Now that we’ve hit the warmer months, a delicious green smoothie is a great way to boost your nutrient intake for the day! Here are my top five ingredients for a super healthy snack, and where you can find them in the 4101.
5. Almond milk – many people (whether they know it or not) have trouble digesting dairy milk, so almond milk is a great alternative for smoothies. You can buy it already made from your local supermarket, but it’s also easy to make yourself in just a few minutes. Living Synergy make the best nut milk bags that I’ve come across, with instructions and videos included. You can get them at the Green Grocer (144 Boundary St).
4. Nut butter – while we all grew up with peanut butter, you can make butter out of any nuts simply by blending until smooth and adding a little macademia oil and a pinch of salt. This opens up a whole new world of opportunity for flavour and nutrient combinations. My personal favourite is almond, brazil nut, cashew & chia seed. Again you can buy this from the supermarket, but I prefer to buy raw, pesticide-free nuts from Mick’s Nuts (31 Hardgrave Rd) and make it myself. This is a great addition to a green smoothie for extra protein, fibre and healthy fats. It also keeps you fuller for longer!
3. Frozen fruit – of course no smoothie is complete without some yummy fruit, and having a selection of fruit in the freezer makes smoothie making quick and easy (no more peeling and chopping or fruit going off). It also brings variety, fibre, vitamins and minerals to your smoothie, as well as natural sweetness. I recommend going to Mega Continental (17 Duncan St) for a great selection of frozen fruit (and delicious greek yoghurt too, another smoothie staple if you can have dairy).
2. Super Greens powder by Synergy Natural – This is my favourite green powder mix because it’s made from whole foods instead of extracts and it has just four wonderful ingredients. It’s a blend of super powers – Spirulina, Chlorella, Barley Grass and Wheat Grass. These microscopic freshwater plants and grasses combine to provide your body with chlorophyll, protein, iron, Vitamin B12, antioxidants and many more nutrients. It’s a wonderful energy boost in a form that your body can easily absorb. You can find Super Greens at the Green Grocer (144 Boundary St).
1. Kale – the mother of all greens and up there with the healthiest foods on the planet. This green leafy vegetable looks very similar to silverbeet, and can be used in much the same way. Just one cup provides over 100 per cent of your daily Vitamin C, A and K needs. Add some to your smoothie for a healthy whole food kick. You can find it at the West End Markets (Davies Park) and also at Charlie & Liz’s Fruit Shop (122 Boundary St).
Article and recipe from Angela Jackson of Teapot Health Coaching
Angela Jackson is an Exercise Scientist, Herbalist and graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. She’s on a mission to help women discover the wonder of wholefoods and use a holistic approach to lower their cholesterol naturally. Her high-nutrient inspired recipes, group cleanse programs and individual health coaching programs can be found at www.teapothealthcoaching.com.
