Smoothie Love

[sylvanwitch]

I'm a smoothie fiend in the summer months, and I usually throw together whatever I have on hand to make a healthy, light lunch. I try to pack as many good things into my Ninja as I can. I might occasionally post a recipe, keeping in mind that these are all very personalized, with the "smoothies" tag. This is so I can find the recipes, but I also don't mind sharing with you. Feel free to ignore these posts.



I recently discovered that you can put beans in a smoothie. I feel like that's something I should have figured out for myself long ago, but I did not. Anyway, you could not tell they were in there, taste-wise, and they added a lush thickness that made it more milkshake-like in mouthfeel.

Here's what I put in:

2 cups fresh baby spinach leaves
1/2 c. light, unsweetened coconut milk
1/2 c. unsweetened vanilla cashew milk
1/2 c. rinsed & drained black beans (Goya, from a can, if you're interested)
1 c. frozen sweet dark cherries
2 T. Lakonto Chocolate Sunbutter (sunflower kernel butter)
1 T. Bob's Red Mill Flaxmeal
dash of Truvia liquid stevia all-natural sweetener

Nutritional values: 474 calories, 8 grams fiber, 8 grams protein, 25g fat, 678mg sodium, 41g carbs

Comments

[delphi]

Ooh, that sounds really good! I love a smoothie this time of year - thanks for sharing the recipe.

[sylvanwitch]

You’re so welcome! When it’s hot like it’s been, there are times a smoothie is all I can fathom trying to consume. I hope you enjoy this one if you make it. Smoothie solidarity, my friend!

[cornerofmadness]

that one sounds interesting

[sylvanwitch]

It was very good, but I’d imagine the combo wouldn’t work for everyone. The beans were great, though, because I really couldn’t taste them, but I got my protein and the lovely texture.

[cornerofmadness]

Definitely would have a lot of protein. Sadly the black beans would have been the only part I could eat but it does really sound good.

chocolate sunbutter?

[oldtoadwoman]

In theory, this is cool. (The only thing I'd have to swap out is the stevia because I'm one of those weird people who think it tastes bitter instead of sweet.) But I think my downfall would just be having the ingredients in the apartment. I'd never heard of "chocolate sunbutter" but I just looked it up and it looks like the kind of thing where I'd just sit down and eat the whole jar with a spoon. (I also cannot be trusted with Nutella, for instance.)

I think I need to give myself permission to do more of these treats at the "overpriced" smoothie places. I know it should be cheaper to make my own, but ... that only works if I wasn't the kind of person who binge eats ingredients. (Today, I paid way too much for a hot chocolate at Ghirardelli, but I'm justifying it as cheaper and healthier than going on a full binge. So my current "diet" rule is that I'm only allowed to have treats when I'm outside the apartment and the apartment needs to be my healthy food zone.)

Re: chocolate sunbutter?

[sylvanwitch]

Your diet rule seems like a reasonable compromise that addresses your greatest area of difficulty when it comes to less healthy habits. Plus, if you can only have treats outside the apartment, that means you have to walk somewhere to get them, I'm assuming, and that's exercise! As you say, it's a good means of portion control, too.

There are some nut-butter brands that come in individual serving packets; I've seen them at the grocery store. That is *way* more expensive, of course, because you're paying for convenience and packaging, but if you were interested in trying a healthy smoothie at home, you might be able to track those down. I can also recommend PB2, which is powdered peanut butter. You add water to make it spreadable. It's low in fat, and you can add the powder directly to the blender without making it into spread first, since there's fluid in the smoothie already. It works well to give that excellent peanut butter taste without offering the temptation of eating it by the spoonful. (PB2 also comes in powdered chocolate peanut butter, btw.)

Re: chocolate sunbutter?

[oldtoadwoman]

Yup, retrieving food involves walking, especially if I have to consume it elsewhere. (So for instance, there's a convenience kitty-corner from my apartment building that is super easy to get to, but if I give myself the rule that I can't bring treats home, that means I have to keep walking and find a park bench.) And, yes, public shame motivates me to stick to reasonable portions in public. I'm not going to sit down at a park bench and scarf an entire package of Oreos for instance, but I would totally eat the entire package if I brought it home. ("Just one or two more" will kill off a whole package in no time.)

I don't know if they still make them, but Ben & Jerry's used to have these tiny single-serve containers. They only had a handful of their flavors and the tiny single-serve containers cost almost as much as a full pint. I was always so torn because the idea of a single-serve packet was awesome, but there were always pints of flavors that I'd rather have right next to them, so I rarely did it. (And once I've opened a pint, I'm eating the whole thing.)

Yesterday, I went grocery shopping without buying any cheat foods and then I ate a gigantic salad for dinner. My only cheat was the big hot chocolate which meets my criteria of "treats normal people would consume in public". (And then I spent like $30 at the art supply store, because my InnerBrat is incapable of dieting and budgeting at the same time.)

Re: chocolate sunbutter?

[sylvanwitch]

I either engage in comfort eating or retail therapy. If I have to both not eat crap and not spend money on books, I tend to become deeply unhappy. I recognize that these two compulsive behaviors signal a need for therapy of some sort, but I have yet to actually try therapy. I guess I keep hoping I'll somehow gain discipline in either or both areas, even though these have been behaviors for literally my entire adult life (and, in terms of food, started even before I became an adult).

(All this is to say, I totally get why your InnerBrat bought art supplies.)

Re: chocolate sunbutter?

[oldtoadwoman]

Yeah, and I've basically decided that, given the consequences, spending too much gets me into less trouble than eating too much.

Re: chocolate sunbutter?

[sylvanwitch]

Absolutely! Plus, all the lovely art supplies for you and all the gorgeous books for me!