Sometimes we just need some fresh new ideas to keep us inspired to eat well. There are so many pressures in our daily lives that sometimes eating becomes our last priority. The great thing about keeping your refrigerator filled with produce each week is that you can always combine things that taste good to you, and you don’t always have to follow a specific plan or recipe. But I know many of my clients tell me they sometimes stare into the refrigerator at some of their healthy foods, and nothing is really inspiring them, and they end up making an unhealthy choice.
That is the true value of getting new and inspiring ideas about juices, salads, soups, and smoothies. All vehicles that can deliver a huge dose of phytonutrients. Most of you know, raw juices are the absolute best way to bathe your cells in dense nutrition. Smoothies on the other hand, are high fiber full meals. Be cautious about what is going in your blender. Sometimes you see smoothies with names like “skinny smoothie” or “weight loss smoothie”, and the recipe will contain a couple of cups of nut milk, nut butter, nuts or seeds. I’ve even seen some that actually have all of the above! That’s clearly not a weight loss smoothie in any universe, so I caution you on those high fat versions.
I created a whole book of dessert smoothies, called Cake Shakes, and you can download it for free any time you’re in the mood for a delectable, delicious dessert shake that won’t ruin your health!  It contains 30 of your favorite cakes and pies turned into healthy shakes. But make no mistake, they are treats, desserts, and should be enjoyed sparingly. For our every day health and healing of the body, digestion, metabolism, and weight, we should be keeping our fat to a percentage that hovers between 10 to 15 percent of our total daily calories.
I have 5 amazing smoothie recipes here for you to keep in your arsenal. They are healthy. They are low fat. They will help you get nutrients in, and crowd out other food options.
CREAMY ORANGE IMMUNE BOOSTER
- 2 frozen bananas
- 1 Tbsp Hemp Seeds
- 1 orange, juiced
- 1/2 cup coconut water
Health benefits: The immune system needs an adequate amount of protein, essential fatty acids and at least 11 vitamins and minerals that work together to keep the immune system healthy. Freshly squeezed orange juice is loaded with vitamin C, calcium, vitamin A, iron, all important for immunity. One medium banana contains 30% of the recommended daily amount of vitamin B-6, which is essential for the production of cytokines. Cytokines are proteins used for communication between cells involved in the immune response. Antibodies recognize foreign invaders and target them for attack by white blood cells.
HORMONE BALANCING STRAWBERRY SMOOTHIE
- 2 cups frozen strawberries
- 1 Tbsp Chia seeds
- 2 dates, pitted
- 1 cup coconut water
Health benefits: Chia seeds are rich in omega 3 fatty acids which are important for hormonal balance, among many other functions within the body. Strawberries are full of vitamin C which helps regulate the hormone cortisol when dealing with stress.
WEIGHT LOSS RADICAL RADISH SMOOTHIE
- 2 cucumbers
- 1-2 small radishes, include radish greens
- 1 green apple
- 1/2 lemon, peeled
- 1 cup water
Health benefits: This low-sugar, no fat smoothie is a perfect recipe for weight loss and reducing bloating. Radishes and their leaves (which are actually the most nutritious part of the radish) are a significant source of calcium, iron, magnesium, folate, and vitamins A, C, K — all nutrients that are necessary in a healthy functioning metabolism. Cucumbers are a natural diuretic that will help you flush toxins and thus reduce bloating. Green apples are a low sugar, nutrient dense fruit that contains pectin which has been shown to help control insulin levels and help your body burn fat. Lemon is a great aid to the liver, the organ responsible for a large percentage of detoxification within the body.
PAPAYA PINEAPPLE SKIN SAVER
- 1 cup frozen pineapple
- 2 cups frozen papaya (or 1 whole fresh papaya, seeds removed)
- 1 cup coconut water
- 1 tablespoon tocotrienols
Health benefits: Tocotrienols are one of the top supplements to take regularly. I’ve written extensively about them, but in short, they are rice bran solubles that do WONDERS for beautiful, healthy, glowing skin. You can read more about them HERE. Pineapple and papaya are the powerhouse duo that contain high amounts of vitamin C to help defend your skin against damaging free radicals. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that is naturally found in the skin, so eating these P fruits can replenish your skin’s stores. Vitamin C also helps your body produce collagen, a protein that helps keep your skin firm and elastic.
Banana Hemp Adrenal Smoothie
- 2 frozen bananas
- 1 Tbsp Hemp seeds
- 1/2 cup almond milk
- 2 teaspoons maca
- 2 teapoons lemon
Health benefits: If you haven’t tried Maca, now is the time. A Peruvian root, ground into powder, maca helps your body create hormone-regulating enzymes. It’s a powerful, natural way to help your adrenal hormones normalize. Read more about it HERE. Lemon helps hydrate the lymph system, and stimulates healthy enzyme function, which can help with body detoxification. High in potassium, lemon also helps the body relax and de-stress.
I hope you love these!
