I’ve been making a lot of smoothies lately.
If I’m not in the mood for a smoothie, I’ll chop up a bunch of veggies and juice up a tall glass of green juice.
Whipping up a green smoothie, or juicing a tall glass of veggie goodness, seems to be all the rage lately.
And yes, I’ve been caught up in the excitement!
Do you have a preference?
For myself, I often prefer a smoothie to juicing – I like that the fiber stays intact (am I the only one who hates throwing all that nutritious fiber down the drain?) – plus I find it easier to clean a VitaMix than a juicer
Sometimes it’s a Green Smoothie, other times it’s a little less green, depending on the ingredients – it’s a little like mixing a palette of paint, to see what color you end up with.
On the flip side of things, there are many detractors to the juicing craze.
Bottom line – while certainly delicious, juicing may not always be the healthiest choice.
According to the experts, when you drink a glass of juice – especially if it’s mostly fruit – you’re really drinking nothing but a glass of sugar.
Here’s something else to keep that in mind:
Your brain doesn’t know the difference between a glass of orange juice, a slice of bread, or a spoonful of sugar – it will respond to each of these exactly the same way.
(Ultimately storing it as fat if you consume too much).
So, yes, that’s enough to give one pause.
The best advice I can give you – especially if you’re a die-hard fan of juicing – is to go easy on the fruit.
In other words, make sure your juice consists mostly of vegetables – for example, cucumber, celery, lemon and spinach or kale. I like to add an apple for a touch of sweetness, and a bit of ginger for that extra zing.
(If you’re juicing mostly carrots – keep in mind they’re much higher in carbohydrates, which means they’re high in sugar. And your body will store any excess sugar as fat).
When it comes to smoothies, however, once I find a recipe I like (that’s relatively easy and doesn’t require all kinds of exotic ingredients) I’m more likely to make it over and over again.
There are plenty of ideas all over the Internet; the variations are limited only by your imagination.
So, I was thrilled to find this truly fabulous recipe, for a Raw Chocolate Smoothie – seriously, I thought I’d died and gone to heaven, it’s that good.
(These days, my favorite smoothie is a variation of the above, based on a few others I’ve come across – you can scroll down to the bottom for the recipe).
But first, I had to track down some Harmless Harvest Raw Organic Coconut Water, which I’d recently heard was the best of the best.
What’s so great about it?
This particular one is not heat pasteurized, which means it retains more of it’s original nutrients – of which there are many! Plus, Coconut Water is a perfect alternative to your favorite non-dairy milk.
How’s that for a “win-win”?
Not only is it absolutely delicious, it’s also soooo good for you!
RAW CHOCOLATE SMOOTHIE
8 oz. Coconut Water
1 Tbsp Cocoa Powder
1 Tbsp Hemp Seeds (or Chia Seeds)*
1 Tbsp Maca (optional)*
½ Tbsp Tahini
½ cup frozen Blueberries (preferably organic)
A handful of greens (I like spinach)
Optional Add-Ins:
- protein powder
- spirulina
Combine all the ingredients in a high-speed blender and serve.
Note: it’s always a good idea to add some extra fats; you could replace the tahini with another nut butter, ¼ of an avocado, or a spoonful of coconut oil – the choice is yours.
Makes 1 or 2 servings.
And if you’re still debating, on wondering which juicer to invest in, I love this inexpensive guide from Kris Carr, of Crazy, Sexy Kitchen – she’ll tell you everything you ever wanted to know.
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