All Things Smoothies
THOUGHTS ON SMOOTHIES AND OUR FAVORITE SMOOTHIE RECIPES
Little known fact: before I was in my family’s hospitality business and even before I was in the fashion industry, I used to co-own a few juice/smoothie bars, called Squeeze. Although this was more than 20 years ago, the menu could appear in many of the juice/smoothie bars that exist today. We had wheat grass shots, green juices, detox concoctions and of course, delicious fruity smoothies. Which brings me to the topic of smoothies–are they actually healthy for you?
If I knew then what I know now I certainly wouldn’t have made fruit-based smoothies a staple of my diet. Anyone who has worn a CGM (continuous glucose monitor) and tested their levels after consuming a fruit-heavy smoothie will probably concur that it produces a large spike in blood glucose, and what we know today is that sugar, not fat, is the primary dietary enemy. This is NOT to say that fruit should be avoided and can’t be part of a healthy smoothie. Fruit in reasonable quantities is a great part of a healthy diet; however, consuming fruit with some dietary fat will slow the blood sugar spike significantly. So how do you do this…
Make sure that the liquid part of your smoothie contains protein and fat, like almond or coconut milk rather than using orange or apple juice which are high in fructose. Also consider adding other protein or fat-rich ingredients to your smoothie like collagen or protein powder, nuts and nut butters. Another great addition to smoothies is seeds such as chia, flax, or hemp seeds. Not only are seeds great sources of fiber, they also contain numerous vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
Personally as my taste buds have evolved to crave sugar less, I have found I enjoy smoothies that are based more on healthy greens and good fats than fruit. Jenna still loves a fruit smoothie, but has learned to focus on berries, which have a lower glycemic index than most fruit and are full of polyphenols. She also adds some healthy greens and good fats to thwart the sugar spike and make her smoothies more filling. Below are both of our favorite smoothie recipes. Enjoy!
ZAHRA’S FAVE GREEN SMOOTHIE
1 cup pure almond milk (homemade or choose a brand with no sugar or additives)
1 pitted date cut into quarters
⅓ (approx) cup coconut meat (fresh or frozen)
Large handful of organic fresh spinach/baby spinach
1 scoop collagen powder (I like mindybodygreen beauty + gut collagen+)
A couple drops of pure vanilla extract
A few ice cubes
JENNA’S FAVE BERRY SMOOTHIE
1 cup pure almond milk
1 cup wild organic blueberries
1 handful organic fresh spinach
1 teaspoon pumpkin seeds
1 teaspoon flax seeds
1 teaspoon hemp seeds
1 pitted date cut into quarters
A few ice cubes
Blend everything together until smooth and enjoy!