I generally don’t think smoothies are a good idea, as they are often just a sweet moosh of fruit mainly (aka sugar) without much real nutrition. Eating a proper meal is always a better idea for many reasons. However there are those times when one is hard-pressed to get a meal together and need to have something before dashing out, or to prevent you eating something you shouldn’t. Perhaps you leave very early for work, and need to take something with you for brekkie? If so, enter the ‘good smoothie’.
You’ll need a nice blender or Nutribullet to get the job done quickly, and you need to make sure you have a quality protein as a major ingredient, such as egg yolks, whey or collagen. (Don’t use egg white as it tends to bind biotin in the gut, not good news. Egg white should be cooked.) My brand of Pure Hydrolysed Collagen is my personal go-to ingredient here as it’s the highest and purest form of protein, and I’m very dairy intolerant so I can’t use whey. (I would never touch the plant-based protein powders as they lack the vital amino acids that pure protein from animal sources contain and are extremely high in carbohydrates.)
Next you’ll need some healthy fat. Coconut oil is divine in a smoothie, but it can tend to stick a bit to the blades and be difficult to clean so I like organic coconut milk or coconut cream and my special MCT oil made from coconut oil, which is not quite so icky on the blades. But if you like coconut fat, go ahead! It’s so good for you! Once this is in, add some frozen berries, some green leaves (spinach, kale, beet tops) and even half an avo if you like. I sometimes toss in a small chunk of fresh ginger too, or use my Organic Ginger Powder. I like to add in a ½ teaspoon of my Glutamine powder too, which is great for the gut and for stopping hunger an hour later! Also takes away any cravings. I sometimes put in a teaspoon (or tablespoon if I’m especially hungry) of my Organic Macadamia Butter. Add in some distilled or filtered water and you are ready to go.
Now you have a decent ‘meal’ if you like, for those rushed occasions. If you want to add some sweetness, some Xylitol or Erythritol or even a teensy bit of raw honey. If I’m feeling brave, I add in some MSM Powder too – it can be a tad bitter, but if you have nut butter in there, it will mask it, it’s such a great anti-inflammatory and energy booster.
The following quality ingredients under my own label for smoothies are available from my online shop and here are the ones I personally use:
- Pure Hydrolysed Collagen (bovine) – Collagen Peptides
- MCT Oil (medium chain triglyceride oil – helps fat burning)
- Organic Ginger Powder
- Organic Coconut Oil
- 100% pure Glutamine Powder
- Organic Macadamia Butter
- MSM Powder
- Xylitol
- Erythritol
- Raw Honey from happy bees
Remember this too – collagen peptides in hydrolysed collagen from bovine or chicken sources help you lose weight and build muscle while you sleep. Hard to believe? Don’t take my word for it – try it yourself and be pleasantly surprised!