Breakfast Smoothies – A Creative Canvass

 As much as I like to eat and to cook clean, healthy organic food, I don’t always like to take the time to do so.  Smoothies are different.  They’re quick and easy to make if you keep the ingredients stocked in your kitchen.  I probably have 3 or maybe 4 books devoted to nothing but smoothie recipes yet I have never followed one of them.  I stock a bunch of different ingredients based on recipe suggestions and then I have lots of options that I mix up in the morning.  I have a smoothie every morning because I’ve noticed a big difference in my energy level when I have a protein shake for breakfast.  My main sources of breakfast protein are hemp powder, kale, and quinoa. They give me an uplifting feeling of vitality whereas eggs really drag me down and make me very gassy…and I don’t need any help with that!

So here are the basic ingredients of my smoothies:

Protein powder – I use hemp. There are others like whey and egg whites but they and me don’t really jive together.

Juice – I use unfiltered apple juice or orange juice I make in the citrus juicer

Fruit – Best bought fresh and then freeze it yourself – berries, bananas (unpeeled), pineapple, mango, peaches when in season, frozen green grapes are the best

Vegetables – don’t be afraid to mix some parsley and celery with kale and frozen green grapes. What a beautiful color it makes.

I also keep other additions on hand. You know, like how at Jamba Juice  you get to add little extra shots of something – little boosts.  Keep a few things on hand for energy boost, extra greens, extra oils, etc…

Here are the main ‘smoothie boosts’ that I may add:

Udo’s oil – can be found with refrigerated oils at Whole Foods

Flax seeds

Maca powder – energy/vitality boost

Goji berries – antioxidants

Nuts – almonds or walnuts mainly

Non-dairy milks – Almond milk, grain milk, hemp milk

Powdered Greens – I use Amazing Grass brand – Green Superfood

Most of these ingredients I discovered based on what I know about my body.  I know for example that I tend to have a vata imbalance (Ayurvedic term) – especially in the winter . A vata imbalance is associated with thinness, dryness, excessive wind and cold.  So I will add some flax seed oil or Udo’s oil into every smoothie in the winter.  Now, in the spring it’s all about what’s fresh and alive and growing right now.  So  I pluck some fresh mint, basil, or rosemary off the balcony garden to add or throw in some fresh kale or spinach.  Play with it, have fun.  Enjoy your creations!

Let me know what combinations work best for YOU!