by M.Cokas on November 9, 2009
Building a Green Smoothie
I recently became hooked on green smoothies as a delicious and efficient way to eat raw greens. Greens provide so many essential nutrients for every part of the body, they can even help to remineralize your teeth and reverse tooth decay. It hasn’t always been easy to consume the recommended daily amount, especially if you are trying to get your kids to eat them. Well, it can be easy – enter the Green Smoothie. When I started making these smoothies for my family life became easier, my children got healthier and I felt good about the level of nutrition my children were getting.
Kai Likes to Push the Button
What is a green smoothie? A green smoothie is really any frozen blended fruit beverage that you add greens to and no, it isn’t necessarily green in color. It is also a great place to hide other superfoods like chia. There are hundreds, probably even thousands of combinations out there that you can suit to your own tastes, but I have a very basic recipe that I work from most of the time.
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by M.Cokas on October 28, 2009
Soaked Chia Seeds
I recently started researching Chia seeds, one of the new ’superfoods’ that has really changed my daily life. I say new, but really Chia use has been traced as far back as the Mayans and Aztecs. It’s also quite familiar to most of us from it’s popular life as the novelty plant Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia. Yet, the more I learned about this powerhouse, the more I loved it. These little seeds are literally packed with nutrients, one of the best sources of essential fatty acids, antioxidants and soluble fiber all in one tiny package. They help regulate blood sugar levels and create long sustaining energy for the body. Another big benefit Chia seeds have to offer, they are hydrophilic, absorbing many times their own weight in water so they are super-hydrating.
The easily digestable Chia seed also has a neutral flavor profile which makes them a joy to consume in hundreds of different ways. One of the easiest I’ve found, Chia Fresca, which basically means just toss a tablespoon in your favorite juice concoction. I’ve tried several different juices, fresh lemon with honey & water; limes, a touch of habanero & agave; or my quick on the way out the door: half water, half orange juice. You can throw them into smoothies or bake with them, you can even make your own natural gelatin type fruit dessert by mixing them with cut fruit and juice and then allowing them to set up. As a Chia seed is introduced to moisture it begins to form a gelatinous layer around the seed that creates a unique texture, I liken it to eating kiwi seeds. Get yourself some Chia and get ready to take your life up a notch.
Chia Seeds in Water
Chia Seeds in Water
