winter - A Tipsy Giraffe

Gosh, that’s a terrible name for a smoothie isn’t it? I’m not the most creative person when it comes to naming things, I think if I ever had kids I’d probably end up calling them Child 1, Child 2 etc. I’m surprised my cat isn’t just called Cat!

The thought behind this smoothie is a lot better than the name at least! We’re getting deeper and deeper into winter, at least we are in the northern hemisphere anyway, and these cold mornings are getting harder to bear with every temperature job. I made this smoothie as a way to inject a little sunshine into those dark, cold mornings and get you ready to face the day!

It’s full of summery flavours to trick your brain and tongue into thinking summer hasn’t left us out in the cold and it’s full of lots of goodness to keep your body ticking while the winter wages war against your immune system! Blueberries are considered super foods by some due to their antioxidants, but they’re also chock full of Vitamin C to give your immune system a boost! The orange juice helps with that too of course, plus it’s a great source of potassium.

Strawberries also have lots of antioxidants and yet more Vitamin C. And mangoes? You guessed it, more Vitamin C. Watch those winter colds try and catch you now! Mangoes are also a good source of Vitamin A which is good for your skin, and let’s face it skin needs all the care it can get in this harsh weather! And then there’s the spinach, full of everything good – iron (to keep your energy levels up) and Vitamin K (for your bones), plus more Vitamin A, C and antioxidants! I won’t lie, I’m not health expert and I’m not sure how much of your daily recommended vitamin intake this smoothie would get you (if anybody knows more about this subject and wants to do the math for me, please do!!) but I think it’s safe to say it’s a good boost to get you going in the morning. You could even double up and give yourself another boost for your afternoon snack!

It’s not just your immune system getting a helping hand with this smoothie, it also contains one of my favourite smoothie ingredients – kefir milk! Kefir milk is full of tummy loving bacteria to keep your digestive system nice and healthy – which is extra good because winter is when Norovirus most likes to strike (aka the winter vomiting bug), mostly because we all stay huddled up close together in winter so it spreads easy. Your tummy needs all the help it can get to avoid catching it (I got it just after celebrating my first thanksgiving last year, it was no fun!). Kefir milk is a great source of protein too.

The best part though is that it tastes yummy and is an easy and filling breakfast! What more could you want!!

I had originally planned to post my first Christmas recipe today, but to be honest with you I’m still not feeling great and I didn’t think I’d be able to muster up enough excitement to get you all in the festive spirit! Besides, I thought maybe writing about vitamins might help me feel a little healthier… stranger things have happened!

I’m going to bring this health-boosting, winter-busting smoothie along to Fiesta Friday this week in the hopes it’ll give the party goers a quick boost to keep them partying throughout the weekend! I’m sure our returning co-hosts, Tracy and Stephanie, could use it too!

I will have some Christmas fun up for you soon, I’m sure! Come hang out with me on social media to get a preview on the festive treats I’ve been baking and see what’s going on in my kitchen in real time, and come chat too! Friends are always welcome! You can find me on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Google+ and Bloglovin’

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Winter Morning Anti-Venom Smoothie

2014-11-21 00:51:25

Serves 1

An easy, filling breakfast smoothie to get you going on these cold winter mornings and help you fight off the nasty things winter can bring!

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Ingredients

1 packed cup spinach, raw
1 cup kefir milk*
1 cup orange juice*
1 frozen banana
1/2 cup blueberries
2 cups mango
1 cup strawberries

Instructions

Place the spinach, kefir and orange juice in your blender and blitz until spinach is well cut up.
Add remaining ingredients and blitz until smooth.
Drink immediately or keep in fridge overnight ready for breakfast.

Notes

*If you're not able to get kefir milk, substitute with greek yogurt. It won't have the good bacteria in it like kefir, but is still a good source of protein and will give the same taste.
*You can use fresh squeezed orange juice or store bought (use not from concentrate for best health benefits and taste)
To make sure the smoothie is nice and cold, freeze fruits first. Make sure at least the banana is frozen for the best texture

By Michelle @ Giraffes Can Bake

A Tipsy Giraffe https://www.atipsygiraffe.com/