This recipe is inspired by a smoothie I had at Thrive Juice Bar & Kitchen in Bar Harbor, Maine. Lindsay and I had just spent the morning hiking in Acadia National Park and were looking to refuel before a busy afternoon filled with more sightseeing. We were both pretty exhausted when we strolled into Thrive and were craving something healthy and hearty. After scanning the menu and deciding I wanted everything, I eventually narrowed it down to their PB&J smoothie made with wild Maine blueberries (yum)! This smoothie didn’t just hit the spot, it destroyed it. The berry/peanut butter combo was sublime. As I gulped it down (and proceeded to order another one), I felt the fatigue from our morning hike vanish. In its place was a restored sense of vigor and I was ready for round two of hiking.
As I experienced in Maine, this is a great restorative smoothie after a long hike, tough workout, or any other strenuous exercise. It can also be a quick and easy breakfast, or served as a refreshing and healthy dessert. I’ve modified the ingredients a little, but think it turned out great. Enjoy!
Nutrition Highlights:
- Berries are loaded with nutrients that are good for our heart and brain. Their consumption is associated with a lower risk of type-2 diabetes and many types of cancer. They are one of my 3 Superfoods To Eat Every Day.
- Almond butter and ground flaxseed are good sources of heart-healthy monounsaturated and omega-3 fat.
- Ground flaxseed contains the highest concentration of lignans in the human diet. Lignans are plant-based, estrogen-like compounds that appear capable of lowering our breast and prostate cancer risk. Ground flaxseeds are also featured in my post How To Lower Blood Pressure With Diet.
- Soy, like all legumes, is an extremely healthy food. Despite what you may have read, soy consumption is not associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. In fact, the overall evidence suggests that it has a protective effect. Soy milk is a great source of plant-based protein and does not contain any of the hormones naturally found in cow’s milk.
- 1 medium ripe banana
- 1 cup frozen strawberries, slightly thawed (about 10 medium berries)
- 1 cup frozen blueberries
- 4-5 dates
- 3 heaping tbsp almond butter (or natural peanut butter)
- 1 tbsp ground flaxseed
- ¼ tsp cinnamon
- 12-15 ice cubes
- 1.5 cups unsweetened soy milk
- Add all the ingredients to a high-powered blender (in order listed) and blend until smooth.
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