Another Fabulous Smoothie

I'm battling a horrid cold right now. Or maybe it's allergies.

But no matter what it is, I know this. . .it's relentless. Uggghhh. . .So, I'm hitting this in every conceivable way, food-wise.

Now it's time to try a Vitamin C bomb, a 'healthy' smoothie, in hopes that 'health' will follow. . .really soon.

• 1 unpeeled quartered Cutie or Halo
• tiny mandarin 
• 3/4-1c frozen cranberries
• 1 sm.-med. banana - peeled 😉
• 3/4-1c Chobani Greek yogurt
• 1-2T ground chia-flax blend
• 3/4-1c pineapple juice

Blend everything on low, or pulse for a few seconds, then on high for half a minute.  Pour, drink and feel the healthy taking itself back. . .Lin

Cranberry Banana Smoothie

These are so quick to put together and they're packed with great nutrition. Ground seeds, nutrient dense fruit and one of the best sources of calcium and protein in this excellent yogurt. Produced by a caring man who created a company that's doing it right! Perfectly right - Chobani yogurt.

• 1/2 very ripe banana
• 1/2-2/3c frozen cranberries
• 1T ground chia and flax seed
• 3/4c± pineapple juice
• 1t Mexican vanilla
• 3/4c Chobani whole milk plain Greek yogurt

Blend everything together on high. This will get your day off to a great start or give you just the energy boost you need - any time of the day or night. . .Lin

CHOBANI Yogurt - For Health and Humanity

I've had a couple bad days.  My stomach and gut have made their displeasure known. This morning all seemed calm, then I brewed up a pot of really good coffee and all systems began a recoil. I remember enough about molecular biology I've read over the years to know there's good bacteria and bad in our digestive systems. Clearly, the bad was on a rampage. My natural instinct was just to do a 24 hour tea and water fast, but biology won out. I made this smoothie, and now, 2 hours later, things have begun to calm down. Yea! This is always counterintuitive to me since I'm sometimes sensitive to dairy, but it appears that doesn't apply as much to really good quality yogurt. Good Bacteria to the rescue.

Good quality, full fat, plain Greek yogurt is full of good gut enzymes and 'good bacteria' our system need for healthy digestion.  Sickness, too much junk food, alcohol, or even not enough sleep can put everything out of balance. At Aldi's they have a great yogurt I used to buy, but after hearing Hamdi Ulukaya, the CHOBANI founder and CEO tell his story in several interviews, I've vowed to only buy his brand whenever possible. He's a compassionate, caring man who not only loves and treats his employees as equals, he cares about their financial struggles, job satisfaction - and receives the loyalty that brings. He also regularly sends money to relatives, still in his homeland, to help with their expenses and is concerned about making their lives better where they are. He worked hard and now lives his dream.

He's a true American Hero to me. Check this out:  CHOBANI Yogurt's Founder

This goes together SO quick!

• 1 very ripe banana
• 2/3c each: frozen blueberries and frozen dark cherries
• 2/3 - 3/4c CHOBANI whole milk plain Greek yogurt
• 2T ground chia and flax
• 2t Mexican vanilla
• 1-2c pure pineapple juice

Pineapple juice contains bromelian which is a pain and inflammation fighter.  Pineapple-bromelain enzymes also help with digestive upset.  So, I had to blog this to refer to.  Next time I'll follow this, but also add 1t± of ground cinnamon.  Drink up everyone!  Your gut will thank you. . .Lin

Cranberry-Nectarine Yogurt Smoothie

I've had several autoimmune health issues, progressively worsening, over the past several years.  Additionally, it appears my metabolism is shifting.  Some days I'm not at all hungry, while during others, I'm ravenous!  During those that are less food oriented, I'm also more productive and feel more energetic.  My sleep patterns are similarly wonky.  Some nights I'm not tired and only sleep 4-5 hours, but after a short stretch of that, I'll usually find myself half asleep by 7pm.  I crash and sleep 10 or more hours.  I know activity, fresh air, routine and consistency all come into play - and - I'm working on it.

I also would like to get all sugar out of my diet.  I'm doing pretty well, with the one exception being a tiny pinch of natural sugar or honey in my tea or coffee, or a smoothie when I need a quick energy boost or to wipe out a sudden sweet craving.  This morning has been a very hungry one, preceded by a busy day yesterday where I didn't eat a lot.  Today I had some leftover turkey, wild rice and vegetables for breakfast, then a bit later, a bowl of steamed and fresh vegetable salad (which I haven't posted yet.)  While those were really healthy choices, I was hungry again and it was only noon!  So, this is my attempt to quench the hunger and the sweet craving for today.

6-8 oz. unsweetened cranberry juice

2T ground flax and chia seeds

¾-1c plain Greek yogurt

2 sm. pitted nectarines

1T Pumpkin Pie Spice

2T Lingonberry jam

½ lemon - seeded

Yes, cut the lemon in half, remove the seeds then put the actual fruit part AND peel in with the other ingredients.  Blend this all together for a couple minutes on high.  Makes 3-4 cups.  I wish you success in keeping your food, sleep, productivity, energy and activities all in balance! . . .Lin

My Go-To Smoothie

3/4c pineapple juice

3/4c plain Greek yogurt

3/4c fresh or frozen cranberries

1/2T raw, organic honey

1/2T ground cinnamon

2 chunks of candied ginger

Combine everything in a blender, blend for a couple minutes and serve.

If you look up these individual ingredients, you'll find this is packed with antioxidants, anti-inflammatories. . .AND it tastes really good. . .Lin