I usually have a smoothie for breakfast, especially in the growing season when fresh greens and herbs are blowing up in the garden, and it’s too hot to want to stand in front of the stove.
Since we keep the air very high, around 85+ degrees, we rely on fans to keep from turning into puddles, and the only fan in the kitchen is the one that sucks air in, not blows air out.
My smoothies contain frozen fruit, so they’re a blessing, even in the morning these days, when temperatures start to climb from the moment I step out of bed.
More and more, my smoothies also become my big opportunity to cram in the most nutrition possible. I’ve discovered that if you blend a frozen banana in with just about anything and everything, it’ll taste, if not awesome, at least palatable. I peel and freeze them and use about a half a banana per serving.
The most recent add-in I’ve been using is hemp protein for a little staying power throughout the morning. I also add flaxseed, turmeric, and ginger. One change I’m planning to make is to use turmeric paste, a cooked blend of turmeric, coconut oil, and black pepper. It can be divided into mini ice cube trays and frozen, and a cube of the paste can be blended in with the other smoothie ingredients.
Combining turmeric with coconut oil and black pepper increases the bioavailability of the curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric which acts as an anti-inflammatory and apparently, nineteen other astounding benefits. I try to use about 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric per smoothie. I would double that for the paste to account for the added volume from the other ingredients.
I also cram in a bit of tulsi, a carrot with the top, a few leaves of French sorrel, and frozen berries or peaches. With enough juice or water to make it blendable, it’s a pretty big breakfast.
Here’s a general guide:
Meal-in-a-Smoothie
1/2 frozen banana
2/3 cup frozen berries or other fruit (peaches, mango, pineapple, etc.)
1 small carrot, sliced into chunks
about 2 cups packed greens such as kale, carrot tops, sorrel, spinach
several sprigs fresh garden herbs (tulsi, mint, lemon basil, lemon balm)
2 Tablespoons whole or freshly ground flaxseed (pre-grind if your blender can’t grind up the seeds together with the other ingredients)
1-2 Tablespoons hemp protein (I’ve started using this one)
1/2 teaspoon turmeric, or 1 tsp. turmeric paste
1/2 teaspoon ginger, dried ground, or a 1-in. piece fresh
enough water, coconut water or milk, or juice of choice, to get to where your blender can do its thing
I don’t have one of the superblenders, like this one, though a girl can dream, but I have no complaints about the Ninja I’ve been using for about 4 months now.
That is, no complaints about the performance, especially since I keep a pair of earplugs right next to it to protect my ears. Probably a good idea with most kitchen appliances.
It’s only been about a week since I started adding in the hemp protein, but I think I feel less starving by lunchtime. That means even if I get started on lunch late, which is most of the time, I can concentrate on preparing food, not spoiling my appetite as I cook.
Do you have a favorite smoothie recipe? How about a favorite nutritional add-in?
What ratio of ingredients would you use for the turmeric paste?
Good Morning! 🙂 Your smoothie recipe sounds so refreshing right now as I am melting! Could you please share how you make turmeric paste? Thank you so so much!
Morgana and Lisa–Hi there! The basic recipe is 1/2 cup turmeric powder plus 1 cup water, heated gently for about 5-10 minutes, then stir in 1 1/2 teaspoons of ground black pepper and 1/4 cup coconut oil. Refrigerate or freeze.
Hello,
One of the employees at Hollywood Feed told me that she puts a teaspoon (maybe tablespoon?) of diatomaceous earth, food grade, in her morning smoothie, and it is good for the ridding of parasites. She told me if you have a dog or cat in your house, you will have these parasites. And (yuck) she said that it is good for stool quality (for lack of a better word). I purchased a bag of this for a green flea eradication treatment. It’s good on the pets, and sprinkled on the premises.
Interesting, eh? I’m not sure I would try this, but, I thought I would pass (no pun intended) it along. Enjoy your posts!
Thank you.
Q: do your kiddos eat smoothies with you? I’m afraid I’d have a mutiny on my hands with 5 kids and a husband who don’t consider smoothies a meal. 🙁 I probably just need to toughen up and tell ’em: here’s breakfast – eat it or wait till lunch! Great add-in ideas!
Nicole–They make their own, so at this point they don’t add-in what I do. Theirs is usually just fruit and plain yogurt. Which isn’t half bad. I think as they get older they’ll want to beef theirs up.
Daisy, did you really mean cumin in the recipe????? Turmeric’s most active component is “curcumin”, and i think that might be what you meant. I do a mean smoothie here myself every morning with some pretty wild and kinky additions but i don’t think i would like a chili-spice in one. Just checking….:) I LOVE all your posts…..thanks for what you do and share with us!
Barbara–Did I say cumin? Hahaha! I think I know where my kid gets it now. She put cumin on her toast the other day thinking it was cinnamon. Okay, fixing that now. Thank you!
Beverly Holmgren–Interesting! Yes, I’m with you, I’d definitely have to think about that one long and hard. And research. Thanks!
Be careful with raw greens such as spinach, kale. I caused myself many health problems drinking smoothies with raw greens.