I used to be a smoothie-aholic. Is that a real thing? Doesn’t really matter, but I had a serious addiction. I would make smoothies for breakfast, smoothies after the gym, and smoothies before bed. Um, all in one day sometimes. Bad stuff. Sure, I would add spinach and think “wow, I’m being so healthy, drinking my veggies”. But I eventually came to realize that there was a purpose behind actually chewing your food, and that drinking foods that were meant to be chewed was really doing myself a disservice.
We did the whole veggie juicing thing, and it was great, but I really feel strongly about actually eating (not drinking) the bulk of your food. Here are just a few reasons why it’s better to chew instead of drink your food:
- Aids in digestion by not only breaking down the foods into smaller particles, but by producing enzyme-rich saliva.
- Chewing takes longer than drinking, therefore taking longer to complete a meal. This equals a smaller quantity of food consumed. Chewing is nature’s portion control!
- You actually get to taste your food. Nature provided us an amazing array of flavors. Take the time to enjoy them.
Isn’t this drink so cute with the little chocolate chips on it? Yeah, not so cute when I was
pouring it and it spilled out all over the table and cloth napkin. This is smoothie photo ‘Take 2′.
So why on earth am I making a case against drinking food on a post about a smoothie? I just want to point out that while I do enjoy a smoothie every once in a while as a treat, I don’t consume them as a meal replacement. Been there, done that, realized the error of my ways. If I wouldn’t sit down and eat 4 carrots, an entire bunch of kale, 2 beets, and 2 apples in one sitting, why would I drink that much at one time? Just eat your fruits and veggies at every meal and you’re going to get what you need.
But this smoothie isn’t a meal, it’s totally a treat. And it makes a lot, so if it’s just for you, split it in half. And don’t forget, if you make too much (whether by accident or on purpose), just fill up some popsicle molds and freeze them. Maybe even toss in a few extra chocolate chips for fun. This smoothie makes delicious popsicles, and my kids love them. They got a frozen chocolate treat and I’m happy they’re not eating some chemical-filled junk from the store. Double win.
Elvis Smoothie
Let it be known that I think there is no better combination of flavors than the King's favorites: banana, peanut butter, and chocolate. Why not combine those things into the greatest tasting smoothie of all time. Okay then.
Ingredients
- 3 Frozen Bananas
- 1 cup Almond Butter, or peanut butter** if you like to live on the edge!
- 2 Tbsp Honey, optional
- 2 Tbsp Cocoa Powder
- 1/2 cup Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips
- 2-3 cups Unsweetened Almond Milk, preferably homemade
- 2 cups Ice
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to the blender in the order listed. Start with the 2 cups of almond milk, you can always add more later.
- If you're using a Blendtec, run the "Smoothie" cycle once and you're done.
- If you're using another blender, run on high until smooth.
- If you notice the smoothie is too thick during blending, add a bit more almond milk while it's running to get your desired consistency.
- Pour into individual glasses and garnish with a few extra chocolate chips (optional, but very adorable).
Elvis Popsicles
- After you're made the smoothie, mix in a few more chocolate chips, if desired, and pour into popsicle molds. Freeze overnight.
Notes
Peanut butter is NOT paleo, but we do eat it sometimes. Use your favorite nut butter in this smoothie.
Nutrition Information
Yield 4Amount Per Serving Calories 693Total Fat 48gSaturated Fat 9gUnsaturated Fat 0gCholesterol 1mgSodium 212mgCarbohydrates 58gFiber 12gSugar 33gProtein 17g
Nutrition is calculated by a third party and may not be 100% accurate
Sandy
Sunday 18th of October 2015
can this b frozen?
Susan
Saturday 16th of May 2015
(deep husky voice) Thank you... thank you very much!
Laki
Tuesday 24th of February 2015
I'd have to disagree with you that eating veggies and fruits with every meal will give you what you need. The American diet is literally killing us. The typical American meal is a large portion of meat and a small side of veggies or veggie-like food (fries, mashed potatoes, i.e.). The ideal meal every meal should be fresh veggies/fruit as the main portion with a small side portion of meat. If that is your diet for every meal, then yes, you may be getting what you need. Thanks for the recipe.
Christie
Sunday 10th of May 2015
Thanks for the recipe and the reminder to eat our food and not always be drinking it - though I think there is definitely some value in smoothies, even not as just a treat. I am beginning to rethink my smoothies all the time habit, but at the same time, I see definite advantages.... Firstly, our kids love them, esp on a hot summer day! Secondly, the way fruits and vegetables are grown in depleted soil, yielding so much less nutrients than they did years ago, why not chunk in a couple apples and bunches of greens? Of course I wouldn't eat that much - and that is a good point - but it seems that many of our bodies are seriously lacking nutrients anyway. Just a thought..... :)
Otter
Sunday 1st of February 2015
I think you were so busy acting like you're too good for smoothies and forgot to post the recipe.
Nakitter
Tuesday 3rd of February 2015
there's a button at the bottom of the post...
Sarah
Tuesday 9th of September 2014
Oh yum! I bet this would be tasty with sunflower seed butter instead of the almond, too!!