The holidays may be over, but I still have a freezer full of cranberries. Loaded with phytochemicals and antioxidants, the low-glycemic cranberry is a fruit that shouldn’t be put away with the ornaments as soon as you’re sick of holiday carols…

As always with my shakes, the measurements are approximate and adjust to taste.

• 1/2 cup washed, frozen cranberries
• 1 serving of vanilla protein powder
• Almond flavoring: a splash of sugar-free almond syrup, sugar-free Almond Roca syrup or about 1 tsp almond extract
• Stevia extract if needed for additional sweetness
• Liquid: Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Breeze, milk or non-dairy milk – just enough to blend if you want a thick shake
• 5-10 ice cubes
• Optional: 1/4 tsp guar gum plus 1/8 tsp xanthan gum to help thicken and emulsify the shake

Blend all ingredients and adjust ice cubes and liquid to desired thickness. Enjoy!

© Chris for The Blender Diaries: Dedicated to smoothies, juicing, Superfruits and healthy living., 2010. | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us
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Berry Good Smoothie 

• 1 banana
• 1/3 cup blackberries or blueberries
• ½ cup Zola Acai
• ½ cup Apple juice
• ¼ cup of ice

Place all ingredients in a blender and enjoy!

What’s in your blender today? Email me:drinkzola@gmail.com and follow me on Twitter @drinkzola.

© Chris for The Blender Diaries: Dedicated to smoothies, juicing, Superfruits and healthy living., 2010. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
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Please enjoy her latest post on the benefits of smoothies:

Don’t wait until January 1^st to set a healthy resolution; get a head start and challenge yourself to drink a nutritious smoothie each day.

A daily nutrient-rich smoothie will ensure your body gets the nourishment it needs in a whole food form. As a personal culinary nutritionist, I do not suggest smoothies a                       supplement to whole food or as a meal, instead I recommend smoothies as a form of liquid that will help take strain off your digestive system, providing greater energy throughout your day.

Acai fruit smoothies are becoming increasingly popular as my clients look for natural cleansing options.  Acai berries have been known to have both restorative and preventive health benefits; smoothies have created an easy and fun way to enjoy this superfruit and reap the nutritious benefits right in your kitchen.

I enjoy creating my own Zola Acai Green Smoothies, which are fruit smoothies blended with fresh greens, fruits and Zola Acai.  I opt for lettuce, celery, kale, chard, apples, pears and bananas for a tasty and unique Zola Acai smoothie.  Green Smoothies are packed with alkaline minerals, chlorophyll, vitamins and antioxidants; they become easier to digest when they are blended.  My Zola Acai Green Smoothies increase energy, improve mood, stabilize blood sugar, reduce bad food cravings and improved dental health.  They are also chock full of live enzymes, phytonutrients and antioxidants.  Moreover, many of my clients who have added Zola Acai Smoothies to their Standard American Diet ‘SAD’ report more energy, normalized blood sugar, reduced craving for caffeine and coffee and regular bowl movements.

Here are a few of my favorite Zola Acai ‘Add-In’ Ingredients:

• 2 Tbsp. Seeds: (ground flax, hemp, chia, sunflower, pumpkin, sesame)
• 1 banana
• 1 pear, cored
• 1 Tbsp. grated ginger
• 2 Tbsp. Wheat germ
• 2 Tbsp. Bee pollen
• Low fat Greek  yogurt
• ¼ cup all-natural nut butter (almond, peanut, macadamia, etc.)
• 1 Tbsp. coconut oil
• Zola Acai Juice- any flavor
• Romaine lettuce leaves
• Kale leaves
• 1 Tbsp. tahini or hummus
• Fresh herbs

There are essentially limitless possibilities to making smoothies.  Experiment with Zola Acai Juices and mix n’ match your favorite nuts, grains, fresh herbs and green vegetables to create your very own Zola Masterpiece.

As you continue to enjoy your Zola Smoothies you’ll be yearning to blend one up every day.  Your body will get accustomed to receiving good nutrition and will naturally want you to add more fruits and vegetables to your diet.  Be sure to use the freshest ingredients possible when you are making your smoothie.  I enjoy mixing my Zola Acai with ice, a ripe avocado, chia seeds, fresh spinach, Greek yogurt and fresh mint, yum!

Be sure to rotate your ingredients and add variety to your smoothies by choosing a new seed, vegetable,  nut, juice or grain each week.  By changing the ingredients you will fill your body with a greater variety of nutrients and keep your taste buds happy with new flavors and textures.

Smoothies are not just for adults, you can easily whip up a nutritious smoothie for the kids, as well.  Smoothies are a wonderful way to get kids to eat fruits and veggies in a fun drink.  Add your child’s favorite Zola Acai juice to their smoothie and they’ll not only reap the nutritional benefits but they’ll be hooked on your Zola smoothies and wanting them as snacks and dessert in no time!  Include the kids in the smoothie-making process and they’ll have a ball choosing the ingredients.  Set a good example for the youngsters in your life and blend up a Zola Smoothie in a handy-dandy cup with a colorful straw to spark up the excitement!  You can easily add hearty grains such as oatmeal, brown rice, quinoa, buckwheat and bran to smoothies to bulk up the texture and add a nice dose of fiber, vitamins and minerals.

Here are 3 of my Favorite Zola Acai Smoothie Recipes- Simply add the below ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.  All smoothies can be kept refrigerated for up to 3 days, although they are best when fresh.

Zola Acai Blueberry

Ingredients

• ½ cup Zola Acai Blueberry Juice
• 1 ripe banana
• 1 cup ice
• ¼ cup almonds
• 4 fresh kale leaves
• 2 Tbsp. pumpkin seeds
• ½ cup arugula
• 3 Fresh mint leaves
• ½ cup brown rice, cooked
• ½ tsp. honey

Zola Acai Original

Ingredients

• 1 cup ice
• ½ cup Zola Acai Original Juice
• 2 Tbsp. wheat germ
• 1/3 cup Greek yogurt
• 6 romaine lettuce leaves
• 6 Brazil nuts
• 3 Swiss chard leaves
• ¼ tsp. cinnamon
• ½ cup bulgur, cooked
• ½ tsp. stevia

Zola Acai Pineapple

Ingredients

• ½ cup ice
• 1 cup Zola Acai Pineapple
• 1 cup fresh spinach
• 2 Tbsp. ground flax seeds
• ½ ripe avocado
• 2 Tbsp. all-natural nut butter
• ½ tsp. agave nectar
• 4 stalks celery
• 3 fresh basil leaves
• ½ cup quinoa, cooked

© Chris for The Blender Diaries: Dedicated to smoothies, juicing, Superfruits and healthy living., 2009. | Permalink | 3 comments | Add to del.icio.us
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If you’re trying to determine whether your smoothie needs a little something extra, here are some guidelines to help you choose:

PROTEIN
Whey/soy based proteins: these are great if you want to add muscle quickly
Nut Butters: use any type of nut butter (peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter, etc) for added protein and flavor
Shelled flaxseed or hempseed:  seeds are a healthy  way to add protein, fiber and omega fatty acids

MEAL REPLACEMENT PACKET
If you’re going to include a meal replacement,  you may need to increase your liquid base by 1-2oz and will likely need a bigger glass.  Some great meal replacement packets include:
Amazing Grass
Vega
Kashi Go Lean

LIQUID OMEGA OILS
Liquid omega oils are a great source of heart healthy omegas.  Some healthy liquid omega oils include:
Hemp Oil: adds healthy protein and omegas without the crunch of hempseed
Flaxseed Oil: adds fiber, protein, and omegas without the crunch of flaxseed

WHEAT GERM
If you don’t have any gluten allergies, wheat germ is a very effective way to add fiber , protein and important nutrients including : iron, potassium, zinc, magnesium, riboflavin and vitamins A, B1, and B3.

GREEN TEA POWDER
Green tea powder, also commonly referred to as Matcha is a great source for antioxidants, energy, alertness, stress reduction, and contains anti-aging  and calming properties

SWEETENERS
If you need to sweeten up your smoothie, do it in a more healthful way by using one of the following:
Honey: provides an all natural and distinct taste
Splenda: low calorie option
Stevia:  low calorie and all  natural

TEXTURE
Granola – excellent taste, gives your smoothie a little crunch
Wheat Germ – great for fiber
Shelled Hempseed/Flaxseed – adds crunch, protein,  healthy omegas
Coconut – use dried un-sweetened coconut and add to tropical smoothie blends

© Chris for The Blender Diaries: Dedicated to smoothies, juicing, Superfruits and healthy living., 2009. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
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To help avoid confusion, I always group smoothie fruits into three categories: berries, tropicals, and exotics.  

FRUIT:
Berries: The berries which include everything from strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries & cherries generally go really well with orange and apple juice bases.  When mixed with banana, they also go really well with milk and sorbet bases.

Tropicals: The tropicals like mangoes, bananas, pineapple & peaches go really well with pineapple juices and sorbets.  They are usually a bit tangier than berry based smoothies.  Bananas, as I mentioned before are great for giving all fruit and  juice smoothies a smooth texture.

Exotics: The exotics which include Açaí, Goji Berries, and Mangosteen are usually great with fruit juices and sorbets and mix well with bananas and other berries
And further, when choosing between frozen or fresh fruit, always remember that frozen fruit will allow you to thicken smoothies without ice while fresh fruit inevitably makes smoothies thinner. If you do use fresh fruit, lower the juice by 1-2 oz and add approx 2-4 oz ice to taste.

© Chris for The Blender Diaries: Dedicated to smoothies, juicing, Superfruits and healthy living., 2009. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Açaí, cooking, health, healthy, how to make smoothies, nutrition, recipe, smoothie, superfood, Superfruit, tropical fruit, Zola Açaí

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If I’m making a breakfast smoothie, I might opt for a juice or milk base. If I’m recovering from a bike ride, I might stick with juice. And if I’m making a treat for the kids on a summer weekend, I might go for sorbet or even a little ice cream. 

To give you a better idea of how to determine your base, here are a few tips for flavor, nutrition and texture:

Juice: Juice tends to add good sweetness and balance and can be used for almost any type of smoothie – whether to drink before or after a workout, for breakfast or even as a treat! Some of the most common juice bases are apple, orange and pineapple:

• Apple – good base to let fruit flavors come through more. Mixes really well with berries, banana, and most other fruits with the exception of tropical fruits (think papaya, mango, pineapple)

• Orange –a tart base that tends to dominate the flavor. Orange goes well with almost all mainstream fruits

• Pineapple – if you like tropical drinks, start with pineapple

Milk or Soymilk (for non-dairy alternative): Milks tend to dull the flavor. It is usually best to add a natural sweetener (like honey) or even a nut butter to give it a little something extra.

Yogurt: Yogurts (fresh or frozen) are great bases because they add thickness and provide probiotic benefits –great support for your immune and digestive systems. When choosing yogurts, I generally stick to vanilla for berry and tropical smoothies.

Sherbets, Sorbets, or even Ice Cream:  I don’t recommend using sherbets, sorbets and/or ice cream for daily smoothies. While they add a lot of flavor and a yummy icy texture, they can also load your smoothie with calories and sugar. These bases are best when making smoothie treats for fun summertime snacks or even as desserts.

© Chris for The Blender Diaries: Dedicated to smoothies, juicing, Superfruits and healthy living., 2009. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Açaí, breakfast, fitness, fruit, healthy, how to make smoothies, juice, juicing, meal replacements, nutrition, recipes, Smoothies, Superfruit, supplements, wellness, workout, workout recovery, Zola Açaí

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