Thursday, June 23, 2011

It's Smoothie Time!!


For some time I have talked about starting a blog dedicated to sharing my training, racing, and nutrition advice. So here it goes!

I have been hooked on smoothies for a couple of years. They are what I eat for breakfast 360 days out of the year, so I have become a pro at different variations. Here are a few of my favorite recipes.

Beet & Pineapple Smoothie
Don't let the name fool ya! This is delicious!
1 Beet (I buy the ones from Trader Joe's that are pre-cooked and peeled)
3/4 cup chopped Pineapple
1 small Banana
1/2 Cup Frozen Blueberries
1 Cup Spinach
1/2 Avocado
1 Scoop Vanilla Flavored Whey Protein Powder
1 scoop Chia Seeds
1 teaspoon Macca Powder
8 oz Coconut Water
4 oz Spring Water
Blend and ENJOY!

Benefits of smoothies:
-Excellent source of vitamins and minerals
-Easy and Quick; if you are crunched for time you can make them and store them in the freezer. Put one in your refrigerator overnight to thaw out
-Awesome way to "hide" the taste of veggies
-Very filling!

Tips for making smoothies:
-Use a variety of fruits and veggies, but note that not everything blends up the same. Play with it until you find the right consistency
-Raspberries and blueberries will leave stuff in your teeth!
-Your smoothie will keep you fuller longer if you have carbohydrate, protein AND fat! I always use avocados or almond butter as my fat sources