Saturday Smoothie--Cherry, Pear & Cacoa

Happy Saturday everyone!  I always like a little alliteration, so I sharing a smoothie on a Saturday morning just seemed right in my mind. ;)

I don't always do smoothies for breakfast because a lot of the time I really want something hearty to start out my day.  I usually work and/or workout myself early in the day and I feel like I get more out of both when I am well-fueled.  In the winter season I especially feel better with a warm breakfast to get my day started.  When the weather warms up for summer I may occasionally enjoy a jam-packed smoothie first thing, then move on to a more solid breakfast later on.

That being said, I still do make a smoothie most days for a snack.  They really can be a great way to get some extra nutrients into your daily meal plan.  If you don't eat a lot of greens, you can sneak a handful or two in a smoothie without being able to tell.  Although it baffles me to think people don't like fruit, a smoothie can also be a way to bump up your fruit and veggie servings.  I like to add in things like ground flax, amla powder and cacoa for the omega 3's, antioxidants and other nutrients that can boost health.  Vegetables like pureed pumpkin and other slightly sweet squash are a great addition that bumps up your beta-carotene without hindering the taste.  I also happily toss in broccoli, cauliflower, beets, celery and other vegetables.  You just have to be careful how much you put in to start or you may find certain things a little too earthy if you are expecting something sweet and smooth. ;)

Smoothies can also be a great way to use up some slightly wilted produce so you don't have to throw it out and waste food.  I think my favorite find at the grocery store was when I got two huge bunches of overripe bananas for one dollar!  To give you a comparison, right now bananas are about $.69 per pound normally, so it was a huge discount since I ended up with probably 15 pounds from that haul.  Those got peeled and stuck in the freezer for use in smoothies or other recipes later on.  You don't have to buy fancy expensive smoothie packs, just find some combinations you like out of foods you keep on hand anyway.

Smoothies can be used in a healthy diet geared toward weight loss and detoxification if you keep them with a higher percentage of greens and other vegetables, or you can pack them with lots of fruit, nuts, avocado or even beans and tofu if you are trying to gain weight.  For me, I have times where I may have quite a few clients back-to-back where I cannot sit down for a full meal, so a smoothie is something I can sip on while I train to make sure I am not starving while I am training.  As I've said before, nobody wants a hungry (or hangry) trainer. ;)  I also found when I first switched to a plant-based diet it was hard to get enough calories in to support my frame and lifestyle.  Using smoothies can be a great option to keep a vegan athlete fueled!

Enough talk, here's a yummy concoction I made this week.  I love my pear and beet combo, but pears with cherries and cacoa are also quite delightful in my opinion. ;)

Sweet Cherry, Pear & Cacoa Smoothie

Makes 2 servings

• 1 red pear, core & seeds scooped out
• 1 cup frozen sweet cherries
• 1 ripe banana, peeled
• 2 cups baby spinach
• 1 cup chopped beet greens (or more spinach)
• 2 tablespoons ground flax seed
• 2 tablespoons raw cacoa powder
• 1 teaspoon amla powder
• 3 cups water or plant milk of choice

Toss everything in the blender and mix until smooth!

 To see more ideas for #veganuary, check out @lolzwithlisa and her contest:  https://steemit.com/veganuarycontest/@lolzwithlisa/veganuary-week-3-how-to-enter-the-veganuarycontest

The fabulous @woman-onthe-wing is also back in action with the #makeithealthy tag.  Check it out for all kinds of different articles on living a full and healthy life!  https://steemit.com/makeithealthy/@woman-onthe-wing/make-it-healthy-project-a-brief-introduction