Posts Tagged ‘love’

9 out of 10 kids loved this shake

I recently hosted an after school enrichment class entitled “Yummy Healthy Shakes”.  My intentions were to teach kids in 3rd through 5th grades that food is consumed to not only taste good but to nourish the body.  I offered a digestive tract worksheet (I heard lots of “yuks”) and a breakdown of carbohydrates fats and proteins for them to consider when making their own shake.  We talked about sugar (I heard lots of disappointing sighs) and how it should be a special treat occasionally not occupy each of their meals.   The “Ughs” came when the half baby kale/salad joined the bananas, peanut butter, unsweetened cocoa and unsweetened almond milk in the blender.  BUT they all (yes even the 10th child who wouldn’t admit it) guzzled their shakes down.  A definite hit!

Here’s the recipe “Chocolate Banana Peanut Butter Shake”:

1 whole banana

1 tblspoon organic peanut butter (straight peanuts, no sugar added)

2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder

1 cup of mixed greens

Enough unsweetened almond/coconut milk to cover 2/3rds of the ingredients in the blender.

Enjoy and be well,

Lynn

For parents only…

straws

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you have kids, you’ll love this research.

A recent 2014 study in The Journal of the Federation of American
Societies for Experimental Biology looked at whether having
teens drink a green smoothie to start their day could improve
their health, energy, and school performance.

High schools took part in this 3-month study and they were
instructed to have a daily smoothie which provided 2 cups of
veggies (very easy to do).

The results were the following:

* Waist circumference decreased by 3% on average

* HDL (good cholesterol) increased in 25% of students

* Energy improved in 27% of students

* 10% percent had better grades

* Afternoon lethargy dropped from 35% to 22%

Not bad at all if you ask me. Just by adding in ONE green
smoothie each day!

Here are a few great green smoothie starters:

Strawberries and Cream Smoothie
1 cup frozen strawberries
1 cup frozen mixed berries (the more berries you add, the more purple it looks)
1 banana
1 cup almond/coconut milk
1/4 cup fresh baby spinach

Pineapple Upside Down
2 cups fresh spinach
2 cups almond milk, unsweetened
1 cup pineapple
1 cup cherries, pitted*
1 banana

or create your own! Do you have a successful smoothie?

Let me know.

Be well,

Lynn

(adapted from Yuri Elkaim’s blog)