Breakfast Friday: Soul Warming Smoothie
/It’s breakfast month over at Earthbound Farm, which as you can guess, I am ridiculously excited for.
Breakfast is my very favorite.
And while I’m not usually one to make claims like “soul warming” when talking about a recipe I’ve made, I can’t help it with this smoothie. It’s going to be your new best friend this fall + winter.
I have always been a smoothie lover, but I find them so hard to eat when it’s cold outside, even when the heat is on. They chill me right to the bone. But I think I’ve come up with a solution for that!
First, I prefer to make extra-thick smoothies eaten in a bowl with a spoon. This helps me to eat them a bit slower and avoid brain freeze. I also think it makes me feel more like I’m eating rather than just drinking. And the smoothie in a bowl method allows for loading up on toppings!
Second, I’ve used a few warming spices and zesty baby greens to send a heat wave through your body. It only takes a few seconds before this cold smoothie warms you right up!
Today’s post is sponsored by Earthbound Farm. Product opinions are always my own. If I didn’t love it, you wouldn’t hear about it.Thank you for supporting the occasional sponsored post that helps fund all the deliciousness + behind the scenes action you see here.
I added full-fat coconut milk for extra richness and satiation. Frozen blueberries and bananas were used to add light sweetness and fruit flavor to help balance the spiciness. And by the way, Earthbound Farm’s frozen blueberries are top notch. They’re always plump + sweet and not clumped together in a freezer-burned mess. The same goes for their other frozen fruit, and bonus, it’s all organic. Partnership or not, EBF is my frozen fruit of choice.
Medjool dates were added for a bit more natural sweetness and to further thicken the smoothie.
Turmeric, cinnamon, cayenne, and fresh ginger were used for flavor, heat, and their nutritional benefits.
And last but not least, the baby greens add a healthy dose of daily vitamins like iron, calcium, vitamin A, and vitamin C.
Here’s a little more food for thought about the ingredients.
Turmeric // Most notably, turmeric is known for it’s natural anti-inflammatory properties. This actually comes from the ingredient curcumin, one of the ingredients that make up turmeric. To get the maximum benefit from curcumin supplements seem to be the way to go, but adding more of the spice to your diet surely won’t hurt. There have also been studies done on the power of turmeric to help with Alzheimer’s and certain types of cancer.
Ginger // Ginger is also known for helping fight inflammation in the body but is probably most known for it’s anti-nausea powers. You may even want to try taking ginger to help with muscle soreness, migraines, diabetes, and more.
Cinnamon // While studies are inconclusive, cinnamon has been thought to lower blood sugar levels and also help lower inflammation in the body. It’s also has anti-microbial properties.
Cayenne // I had no idea how beneficial this super-spicy ingredient is. Cayenne has been shown to be helpful for digestion problems, certain heart conditions, toothaches, cold + flu relief, nerve pain, arthritis, migraines, and more.
Blueberries // These little gems are packed with fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K, manganese, antioxidants and more. There are even studiesthat haveshown organic berries to have higher levels of antioxidants in comparison to conventionally grown, along with being more beneficial to the land + environment.
Kale Italia blend // Leafy greens help keep the body in good running order and they’re also loaded with fiber, vitamins, minerals, and help to keep you hydrated with their high water content. The benefits are truly infinite.
Put all of these ingredients together in a smoothie and you’re going to feel like a million bucks.
Whole foods are pretty freaking amazing.
However, I’m not a doctor. I’m a food blogger. Please consult your doc with any questions you may have!
Soul Warming Smoothie
gluten-free, vegan // yields 2 servings
- 1 cup full-fat coconut milk
- 2 small/medium frozen bananas
- 2 cups frozen blueberries
- 2 medjool dates, pitted and soaked in hot water for 10+ minutes
- 1 1/2 - 2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2-3 cups Kale Italia, or other baby green blend
- additional milk as needed, canned coconut or almond
Place all ingredients in your blender in the order listed above. Turn on and use the plunger [if you have one] to keep things moving. Blend until fully smooth. Add more milk if necessary but keep the consistency as thick as possible.
Portion into two bowls and top with granola, nuts, or other desired toppings. Or, store in a sealed bottle in the fridge for 2-3 days. Note: The smoothie will turn from purple to green after sitting in the fridge.
Tips: For a less spicy bite [but it’s more warming than spicy], use spinach instead of the kale/arugula mix and omit the cayenne pepper. Soaking the dates helps them to combine better when blended. Soaking in hot water for 10-20 minutes will help. You can also chop them up a bit. Turmeric stains very easily - fyi!
I can finally not freeze my butt off slurping smoothies in the winter. #winning
Ashley
