Amazing Almond Butter Smoothie (gluten and dairy free)

Every year when the weather begins to warm up, I get on a smoothie kick.  This year is no different.  While we have been having temperatures in the mid 70’s, my son and I have been enjoying smoothies on a daily basis.  In fact, many days we have more than one.  Lately we have been experimenting with new recipes, hence the recent influx of smoothie recipe posts.  I am always looking for healthy, dairy-free, gluten-free, kid-friendly smoothie ideas.  Recently Gwyneth Paltrow’s new cookbook, It’sAll Good, has been a great source of inspiration.  You can view it and buy it HERE.  This smoothie is a spin on one of her many delicious recipes in the book.  It is packed with protein, satisfying, sweet and great for kids.  I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

My two-and-a-half year old son absolutely LOVES almond butter.  He eats it by the spoonful so this smoothie is his new favorite.  It is great for breakfast, an afternoon snack or even dessert!

1 Frozen Banana

1 ½ Cups Unsweetened Almond Milk

2 Tbls Almond Butter

1 ½ Tbls Cacao Powder

1 Tbls Sweetener of your choice (Agave, Honey or Pure Maple Syrup) or 1 Date

A Few Dashes of Ground Cinnamon (to taste) (Helps regulate blood sugar)

A Handful of Ice (to desired consistency)

1 Tbls Organic Gluten Free Oats (optional) (Great for nursing mothers or after a workout)

For Garnish:

A Sprinkling of Bee Pollen (optional) (for added allergy protection…great in the spring and fall)

A Sprinkling of Gluten Free Oats (optional) (for added hydration…great for nursing mothers)

Serves 2

Place of the ingredients into a high-powered blender and combine until smooth.  Pour into glasses, sprinkle on garnishes and enjoy!  You can buy BPA-free stainless steel straws (like pictured) HERE.

More Delicious and Healthy Recipes:
Low glycemic index smoothie recipe
"The Best" Smoothie Recipe
Healthy Low GI "Chocolate Shake Smoothie
Gluten Free Meatball Recipe
Green Juice Recipe
Homemade Healthy Cereal
Dairy-free, low glycemic index soft served ice cream recipe

Healthy Low Glycemic Index "Chocolate Shake" Smoothie (Dairy Free)

This recipe is based off of one of the yummy smoothies in Gwyneth Paltrow’s new cookbook, It’s All Good.  If you do not have this cookbook yet, it is worth checking out.  You can view and buy it here. (affiliate link)  Everything I have made from it has been delicious with no need to substitute any ingredients.  However, with this particular smoothie I was missing a couple of ingredients so I decided to make some substitutions and additions. J  The result is an amazing, kid-friendly, healthy smoothie that will also satisfy your sweet tooth.  It makes a great breakfast, afternoon snack or even dessert (it tastes like a scrumptious chocolate milkshake), and it is a low glycemic index smoothie.

1 Ripe Avocado (pitted and peeled)

1 Cup Coconut Water

1 Cup Unsweetened Almond Milk

1 Tbsp Ground Flaxseeds

1 Tbsp Unsweetened Cocoa Powder

1 Tbsp of your desired sweetener (Pure Raw Agave for low GI)

1 Tsp – 1 Tbsp Bee Pollen (for added allergy protection during these pollen months)

A few dashes of ground cinnamon (to taste)

A handful of ice (to desired thickness) (preferably made with filtered water)

Blend all of the ingredients in a high powered blender until smooth.  Serve and enjoy!!

More Delicious and Healthy Recipes:
Amazing Almond Butter Smoothie
Low glycemic index smoothie recipe
"The Best" Smoothie Recipe
Gluten Free Meatball Recipe
Green Juice Recipe
Homemade Healthy Cereal
Dairy-free, low glycemic index soft served ice cream recipe

Low Glycemic Index Smoothie Recipe - Dairy Free and Gluten Free

We love smoothies when it’s hot outside.  They are delicious in the morning for breakfast or as an afternoon snack.  The smoothies I make are low on the Glycemic Index (GI) and full of nutrients.  I follow a simple formula that is based on the smoothies at my favorite vegetarian restaurant in Hilton Head, Delisheee Yo, http://delisheeeyo.com.  If you have picky eaters in your house, this is a great way to get some more vegetables and nutrients in them. 

My formula (2 Servings):

2 Low GI fruits (berries, kiwi, apple, etc), Strawberry and Blueberry is a favorite combination in our house.  Fruits High on the GI are bananas, grapes, melons, etc.  We stay away from these fruits.

2 Tbls Gluten Free Organic Oats

1-2 Tbls Nuts (almonds are a favorite in our house.  Walnuts are good for added Omega-3's)

2 Tsp Chia Seeds (Pack your smoothie full of Omega-3's)

A handful of fresh organic greens, I like arugula because it gives the smoothie a peppery flavor.  Other options are spinach or kale.

1-2 Super Food Powders (spiralina, bee pollen, maca or acai) (Recently we have been using 1-2 tsp of acai powder)

1 Tsp Spice (I use cinnamon and/or turmeric) (For information on Turmeric click HERE)

2 Tsp Flax Oil

Liquid (coconut water, coconut milk or almond milk)

Ice if using fresh fruit (not necessary with frozen fruit)
**Note: I use all organic ingredients**

Blend in a high quality blender until smooth and desired consistency is reached.  Add liquid and ice as needed.

Try serving your delicious smoothie with my favorite eco-friendly stainless steel straws!!

Enjoy and Healthy Regards!!

© THRIVE: Natural Family Living

For more healthy and delicious recipes click below:
"The Best" Smoothie Recipe
Low GI "Chocolate Shake" Smoothie Recipe - Dairy Free
Amazing Almond Butter Smoothie
Low Glycemic Dairy Free Ice Cream

Gluten Free Chicken Nuggets

Healthy Homemade Cereal

Green Green Juice

Buddah Bowl
Healthy, veggie-packed meatballs - gluten and dairy free

Homemade Healthy Cereal

(Mommy and Me Cereal)

When I first began my whole foods lifestyle and cut out packaged foods, I simply stopped eating cereal.  However, many of my clients have been asking me for an alternative to their packaged, sugary, unhealthy cereals.  Ah, a mission!  I have finally created my own delicious, healthy, homemade, kid-approved cereal.  Emerson (21 months) ate 2 (child-sized) bowls and was still asking for more this morning. :)

This cereal is chalked full of antioxidants, Omega-3's, fiber, protein, and many more vitamins and minerals varying upon the chosen ingredients.  (To learn more about Omega-3's read my Omega-3 blog post here).

The basic formula is:
2-3 tablespoons of Organic Ground Flaxseeds
A sprinkling of Chia Seeds
2 nut variaties of your choice
2 organic fruits of your choice
Superfood (optional)
Topped with the milk of your choice

For example, in today's cereal I used ground flaxseeds, chia seeds, almonds, pecans, strawberries and blueberries with unsweetened almond milk.  (Feel free to add any "extras" you might enjoy.  For example, dried fruits, goji berries, pumpkin seeds and unsalted organic sunflower seeds are some options I find tasty...I use them on different days....not in the same bowl of cereal).

UPDATE 6.5.13: I recently started adding bee pollen to my cereal.  This amazing superfood assists in ailments from allergies to cancer to infertility and "contains all the essential components of life".  For more information on this incredible food go to: http://www.mercola.com/article/diet/bee_pollen.htm

The ground flaxseeds give it the cereal texture while the chai seeds add a nice seedy texture.  I encourage you to play around with it to find your favorite variety.  Enjoy!!

For more delicious and healthy recipes click below:  

Amazing Almond Butter Smoothie

Low Glycemic Dairy Free Ice Cream

Green Green Juice 

Gluten Free Chicken Nugget Recipe

Low Glycemic Index Smoothie Recipe (with greens)

Healthy, veggie-packed meatballs - gluten and dairy free

Healthy Regards!

THRIVE