Strawberry Mango Smoothie

Mango and strawberry is one of those combinations that never disappoints. Add in some lime juice, coconut water, vanilla protein powder and an avocado and it becomes a tropical tasting, rich, sweet and creamy smoothie good enough to satisfy dessert cravings. This is the perfect kind of thing to eat before or to take along when heading to a beach, pool or anywhere else you want to feel energetic, lean and comfortable. Continue Reading →

Orange Mocha Frappuccino

Several years ago I took a very elitist film class. On the first day we had to go around the classroom and say our name and favorite film. I was near the end and those before me each picked obscure foreign films I had never heard of, to a round of understanding nods from everyone else. I knew I couldn’t compete with that so I was honest and admitted mine to be the completely American and Hollywood creation- Zoolander. The pursed lips I was expecting were parted and to my surprise I was met with collective approval and a lively discussion ensued. A well known part of this movie has one of the lead male models and his crew heading out to cheer themselves up with orange mocha frappuccinos followed up by a “freak gasoline fight accident”. Continue Reading →

3 Ingredient Vitality Smoothie

This is the kind of food to go for after you have been sick. After a spell of nausea or food poisoning, a wicked hangover or even just an energy depleting virus or really intense workout, we need sustenance that is easy to digest, absorb and use. When I was little this meant saltine crackers and gingerale but I wanted a more nutrient dense and chemical free option to aid in recovery. This is easy on sore tummies and it does wonders to help get one back to regular speed quickly. Once we are already dehydrated, drinking water can make us feel instantly worse but some studies, and my own empirical research has shown that coconut water helps to rehydrate without any negative symptoms like increased nausea. Continue Reading →

Green Carrot Cake Smoothie

Some people scoff at the idea of eating rabbit food, clearly they have not tried putting carrots in smoothies. With enough fruit, cashew butter and a vanilla flavored protein powder they are a nutrient dense way to get a carrot cake flavor without the low quality oils and refined flour and sugars that are normally used in the actual cake. Plus the whole food ingredients contribute fiber, healthy fats, potassium, calcium and vitamins A, C and E. Continue Reading →

Cilantro Pineapple Green Juice

Green juice is best tasting when the leafy greens are cut with some fruits and accented with crisp cucumber and fragrant herbs. This is one of my favorite combinations that I drink regularly year-round. When making juice or smoothies I like to combine ingredients that would taste good together in a dish, these ones for example could become a salsa for fresh seafood. Continue Reading →

Shamrock Smoothie

If you plan on consuming a fair share of green beer for St. Patrick’s Day tomorrow (also known as “National Drinking Day” in the holiday’s home country of Ireland), or if you’ve already been celebrating since the weekend, downing a nutrient dense smoothie like this can help your body recover faster. If you want to make it a little more like a (still healthy) milkshake and less like a smoothie you can try swapping the frozen banana and avocado for a scoop or two of plain coconut ice cream. Smoothies are really easy to digest since they are already blended up, this makes them a perfect snack or meal when your schedule is busy or if you are eating and drinking out at restaurants frequently. Continue Reading →

Orange Carrot Smoothie

Adding fresh juice (ideally cold-pressed for maximum nutrient retention) to a smoothie can really make the flavors pop. Both juices and smoothies are full of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and enzymes. When consumed on an empty stomach they are very easy to digest and absorb- this means that the nutrients will be well utilized and replenish or build up our stores. Continue Reading →

Kombucha Winter Sangria

Kombucha is a slightly effervescent fermented tea. Here in North America those of us who follow modern diets tend to miss out on anything fermented. The fermenting process changes the components of a food or drink, leading to an item high in probiotics and other nutrients. From a digestive and nutritional point of view we can all benefit from consuming probiotic rich food because the good bacteria helps to balance out the bacteria in our large intestines (colons), a.k.a. our gut flora, so that the potentially bad guys (like Candida) don’t go on a rampage and start causing health issues. The proper balance of this intestinal flora has a great effect on our health in many areas, ranging from our energy levels to the strength of our immune systems. Continue Reading →

Hot Apple Cider

Like most of our beloved winter drinks apple cider is now conveniently available in packets that can be added to hot water for instant holiday cheer. If you have never tried a homemade version this stuff isn’t too bad (just don’t read the label to discover how many of the ingredients came from a science lab), but once you’ve had the real stuff it just doesn’t compare. The fresher the juice the more nutrients and flavor the drink will contain, if sweet apples were used then it will not even need any added sugars. Continue Reading →