Green smoothies are my favourite breakfasts. They are easy, quick, delicious, and of course, nourishing. No word of a lie, my new year's resolution for the past two years has been to "become a morning person." Let me tell you that action is just another that falls into the pool of "easier said than dones." I would do great for 2 weeks, wake up early, hit the gym, come home and make a splendid breakfast....but that died quickly. I just love my bed, and sleeping, and cuddly cats. I've always been a night owl as well so I had that working against me along with the fact that my husband was also a hard-core night owl....too many forces were working against me.
Needless to say, the smoothie life has been my go to life in the mornings. Very recently, my husband actually started a new gig and he is up very early and therefore is going to bed very early. My morning person routine dream has finally come true! I wake up early with him and prepare a breakfast for him to start off his day (if I did not do this, he would either not eat anything or not anything appropriate to starting off a long, physical day). I put together some snacks for him and a small lunch. Kiss him goodbye and do whatever my heart pleases. That being said, I technically have the time now in the mornings to make exquisite breakfasts for myself if I wanted to....but I love the smoothie life. I usually choose to stick with my usual breaky and catch up on other things whether it be tidying up, topping up my organized kitchen goodies (spices, nuts, seeds, flours, dried legumes, grains, etc.), actually making an effort with my appearance (that one is rare hahaha), and whatever else my easily distracted self can find to do.
My Morning Glory recipe also has a bit of a background story. It wasn't just a fluke recipe that I randomly whipped up. Last winter, my Naturopath tested me for food sensitivities and candida (yeast overgrowth). I tested positive for Candida and was put on a candida diet for a month. If you are not familiar with the candida diet....pray that you never have to be LOL. Haha just kidding, it wasn't the worst thing in the world but it was pretty rough. Very restrictive as you have to cut out foods high in sugar or that convert into sugar (all sugars and natural sugars even fruits, grains, starchy carbs, alcohol, condiments), dairy products, and foods containing mould (black teas, coffee, peanuts, mushrooms), all vinegars, and a few other random things. Some people are completely restricted from all sugars and all fruits. I was lucky and I was allowed the fruits lowest in natural sugars so apples, berries, and pears. Before this diet, I included half to a full frozen banana every day in my smoothies and it only took one month to completely change my sweet tooth. I swapped the creaminess of the banana for avocado, and played with the fruits I was allowed and I came up with this Morning Glory concoction. I now despise bananas in most things...especially in smoothies! So I hope you enjoy my low glycemic smoothie and know that when and if you are ever given any difficult restrictions in life...always remember that where there is a will, there is a way!
Morning Glory Green Smoothie:
*Yields 1 large smoothie
Ingredients:
- 1 cup spinach
- 1 cup frozen mixed berries
- 1/3 of a cucumber
- 1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/2 of a small avocado
- 1 lemon slice
- 1 heaping tbsp. hemp hearts
- 1 tbsp. Irish moss (red algae gel: optional)*
- 1 tbsp. of my pre-mixed "smoothie powder": optional*
- 3/4 cup water*
Directions:
- Blend all ingredients together in your blender!
*Irish moss (red algae gel) is a very healing super food which helps to thicken or give creaminess to recipes. It is antimicrobial, antiviral, and is a digestive healing superstar and a thyroid problem regulator. I order my Irish moss from www.upayanaturals.com which is a wonderful Canadian, raw and vegan e-store. It is also available on Amazon as well. And just a little heads up in case you are interested; a little bit of Irish moss goes a long way!
*My pre-mixed smoothie powder is a mason jar I keep stored in my fridge that is full of super healing booster ingredients. I just mix cinnamon, turmeric, maca powder, ground flax, sesame seeds, a little bit of protein powder, bee pollen, and a little bit of coconut palm sugar (a low glycemic all natural sweetener). Play around and make your own jar of booster goodies with whatever you happen to have in stock!
*Water is more often than not my choice of liquid base for smoothies. There is the odd time where I use a milk alternative instead (usually an unsweetened almond or coconut milk), or in summer I even use a brewed and chilled fun flavoured herbal tea. Use whatever your favourite base happens to be.