Just J.Faye

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Cherry Beet Smoothie

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I’m all about the smoothies right now. Also, I’m all about tart cherries, beets, and pretty red things. It is, after all, almost Valentine’s Day.

Let’s get festive with this cherry beet smoothie!

Cherry Beet Smoothie

Smoothies are one of my favorite weekday breakfast items. Not only are they delicious, but they are quick to make, super healthy, and keep me full through the morning. Plus, they never get boring, because you can easily swap the ingredients.

My morning smoothies always contain the following:

  • Nut milk – usually almond milk, but sometimes cashew milk
  • Seeds – chia seeds or flax seeds
  • Greens – usually kale
  • Protein – usually protein powder, but sometimes nuts or nut butter
  • A frozen banana – sometimes half of one, sometimes a whole one

Often times that is just what it is, but other times I like to switch it up and experiment with new flavors. Some days I’ll add carrots or spices or both. Some days I’ll sub half of the banana with other frozen fruit, like pineapple or mangos. Some days I will have this apple ginger cucumber green smoothie and some days I’ll have this pineapple ginger turmeric protein smoothie. There are just so many flavor combinations to try!

Cherry Beet Smoothie

This cherry beet smoothie was inspired by Valentine’s Day. It’s pretty and I love it. In it are all the things I already listed along with a few others: a beet, frozen tart cherries, and apple cider vinegar.

Beets are packed with nutrients like manganese, vitamin C, betaine, fiber, and potassium and have detoxification and anti-inflammatory benefits. Beets can also help prevent heart disease and boost energy. The only downside is that they are super colorful and can stain your hands red. It’s ok though, the beets are worth it.

Cherries boast many of the same health benefits, but they also help with post-exercise muscle soreness and sleep. I love having frozen cherries in my freezer with a couple of dark chocolate chips when I need to satisfy my after dinner I-need-something-sweet craving.

I also added in some apple cider vinegar (ACV). I love this stuff. It helps support a healthy immune system, promote digestion, and aids with weight loss. The acidity of the ACV pairs well with the earthiness of the beets.

With all that said this an extremely delicious and healthy concoction.

Cherry Beet Smoothie

I hope you try this cherry beet smoothie! It’ll make you feel healthy, beautiful, and loved from the inside out.

Cherry Beet Smoothie

Cherry Beet Smoothie
 
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A bright red, beautiful, delicious smoothie full of healthy things like beets, tart cherries, apple cider vinegar, chia seeds, and greens.
Serves: 1
Ingredients
  • 1 cup almond milk (or cow, soy, cashew, etc)
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon chia seeds
  • 1 medium beet, peeled and cut into large chunks
  • ½ cup frozen tart cherries
  • ½ frozen banana, sliced
  • 1 tablespoon almond butter*
  • 1 handful greens (spinach, kale, beet greens)
Instructions
  1. Add everything into a blender and blend until smooth. Top with extra cherries and chia seeds. Enjoy!
Notes
*The almond butter can be replaced with any nut butter, a ¼ cup of whole nuts, a scoop of protein powder, or ½ cup Greek yogurt.

Cherry Beet Smoothie

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Pineapple Ginger Turmeric Protein Smoothie

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I’m on a major breakfast smoothie kick right now and am obsessed with drinking this pineapple ginger turmeric protein smoothie for my morning meal.

Pineapple Ginger Turmeric Protein Smoothie

The great thing about smoothies is that you can load up your blender with so many healthy, delicious things, then in 30 seconds you have a tasty breakfast that keeps you full and energized until lunch.

I love experimenting with different flavor combinations and came across one that I needed to share with you -> pineapple + ginger + turmeric.

It’s kind of amazing.

Pineapple Ginger Turmeric Protein Smoothie

Not only is this pineapple ginger turmeric protein smoothie extremely delicious, it is also packed with so many health benefits.

Let’s review.

  • Pineapples are filled with bromelain, which helps with inflammation and digestion, but it is also a strong source of vitamin C to help keep your immune system strong.
  • Ginger and turmeric are both fantastic anti-inflammatory agents.
  • Bananas are full of potassium and give the smoothie a creamy texture.
  • Chia seeds are tiny magical things packed with protein, fiber, omega-3’s, antioxidants, calcium, and manganese.
  • Protein powder gives us that extra dose of protein to keep you full throughout the morning.
  • Almond milk is a great dairy alternative that is filled with vitamins and minerals.

Pineapple Ginger Turmeric Protein Smoothie

I realize that a cold smoothie might not be what you want on a chilly January morning, but pair it with a mug of hot coffee and you’ll be alright. Plus, it’s so healthy and delicious that the extra chills are totally worth it.

If you love smoothies, don’t forget to check out this apple ginger cucumber green smoothie that I posted last year!

Pineapple Ginger Turmeric Protein Smoothie
 
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This pineapple ginger turmeric protein smoothie is full of vitamins, minerals, anti-inflammatory agents, and delicious ingredients that will keep you full and happy until your next meal.
Serves: 1
Ingredients
  • 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
  • 1 tablespoon chia seeds
  • ½ teaspoon fresh grated ginger
  • ½ teaspoon turmeric
  • 1 scoop protein powder*
  • ½ frozen banana
  • 1 cup frozen pineapple chunks
Instructions
  1. Add all the ingredients to a blender, blend until smooth, and enjoy!
Notes
* If you don't have protein powder feel free to replace it with ½ cup Greek yogurt. It will help keep the smoothie thick and filling.

Pineapple Ginger Turmeric Protein Smoothie

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Apple-Ginger-Cucumber Green Smoothie

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Green smoothies! Do you love them? Hate them? Have no opinion on them whatsoever? Apple-Ginger-Cucumber Green Smoothie If it wasn’t clear by this, this, and this. I loveeee them.

Well, I love all smoothies, not just the green ones. Pink, purple, orange, brown, you name it. No need to discriminate! Every color is beautiful. And delicious.

A variety of fresh fruits and veggies, what’s not to love?! My recent obsession, the one I’m sharing with you today, is this apple-ginger-cucumber green smoothie. Apple-Ginger-Cucumber Green Smoothie In it is – yes, you guessed it – apples, ginger, and cucumber, but I also throw in some greens, spirulina, chia seeds, apple cider vinegar, almond milk, and Greek yogurt. Everything about this smoothie is super healthy and makes my body smile. If dairy does not make your body smile, no worries, replace the Greek yogurt with some vanilla protein powder. Trust me, you’ll want that dose of protein in there to help keep your tummy filled and happy for more than 61 minutes.

Andddd back up a second, spirulina. Have you heard of it? If not, spirulina is a blue-green algae powder that contains all essential amino acids, plus a ton of vitamins and minerals – a “superfood”, if you will. It boasts to improve the immune system, cardiovascular health, blood pressure, energy levels, allergies, etc. I will warn you that it does have a noticeable taste at first (not bad, just different). I use Pure Hawaiian Spirulina pacifica. The jar has lasted me many, many months.

While we’re focusing on ingredients, let’s quickly talk about two more: Apple cider vinegar (ACV) and chia seeds. ACV is a powerful tonic that is rich in enzymes and potassium. It claims to support a healthy immune system, promote digestion, and help with weight loss. I take a watered down shot of Bragg’s Organic “with the mother” every morning. Ch-ch-ch-chia seeds are packed full of protein, fiber, omega-3 fatty acids and claim to be quite good for your heart.

There are a lot of articles and research out there on the internets that support these things. There are also a lot out there that say it’s all hype. I’ll let you do your own googling and opinion-forming. Apple-Ginger-Cucumber Green Smoothie Now back to the green smoothies as a whole. Smoothies are easy to make, but they still take a just a leeetle bit of prep. So, because I will take all the spare morning minutes I can get to either sleep or to drink coffee and read blogs I have two tips:

  • Buy fresh ginger, peel it, chop it up, and store it in the freezer. That way you always have “fresh” ginger on hand to throw into stir fry, smoothies, etc.
  • Cut up the apple and cucumber at night. The cucumber goes into the fridge and the apple goes into the freezer (A, so it won’t brown and B, so it thickens up the smoothie without having to add a lot of ice).

Then all you gotta do in the morning is throw those tasty ingredients into a blender. Bada bing bada boom you have a delicious, healthy, satisfying breakfast.

I know this recipe may scream, “SUMMER!” to you, but it’s 35 degrees in January in Minnesota. That’s basically summer. Apple-Ginger-Cucumber Green Smoothie FYI, this recipe makes 2-16 ounce smoothies. I drink the whole thing and it keeps me full and satisfied until lunch. If you split it with someone (which is oh so nice of you) you’ll probably want a little something extra to go with it or maybe throw in a banana and some extra Greek yogurt.

Apple-Ginger-Cucumber Green Smoothie
 
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This delicious green smoothie is full of fruits, veggies, and other healthy ingredients. It's a powerful way to start your morning!
Ingredients
  • ½ cup almond milk
  • 2 tablespoon apple cider vinger
  • ½ cup plain non-fat Greek yogurt
  • 1 tablespoon chia seeds
  • 1 teaspoon spirulina
  • 1 tablespoon ginger, chopped
  • 1 handful spinach
  • 1 medium apple, chopped (I used honeycrisp)
  • 1 small cucumber, chopped
  • ice cubes
Instructions
  1. Place everything in your blender in the order listed above. Blend until smooth. Serve and enjoy!

Besides being absolutely amazing and delicious, smoothies are so versatile. I always throw in chia seeds, spirulina, and Greek yogurt or protein powder, but I do switch up the fruits, veggies, and flavors from week to week. A few weeks ago I used sumo mandarins, blueberries, kale, and coconut water. Last week I used banana and avocado with chocolate protein powder. I mean, why not mix things up and get crazy first thing in the morn!??!!

What’s your favorite smoothie combination?

Apple-Ginger-Cucumber Green Smoothie

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