Peaches are amazing. So freaking amazing I tend to get a little carried away when they come into season and buy way too many. Way, way, way too many. I just love the way they smell and they’re kinda cute being all fuzzy and stuff. So what to do with all these darn peaches... First off, we’ll make a smoothie. Not just any old smoothie. A super healthy smoothie. Not a gross, choke-it-down healthy, but a rich, delicious and feel-good healthy smoothie.
I came across this recipe in Superfood Smoothies by Julie Morris— a keeper of a book, beautiful organized and thoughtfully composed. She is the smoothie master. And not those super-sugar-junkie smoothies, seriously superfood smoothies. There may (definitely) be a few ingredients you aren’t yet familiar with that will most likely require a trip to the health food store. I know that can be a bit of a deterrent, but do your best. Maybe pick a new one up every week for a few weeks and try to work them into your routine. Or go for it and get all superfooded up! I would go for it—hint, hint. I’ve offered a few brief explanations from her book to help you navigate these new and exciting little bits.
Chia
Try to add these last, as the longer they’re in liquid the more gelatinous they become. If you’re looking for a good brand, I like Health Warrior.
- Healthy fats
- High fiber
- Antioxidants
- Three times more antioxidants than blueberries
- Three times more iron than spinach
- Three times more calcium than milk
Gogi Berries
The “longevity fruit” used in Chinese Medicine for thousands of years. Readily available dried and should be vibrant red in color. The texture is a little chewy, but not as chewy as a raisin.
- Contain all the major macronutrients (complete protein, fat and carbohydrate)
- Over 20 vitamins and minerals
- Support vision, immune system, memory and are effective anti-carcinogens
Hemp Seeds
No, you’re not going to get stoned off these, although they do kinda smell like the real deal. No THC here, sorry folks. These little bits add a nice creaminess to your smoothie and are also good for sprinkling on salads.
- Great source of protein and include all 8 essential amino acids.
- Easily digestible
- 5 grams of protein per 2 tbsp
- Contain essential fatty acids
- Omega 3’s
- GLAs (gamma-linolenic acid)
- Iron, magnesium and zinc
Kitchen Tip: Best Way to Freeze Bananas
- Use brown, super ripe bananas
- Remove peel and cut into pieces, lay flat in a freezer bag
- Consistently cut the bananas, for measuring later. So if you always cut them in fours, you know how many pieces to grab.
Super Peach Smoothie
Two servings
Ten minutes to prepare
From Superfood Smoothies by Julie Morris
Ingredients
- 3 cups fresh peaches, chopped
- 1 frozen banana
- 1 tbsp. chia seeds
- 1 tbsp. goji berries
- 1 tbsp. hemp seeds
- 1 ½ cups coconut milk
- 1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
- ½ tsp. vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a blender, puree until smooth, gradually adding the milk to loosen the mixture.
I love smoothies because you can load them up with all the things you can't manage to fit into regular meals. This recipe in particular is very good.
@Cara - Yes, this will work wonderfully with nectarines as well! Thanks for the suggestion! When you're looking for gogi berries and the hemp, the big bags can be a little pricey. You can buy smaller quantities in the bulk bins or small packets of the hemp seeds for around a dollar—try Hemp Hearts brand. That will get you started without a big investment!
I'm going to pick up some gogi berries and hemp seeds. Thank you for providing the nutritional information too- I have always wondered what the hype was. I LOVE chia seeds in my smoothies...I even like it when they get gelatinous, even if it means I have to eat my smoothie with a spoon! I think I would add some silken tofu to this recipe for some extra protein. Also, I think nectarines would sub out well for the peaches, and Trader Joe's has large boxes of both this time of year.