Power Smoothie!!!

Approximately, 23 days ago I jumped onto a 28 day cleanse, which I am now extending another week because I feel great (and the movie I want to go see doesn't come out until then, so why not wait and celebrate?).  The rules were simple, no dairy, no gluten, no added sugar, no processed foods (or baked goods), and no caffeine.  I'm vegetarian, so the no meat thing was no problem, I didn't even include it in my rule book.  The first week started with fruits, veggies, and nuts.  The second week added beans, and the third week added eggs and grains. And the following weeks, well, we are just keepin er steady while trying new lunch and dinner recipes. 

What do I eat for breakfast you say?  Well, after waking up with lemon or ginger tea, and sometimes I just drink hot water–silly I know but it warms me up–I start contemplating what to pack in my smoothie.  My heart has fallen in love smoothies, as they are simple, easily digestible, make you feel light and energized, and can be varied quite easily.  Often I gear my smoothie to what I am doing that morning, going to work, engaging in light or intense exercise, or quietly studying while sitting down.

Left side bar: Chia seeds, Bee pollen, Hemp seeds, Ground flax.  Right: My smoothie!! Green with kelp powder! Yum!

It's true good sources of carbohydrates in the two hours after exercise speed recovery. But, while skiing, I developed a savage routine of always looking for that typical carbohydrate filler when I was hungry after a run or before a hard workout. This routine quickly caught the best of me after I stopped the competitive lifestyle.  Hence, I embraced the cleanse as a great way to form new habits and rethink my diet around a non-competitive but active lifestyle. 

I fell in love with the power smoothie. Pack all your nutrients into one cup of joy and get your day started with everything you need!   And above all, I just love my bee pollen!!!


My Power Smoothie

1 banana

1 handful frozen berries

1 spoonful almond butter

2 Tblsp ground flaxseeds

1 Tblsp hemp seed

1 tsp chia seeds soaked in water for ~10min

1 Tblsp Lecithin

Add almond milk or soy milk or orange juice to thin

 Sprinkle some Bee pollen on top and Enjoy!

Other ingredients I've added. . . 

Kelp powder

Vitamin C powder

Coconut milk

Cinnamon

Going for an intense workout? Add in some cooked oatmeal (instant so it's small) or quinoa