It’s my birthday month! I will be 44 on the 13th and even though I am getting older in years, I feel younger and more energetic than ever! My diet is super clean, mostly oil and gluten free, and I make almost everything we eat from as close to scratch as possible.
I am giving myself Kale as a birthday present. I am ever expanding my palate and since kale is not my favorite (but oh so healthy) I have found that adding it to my morning shake-y shake is the best way to incorporate it into my diet.
My original shake-y shake was a cup of almond milk, a big heaping tablespoon of almond butter, and 2 frozen bananas. However, in the last six months I have been playing with a variety of nuts, seeds and grains to make instant milk, and superfoods, fruits and sweeteners for variety. I make a different variation every day – varying the fruits, nuts and powders – because the effects of eating a nutrient dense diet are cumulative! And the most important ingredient is 1/4″ piece of fresh turmeric which I believe is the key to life. It is anti-inflammatory and has tons of nutrients. 1/4″ of turmeric a day keeps the doctor away!
1 1/4 cup filtered water
1/2 cup kale (fresh or frozen)
1 frozen banana
1/4 cup frozen or fresh berries (e.g., strawberries, blueberries) *
1/4 cup nuts (e.g., almonds, Brazil nuts or cashew nuts)
1/4 cup rolled oats or cooked quinoa
1 tablespoon raw cacao powder
1 tablespoon hemp seeds
1 tablespoon ground flax powder
1 tablespoon mesquite, lucuma or goji berry powder or 1 teaspoon maca powder
1/4 ” piece of fresh turmeric
3 pitted dates
1 teaspoon pure ground vanilla powder
Add everything to the blender and let it rip!
* I buy tons of strawberries and blueberries for my son and husband but if they even have so much as a dent or just slightly soft, they refuse to eat them. I take those and add them to my frozen stockpiles of fruit. For bananas, every week I buy a big bunch, peel them, cut them up and store in the freezer so they are ready to go.
Here are just some of the nutrients I am digesting in the morning. Can you believe it?
Almonds: manganese, B vitamins, vitamin E, fiber, calcium, biotin
Brazil nuts: selenium, vitamin E, thiamin
Cashews: copper, magnesium, zinc
Hemp seeds: Omega-6, Omega-3, vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin D, B vitamins, calcium, fiber, iron
Flax seeds: Omega-3, vitamin B1, fiber, lignans
Kale: calcium, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, copper, potassium, iron, manganese, phosphorus
Bananas: vitamin B6, manganese, vitamin C, fiber, potassium, biotin, copper
Strawberries: vitamin C, manganese, fiber, folate
Blueberries: antioxidants, fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K
Oats: manganese, fiber, zinc, protein
Quinoa: protein (all essential amino acids), vitamin E
Maca powder: protein, calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, sulfur, iron
Mesquite powder: fiber, potassium, zinc, calcium, and magnesium
Lucuma powder: zinc, iron, calcium
Goji berry powder: iron, beta carotene, protein
Turmeric: fiber, anti-inflammatory, cancer fighting, iron, manganese, vitamin B6, and potassium
Dates: fiber, vitamin B6 Vanilla powder: calcium, iron, fiber
Vanilla powder: calcium, magnesium, B vitamins and fiber
And the benefits of all of those nutrients? Fiber, major fiber. (I am regular!) And check this out. All of these nutrients contribute to heart health and cardiovascular support, help prevent cancer, offer antioxidant support, are anti-inflammatory and immune boosting. In one meal.
Was curious to know if you’re still continuing the ritual of making this your first consumed item of the day? Have you tweaked or altered it in any way that is worth noting?
I still make my same shake every day sometimes altering the fruit or the greens but mostly the same. This way I know I start my day off right!