerals, healthy fats and oils without taking hours to prepare. A smoothie, especially a green smoothie (yes, this means incorporating leafy greens), boosts energy, combats cravings, satisfies hungry, stimulates metabolism, cleanses you from the inside-out and improves overall wellness.

As I mentioned in an early post, I participated in a 30 day green smoothie challenge. At first I thought I was going to die of hunger but after 30 days I feel fabulous! I am making a green smoothie almost every single day. Those days when I don’t have a smoothie I feel odd and actually start to crave them. Out of my sheer love for green smoothies, I am creating an easy mix and match smoothie recipe. Pick one or two from each category (liquid base, greens, fruit, mix in) and create a fabulous smoothie without the hassle.

Tip for a great smoothie: 1-2 cups of liquid, 2 cups of greens, 1-2 cups of fruit, 1-2 scoops of protein powder/1-2 tablespoons of whatever other mix in. Blend. Also, blending the greens with liquid first makes for a better consistency.This yields two servings. Keep in a mason jar for air tight storage. .

Liquid Base:
1. Coconut Water
2. Organic Orange Juice
3. Organic Apple Juice
4. Organic Papaya Juice
5. Organic Almond Milk/Coconut Milk

Greens (Organic preferred):
1. Arugula
2. Spinach
3. Kale
4. Mixed Greens (available at Trader Joes)
5. Romaine Lettuce

Fruit (fresh or frozen works great. If using fresh, you will need 1 cup of ice):
1. Mixed berries (cherries, blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries- My favorite!)
2. Pineapple
3. Mango
4. Banana
5. Peaches

Mix-In’s:
1. Flax Seeds, Chia Seeds, Hemp Seeds- great source of protein and Omega 3’s
2. Udo’s Omega 3-6-9 Oil Blend/Coconut Oil
3. Protein powder (try Spirutein Vanilla Tri-protein powder)
4. Bee Pollen (organic only! These little granules are jam packed with vitamins and minerals. Great for people who suffer from seasonal allergies)
5.Gary Null’s Green Stuff/any greens blend powder/spirulina powder (this adds extra green goodness without sacrificing taste or nutrition. I add one scoop to EVERY smoothie. I get a super green boost from the chlorella and spirulina).

These are just a few of my favorite combinations. Can’t decide which one you like best? Try: 2 cups spinach/kale, 1 cup of coconut water, 1 banana, 1 cup frozen mango, 1 cup frozen pineapple, 1 scoop protein/green stuff or 1 tablespoon of flax/chia/hemp. Blend and enjoy!

I’m about to go make myself a pre-lunch time smoothie.

Peace, love, green smoothies and of course NO beef!

Guramrit

Week One: 30 Day Green Smoothie Challenge

January 10, 2013Leave a comment

Greetings everyone! I hope all is well and that the new year is treating you right! Like I mentioned a few posts ago, I embarked on a 30 day green smoothie challenge. I started off excited, nervous and mostly nervous. I was afraid. I thought, how in the world can I survive replacing one of my meals with a smoothie? I was convinced I was going to starve.

I must admit the first few days were NO fun. I started my challenge with a smoothie for breakfast. Now, if you don’t know already the time between dinner and breakfast is the longest time you really go without food (hence breaking the fast). Having a smoothie for breakfast made me feel a bit weak at first. I felt hungry again within a few hours. I also realized that I was obsessed with this idea of having a big breakfast. Breakfast is actually one of my favorite meals of the day. I love the infinite possibilities for breakfast food. I think I just made myself hungry.

I have switched up the times of day when I have a smoothie. Some mornings I can tolerate a smoothie for breakfast, as long as I keep my lunch satisfying and nibble on a palm full of almonds or cashews to sustain me. I have had smoothies for lunch and even have had it for dinner. I’m only a week into the challenge and I just CRAVE a smoothie whenever I’m hungry. I have stocked up on frozen organic berries, mangoes, bananas, kale and spinach. I plan on making use of the recipes SimpleGreenSmoothies.com provides each week.

Here are a few of my favorite recipes (tweak them however you like!):

Super Green Berry Machine

What you need:
2 cups raw baby spinach (or kale)
3/4 cup organic orange juice
1 cup frozen organic strawberries/blueberries/mixed berries (whatever you like)
1 banana
1 tablespoon Udo’s oil (a vegan friendly Omega 3/6/9 Oil blend)
1 level scoop of Gary Null’s Green Stuff
1 teaspoon of Organic Bee Pollen/Chia Seeds/Hemp Hearts (whatever you like!)

How you make it:
1. Combine ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. You may need to add a little extra liquid to the smoothie to get a better consistency. Keep your OJ on hand! Organic only please!

Power Protein Smoothie (compliments of Simple Green Smoothies)

What you need:
1 banana
2 cups spinach
1 cup fresh strawberries
1 cup frozen blueberries
10 whole almonds
2 cups water (or unsweetened almond milk)
4 tablespoons vanilla flavored protein powder (try: Spirutein)

How you make it:
1. Blend well and enjoy! This smoothie is especially great for breakfast.

I will be posting more smoothie recipes as the challenge continues!

Minus my 2 day encounter with the flu, I have really felt wonderful. The effects of having at least ONE green smoothie a day is incomparable. I have great energy, focus and feel phenomenally slim. I have been off of caffeine for a few weeks and I don’t miss it as much. The smoothies have really curbed the caffeine craving!

Keep on the look out for my updates on the challenge!