ENJOYING THE SECOND HALF OF LIFE

Smoothies

Let me start with saying I think smoothies are great!  They are not only delicious but quick and easy to make.  And they are packed with all the nutrition that is beneficial for everyone, not just us boomers.

As us baby boomers/seniors,  get older, we tend not to eat as well as we should, and smoothies are a great alternative. It could be from the medicines we take, or health issues we are having.  Too busy. Whatever the reason is, it is imperative for us to get the proper nutrition, our bodies need.  Without it, we become malnourished which can be very dangerous.  It can aggravate our current health problems we are having, as well as causing us new health problems.  We don’t want or need that.  Smoothies to the rescue.

Benefits

You’d be surprised the many different benefits smoothies have.  Besides the nutrients, vitamins, antioxidants, etc.  There are smoothie recipes for the healthy brain, memory improvement, helping you sleep, complexion, weight loss, heart, kidneys, staying hydrated, improves digestion.

I will occasionally have a smoothie in replacement as a meal, where I might usually skip that meal.  In my eyes, a healthy delicious smoothie beats having nothing at all.  And there are all kinds of smoothie recipes.  I mean all kinds!!  If you use it as a meal, some smoothies stay with you longer and make you feel fuller.

Meal Replacements 

Kale Spinach and Pear Smoothie inspired by Tracy.  Thanks, Tracy!

• 1 heaping cup spinach leaves
• 1 heaping cup chopped kale leaves
• 1/2 pear
• 1 frozen banana
• 1 1/2 cups cold almond milk (or soy milk or orange juice)
• 1 tablespoon honey

Remove kale leaves from their rough center stalk and coarsely chop.  In a blender, combine kale spinach and almond milk.  Blend until no big kale bits remain.  Stop blender and add banana honey and pear.  Blend until smooth.  Enjoy immediately.  Heck yea!

Marie’s Healthy Breakfast Smoothie

• 1/2 cup of spinach, or more to taste
• 1 frozen banana, cut into chunks
• 1/2 peeled & pitted small avocado
• 1/4 cup of almond milk
• 1/4 t ground cinnamon
• 1/2 t vanilla extract

Directions:

Blend spinach, banana, avocado, almond milk, vanilla extract, and cinnamon in a blender until smooth.

Meal on the Go Green Smoothie

• 2 cups kale (fresh)
• 2 cups unsweetened almond milk
• 1 banana
• 2 cups berries
• 2 T almond butter and
• 1/4 cup rolled oats

Directions:

1. Blend kale and almond milk, till smooth
2. add the rest of ingredients, blend till smooth.
3. Makes 2 servings

Brain

• 1/2 cup frozen strawberries
• 1/2 cup frozen banana
• 1/4 cup blueberries
• 3/4 t green tea powder
• 3/4 cup almond milk (unsweetened)
• Optional:  honey or agave to sweetened

Directions:
Blend until smooth

• 2 cups brewed green tea, then chill
• 2 cups fresh spinach
• 1 1/2 cup of blueberries
• 1 1/2 cup raspberries

*for frozen smoothies, add above fruit frozen

1. Blend green tea and blueberries ’til smooth
2. Blend again, adding leftover ingredients, ’til smooth

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Protein

Pumpkin Pie Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup 2% fat Greek yogurt
• 3/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1/2 cup canned pumpkin
• 1/3 cup rolled oats
• 1 1/2 T almond butter
• 1/4 t pumpkin pie spice
• 1 t vanilla extract
• a pinch of salt

Directions:
In a blender, puree all ingredients, until smooth

Strawberry Orange Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of frozen strawberries
• 1/2 cup greek yogurt
• 1 cup coconut milk (not n the can)
• 1/4 cup of orange juice
• optional 1/4 t of Stevia

Directions:
Place all ingredients and blend, till smooth

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Vitamins

Cucumber Blender Smoothie

• 1/2 pureed cucumber (seedless)
• 4 to 5 kale leafs
• 2 apples
• 1 large lemon (juiced)
• 1 cup of water
• and ice (optional)

Directions:

Blend, till smooth

Fruit and Spinach Smoothie

• 1 cup spinach
• 1 banana
• 1 cup strawberries
• 1 sliced apple
• 1 cup yogurt
• 1 cup of coconut milk
• 1 T flax meal

Mix all ingredients in a blender, until smooth
Add milk to desired consistency

PLEASE if you have recipes to share, I’d love to add them to my page–giving you credit as well. Just drop them in the comments below! <3 Thanks!

Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at 20 or 80.  Anyone who keeps learning stays young. –Henry Ford