Smoothies & Organization

As I am starting to make videos, I am sharing certain details that some of you may want to see or know more about, so I will try to share them when I think about it. Today I was making my first video at home about how to make my chocolate banana smoothie. (Watch here) Is it the best tasting smoothie in the world? Um... no! Is it the healthiest? Also... no! But for me it is a good cross between the two. I like the taste and texture and it is healthy enough that I don't feel guilty drinking it. The photos look awful, because I have spinach and cocoa in there... green and brown, well... it looks like shit, but the cocoa masks the spinach, so who cares what colour it is.

During the making of the video I share a few things, first off beside my Vitamixer I have a number of ingredients stored that are my go to supplies for smoothies. I have containers of: whole coffee beans, parnoosh dates, cocoa powder, peanut butter powder, bee pollen, PB & Me peanut butter powder, collagen powder and protein powder. What might you add to this collection?

I keep my Vitamixer on a rolly tray, as I find it heavy to move forward and this makes it super easy (I have been having issues with tennis elbow or golf elbow... honestly, I think I have one of each... of course, I do!) You will also see a blue paper in that photo and that contains specific detox recipes from Dr. Mark Hyman. I found these in my research about watching blood sugar. You need a lot of specific foods for these ones, but I think they are great snacks especially after a Christmas break or vacation trip.

Small containers with seeds in the fridge to keep from spoiling and give easy access.

Other organization that comes in handy for smoothies, and salads is a section I have in my fridge with seeds. I bought small jars at Bulk Barn to keep them fresh and easy to access. I have jars filled with: hemp seeds, chia seeds, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, whole flax seeds, ground flax, wheat germ and pine nuts. I don't always have all of them at one time, but try to.

Then on my counter top I have more containers with nuts and dried fruit, typically I keep: prunes, dried figs, dried apricots, raw almonds, chopped and toasted pecans - yummmmm! and sometimes mixed nuts or candied ginger the 6th container.

Laura just learned these are called bale wire glass jars- cool!

Hang on, flax and coffee are doing their job, be right back.....

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Too much information, I don't think so, pooping is an important part of my day. If you are trying to be healthy (and lose weight), that moment can be worth talking about and we will in future posts.

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In my freezer I also keep all my smoothie goodies on the top shelf. Here is the ice tray that my fridge has, wonderful for pulling handfuls of ice out for smoothies (or Baileys or Ginger beer), a section for my frozen bananas with peels (for waffles, muffins, etc.) and then a section with all my frozen fruit and veggies. I keep spinach (I find kale can sometimes be tasted in the smoothie, plus I do not enjoy Kale raw, I will buy raw spinach and use it for awhile and before it goes bad, put the rest in the freezer, so that works too. Then I have a Tupperware of peeled and halfed bananas ready to go for smoothies. Next bags full of other fruit and veggies for a variety of drinks, frozen: peaches, cherries, strawberries, blueberries, avocado and butternut squash are my go to purchases.

And I will leave you with this last tidbit of information. The pink lidded Tupperware has froze grapes in it. I don't use those in smoothies, but they are fun in a glass of wine or just as a snack, especially if you have a sore throat or fever. A small little dish of them after supper is a nice sweet treat as well - enjoy! I will give the credit to my mom for that one :) Love you mommy!