Stress Buster Mint Chocolate Chip Smoothie

Mint+Chocolate = quite possibly the best combination ever.

I've said it before and I'll say it again.

Healthy Eating doesn't have to be boring.

So when your under stress there should be no excuses to reach for the junk food right?

Stress and anxiety increase levels of cortisol (the number one chemical released during stressful times) in your body and overtime can contribute to weight gain. So when the going gets tough what do you do?

Here's a few tips that I find helpful:

• Always make sure you get a good breakfast. Skipping meals will cause your blood sugar to drop along with your metabolism and will only make you more irritable.
• Get some exercise and make sure its something you like to do. It's really amazing how even just a little exercise can help you blow off steam. Walking is one of the easiest forms of exercise you can do. Personally I love to lift weights, golf, bike and I can't even tell you how excited I am to hit the hills this winter and get back to snowboarding.
• Keep a food journal so you can account for everything you've eaten. At the same time you can plan your meals ahead of time. This way you're less likely to go rummaging through the cupboards.
• Get some shut eye. Face it. You can't accomplish anything as a zombie. Listen to your body's signals and you'll do just fine. A 10 or 20 minute nap can improve muscle memory and clear the brain of useless built-up information.
• Eat your greens. Spinach in particular is high in magnesium which improves your body's response to stress and stops your blood pressure from rising.

This smoothie is made up of healthy foods that will actually tame your feelings of anxiety and can be whizzed up in no time. It contains raspberries which are highly potent with antioxidants that actually counteract the production of cortisol.

Magnesium rich spinach also helps to regulate cortisol levels and promote a feeling of well being by producing serotonin. You know, that feel good brain chemical that maintains your emotional balance. Just a cup has 40% of your RDA.

Pure 100% alkalized Cocoa powder; yes chocolate! And the darker the chocolate the better. That's because it contains flavonoids and phenethylamine, an organic compound found in plants that enhances your mood. The addition of mint in this smoothie will also promote healthy digestion and a calm tummy.

So take a step back from your day, take a deep breath, and the make this replenishing smoothie. Go ahead, it tastes like dessert! And my favourite part about it; you can enjoy it anytime of day.

Stress Buster Mint Chocolate Chip Smoothie  (serves 1)

Print, Email or Text this Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 frozen banana
• 1/3 cup fresh or frozen raspberries
• 1 tbsp 100% pure cocoa powder
• 1 generous handful of spinach
• 3 large leaves of fresh mint
• 1/2 scoop of vanilla SUNWARRIOR protein powder or protein powder of your choice
• 1 cup of unsweetened almond milk

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend away until well combined, thick and creamy.
2. Serve immediately and top with a sprinkle of unsweetened shredded coconut.

There's snow in the forcast next week!

Wishful thinking? ;)

Thick & Creamy Simple Green Smoothie in a Bowl

We've all tried green smoothies or monsters right?

If you haven't then what are you waiting for!?

They're the simplest, fastest, most satisfying breakfast you can make. . .

. . .(except for oatmeal of course, it may not be as fast but it is just as satisfying).

Now you know me I'm a health nut. I get over-excited about nutrition facts and finding out new things I never knew before. So naturally I like to through spinach at my smoothie. Or I should say "into my smoothie". The best part is, it tastes like dessert and yet its ridiculously healthy and far from it. I must admit that when I first discovered the green monster a few years ago, I was kind of skeptical and weirded out by it. But not anymore. Now I am obsessed with spinach in my smoothies. I really love the way I feel after eating one of these. A full serving of greens for breakfast (or lunch/snack) is so hydrating and refreshing. I think blending the spinach/greens helps you digest them better and get the most nutrients out of them. When you think about it, your body doesn't have to work as hard to break down the food and get feed you the vitamins and minerals. It's a world of health in a glass or should I say bowl?

Yes, that's right I love my smoothies served in a bowl. There's something about getting to top your smoothie with fresh berries, fruits, nut butters, and granola that is just too much fun to pass up. It's like an ice cream bar! But for breakfast!

I have to say I just drool over Kath Eats' smoothie-in-a-bowls and all of her oatmeal/breakfast creations. I owe her a big thank you for showing me something so simple as serving a smoothie in a bowl.

The frozen banana makes this super thick and creamy. Perfect for a hot day when you want something ice cold.

Ahh, convenience in a blender with barely any clean up. If you do serve this in a glass, its the easiest thing to take with you on the run or for your commute to work. Now you have no excuses not to make a nutritious breakfast.

Simple Green Smoothie in a Bowl (serves 1)

Ingredients:

• 1 large frozen banana slices
• 1 nice big handful baby spinach
• 1/3 -1/2 cup almond milk (or milk of your choice)

Method:

1. Pretty self explanatory. Put spinach and banana in blender. Then add the milk and blend away until smooth and creamy. You may need to give the mix and quick stir part way through depending on how powerful your blender is (I clearly need a new one).
2. Pour and top away!

Topped with:

• Love Grown Foods sweet cranberry pecan granola
• 1 big tbsp organic natural peanut butter
• Raspberries
• Pitted fresh cherries
• Sliced strawberries 
• Sprinkle of shredded coconut

I know it doesn't look like there are any berries in there, but I promise you they are there. It got a little melt-y while photographing.

See I told you they're in there!

I really enjoy having this for lunch some days when I don't feel like making a salad. I could probably live on green monster smoothies and be the happiest person E-V-E-R!

There will be more variations to come, that's for sure.