I get a lot of weird looks when I walk into work with a Ninja cup full of swamp-looking goo. Not only do I walk I with it, but it chug it down shamelessly, and slurp it out down to the drop.
Despite popular belief, green drinks don’t have to be nasty. You don’t have to chew the chunks of kale that surpassed the blender, and you don’t have to choke down a mush of carrots, broccoli and whatever else your health kick was sure would taste great.
I think I’ve tried every recipe out there, so let me save you the trouble. All those magazines that rave about how great liquidized avocado tastes and swear by the sweetness of fresh kale are lying to you. I have used cucumbers, limes, avocados, bananas, spinach, and collard greens; although I have found combinations that I did enjoy, I couldn’t find a blend of superfoods that would satisfy my taste buds AND give me the nutritional satisfaction that I needed.
So I took a different approach.
The Amazing Grass greens blend was gathering dust in my pantry beside the other unopened bags of superfood supplements. I had bought Maca powder, chia seeds, and Amazing Grass for a purpose, but hadn’t found a way to use any of them regularly, so I did some research on how I can use these products to make one mega-super-food drink that I can have every day.
Ingredients:
1.5 tsp maca powder
½ scoop Amazing Grass (the brave can use an entire scoop)
½ scoop lean protein powder
1 tsp chia seeds
1 cup cashew milk
½ tsp xanthan gum
Cinnamon
Ice+water
Macronutrients: 8c/4f/17p (130cal)
This blend actually keeps me full, focused, and energized. Not to mention- it tastes awesome! (I promise) But why did I have these ingredients in my pantry? Why did I go out of my way to look for something as random as maca powder? What’s so great about chia seeds?
Maca Powder
Maca powder is an Incan superfood, and has been used for many years for hormonal balance. This is great for women who suffer from intense premenstrual symptoms and women who are prenatal. It boosts the immune system, and gives the drink a kick that makes it different from any other I’ve tasted.
Amazing Grass
I bought Amazing Grass on a whim, but it is an unbelievable source of micronutrients. It carries concentrated amounts of vitamins and minerals that we would need a copious amount of various vegetables to satisfy. In addition to boosting the immune system, the Amazing Grass blend also aides the digestive system. I prefer Amazing Grass, but many other brands make similar blends; if you don’t like the taste of whichever one you try, there are plenty of options!
Protein Powder
This helps satiate me, and helps the taste tremendously. More importantly, though, because I have the drink post run, the protein is essential to muscle recovery.
Chia Seeds
Because so many vegetables carry fat soluble vitamins, their nutrients do not get fully absorbed unless consumed with a fat source. Chia seeds are high in Omega-3 fatty acids; their high levels of fiber promote digestive health, and their calcium, magnesium, and phosphate levels improve bone health.
Cashew Milk
I used cashew milk, but any type of milk is fine. I find cashew milk creamy and delicious, and it only has 25 calories in a cup!!!
Xanthan Gum
What the hell is this? Xanthan Gum is a thickener, and a half a teaspoon goes a long way. It isn’t necessary on a nutrition level, but it makes the shake thick and creamy. It’s a bit tricky to find, but most grocery stores have the Bob's Red Mill Xanthan Gum in the organic section or the baking section.
I'm glad I found a drink that I enjoy and look forward to mid-morning. I drink it post workout because it hydrates and replenishes me after a hard run or an intense lift. I hope this inspired you to try something new, or at least sparked an interest in some of these incredible superfoods. If anything at all, I hope it showed you that green drinks do not have to be nasty!
