A rich, creamy combination of chocolate, cherries and almonds. Yum!
Recipe: Super Smoothies & Maseratis
When I know I have a busy day ahead this super smoothie is exactly what I love for breakfast. It can be a great on-the-go lunch option too!
It’s so key to fuel up properly so that we can power through all that the day has to offer! You might be wondering if the old cliche about breakfast being the most important meal of day is true. Well, yes and no. This is because it’s not so much about when you eat but what you eat when you do choose to refuel, or break your fast (hence the name breakfast).
Think of it this way, imagine your body is a Maserati (or some other nice car) which needs good quality fuel to operate at its best. Now, when we wake up our engines have been running all night without a single gas refill so we’re operating on a low tank – we then have two refuelling options.
The first is to fill the tank completely with high quality, clean burning fuel so that we can continue our smooth drive until the next pit stop (aka our next meal!). Then there is option 2, we can have a sugary or processed snack which will spike our fuel for a short period of time before we sputter out and reach for the next snack to temporarily spike the fuel again and this cycle continues on (hello mid-morning/day coffee and muffin run).
You see, the key is refuelling with good quality meals that will provide the proper foundation blocks for your blood sugar and energy levels throughout the day. Without a steady, clean tank to start, you’re bound to get stuck into the cycle of big crashes, cravings and convenience snacks.
I struggled with this myself for many years, and have since found that this Energy Boosting Super Smoothie is the perfect start to my day. It allows me to power through everything the day has to offer from work meetings, travel, to teaching spin – I know I’ve got the fuel!
This smoothie is jam packed with good stuff. It’s a long list but trust me, it’s worth it! Some of the ingredients are optional such as the collagen but it’s best with all of the ingredients if you have them although I know we don’t all have Brazil nuts and collagen on hand!
So let’s break down some of these key ingredients:
Avocado – high in heart healthy fats (monounsaturated fats) that lower the risk of heart disease and help to slow the digestion of sugars for slow burning energy preventing that sugar spike I mentioned above. It is also a good source of Vitamins K, C and E. Not to mention it gives this smoothie a nice rich, creamy texture.
Brazil nuts – an excellent source of selenium and provides a boost to the immune system by neutralizing free radicals helping to prevent certain cancers as a result.
Collagen – a great source of animal based protein that is known to have strong benefits towards our hair, skin and nail health by boosting hydration and reducing the effects of aging skin (read this study, here). It’s optional in this recipe but it’s a great boost of protein in fact, there are 10g of protein in each tablespoon! For reference, an average egg has between 6-7g.
Cacao powder – very high levels of antioxidants and the mineral magnesium that is essential in lowering blood pressure and building strong bones as it aids the body with calcium absorption.
Cauliflower – a good source of fiber and Vitamins C and K to name a few which assist in boosting the immune system and supporting bone health respectively.
I hope you give this one a try, I know it’s a bit of a long list of ingredients but it’s so worth it! Please comment below to let me know if you’ve tried it or tag me on instagram at #happyhealthcc. I’d love to see your creations!
Recipe: Energy Boosting Super Smoothie
Gluten-free & Dairy-free
Serves 1
Yields: ~14oz
Prep: 10 minutes
Ingredients:
1 cup filtered water
1 tbsp protein powder or collagen (plain, unflavoured)
1/2 cup frozen, pitted sweet cherries
1 tbsp cacao powder*
1/3 cup frozen cauliflower florets, zucchini pieces or a handful of fresh spinach
1 1/2 tbsp almond butter
1/4 frozen avocado (frozen is best but fresh works too)
1/4 frozen banana
1 medjool date (pitted)
Splash of vanilla extract
Pinch of pink himalayan salt
1 raw Brazil nut (optional)
To make:
- Add all ingredients to a high speed blender in the order listed.
- Blend until well combined and smooth.
- Enjoy and tackle that day ahead!
Notes:
*If you don’t have cacao powder on hand you can use cocoa powder too although note that it doesn’t have the same nutritional qualities.
**For convenience, you should be able to find frozen avocado at your local grocery store
***Recipe revised as of April 23, 2020