Doin' Some Cookin'... Health Nut Blueberry Smoothie

After getting in an early morning workout I needed a post workout meal and reached for a handful of ingredients to make this Health Nut Blueberry Smoothie. What a perfect start to my Saturday!

This has been one of my favorite smoothies I've tried recently with natural sweetness from the banana and blueberries, a creaminess from the almond milk and almond butter, and texture from the dried coconut flakes. So good. Repeat worthy.

Health Nut Blueberry Smoothie

Adapted From: Eating Bird Food

Makes 1 Serving

Stars of the Show:

• 1/2 banana
• 1 cup blueberries
• 1 cup spinach
• 1 tbsp coconut almond butter
• 1 tbsp unsweetened coconut flakes
• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
• ice, to taste

And Action:

Pulse all ingredients in a blender until smooth. Enjoy!

Livin' It Up... Mulberry Love Review

(The packaging is so adorbs!)

Little Man watched me open a care package from Mulberry Love. As I was pulling bottles of juice out of the box he asked, "What's a mulberry?"

Crickets.

It looks like a blackberry or raspberry but that's all I could come up with. Scratching my head I resorted to searching the Internet and admitting that Mom doesn't know everything. Supposedly mulberries have a mild honey taste and are a nutrition powerhouse.

Mulberries are a "superfood" loaded with antioxidants and the company, Mulberry Love, figured out a way to bottle up immunity boosting-brain powering properties. Hello health in my hand.

These juices are all-natural with no additives and naturally sweetened.

Grab a bottle to reap the benefits:

• Immunity Boost
• Memory Enhancement
• Inflammation Reduction
• Vital for Vision
• Heart Health
• Energy
• Skin Support
• Hydration
• Increased Metabolism
• Weight Loss

Sunday morning Little Man and I made a trip to Costco to stock up on smoothie making ingredients. No surprise at all, which as you can tell from my previous blog posts I have been on a smoothie kick lately. They are a quick and easy way to fill your body with dense nutrition. 

After we got home, unloading the groceries was quite a workout so worked up quite an appetite. If you've never shopped at Costco it is bulk items and they do not bag anything. The items may be heavy and unloaded one by one. Racking up those steps on FitBit and building those biceps. Ha!

Because it was close to lunchtime we decided on a smoothie to go with turkey sandwiches. As I was making the smoothie Little Man asked if he could try the juice on it's own first to make sure he would like it. So I popped open the bottle of Mulberry Juice with Green Tea and he compared the smell and taste to pomegranate juice, smacked his lips, and let out an "mmm". 

Getting him in the kitchen gets him trying new foods and I'm all about promoting healthy habits. Now that we've fueled our bodies it's time to get out of the kitchen and outdoors to enjoy this almost 80 degree day.

Mulberry Maca Berry Power Smoothie

Makes 1 Serving

Stars of the Show:

• 1/2 cup Mulberry Love's Organic Mulberry Juice and Green Tea
• 1 frozen banana
• 1 cup frozen mixed berries (raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries)
• 1 pitted date
• 1 packet Maca energy boost
• 3/4 cup almond milk

And Action:

Pulse all ingredients in a blender until smooth. Enjoy!

Website: Mulberry Love
Twitter: @Mulberry_Love
Facebook: facebook.com/OfficialMulberryLove
Instagram: instagram.com/mulberrylove_
Pinterest: pinterest.com/themulberrylove

*Disclosure: No monetary compensation was offered or received for this post. I was provided product for review, however, all opinions are my own.  

Doin' Some Cookin'... Pomegranate Berry Smoothie

Nothing like a smoothie to beat the Texas heat, even Springtime brings high temps. Can we just enjoy a season as it's intended please?!

This smoothie is refreshing and packed with health-protecting antioxidants. Pomegranates have anti-inflammatory properties, reduce the risk of cancer, and can help manage cholesterol and weight loss.

I did not like pomegranate juice the first time I tried it on it's own but now I love it. It's tart with a touch of sweetness. You can use pomegranate juice or pomegranate arils, your preference.

Pomegranate Berry Smoothie

From: Will Cook For Smiles

Makes 1 Serving

Stars of the Show:

• 1/2 cup pomegranate juice
• 1/2 cup frozen blueberries
• 3 strawberries, quartered

And Action:

Pulse all ingredients in a blender until smooth. Enjoy!

Doin' Some Cookin'... Superfood Salmon Salad

While reading one of my favorite blogs last weekend, Camille Styles, a recipe for a salmon salad was posted and I knew I just had to make it so I added all of the necessary ingredients to my grocery list and picked everything up during my weekly Whole Foods trip.

This salad is packed full of superfoods: avocado, salmon, garlic, kale, lemon, olive oil, blueberries, sunflower sprouts, and walnuts.

These are ingredients I would have never thought to put together and there's something about it that just works. To me, it's like a basket from Chopped. I would have been dumbfounded. The real star of this dish is the vinaigrette, it's sweet, spicy and addictive. While slicing the avocado I would take a piece and dip it in the vinaigrette. So damn good.

Ultra-healthy, flavorful, and filling... make this now. 9 superfoods. 9 superfoods!!

Superfood Salmon Salad

Adapted From: Camille Styles

Makes 2 Servings

Stars of the Show for the Salad:

• 4 cups baby kale
• 1 avocado, sliced
• 1 1/2 cups sunflower sprouts
• 1/2 cup toasted walnut halves
• 1 cup blueberries
• 1 anjou pear, cubed
• (2) 4 oz smoked salmon
• sea salt and pepper, to taste

Stars of the Show for the Vinaigrette:

• pinch of basil
• 2 lemons, juiced
• 2 tbsp rice wine vinegar
• 2 tsp Sriracha
• ground ginger, to taste
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• sea salt and pepper, to taste

And Action:

Combine all of the ingredients for the vinaigrette in a small bowl and whisk together. 

Add kale to a bowl and drizzle half of the vinaigrette over the leaves. Massage the kale with your hands until the kale starts to soften.

Add the rest of the salad ingredients and toss to combine. Drizzle with the rest of the vinaigrette. Enjoy!

Doin' Some Cookin'... Pineapple Blueberry Salad with Lemon Chia Seed Dressing

So I'm back on the wagon of healthy eating and working out since my Vegas vacation. I'm on Day 2 of the 21-Day Flat Belly Challenge. I keep getting stuck on their 20 Minute Power Plank Workout and can't hold the plank positions for longer than 3 minutes at a time.

This salad gets an extra flat belly boost from hydrating cucumbers that help flush out the digestive system. The enzymes in the pineapple ease digestion and blueberries have been proven to diminish belly fat. Avocados and almonds not only add bloat-reducing fiber but have monounsaturated fats that help to keep belly fat at bay. This salad is a flat belly dream.

To make this more of a dinner salad top with grilled chicken or salmon for a light, refreshing, and filling meal.

Pineapple Blueberry Salad with Lemon Chia Seed Dressing

Adapted From: PopSugar Fitness

Makes 1 Serving

Stars of the Show for the Salad:

• 2 cups baby spinach
• 1/3 cup cucumber, diced
• 1/4 cup fresh pineapple, diced
• 1/4 cup fresh blueberries
• 1/4 avocado, diced
• 1 tbsp sliced almonds

Stars of the Show for the Dressing:

• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 tbsp maple syrup
• 1/4 tsp chia seeds

And Action:

Place salad ingredients in a bowl. 

Whisk together dressing ingredients. Drizzle onto salad. Enjoy!

Doin' Some Cookin'... Blueberry Almond Oatmeal Parfait

My stomach was growling and I needed an afternoon pick me up to get me through my hair appointment and shopping for items to put together a Texas themed gift basket for one of my best friend's arrival into Houston tomorrow.

This oatmeal parfait is layered with vanilla honey yogurt and almond butter on top a bed of cinnamon steel cut oats and couldn't be easier to put together. This recipe is so versatile as you can swap out any nut (or nut butter) and switching up the fruit. I'm partial to almonds though and think any fruit and almonds were made for each other.

Say goodbye to boring oatmeal and hello tummy stuffed full of goodness. I could not finish a full serving size and saved the rest of breakfast the next day, yes, it's fantastic chilled too.

Blueberry Almond Oatmeal Parfait

Adapted From: Hello Healthy from MyFitnessPal

Makes 2 Servings

Stars of the Show:

• 3/4 cup steel cut oats
• 1 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 3/4 cup vanilla yogurt
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1/2 cup blueberries
• 4 tbsp almond butter

And Action:

In a small saucepan combine the oats, water, vanilla, and cinnamon. Simmer on medium-low heat for 7-8 minutes. Let the oatmeal cool for a few minutes before layering into the parfait.

Mix the yogurt and honey together. 

To build the parfaits, spoon the oatmeal in the bottom of each glass, then layer on a spoonful of yogurt, then blueberries, then almond butter. Repeat the layers until you have used up all of the ingredients between the two glasses. Enjoy!

Doin' Some Cookin'... Triple Berry Oatmeal Smoothie Bowl with Almonds and Chia Seeds

I think I may have found my new favorite way to eat oatmeal. Maybe it has something to do with the raspberries (my favorite fruit at the moment) and almonds I toasted myself (crave worthy!!!). With the weather as cold as it's been a hot breakfast is just what I needed.

This oatmeal will keep you full until well after lunchtime and is the perfect way to start your day with protein, fiber, and antioxidants. An oatmeal smoothie bowl is the love child of two breakfast classics.

You can adapt this recipe to suit your tastes switching it up with different fruit, nuts, and yogurt flavors.

Triple Berry Oatmeal Smoothie Bowl with Almonds and Chia Seeds

Adapted From: Jeanette's Healthy Living

Makes 1 Serving

Stars of the Show:

• 1/4 cup uncooked regular oats
• 1/4 cup blueberries
• 1/4 cup raspberries
• 1/4 cup blackberries
• 1 tbsp toasted slivered almonds
• 1 tsp chia seeds
• 1 container nonfat vanilla yogurt

And Action:

Combine the oats, almonds, and chia seeds in a bowl adding 1/2 cup of water. Microwave for 1 1/2 minutes. Top with the berries and a couple dollops of yogurt, stirring to combine. Enjoy!

Doin' Some Cookin'... Sesame Ginger Kale, Quinoa and Blueberry Superfood Salad

This is a recipe that reminds me how un-inventive I am in the kitchen. I would have never thought to mix together carrots, blueberries, seaweed and put that together with kale and quinoa. Thank you to the genius minds who create recipes for those like me who can't figure out how to top a salad with something other than cucumbers and tomatoes.

Kale and quinoa team up to make a powerhouse duo packed with nutrients like vitamins A, C and K, healthy fats, protein and fiber making this a healthy and filling lunch option. Kale is a superfood known for lowering your cholesterol and detoxifying your system.

No need to worry about making a big batch of this because the kale is so thick and hearty that it doesn't wilt during the week making it the perfect take to work lunch.

Or, if you live in the San Francisco, California area you can head over to Urban Picnic Eatery and pick up their version of this salad which this recipe was inspired from.

This recipe is also "flat belly challenge" approved, that is how I was introduced to this one.

Flat Belly Challenge Day 3:

My workout today consists of an abdominal circuit and an hour of walking.

Sesame Ginger Kale, Quinoa and Blueberry Superfood Salad

Adapted From: Popsugar Fitness

Makes 3 Servings and 10 Tbsp Dressing

Stars of the Show for the Salad:

• 1 cup cooked red quinoa
• 1 container baby kale
• 1 bag shredded carrots
• 1/2 cup toasted slivered almonds
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, cut in half
• 1 cup blueberries
• 5 sheets toasted sesame seaweed (such as Annie Chun's)

Stars of the Show for the Dressing:

• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/8 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1 tbsp low sodium soy sauce
• 1 glove minced garlic
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1/2 tsp sesame oil
• 1 tbsp water

And Action:

Whisk all dressing ingredients together and put into a small jar with lid, set aside.

Combine all of the salad ingredients, lightly tossing to combine well. 

When ready to serve drizzle individual portions with dressing. Enjoy!

Doin' Some Cooking... Blueberry & Pomegranate Chia Oats Breakfast Parfait

We've all been told that breakfast is the most important meal of the day but most days I think sleep trumps that notion. I'm generally rushing through my morning getting lunches packed, putting on my face (hello! foundation and mascara), convincing Little Man that I let him sleep until the last possible minute and that we really only have 5 minutes before we have to leave, and then before we make it out the door realizing that breakfast was an afterthought and I end up at work with a grumbly tummy. Every. Damn. Day.

Worse than skipping breakfast is having something to eat that is just... meh! 

With a little planning you can give your body what it needs to start the day.

These Blueberry & Pomegranate Chia Oats Breakfast Parfaits are made with all natural ingredients, packed full of antioxidants, essential fatty acids, magnesium, manganese, calcium, with lots of protein and prepared in an untraditional way. 

Oats and chia seeds are soaked which means more of the nutritious benefits stick around rather than breaking down when they're cooked on the stovetop. 

Although, with the weather cooling off here in Texas a cold breakfast isn't comforting like a big bowl of piping hot oatmeal. This is definitely a recipe to keep in the arsenal for those Summer mornings. Nonetheless, it's definitely worth a try no matter what the thermometer reads and the soaked oats are just a blank canvas for you to get creative with fruit toppings of your choice. 

Blueberry & Pomegranate Chia Oats Breakfast Parfait

Adapted From: Pure Ella

Makes 2 Servings

Stars of the Show:

• 1/2 cup steel cut oats
• 2 tbsp chia seeds
• 1 cup light coconut milk
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1/4 cup pomegranate arils
• 1/4 cup blueberries

And Action:

The night before, in a mason jar or air tight container, mix in oats, chia seeds, and coconut milk. Seal the jar and place in the refrigerator overnight.

In the morning layer a container with the oat mix and fresh fruit. Enjoy!

Doin' Some Cookin'... Pomegranate Blueberry Green Tea Smoothie

It seems like everyone around me is sick. I've been taking the necessary precautions to avoid catching whatever is going around, not touching my face, your face, washing my hands, hoping you've washed yours, and popping Vitamin C and garlic supplements.

Call it the "placebo effect" if you will, but I'm a big believer that since we've switched our diets to mostly organic and steering clear of most processed foods (everything in moderation, though) I've noticed we haven't been sick all year. Knock on wood. I chalk it up to Whole Paycheck Foods.

There's something about shopping there that makes me feel healthy. Every weekend we go on Sunday and I try my best to stick to the shopping list, however, I'm a sucker for new items and whenever I see another shopper I can't help but see what they're grabbing. Sometimes I feel like I just have to have what they're having but then I don't know what to do with that item most times.

Case in point, a Whole Foods container labeled "Antioxidant Blend" from the produce aisle with a mix of pomegranate arils and blueberries. As a kid my Aunt Debby would cut open pomegranates for us during the Summer and we'd pick those arils out until our fingers were stained red. I loved them just as they were Now, the texture of those arils is gritty and I don't enjoy popping them like I use to. What was I going to do with this mix?

I don't know about you but I got a guy. His name is Google. He's got the best ideas, gives great advice, knows everything, and is pretty darn reliable.

Came across this recipe for a Pomegranate Blueberry Green Tea Smoothie and knew I had to try this since I had everything on hand. By the way, why do I even have matcha green tea powder?

This smoothie is sweet, tart, and filling, keeping you full until after lunchtime and is packed full of antioxidants, protein, and a natural kick of caffeine to help fight off the flu.

Pomegranate Blueberry Green Tea Smoothie

Adapted From: Tillamook

Makes 1 Serving

Stars of the Show:

• 1 (5.3 oz) container Fage 0% Blueberry Acai yogurt
• 1/2 cup frozen blueberries
• 1/2 tsp matcha green tea powder
• 1/4 cup pomegranate blueberry juice

And Action:

Pulse all ingredients in a blender until desired consistency. Enjoy!