Add Weird Stuff to Your Smoothies!

       Does this smoothie look great or what?? I've really gotten into a smoothie kick recently. It could be over tomorrow next week or next year, but for now I've been skipping coffee (a recent interest, what did I say about those fickle kicks?) and opting for an idiot-proof way to add some nutrition to my diet. I am lucky enough to have a Blendtec at my disposal, I'm not sure how a regular blender would handle the things I'd put in it, but it really is as simple as adding whatever you have at hand. I'm a big fan of fresh strawberries, grapes, an orange, lemon zest, and some sort of frozen fruit to give it that frosty texture instead of a frothy one. On top of those traditional ingredients, I add raw almonds for their protein, calcium and vitamin E, as well as coconut oil because it tastes great and studies suggest it's good for the brain (I have Alzheimer's in my family). I've also been experimenting with "weird" healthy things, like chia seeds.
        These teeny tiny seeds, native to ancient Mesoamerica, have been termed a "superfood" for their super healthy nutrition profile--they contain protein, a good bit of minerals like potassium and iron, tons of fiber (who needs coffee!), and are the richest plant source of omega-3s (more than salmon, I hear). They also have this strange propensity to create a gel when added to water, so they make you feel significantly fuller when added to whatever you're eating and also help with hydration and blood sugar control. I personally think they're great because they look like tiny dinosaur eggs. Anyway, this is not an attempt to convert anyone to a Mayan superfood smoothie diet or even a terrible "how to make a smoothie" instructional, but rather my way of sharing how I've found this absolutely painless way of making my life just the littlest bit healthier. Truly, these smoothies can absorb the most absurd and often disgusting tasting things--without affecting the flavor. I have eaten a handful of chia seeds on their own and they sure taste like dinosaur eggs. Okay that makes no sense, who knows what dinosaur eggs would taste like (probably bad) but these little things on their own are not tasty. I've also put some of my mother's absolutely repulsive tasting lactose-free whey-free gluten-free natural organic nonGMO ostentatious protein powder in it too and viola, tastelessly absorbed! Well to a degree, that stuff really does taste like dried Yetti poo. My mother is also known for sneaking handfulls of spinach into smoothies she makes for my family, but it doesn't really fool anyone because they come out bright green (although there is no trace of spinach in their fruity flavor!).
       The point of all this though is that smoothies are so great for absorbing healthy things you want to put into your body without taking the time (or discomfort) to chew them, whether they taste awesome or are more along the lines of dinosaur eggs and Yetti poo... Oh one exception though! Peanut butter. That just makes a bad smoothie. One last fantastic thing about these smoothies, you don't have to add any sweetener! As big of a sweet tooth as I have, all that fruit is more than enough to sweeten the entire thing. So there you are, just thought I would let you know where I am in my smoothie experiments! It gets more interesting every day :P

Dino eggs! What'd I tell you?

Next time you're feeling a little weird and/or daring, toss some dino eggs into your smoothie/oatmeal/preferably flavored yogurt. I've seen them sprinkled on peanut butter toast before, too. You are really only limited by your imagination with these little guys!

A thought to leave you with,

"Habit is habit, and not to be flung out of the window by any man, but coaxed downstairs one step at a time. " - Mark Twain