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Not drawn to cold smoothies during cooler months? That’s your body signaling for warmer breakfast options.
And yes, it can still be a smoothie! It’s all about choosing the right ingredients to feed your Qi (pronounced “chi”, life force in Chinese medicine) in accordance with the seasons.
I hope this sweet potato and pear protein smoothie recipe inspires you to give a break to exotic fruits, get creative with local produce and see how your body responds.
4 Tips To Making Winter Smoothies
1. Skip the tropics and go local
Did you know that creamy baked sweet potato makes the perfect smoothie ingredient? No vegetable taste, I promise. Just bake a sweet potato, peel it and use 1/2 cup in a smoothie. You can also peel and freeze sweet potato for later, like you would do with banana. You can also reference this list of warming ingredients.
2. Add fat and protein
Coconut oil, almond butter, hemp seeds and any other nuts will help keep your body warm and satiated.
3. Spice it up
Add warming spices like ginger, cinnamon and turmeric. They will help digestion and boost your metabolism.
4. Watch the temperature (like Sean Paul)
Instead of piling up on frozen ingredients, make sure the majority of what you’re blending is room temperature to keep it easy on your digestive system. Warm food is much easier for your body to digest, according to Ayurveda. If you want to use frozen berries, you can thaw them overnight.
Post Workout Sweet Potato Protein Smoothie
Ingredients to blend:
- 1/2 cup baked and peeled sweet potato (can replace with squash or 1 banana, if you wish)
- 1/2 medium pear
- 1/3 cup pomegranate seeds
- 1 scoop of your favorite protein (I used Rootz Paleo Protein Superfood powder)
- 1 inch fresh ginger, peeled and chopped coarsely
- 1 tbs. coconut butter or coconut oil
- 1 /2 tspn. cinnamon
- 1/2 tspn. turmeric
- 2 cups almond milk
Toppings:
Trail mix (goji berries, cashews, raw cacao nibs, goji berries, mulberries) and pomegranate seeds.
Directions:
Blend until smooth, serve with love.
