24 Sep 5 Reasons why smoothies are better & a balmy blend to sum it up

Juicing most certainly has its perks. All that intense vegetable flavour extraction, the powerful pops of colour (especially when juicing beets) and the almost heady rush that comes from sipping on such a pure health tonic. I’ve been a big fan for years and do definitely notice an immediate improvement when days begin with a leafy, chilli and herb-laden green juice. But recently I’ve swayed to team smoothie. It’s not that I don’t love composting all those fibrous offcuts, but with a powerful stick blender or jug blender by your side, you can get the best of both worlds, possibly more nutrition and less clean up. Here are my 5 reasons why smoothies are better and a balmy blend of carrots, papaya, pineapple and ginger to sum it all up.

Why I’ve joined team smoothie

1. VEGGIES
It’s a great way to sneak in bitter veggies without depriving your body of their healthy fibre and nutrition (so much of it lives in the skin after all)

2. SO SMOOTH
There are tons of wonderful ways of making a perhaps more pulpy smoothie (because of the veg) a delectable creamy experience. My favourites are coconut milk, frozen bananas and avocado or hemp seeds.

3. MEAL IN A GLASS
There are so many health and immune boosting superfoods we can add to our diets these days, but stirring flax seeds or pea protein into a juice just doesn’t quite work. Smoothies have the potential to become great shakes when a scoop of any of your preferred super powders is added in.

4. QUICK AS A FLASH
For anyone who likes to get going quickly in the mornings, needs a solid breakfast but still wants to feel light as a feather, smoothies offer the health fix of a juice without the bloat of a fry up, and it couldn’t be easier to clean since there’s barely any waste.

5. ALL THE OPTIONS
They are limitless – any combo your cravings desire can be concocted in a health packed, flavour intense super smoothie. Makes an on-the-go food loving girl very happy, that.

My balmy smoothie blend: papaya, pineapple, coconut, carrot & ginger smoothie

INGREDIENTS

(makes enough for 4 or 3 very thirsty people)

• 1 large carrot
• 1 whole papaya
• ⅓ of a pineapple (mine was large but this is the overpowering flavour)
• ¾ cup coconut milk (don’t add too much of this if you like a thinner consistency – it’s also overpowering, rather add more ice)
• Handful of ice cubes
• 1–2 cm cubed of fresh ginger (depending on how much zing you like)
• 2 Tbsp flaxseed powder (for all the omegas)
• 2 Tbsp shelled hemp seeds (for added protein)

METHOD

1. Bung it in a blender.
2. Garnish with grated carrot and pineapple cubes.
3. Drink.

And you’re done.

I pulled this blend together while travelling in Hong Kong. Both fruits are very prevalent and coconut and ginger are popular cooling and refreshing flavours and since I always travel with my favourite superfoods they’re always at the ready for spontaneous super smoothie-ing.

Head this way to stock up on your favourite superfoods and if you don’t yet have a trusty blender, the Nutribullet really is where all the smoothest shakes come from.