coconutwater

Coco-Beet Berry Smoothie

November 11, 2015 | Drinks & Smoothies

This Coco-Beet Berry Smoothie is a delicious and nutritious drink that’s perfect for breakfast or as a satisfying snack. With a blend of frozen berries, cacao powder, and the earthy sweetness of beetroot, this smoothie is not only packed with flavour but also loaded with antioxidants, healthy fats, and essential vitamins. It’s an easy way to start your day on a healthy note or enjoy a refreshing pick-me-up anytime!

Most mornings, my 7yr old son (the most laid back individual in the world and not particularly partial to anything to domesticated), makes the family a smoothie. Usually, he sticks to favourite combinations like berry, spinach, banana or pineapple, spinach, lime and mint; but occasionally, with a little guidance he likes to get creative.

My only stipulation with the morning smoothie is that it has a little veg in it (and he usually picks spinach or avocado). But one day recently he decided that we should try beetroot in the smoothie. A few weeks on, we’ve been fine-tuning this recipe and I think we’ve got to the really delicious stage, worthy of officially sharing.

Health benefits

This smoothie is a powerhouse of nutrition! Beetroot is an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, detoxifying and extremely nutrient rich vegetable. Research suggests it improves stamina and sports performance (this fact alone appeals to my sport loving kids). Berries provide carbohydrates, vitamin C and antioxidants that help fight inflammation and support your immune system, while cacao powder adds a rich chocolate flavour along with magnesium for energy. The coconut water is rehydrating and the nut butter a great source of healthy fats and protein, keeping you full and satisfied.

Ingredients

To whip up this delicious beetroot smoothie, gather frozen raspberries (or frozen strawberries or a mix), cacao powder, peanut butter (or your favourite nut butter), rice malt syrup (honey or maple syrup), fresh beets, and coconut water.

How to make this beet smoothie recipe

Simply peel the beetroot and blend all the ingredients together in a high-powered blender until smooth. If you’re using a Thermomix, just blend for about 30 seconds on speed 9. It’s that easy! Pour into a glass and enjoy immediately for a refreshing and nutritious treat.

Serving suggestions and how to store

This coco-beet berry smoothie is best enjoyed fresh. If made with frozen berries it’s thick enough to turn into a smoothie bowl. If you have leftovers, you can freeze them into little cups or ice-block molds for a great snack another day.

Vary this coco-beet berry smoothie to suit

This smoothie is gluten-free, dairy-free and grain-free. But feel free to customise it to suit your dietary preferences! If you’re avoiding coconut, simply swap out the coconut water for your favourite milk (dairy or almond milk or coconut milk). For a nut-free version, replace the nut butter with tahini or omit it altogether. If you’re watching your fructose intake or are vegan, use rice malt syrup as your sweetener. You can also boost the protein content by adding a scoop of wholefoods protein powder for an extra nutritious kick!

Take a look at the variations (below the main recipe) for suggestions to alter the recipe to suit your specific dietary requirements.

Coco-Beet Berry Smoothie - this delicious gluten-free and dairy-free smoothie is packed full of nutrition.

Print Recipe

5 from 4 votes

Coco-beet Berry Smoothie

This Coco-beet Berry Smoothie is a delicious way to include the super nourishing vegetable beetroot into your day. Try it, you won't be disappointed.

Prep Time5

Total Time5

Course: Drinks

Servings:

Ingredients

100 g frozen raspberries (1 cup) or strawberries or a mix
2 tbsp cacao powder (unsweetened Dutch process or raw)
2 tbsp peanut butter (or any other nut butter)
1-2 tbsp rice malt syrup, honey or maple syrup
½ small raw beetroot -peeled and diced
250 ml coconut water (1 cup) or Coco Quench is nice too

Instructions

Blend together in a high powered blender until smooth. Thermomix 30 seconds, speed 9.
Enjoy as part of a very healthy breakfast or snack.

Store

Leftovers can be frozen into little cups or ice-block moulds for a snack another day.

Notes

Coconut-free

Replace the coconut water with a nut-milk.

Nut-free

Replace the nut butter with tahini (or just leave it out).

Low-fructose

Choose rice malt syrup as your sweetener.

Boost the protein

Stir through your favourite protein powder. I love using this collagen protein—it’s flavourless, so it works beautifully across all kinds of recipes without altering the taste.

I'd love to hear how you like this veggie boosted smoothie. Post a comment to let me know.

Lemon Turmeric Jellies

July 8, 2015 | Healthy Lunchbox, After School Snacks, No-bake Sweets

I’m always experimenting with jelly flavours and trying to cram as much nutrition into one small treat as possible. So these Lemon Turmeric Jellies came about after my husband came down with man flu and I went on a mission to keep the rest of us from succumbing.

These lemon turmeric jellies are a refreshing, immune-boosting treat packed with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory benefits. They’re easy to make, with a zesty lemon flavour and a hint of spice from ginger and turmeric.

Health benefits of lemon jellies

The ginger and turmeric root are powerful anti-inflammatory and warming immune supportive herbs in these gut loving lemon gummies. The coconut water is hydrating and the kombucha and kefir are supportive to a healthy gut microflora. While lemon adds a vitamin C boost.

Gelatin is made from the bone and connective tissue of animals that has been dried and turned into a powder. I have written about the benefits of gelatin in this post about bone broth.

The biggest benefit of eating gelatin, in my opinion, is that it is a gut healer, which means better nutrient absorption (so greater nourishment) all round. Also, if your gut is functioning well, then your nervous and immune systems are better supported.

I like to use THIS gelatin to make healthy lemon gummies or lemon jelly.

Ingredients

These gummies are made with simple, natural ingredients like fresh turmeric root (or powder), fresh ginger, fresh lemon juice, raw honey and grass-fed gelatin, these jellies are a healthy, gluten-free snack.

How to make Lemon Turmeric Jellies

Start by simmering the turmeric and ginger in water to release their flavours and goodness, then mix in coconut water, lemon juice, and honey. Add gelatin to set the mixture, and let it chill in the fridge until firm.

Serving suggestions and how to store

Serve these anti-inflammatory jellies as a midday snack or a post-meal treat. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week or in the freezer for longer.

Vary the lemon jellies to suit your needs

For a low-fructose gummy, use rice malt syrup instead of honey. If you’re not a fan of coconut, swap coconut water for kombucha or water kefir, and you can easily sub fresh turmeric with powdered.

Take a look at the variations (below the main recipe) for suggestions to alter the recipe to suit many specific dietary requirements.

For more delicious, healthy and easy to make wholefood treats, click HERE.

Or for more healthy gummie recipes, click HERE.

Print Recipe

5 from 8 votes

Lemon Jellies

A beautiful, immune supportive treat, these Lemon Jellies have been a hugely popular recipe. They are great for helping to prevent illness, as well as being an easy food to eat if you are feeling under the weather.

Prep Time10

Chill1

Total Time1 10

Course: Dessert, Snack

Servings:

Ingredients

250 ml water (1 cup)
2 cm ginger root -peeled & sliced
1 cm fresh turmeric root -peeled & sliced or ½ tsp ground
250 ml coconut water (1 cup) or kombucha or water kefir
1-4 tbsp honey - Manuka or raw (amount depends on the level of sweetness you like)
1 lemon/s (large) juice (or 2 small)
2 - 3 tbsp grass-fed or organic gelatin

*Note about honey - only raw, unheated and unprocessed honey has medicinal properties. A good quality Manuka honey is the very best option.

Instructions

Place the water, ginger and turmeric root into a small pot and bring to the boil, reducing to a simmer for approx. 5 minutes.
Take off the heat off and allow to cool for 5 minutes.
Remove the solids (strain) and stir in the coconut water (kombucha or water kefir) honey, lemon and optional Camu powder. Taste to check that you are happy with the flavour (sour/sweet balance). I should be luke warm before adding your gelatin.
Now sprinkle the gelatin over the liquid, allow it to sit and bloom (go wrinkly) for a few minutes then whisk to mix through. For a traditional jelly set use 2 tablespoons, for a firmer, more gummy-lolly-like consistency, add 3 tablespoons.
If the gelatin doesn't completely dissolve, you can pop your pot back on the heat for only 1 minute (only heat to luke warm), stirring well.
Pour into a lined slice tray or moulds, and set in the fridge.

Thermomix

Place the water, ginger and turmeric root into the bowl heat 5 mins, varoma, speed 1.
Add the honey or rice malt syrup, mix 30 seconds speed 3.
Remove the solids and add the coconut water, kombucha or water kefir, honey (and optional camu camu). Mix 10 seconds, speed 3.
Now add the gelatin, allow to bloom, mix 1 minute, temp 37, speed 2 or until the gelatin is dissolved.

Store

Store in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer.

Tip

If using silicon moulds to set your gummies, freeze them to make removing them from the mould clean and simple.
If your Jellies don't set, its because the liquid was either too hot or too cold (it needs to be luke warm) or the brand you are using has a different liquid to gelatin ratio. All is not lost, simply add back to the pot, gently heat to luke warm and add more gelatin.

Notes

Low-fructose

Choose rice malt syrup as your sweetener.

Coconut-free

Choose the kefir or kombucha instead of the coconut water.

Don't like ginger or want to use powdered?

Leave it out or use ½ teaspoon of the ground ginger powder.

No fresh turmeric?

Sub with ¼ teaspoon of turmeric powder.

Add Camu

You can certainly add a tsp of camu camu powder if you wish for an extra vitamin C boost.

I'd love to hear how you liked these delicious little treats. Post a comment or rate this recipe.

Tropical Smoothie

October 23, 2014 | Drinks & Smoothies

With the weather warming up, and my kids up with the birds for swim squads, a quick 5am pre-training session go-to is often this tropical smoothie (or a big cup of bone broth). Yes, this little mix happens to be ‘green,’ however rather than jump on the ‘green smoothies are the bees-knees’ bandwagon, I’m going to buck the current trend and put it out there that you don’t have to drink green smoothies to be healthy.

Personally, I don’t fancy the taste of many ‘green smoothies’ and I also don’t always like the way they make me feel. My gut is pretty cast-iron, but some ‘green smoothies’ leave me nauseous and upset in the tummy. I also find them often just too sweet with lots of fruit and flavours to ‘mask’ the bitter greens. Leafy greens are so good for you, but I really just prefer to eat my greens!

Interestingly enough, from an Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, green smoothies are not always a good idea. There are a few reasons, one is that lots of raw vegetables can be harsh on digestion and difficult to digest (especially when you drink them, you’re not priming your gut to receive them by chewing first). Also if you drink smoothies icy cold this also significantly weakens digestion (cold food and drink is really not good on digestion which needs heat to do it’s job). Also the oxalate content of green smoothies is often very irritating too. Also ‘drinking’ food dilutes gastric acids again slowing digestion down further.

Which leads me back to this tropical smoothie, which just happens to be a little green, but also delicious. Simple smoothies like this can be a good way to sneak in some extra greens for leaf-hating kids (if they can get their head around the fact that it’s green of course)! But I’d urge you to keep trying with the real deal too.

As always, I have a couple of variations for you, including changing the colour!

Health benefits

The fat from the avocado is very soothing and helps to enhance the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins. The pineapple is a fabulous source of vitamin C and bromelain which is a potent anti-inflammatory and supportive to digestion. The coconut water is hydrating and along with the banana, is a great source of minerals.

This tropical smoothie is a delicious and refreshing blend of pineapple, banana, and avocado, perfect for a quick snack or light breakfast. The coconut water adds natural hydration, making it an energizing pick-me-up for any time of day.

Ingredients

This simple smoothie uses a handful of ingredients: fresh pineapple or orange, banana, avocado, and coconut water. It’s naturally sweet and creamy, with no need for added sugars.

How to make this Tropical Smoothie

Blend the diced pineapple or orange, banana, avocado, and coconut water in a high-speed blender until smooth and creamy. Add ice if needed to reach your preferred consistency.

Serving suggestions and how to store

This smoothie is best enjoyed fresh, but any leftovers can be frozen into little cups or ice-block molds for a quick, healthy snack on another day.

Vary this to suit your dietary needs

For a green boost, throw in a handful of baby spinach, kale or fresh mint. Want to switch up the flavour? Add raspberries to turn it pink. You can also boost the protein by adding a scoop of wholefood protein powder or replace the coconut water with nut milk if you’re avoiding coconut.

Take a look at the variations below for all the details as well as suggestions to alter the recipe to suit your specific dietary requirements.

Print Recipe

5 from 5 votes

Tropical Smoothie

A simple, delicious, nourishing smoothie. The avocado adds a beautiful silky texture as well as filling good fats and loads of nutrition.

Prep Time5

Total Time5

Servings:

Ingredients

1 cup/s pineapple (approx) or orange, diced
1 banana/s
½ avocado/s
250 ml coconut water (1 cup)
Ice (if required)

Instructions

Blend together in a high speed blender until smooth and creamy.

Store

Leftovers can be frozen into little cups or ice-block moulds for a fast, healthy snack another day.

Notes

Green boost

If you want a green boost, add in a handful of baby spinach (the smoothie in the photo has this). Spinach is pretty flavourless so it hides very well behind most flavours in a smoothie. Fresh mint is also lovely with this flavour combo.

Change the colour

Add raspberries to turn it pink.

Boost the protein

Stir through your favourite protein powder. I love using this collagen protein—it’s flavourless, so it works beautifully across all kinds of recipes without altering the taste.

Coconut-free

Replace the coconut water with a nut milk.

Summer Berry Spritz

January 6, 2014 | Drinks & Smoothies

This Summer Berry Spritz is a refreshing, hydrating drink perfect for hot days. Packed with the natural sweetness of berries and the subtle citrusy kick from lemongrass, it’s a light and delicious way to stay cool. Whether you’re enjoying a picnic or just need a quick refreshment, this spritz is your summer go-to.

Health benefits

The coconut water is nature’s power-ade, naturally hydrating and rich in electrolytes and I’ve written about its wonderful benefits here. The berries are fabulous antioxidants and the lemongrass is antimicrobial.

Ingredients

You’ll need chilled coconut water, frozen mixed berries, fresh mint leaves, and some lemongrass stalks. These simple ingredients come together to create a delicious, hydrating beverage with minimal effort.

How to make Summer Berry Spritz

Divide the coconut water, fresh berries or frozen, mint, and lemongrass stalks between glasses. Once the berries start to soften, use the bruised end of the lemongrass to prod and release their flavours. Add more ice if needed and serve immediately for a cooling summer drink.

Serving suggestions and how to store

This spritz is best served fresh to enjoy the full flavour of the berries and herbs. If you have leftovers, you can store the mixture in the fridge for a few hours, but give it a good stir before serving. This spritz is perfect for outdoor gatherings or as a quick pick-me-up on a hot day.

Vary this to suit your dietary needs

If you don’t have lemongrass, lime wedges work just as well for a zesty twist. You can also recycle the lemongrass by steeping it in hot water to make a fragrant tea. Looking for a cocktail? Just add a shot of vodka for an instant summer-ready beverage!

Print Recipe

5 from 1 vote

Summer Berry Spritz

A refreshing, rehydrating summer mocktail or even cocktail, this Summer Berry Spritz is really delicious.

Prep Time5

Total Time5

Course: Drinks

Servings:

Ingredients

700 ml coconut water -chilled
50 g frozen mixed berries (½ cup)
4 sprigs fresh mint leaves
4 stick/s lemongrass -washed and the fat end crushed and bruised (I just bash it with the rolling pin)

Instructions

Divide your ingredients between the glasses.
As the berries start to soften, prod them with the bruised end of the lemongrass stalk. This realises the lovely flavours of both the berries and the lemongrass.
Add more ice if required and serve immediately.

Notes

No lemon grass?

You could substitute with quarters of lime.

Recycle

Waste not! Recycle the lemon grass by folding it up and placing in a plunger and cover with boiling water to make lemongrass tea.

Make a Cocktail

Add a shot of vodka for a refreshing, sugar-free summer cocktail.

Love your feedback on this refreshing little number! Post a comment.

Pine Lime Splice

December 3, 2013 | Drinks & Smoothies

This Pineapple Lime Smoothie is the perfect blend of tropical flavours to refresh and hydrate you on a warm day. With the tangy sweetness of pineapple, a splash of lime, and the hydrating goodness of coconut water, it’s an easy, delicious way to give yourself a little taste of summer any time of year.

Following on from my ‘Coconut Water‘ post, I thought I’d share one of my favourite summer smoothie combos – my Pine Lime Spice is simply delicious and a whole lot more medicinal than you’d think. I love the taste of coconut water though I know a few people who just don’t. So if you want to benefit from the impressive mineral profile and hydration from coconut water – without the taste, then try it in this delicious rehydration drink (or mixer).

Health benefits

The pineapple is very anti-inflammatory (thanks to the bromelain in it), supports digestion and reduces mucous production (this is a great drink if you have a cold, especially with the mint and ginger added). It is also a very rich source of Vitamin C along with the lime. The coconut water, I’ve written about here. Most of all, it is refreshing and delicious!

How to make Pine Lime Slice

It’s as simple as blending! Toss your coconut water, pineapple chunks, fresh lime juice, vanilla, ice, and any optional ingredients like mint or ginger into a high-speed blender, and blend until smooth. Pour it into your favourite glass and enjoy right away.

Serving suggestions and how to store

Serve this vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free smoothie immediately for the best flavour, or freeze any leftovers into ice-block moulds for a refreshing snack later on. It’s also perfect as a quick and nutritious frozen popsicle treat on a hot day.

Vary Pine Lime Splice to suit your needs

If you want a minty twist, throw in a few sprigs of fresh mint. For more anti-inflammatory goodness, add some ginger or turmeric. If you’re not a fan of coconut water, swap it for nut milk (or greek yogurt), or for an adult version, add a shot of vodka for a tropical cocktail.

Print Recipe

4.80 from 5 votes

Pine Lime Splice

This Pine Lime Splice is one delicious, healing drink. It's so versatile so check out my variations to discover lots of ways to enjoy it.

Prep Time5

Total Time5

Course: Drinks

Servings:

Ingredients

350 ml coconut water (approx.)
½ cup/s ice
4-5 cm pineapple -diced and cored
½ lime/s -juice
1 tsp vanilla -powder, extract or essence
3 sprigs fresh mint leaves - optional but delicious
1 tbsp ginger root - optional but reccomended

Instructions

Throw it all into powerful blender or food processor and process at the highest speed until smooth and creamy.
Serve immediately.

Store

Leftovers can be frozen into little cups or ice-block moulds for a fast, healthy snack another day.

Notes

Make it minty

Add a few sprigs of fresh mint it's super delicious.

More anti-inflammatory

Add a little ginger and/or turmeric (about ½ tsp ground ginger and /or turmeric)/

Coconut-free

Replace the coconut water with a nut milk.

Ice blocks

Freeze it into ice block moulds for a refreshing, healthy, frozen treat. Even add cubes of pineapple into the mould for a bit of texture.

A tropical cocktail

Add a shot of vodka for a tropical inspired cocktail.

Add Protein

Mix in your favourite vanilla protein powder or this Power Booster.

How do you like this tropical delight? Love to hear what you think?

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