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Healthy Thirst Quenchers
When the weather heats up, it’s all too easy to slide into lethargy and reach for something less than nourishing in hopes of quenching what a certain sugary sports drink brand refers to as “that deep-down body thirst.” As an antidote, I offer Bluedot readers a quartet of healthy, delicious and all-natural recipes, customized to keep you alert and high-functioning even as you cool off and rehydrate.
Each drink in the collection that follows (see links for each of the others at the end of this recipe) — one spritzer, one fresh juice, and two frothy and cold smoothies — is made with healthy, natural ingredients and little or no added sugar. These recipes are sized for a small group; any leftovers can be frozen in ice cube trays and repurposed as healthy mini-popsicles. And one final note: on a sweltering day, the smoothies make a great meal replacement that will help prevent literal and figurative meltdowns.
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RECIPE: Vanilla, Date, Almond, Hemp Seed Shake
- Yield: Serves 2–4 1x
Description
This cold smoothie is lightly sweet, frothy, and creamy. Hemp seeds are an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids. Blending them with the dates, almond, and banana makes for a shake that delivers fiber and protein as well, creating a veritable trifecta of health benefits.
Ingredients
- 2 whole frozen peeled bananas, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 4 pitted Medjool dates
- 1/4 cup superfine blanched almond flour
- 2 tsps hemp seeds
- 1 cup whole milk or plain unsweetened almond milk or oat milk
- 2 tsps pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp pure almond extract
- 1 cup ice cubes
- Chopped toasted almonds, for serving
Instructions
- Place the bananas, dates, almond flour, hemp seeds, milk, vanilla, almond extract, and ice in a blender.
- Blend on low speed until the fruit is finely chopped, about 1 minute, then blend on high speed until rich and frothy, about 1 more minute. Divide between glasses and top each with some chopped toasted almonds. Serve immediately.
On Buying a Blender (or Juicer)
For simple recipes like smoothies and shakes, you don’t need a fancy new blender with all the latest tech. If you don’t own a blender, juicer, or other small kitchen appliance, check your local secondhand store or an online reselling platform instead of buying a new one. Often you can find new or lightly used ones. Shopping secondhand doesn’t just stop at clothes, and buying used is good for your wallet and the planet!
