Banana Walnut Green Tea Smoothie

In the last couple of months, I have noticed my skin has been awful - like teenage angst awful with a pre-midlife crisis twist.  My history with medications and creams for my dermatological issues is not all that great and my mode lately is to try to reduce chemicals as opposed to adding more, so I have been on the hunt for a more natural remedy.  I have done a decent amount of reading and am pretty confident at this point that too much sugar and not enough exercise are the biggest factors contributing to my current issue.  An injury is partly the cause of my lack of exercise (but only partly) and the sugar, well, let's just say that I wasn't at my best this holiday season but my sweet tooth certainly was.  My body alkalinity is all out of whack and my plan is to attack it with some high antioxidant leafy greens, low sugar fruits, and healthy nuts (Omega 3s) and seeds to name a few.  This shake fits the bill nicely...with others to follow.

INGREDIENTS:

• banana (frozen if you prefer)
• 6 oz green tea (I let mine cool a bit but am generally too impatient to cool it all of the way when I brew the tea myself)
• 1/8 cup of walnuts
• 1/8 tsp vanilla
• handful of baby kale
• 1/4 tsp chia seeds
• honey (optional)
• ice (optional - if you used cool tea and a frozen banana, you may not need ice)

DIRECTIONS:

Place all ingredients into a high powered blender and blend until smooth.  (I use a Vitamix and gradually increase speed from 1-10 and then to high for about 45 seconds.)

Difficulty: easy

Time: a couple of minutes

Source: a combination of several ideas I found when researching 

MOAB Acai Recovery Smoothie

My husband introduced me to the "recovery" drink, full of protein, years ago when he started P90-X and I would occasionally join him for some cross training.  As a runner, I have also come to learn the importance of a good recovery drink, especially after long runs - used in the hour or two after hard workouts, they help the body recover from exercise-induced stress.  John has always made great shakes and smoothies, and when we got the opportunity from SHOP 'n SAVE to try the MOAB juices, I couldn't wait to taste what he came up with using the Acai Superfruit Blend, which, like all of the MOAB juices, is full of healthy, natural fruit juices with no added sugar and is vegan, gluten-free and dairy free.  John's "secret ingredient" in this smoothie was a splash of vanilla coffee creamer, which provided the perfect amount of creaminess and a smooth consistency.  Add to that a banana and some vanilla protein powder with the juice, and this was the perfect drink after my long run.  It was refreshing, healthy, and absolutely delicious.

Would you like to try MOAB juices?  Enter our giveaway that is found at the bottom of this post to try some for free!

INGREDIENTS:

• 3/4 cup MOAB Acai juice
• 1/2 banana (extra ripe if available)
• 1T fat free french vanilla coffee creamer (try a splash of milk or a spoonful of yogurt as a substitute if necessary)
• 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
• 5-6 ice cubes

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a single serving blender (we use the Magic Bullet blender), pour in juice.  Add banana, then protein powder, ice and creamer (that order seems to work best).
2. Pulse until ice is crushed, and then blend for about 20 seconds.

Note: This recipe makes a single serving drink with 13 grams of protein.  If you want to make this in a regular blender, you will need to at least double to recipe.

Difficulty: Super Easy
Time: 2 minutes
Source: My husband has been the master of the smoothies in our house for years...this is an original recipe of his.

ENTER TO WIN A COUPON FOR A FREE BOTTLE OF MOAB JUICE!
THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.

How to enter:

Comment that you'd like to try MOAB  in the comment section on this post.

For additional chances to win, you may do any of the following*:

1. Like us on Facebook and leave a comment here saying you have done so (or tell us here that you already like us on Facebook).
2. Like MOAB Juice on Facebook and comment here that you did.

*Each of the numbered options listed will earn you an additional chance to win a coupon for a free 10.5 oz bottle of MOAB Superfruit Blend Juice.  Please leave an individual comment for each that you complete so that we can keep track of entries easier. 

Find out if you won:
This contest ends at 11:59 PM on June 5, 2012.  Four lucky winners will be chosen at random using Random.com.  Winner will be announced on June 6, 2012 via Facebook and Twitter.  Look for it!  If you do not use Facebook or Twitter, please make sure you leave us an e-mail address at which we may contact you.  If the winners do not claim their prizes within one week, we will pick new winners.


Note: We are not paid by SHOP 'n SAVE or MOAB juices; we were provided the products to sample, but we did not guarantee a positive review.  The opinions expressed in our reviews are our own.

MOAB Pomegranate Smoothie

Joyce and I were approached by SHOP 'n SAVE to try a new product, MOAB Superfruit Blend.  MOAB stands for Most Optimum Antioxidant Beverage.  They offer four flavors-acai, pomegranate, wild blueberry, and mangosteen.  These blends of exotic flavors are filled with antioxidants and even contain soluble fiber.  We are excited to have another giveaway so you can try the delicious juices by MOAB!

I was thrilled to try this new product; since the birth of my third child, a quick breakfast is necessary.  Smoothies fit the bill perfectly as my husband and I can throw them in travel mugs and be on our way.  This recipe makes two very large servings; I break it down into four to feed both parents and children.  My kids loved the flavors produced by the fresh fruit, yogurt and the juice which contains peach, plum, pineapple, and others in addition to the pomegranate.  I threw in the ground flaxseed as an afterthought; using it in smoothies was a suggested way to use it on the bag, and a great way to increase the amount of alpha-linolenic acid (plant version of omega-3) in our diet.


INGREDIENTS:

• 1 1/2 cups MOAB Pomegranate Superfruit Blend (in the Pittsburgh area, available at SHOP 'n SAVE)
• 2 bananas, peeled and sliced
• 1 cup blueberries
• 1 cup fat-free Greek yogurt
• 1 T flaxseed meal (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

1. Combine all ingredients in a blender and liquefy.
2. Enjoy! 

Difficulty: Easy

Time: 5 minutes

Source: An original by me!

ENTER TO WIN A COUPON FOR A FREE BOTTLE OF MOAB JUICE!

This giveaway is now closed.  

How to enter:

Comment that you'd like to try MOAB  in the comment section on this post.

For additional chances to win, you may do any of the following*:

1. Like us on Facebook and leave a comment here saying you have done so (or tell us here that you already like us on Facebook).
2. Like MOAB Juice on Facebook and comment here that you did.

*Each of the numbered options listed will earn you an additional chance to win a coupon for a free 10.5 oz bottle of MOAB Superfruit Blend Juice.  Please leave an individual comment for each that you complete so that we can keep track of entries easier. 

Find out if you won:
This contest ends at 11:59 PM on May 22, 2012.  Four lucky winners will be chosen at random using Random.com.  Winner will be announced on May 23, 2012 via Facebook and Twitter.  Look for it!  If you do not use Facebook or Twitter, please make sure you leave us an e-mail address at which we may contact you.  If the winners do not claim their prizes within one week, we will pick new winners.