Cherry and Almond Flaxseed Smoothie
Yields: about 1 1/2 -2 cups Prep Time: 10 minutes Total Time: 10 minutes
Cherries and almonds come together in a rich smoothie, which is loaded with antioxidants, protein and minerals such as potassium and calcium. Almond butter and flaxseeds add an underlying nutty flavor, complementing the sweetness of the fruit.
Ingredients
1/2 cup cherries, frozen (about 10 -12 cherries)
1/2 banana (about an overflowing 1/4 cup)
3 large strawberries
2 ice cubes (omit if using frozen strawberries)
3 tablespoons almond butter
1 tablespoon ground flaxseed or Super Seeds mix
3/4 cup water
Directions
1. Place all ingredients in a high speed blender and blend well.
2. Serve immediately. If you aren’t going to consume immediately, I would recommend putting in a popsicle mold (or something similar) and freezing.
As I’ve mentioned many times with regard to smoothies is that they are often my lifeline to nutrition. Before children, my husband and I would juice daily, eating plates full of vegetables when we wanted. However, three kids in, hectic jobs and a calendar full of extracurriculars later, we just don’t have the time to do what we used to do.
Smoothies whip up fast, require little clean up and can get a bowl of nutritious food into one glass. I always add some sort of healthy source of fat to my smoothies, so it’s not a huge sugar (albeit in natural fruit form) rush.
You could use raw and unsalted almond butter to keep it a little more healthy, but truly, that is a personal preference. Almonds are rich in protein, magnesium and calcium. Cherries are really high in antioxidants as well as other powerful plant chemicals. These powerful nutrients are thought to have cancer-preventative compounds, help support healthy sleep and reduce inflammation.
Other vegan and gluten free recipes you might enjoy:
Chocolate Covered Raspberry & Cashew Truffles (GF, VG)
