Ginger Turmeric Pumpkin Smoothie

This smoothie is a trick and a treat all at the same time. Ginger and turmeric improve digestion and reduce inflammation- a great trick with so many benefits. The treat is in the creamy and delicious flavor of the smoothie and most notably the toppings- a coconut butter shell, cacao nibs and walnuts. Such a fun and tasty way to incorporate ginger and turmeric into your diet.

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Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup frozen cauliflower

• 1 frozen banana

• 3/4 cup frozen pumpkin puree (I freeze on parchment paper)

• 1.5 cups cashew milk (or any milk of choice)

• 1 /2 tsp vanilla extract

• 1/2 tsp cinnamon

• 1/2 tsp turmeric

• 1 peeled knob of ginger (about an inch long)

• 1/2 tsp Maca (optional for energy)

• 1 tbsp coconut butter

• 1 heaping tbsp cacao nibs

• 1 heaping tbsp raw walnut pieces

Method:

• Prior to making freeze the fruit/veggies. I purchase blanched and frozen cauliflower, however you can blanch and freeze cauliflower florets at home. I break bananas into 3 or 4 parts to freeze so that they blend easier. I freeze pumpkin by scooping into a heap on parchment paper in an air tight container.

• You can make the cashew milk yourself by soaking a cup of cashews then draining, rinsing and blending with fresh water, cinnamon and vanilla or use a store bought nut milk variety.

• If your coconut butter is solid, let the jar sit in warm water until it becomes liquid

• Blend all ingredients except the coconut butter, cacao nibs and walnuts until smooth, then pour into a bowl

• Drizzle coconut butter on top- it will soon become a shell due to the temperature of the smoothie. Top with the cacao nibs and walnuts.

Cherry Almond Recovery Bowl

This bowl combines some of my very favorite flavors and textures. The base is similar to some of my other smoothies with a combination of avocado and banana providing creaminess. The fruit in this smoothie is tart, red cherries which provide a relief in muscle soreness and inflammation so its a great workout recovery bowl. I absolutely love cherry and almond. Usually this comes into play in pastries, but I decided to channel that into something indulgent, yet clean and super easy!

For toppings I used Natural Grocers chocolate sea salt probiotic granola which I brought home from Colorado this weekend! I also brought back some of their almond butter which somehow has the consistency of cookie dough. A little sprinkle of coconut flakes and now the gangs all here: coconut, almond, chocolate + cherry, swooooon. When I don't have granola in the house (its kind of a treat- I try to make my own crunchy blends of toppings with less sugar- I use cacao nibs and walnuts which would also be delish here!). 

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Ingredients:

• 1 cup nut milk (I use my cashew milk- soak cashews 1-2 hrs+, blend with water, cinnamon + vanilla)

• 3/4 cup pitted cherries

• 1/4 frozen avocado (fresh is fine- I just freeze mind to make the smoothie thicker)

• 1/2 frozen banana (same as above- fresh is fine, frozen creamier)

• 1/4 tsp almond extract

• Optional: protein powder (I like rice or hemp protein)

• Optional: Toppings- I used chocolate sea salt probiotic granola, raw coconut flakes and almond butter (a raw alternative for the granola would be raw walnuts and cacao nibs)

Method:

• Blend all ingredients except the toppings in a high speed blender. Scoop into a bowl and add desired toppings.

Blueberry Cauliflower Smoothie Bowl

Smoothies can be a great meal replacement, but have to be done right to get the full nutritional benefits. Many health enthusiasts warn against drinking too many smoothies or juices due to high sugar content, which is a legitimate point depending on the ingredients. I don't think there are "bad for you" smoothies as long as you are using clean ingredients, however there are definitely smoothies that are high in sugar content, so for someone who is trying to lower sugar intake, it is worth experimenting outside of the usual.

Swapping out bananas, which have a higher sugar content than most fruits, with a low sugar smoothie thickener like cauliflower not only cuts back on sugar, but adds nutritional value of a cruciferous vegetable. This is especially important when smoothies are a meal replacement - so you can make sure you are getting in legit vitamins your body needs! Incorporating low sugar fruits like blueberries is a great way to get a serving of fruit and sweeten up the smoothie enough without loading on the extra sugar of a sweetener like honey or agave. 

I find this smoothie to be best as a bowl because it is pretty basic tasting and benefits from having some toppings added! Cacao nibs and raw coconut satisfy that sweet tooth without the sugar rush of granolas. Try using a raw nut butter like Artisana cashew butter, as many roasted nut butters also have some added sugar snuck into the jar. 

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Ingredients:

• 1.5 cups cashew milk (I like to make my own by soaking raw cashews 2 or more hours and, blending them with fresh water) or other milk of choice

• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract

• 1 tsp cinnamon

• 1 tbsp Artisana cashew butter

• 1 cup steamed then frozen cauliflower (can be found in frozen section of health food store)

• 1.5 cups frozen organic blueberries

• 1 tbsp raw shredded coconut

• 1 tbsp raw cacao nibs

• Optional: protein powder of choice

Method:

• Add cashew milk and frozen blueberries and cauliflower to the blender.- first reserving a few blueberries to top the smoothie. I let them soak for a couple of minutes so they defrost and get creamier faster

• Add all remaining ingredients except the cacao nibs and shredded coconut to the blender and blend on high until smooth

• Pour in a bowl and top with cacao nibs, shredded coconut and extra frozen blueberries

Chocolatey Avocado Breakfast Mousse

The only thing that keeps me from eating dessert every night is knowing that it is the first thing that will happen the next morning. Avocado and banana are a dream team for a silky creamy texture. With energizing maca and cacao, this is one of my all time favorite morning bowls. 

Ingredients:

• 1/4 avocado

• 1 cup almond milk

• 2 tbsp cacao powder

• 1/2 banana*

• 1 tbsp chia seeds

• 1 tsp maca powder

• optional: a few ice cubes if you want it colder

• optional: blueberries or kale to pack in some extra antioxidants and vitamins*

Method:

Blend ingredients together until smooth. Check consistency- add more almond milk to make thinner, add more ice to make thicker and/or colder. Pour into a bowl and add an extra sprinkle of chia seeds or any other preferred topping. 

*To keep smoothies cold and thick without using ice, use frozen fruit. Store overripe bananas in halves or fourths (peeled) in airtight ziplock in freezer. Find frozen greens and fruit with no added sugar or other ingredients in the frozen food aisle. It can be cheaper to purchase frozen produce and also cuts back on food waste. 

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