Why we all need this smoothie right now:
Keeping it short here, but if you’re like me, you’ve made it through the denial stages of shelter in place/quarantine because of Covid-19. The first few days (weeks) of being locked up at home I drank allll the drinks (hello, wine), ate all the unhealthy foods, and honestly, I was doing it to cope. But, now that it’s clear we’ll be doing this for a while (we’re privileged, btw, to be safe and healthy at home) eating a bunch of unhealthy crap is clearly not the solution.
It’s a crazy, weird, and uncertain time. But, I believe in controlling what we can control. And, the food we put in our body (assuming we have the means to choose these healthy items) is definitely in our control.
Eating healthily has never been about looking good, for me. (That doesn’t motivate me). It’s about feeling good. Taking care of my body, and fueling my body to have the energy I need to be a good mom, good wife, good friend, sister, daughter, neighbor, employee. You get the picture. I want the energy to be able to do the things I want to do. And, right now, more than ever, a lot of us neeeeed some fuel. (Disclaimer here – I’m still eating tons of delicious things too – and baking a lot – but this smoothie is a fast and simple way to stay healthy while also hunkering down at home).
Everything in the recipe has a long(ish) shelf life too! So, if you’re stocking up on groceries for long stretches, this works well. You can buy the spinach in bulk and freeze it!
Must give credit where credit is due:
I got hooked on this recipe when I did the Arbonne “30 days of healthy living program” years ago. The premise of this program is that our meals should contain only things that are good for our bodies, and when possible, in the optimal proportions.
Long story short, this program says the following.
- 1/2 of your plate should be greens
- 1/4 of your plate should be lean protein
- 1/8 of your plate should be a good fat (almond butter, in this case)
- 1/8 of your plate should be a complex carb (think berries, carrots, quinoa)
This smoothie takes that same idea, and puts it in a meal you can drink. And, the healthy fats keep you full!
Ok, so here’s the recipe:
- A big old handful of spinach (or other leafy greens)
- About a quarter cup of frozen berries (blueberries are my go to)
- A spoonful of almond butter
- 1 serving of protein powder (I like Arbonne vegan protein – vanilla)
- 1 cup (plus a little water) of coconut/almond milk
- Scoop of ice
That’s it! You blend it all at once in your blender. And, there you have it: a perfectly balanced meal that will actually keep you full. (I add the Arbonne fiber boost to keep me full for longer – but you could also do chia seeds or something else).
Take the basic recipe, and switch it up!
The best part about this recipe is that you can swap things in and out, but still keep the basic components of greens, carbs (berries), fat (nut butter), protein, liquid, and ice.
- Greens options: spinach, kale, any dark leafy green
- Fruit options: any frozen berries (you can obviously do other frozen fruit too – but berries have the lowest sugar)
- Good Fat – any nut butter, or a few buts. Avocado works here too
- Protein – any protein powder
- Liquid – any non-dairy (or dairy if you want, I guess) milk. I’ve also done plain water and it’s turned out fine.
- Ice – don’t forget the ice for a better consistency
That’s all, friends. Happy blending! Stay healthy and safe out there.
Lauren V Wesley 