superfoods smoothie

I’ve been a bit under the weather lately…possibly Lyme’s disease or possibly a superbug that I can’t shake.  Somedays I feel good, other days I feel as though I was plowed over by a Mac truck!  Either way, I need to boost my immune system big time!

This superfoods smoothie is just the way to do it!  My sister-in-law turned me onto wheat grass powder from a company named AmazingGrass.  I am a huge fan of this company and have used many of their products in the past, but somehow I overlooked simple old wheat grass powder!  Wheat Grass contains all essential animo acids, has a high alkalinity and contains phytonutrients and chlorophyll, all important for improved immune function and detoxification.

photo-43

I also used blueberries in this recipe for immune support.  Blueberries are a superfood all on their own!  They are an excellent source of flavonoids, especially anthocyanidins.  This component pushes blueberries to the top of the fruit and veggie line for antioxidant content.  Researchers have found this antioxidant to prevent against Alzheimer’s disease by reducing the amount of oxidative stress on the brain.

I had a professor in college that would tell his students to eat blueberries before big exams…I thought he was joking, but I guess not!

SuperFoods Smoothie

1 cup vanilla almond milk

1/2 cup frozen blueberries

1/2 banana

1/2 cup baby spinach or baby kale

1 scoop wheat grass

1 tablespoon chia seeds

1 tablespoon hemp seeds

~Blend and Enjoy!~

superfoods smoothie ~vegan, gluten-free~

www.beginwithinnutrition.com

strawberry chia seed jam

I’m a huge fan of old fashioned strawberry jam.  However, i’m not a fan of how much sugar it contains!  I remember making jam with my mom as a kid and using cups of sugar!  Not to mention all the time spent cooking the fruit until the correct temperature and sterilizing jars!

This recipe is SO much more simple and uses SO much less sugar!  It is also considered raw because the fruit doesn’t have to be cooked!

And, it contains CHIA SEEDS!

(if you’ve been reading the blog you know I have a love affair with chia seeds!)

strawberry chia seed jam ~raw, vegan~

Strawberry Chia Seed Jam

1 cup strawberries

1 tablespoon chia seeds

1 tablespoon agave or honey

1 tablespoon water

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

(you can use frozen strawberries, just thaw them first!)

-Place all ingredients in a blender or food processor.

-Quickly pulse until combined and strawberries take on a “mashed” consistency.

-Place in a covered container and refrigerate for at least an hour before using.

strawberry chia seed jam ~raw, vegan~

Enjoy on your morning toast, smeared on bread with peanut butter or drizzled over yogurt!

Sunbutter Smoothie

We often think of sunflower seeds as something baseball players chew and spit out…gross!

Who knew they were a nutritional powerhouse???

Highly addictive due to their salty and slightly sweet flavor, they are a great “nut-free” choice of snack!.  And, they are cheap and easy to find!    When ground up, sunflower seeds make a tasty butter, which is a great substitute for nut-butters such as peanut butter.

photo-3

Just a quarter cup of sunflower seeds provides half your daily recommendation of vitamin E!  Vitamin E keeps our hearts healthy, skin and hair radiant and combats free radicals which may lead to disease.  They also contain phytosterols which have been proven to lower elevated cholesterol levels by inhibiting the intestinal absorption of cholesterol.  Phytosterols have also been linked to decreased cancer risk.

For more information and links to scientific research, click here.

Leaving all research, biology and scientific data behind…sunflower seeds (especially sunbutter!) simply taste good!

Sunbutter provides protein and healthy fat, which gives this smoothie “staying power” to keep you full and to keep cravings at bay.

Sunbutter Smoothie ~raspberries, spinach, banana~ vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free~

Sunbutter Smoothie

(makes 2 servings)

2 cups coconut water (or water, non-dairy milk, cow’s milk)

1 banana

1 cup frozen raspberries

2 heaping tablespoons sunbutter

2 dates, pitted

2 large handfuls of baby spinach

2 tablespoons chia seeds, 2 tablespoons hemp seeds (optional)

~blend and enjoy~

Weekend wrap up:  the weird New England weather has us running between rain drops…

photo-2

We tried making it outside as much as possible because we’re going a little stir crazy these days!

photo-1

But, it’s fun just being lazy too!