I have started adding flax seed to my smoothies each morning. I use the whole seeds because my awesome blender, the VitaMix, grinds it up for me. If you do not have a strong blender, you might consider grinding the flax seeds yourself in a coffee grinder, or you can buy them already ground (creatively labeled ground flax milled flax, or flax meal ... they are all the same). I use 1-2 tablespoons in each smoothie.
So why do I add these little seeds into my smoothies? I do so because flaxseed is considered a powerhouse of nutrition. According to WebMD, some people call flaxseed one of the most powerful plant foods on the planet. Flaxseed is a great source of Omega-3s. The recommended daily intake of Omega-3s is 1.1 grams, and flaxseed provides 1.8 grams per tablespoon (according to fitsugar.com). Fit Sugar also explains that the Omega 3s found in flaxseed promote bone health and help reduce inflammation in the body that leads to asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, migraine headaches, osteoporosis, Parkinson's disease, and several other conditions. Omega 3's are also good for brain function and mood disorders. Furthermore, flaxseed is known to reduce bad cholesterol and lower blood pressure, which ultimately leads to a healthier heart and cardiovascular wellness (fitsugar.com). Flaxseed also has 3 grams of fiber per tablespoon, which aids in digestion and prevents constipation (WebMD). It is also full of of lignans, which promote healthy digestion and have been shown to protect against cancer ... especially breast, prostate, and colon cancer (WebMD). These are just some of the benefits of flaxseed, but there is a lot of information about flaxseed all over the internet. I encourage you to do your own research to see all that these little powerful seeds can do!
Soooooo, let's get to the actual smoothie recipe of the day. I call this one my Black 'n Blue Smoothie because it is full of blackberries and blueberries. Despite the 3 cups of kale I put it in it, the berries keep the smoothie a rich, dark purple color instead of green. This may be good for those of you who are freaked out by the green smoothies or for kids who can't get past the green color of some of my other green smoothies. Like I said, I drink a smoothie every morning, and I love them. You can't help but feel good and healthy when you know all of the goodness you are putting into your body.
Black 'n Blue Smoothie
Ingredients:
- 2-3 cups kale (stems removed ... you can use less if you are new to the whole green smoothie thing!)
- 1 and 1/2 cups frozen blueberries
- 1 and 1/2 cups frozen blackberries
- 1/2 frozen banana
- 1-2 tablespoons flaxseeds
- 1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
Preparation Instructions:
- Put all ingredients in blender (VitaMix!).
- Blend until smooth (and the vortex is created in the middle of the blender).
- Serve and enjoy!!!
I hope you are all having a fabulous, healthy, happy, and relaxing Saturday so far! Stay tuned for more recipes to come this evening! Until next time ... take care of you!!!
Are you replacing breakfast with a smoothie (or rather, drinking a smoothie for breakfast? I have tried drinking them for breakfast, but mine are fairly simple-jsut fruit (frozen), milk or yogurt, ice.........I am too chicken to add 'greens'!! I guess I'm afraid that it will taste bad (reminiscent of dirt?) and I will have to toss it-and I am too frugal to risk that!-.
ReplyDeleteMmmm, any good 'beginner' greens to use (ie: NO taste?)/smoothies? This one sounds great-love berries.
Hey, Em! Yes, I drink the smoothies for breakfast. I promise that adding the greens won't make your smoothies taste like dirt! There is no way in hell I would drink dirt smoothies for breakfast. :) Best beginner green is spinach, hands down. My suggestion is to start with one handful. You will see that you can't taste it at all. Then, slowly increase the amount you put in. It would probably be good for you to start with a berry one too since they keep the smoothie from turning green. Believe me ... I used to eat sausage McMuffins for breakfast in the mornings ... if I can love green smoothies, so can you!!!! Let me know how it goes!!! :)
ReplyDeleteWhat is the difference in my regular mixer & the Vitamix Mixer? Can I use my regular mixer for these recipes?
ReplyDeleteHi, Jessica! You can try to use your regular blender, and it may work for some of them, but not as well. The VitaMix is so powerful that it blends all of these ingredients into a perfect creaminess so that you have no clue there is even any kale or spinach in there. You will likely be able to tell if you use a regular blender. This quote from VitaMix also sums up why I love it so much, "The Professional Series performs an astounding number of food preparation tasks, including chopping, dicing, pureeing, blending, mixing, whipping and grinding a wide variety of foods, from whole fruits and vegetables to spices, cheese, meats and coffee beans. It even crushes ice. Its powerful commercial-grade motor easily handles hot and frozen foods, and everything in-between. The Professional Series outperforms any other single kitchen appliance." Hope that helps!!
DeleteI tried adding Kale in my smoothie but it made it turn REALLY REALLY thick..it totally turned me off...is it the kale that makes it really thick or could it be my sucky blender?? by the way, I am in love with your blog, your awesome! :)
ReplyDeleteHey, Nathalie! I am so sorry your smoothie turned out so icky! I hate to say it, but it is lost likely do to a sucky blender. :( There really is just no comparison to the VitaMix. It was a hard thing for me to invest in (the are pricy), but it is the best money I have ever spent towards my health. Plus, it basically pays for itself if you add up how much money you would spend buying these smoothies from the store every day! The VitaMix website sums up what the VitaMix does best by saying, "The Professional Series performs an astounding number of food preparation tasks, including chopping, dicing, pureeing, blending, mixing, whipping and grinding a wide variety of foods, from whole fruits and vegetables to spices, cheese, meats and coffee beans. It even crushes ice. Its powerful commercial-grade motor easily handles hot and frozen foods, and everything in-between. The Professional Series outperforms any other single kitchen appliance." Totally true. It blends so well and creates such a creamy smoothie that you can't even tell there are veggies in it. Until you decide to get one, you can try using less kale and more almond milk. You can also add water until it is your desired consistency. I hope that helps! Thanks for calling my blog awesome too! It has been so exciting, and I am glad you are here!!!
Deletehi just started drinking greens for meals lol and I have a kitchen aid blender and it works really well too no chunks!!!!! just a thought if a vitamix is outta the budget! good blog and recipes too!
DeleteFlax seed needs to be ground to reap the best benefits. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/flaxseed/AN01258
ReplyDeleteYou are absolutely right! The VitaMix grinds the flaxseeds as it makes the smoothie. :) Pretty awesome. If you have a less powerful blender, you can buy ground flax or flax meal at the store or you can grind your flaxseeds in a coffee grinder. :)
DeleteI just found your blog thanks to pinterest (yay!) and I love your recipes.
ReplyDeleteI do want to say that I have a Kitchenaid mixer and for those who don't want to drop the bucks on the Vitamix, it's a great alternative. Mine blends everything smooth and makes them taste great. It's also been touted as the best general use blender under $300.
Thanks again and keep up the great work!!
Thanks so much, Christina! Thanks for the tip for others re: the Kitchenaid mixer too! So glad you are here!
Delete2nd Day w/Kale in my smoothie-used all 3 cups & it was super yummy!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your recipe-Think I found your site via Pinterest :)
So This might be a stupid question but is your recipe for 1serving? And do you drink it all?
ReplyDeleteThese look great! Try using Chia Seeds instead of flax seeds - they are even higher in Omega 3's and 6's and don't have to be ground (although you can buy them ground as well) Check out more benefits of adding Chia seeds to your diet here: http://www.mychiaseeds.com/Articles/Top10ChiaBenefits.html
ReplyDeleteHey! I also found your blog on Pinterest and I love it! I also wanted to add that I have a Ninja blender that I bought at Bed Bath and Beyond for $100, its blends up to 10 cups and it did a great job blending all of the ingredients! May not be as nice as vitamix but it did the trick with out me having to do any extra grinding myself. Thanks for sharing all your wonderful recipes! Please keep it up!
ReplyDeleteAlix
The VitaMix is the absolute best, but it is very pricey. Several other good blenders will do the job quite well. I have used a regular blender, a Ninja, and the Bullet and liked them all and thought they did a pretty good job. THEN I got the VitaMix and WOW! I did not mind the expense because I am a foodie and use it for so much more. So, even though the VitaMix is the best (in my opinion), do not be discouraged if you do not have one.
ReplyDeleteI make a green smoothie every morning for breakfast also. I use a large handful of kale and a large handful of spinach, 1/2 frozen banana and 1c of another frozen fruit. Instead of milk, I use green tea (which I brew and let steep overnight), then add the flax and a scoop of protein powder. DELICIOUS every time. I also buy fresh fruit when it is in season and freeze it to use in my smoothies during the winter months. If your smoothie is too thick, add a bit more liquid until it reaches the desired consistency.
When making smoothies, for health reasons, you cannot have enough greens (I have also added celery and parsley), but be careful of too much fruit. It is a natural sugar, but sugar all the same so don't overload. Happy blending!!
Bren
I love my VitaMix and have been making smoothies for breakfast forever! However, I have been grinding my flax seed in a coffee grinder ALL this time. The little light went off in my head today to check on whether my VitaMix would grind the flax seed...and I'm so glad to know I can eliminate the coffee ginder! And...I've always been afraid to put everything in at one time, so I've been adding, blending, adding blending...etc. Making my smoothie has always taken me a lot longer than it should. I'm about to do it your way...wish me luck!
ReplyDeletehi im started juicing and i been looking for different recipes. i got the flax seeds but they are not grounded should i have gotten the grounded ones becaused i dont have a device to ground these
ReplyDeleteI have read you have to be careful with ground falx seed as it goes bad fairly quickly. Have you dried grounding in your food processor? We have a small, cheap one we bought for $15 or so at Costco and it's great at grinding nuts and such.
DeleteYou can keep you flax seed in the freezer to keep it from going bad.
DeleteThanks for the great recipe! I have always been a horrible eater and probably got 2 servings of fruits and veggies in an entire week (sometimes none) because I didn't really like the taste and texture that much, but that was before I got my Vitamix. With the Vitamix, everything is one consistent, smooth texture and the sweet fruits cover up the flavor of the veggies.
ReplyDeleteI have a question about how to take smoothies on the go. I'd like to take one to work for lunch, but I'm not sure what to do with it to keep it good until lunch time (I would make it in the morning). Same goes for keeping left overs until the next meal. Any ideas?
Make it the night before then freeze. Just pop into a thermal tote and it will defrost/thaw enough by lunch to drink. :)
DeleteI used glass canning jars to carry my juice to work, and just pack an larger acrylic straw. (hint to clean the straw I use pipe craft cleaner)
DeleteHi! Can I replace blackberries with strawberries and add Greek yogurt?
ReplyDeleteHi! I was wondering what size pitcher you are using on the Vitamix? Is it the full 64oz? Or is it the smaller one that is available? I just want to know how much I should be tweaking the amounts (I normally make a full 64oz pitcher for myself and 3 children).
ReplyDelete