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Nutrition

RECIPES

Recipe: Vegan Mango Banana and Spinach Protein Smoothie

Summertime in London is….interesting. The weather constantly changes – one day it could be in the high 60s and chilly and another will be absolutely scorching hot. Add in the fact that nobody has screens and air conditioning is hard to come by and the hot days feel that much hotter.

When faced with a British heatwave, my flat quickly becomes unbearable. As a result, I crave cold yet nutritious smoothies – like this vibrant green mango, banana and spinach protein smoothie. Sweet yet satisfying and packed with wholesome ingredients, braving a British heatwave just got that much easier.

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RECIPES

Recipe: Easy Grain, Veggie and Fried Egg Bowl For One

Cooking for one can sometimes feel a bit blasé. If you buy too much food at one time, you fear that much of it will go to waste. However, the thought of eating the same thing everyday can also get old – quickly. The solution? To get creative with how you take leftover ingredients in your refrigerator and make them into a range of yummy dishes. One of my regular go-to’s is to whip up a grain, veggie and fried egg bowl. Simple, healthy with just the right amount of indulgence – not only can you make it in a flash, but it tastes delicious.

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RECIPES

Recipe: Hearty Kale, Sweet Potato, Avocado and Grilled Chicken Salad

When I was a child, my mother could not get me to eat anything besides hot dogs and mac ‘n’ cheese. As an adult, my culinary preferences could not be more opposite. I crave healthier, whole foods and love tucking into a massive, satisfying salad. Inspired by the left overs in my fridge, here is a quick and easy salad that I whipped up recently over the weekend featuring kale, sweet potato, avocado and grilled chicken.

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RECIPES

Recipe: Vanilla Berry Banana Smoothie

IMG_2584With the temperatures increasing, I’ve been craving smoothies again. There are so many ways to craft a delicious smoothie, but for me it’s typically a mix of frozen berries or bananas, spinach, non-dairy milk, coconut water and protein powder. For my most recent smoothie, I went with a classic favorite. Jam-packed with frozen berries, banana, unsweetened vanilla almond milk and my secret ingredient, Vega One Vanilla nutritional shake, this smoothie is equal parts nutritious and delicious.

Vanilla Berry Banana Smoothie

Serves One

– 1 cup frozen mixed berries (raspberry, blueberry, blackberry)

– 1 medium banana, chopped & frozen

– 1 scoop vanilla Vega One nutritional shake

– 1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk

– 1/4 to 1/2 cup of water as needed for blending.

I have a regular blender and find that using the ice blend setting works very well. The trick to the creamy, frozen consistency is using frozen fruit and frozen banana. I actually peel and chop ripe bananas up and store them in sandwich baggies in the freezer for smoothies. I’ve never liked the slushy-like consistency of ice cubes in a smoothie, so this works perfectly for me.

Note: You can absolutely sub the unsweetened vanilla almond milk for any other milk, or coconut water. Vega One is sweetened with Stevia and has a nice flavor, so my preference is to not add additional sugar or sweetener to this smoothie.

Why Vega One Protein Powder?

In case you’re wondering, the stats on this smoothie are pretty decent. It clocks in at about 350 calories and 9 grams of fat.

For readers not familiar with Vega One Nutritional Shake, it’s a personal favorite. It’s a vegan protein powder that’s free from dairy,  gluten and soy. I know what you’re thinking – why would I use a vegan protein powder if I’m not vegan? For me it’s two things – taste and nutritional stats.

If you look at the nutritionals, it’s pretty impressive that one scoop contains  50% daily intake of vitamins and minerals, 15 g protein, fiber, Omega-3, Antioxidants, Probiotics and Greens. At $39.99 for a small tub it’s definitely pricey, but the contents make it a great solution for me to get the nutrients I need while trying to manage my busy life. For my readers in Boston, I purchase Vega One locally at Whole Foods, but you can also order on their website, or Amazon (affiliate link) for slightly cheaper. I’m also a huge fan of the chocolate flavor!

What’s your favorite smoothie combo? Leave a comment and let me know – I’m always looking for good new ideas!

For more of my recipes, click here.