Stephanie Hill: Healthy smoothie takes advantage of bountiful berries | Features/Entertainment

Freshly picked berries usually are not solely a few of Mom Nature’s sweetest earthly treasures, however they’re additionally a few of the most nutrient-rich treats. Plus, they’re simply so darn versatile. Eat ’em plain; toss them into cereal, smoothies or yogurt; mash them onto your toast (for actual!); bake them into truffles, muffins or pies; prepare dinner them down into syrup, sauces or jams; or can, dry or freeze them for later use. Truthfully, what’s to not love about berries?

From a dietary standpoint, berries are chock-full of nutritional vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and the all-important fiber. Consider berries as your private arsenal for fending off most cancers, defending the well being of your coronary heart, and keeping off power irritation and/or sickness. In addition they profit your pores and skin, might assist decrease ldl cholesterol and might usually be loved irrespective of the weight loss plan you observe because of the reality they’re low-glycemic and low in energy in addition to carbs. These tiny, juicy, brightly coloured orbs are bursting with nothing however love and goodwill in your physique and your style buds.

Now, distinction the vivid indigo of blueberries, the deep purple of blackberries, the sweet purple of strawberries, the shiny garnet of cherries and pomegranates, and the rose crimson of raspberries to the homely cauliflower. Oh positive, there are a number of colourful sorts of cauliflower, however by and huge, essentially the most considerable type of cauliflower is as colorless as a canvas.

The truth is, that’s how I desire to consider cauliflower: a canvas. A canvas ready for the strokes of shade from an artist’s, or on this case, prepare dinner’s palette.

“Most flowers say, ‘I like you,’ however cauliflowers say, ‘I hope you reside eternally.’ And, that’s extra intense than love.” — Unknown

Cauliflower, just like the acclaimed berry, is taken into account a superfood. It, too, is excessive in fiber, low in energy and carbohydrates and filled with nutritional vitamins and minerals. Brimming with phytonutrients, antioxidants and excessive ranges of sulforaphane — an ingredient in all cruciferous greens — cauliflower may wage warfare towards most cancers. Attributable to its excessive stage of choline, it additionally helps studying and reminiscence upkeep (who doesn’t need assistance with that?). Moreover, cauliflower is filled with bone-enhancing vitamin Ok.

Equally to berries, cauliflower is flexible within the kitchen. Popularly recognized for making a more healthy different to conventional pizza crust, cauliflower can be made into grilled “steaks,” buffalo “wings” and stir-fried “rice.” Moreover, it may be mashed, steamed, baked, fried, tossed into soup, salad or dip, eaten uncooked, its stem might be shredded and added to slaw, and it may be frozen for later use. Plus, it may be added to smoothies!

“If cauliflower might be pizza, you, my pal, might be something.” — Unknown

In case you are acquainted with my work, you realize I like whole-food, plant-based smoothies. They’re handy, moveable powerhouses of vitamin that may be made forward of time and frozen. That’s proper! Mix a complete batch of smoothies up for the week in a single manageably messy hour or much less, and you’re setting your self up for a nutritionally strong, go-get-’em week!

Then, the night time earlier than — or actually, just some hours forward of time — take one smoothie out of the freezer, and set it within the fridge. Then, within the morning, you’re able to kick off your dynamo day with a jolt of dietary righteousness.

Now that the climate is warming up, nothing tastes extra refreshing than a cool, creamy, candy smoothie. The sweetness happens naturally from the succulent berries — no added sugars right here. Stuffed with fiber, antioxidants, nutritional vitamins and minerals; low in energy and carbohydrates; this smoothie recipe checks all of the bins. You gained’t be capable of style the cauliflower, however as a substitute, you’ll style all the berry deliciousness of no matter berry or berries you select. Your style buds and physique will likely be doing the pleased dance, and you’ll really feel a peace of thoughts realizing you made one small alternative of positivity that simply might result in a number of useful steps towards your well being for the day.

“A wholesome exterior begins from the within.” — Robert Urich

I encourage you to present this recipe a attempt. Change it up, gown it up, and make your individual model of this healthful blessedness. Then, hit me up by way of e-mail, Instagram, Fb or on my web site, stephsimplycom. I can’t wait to see what you do with it!

From my dwelling to yours, I merely want you vibrant well being. Right here’s to you!

Berry Good Cauliflower Smoothie

1½ cup riced cauliflower

1 to 1 ¼ cup favourite liquid plus ¼ to ½ cup pomegranate, cherry, blueberry or mixture juice (you desire a whole of 1½ cups liquid)

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

1 inch or ½ teaspoon ginger

1 mini cucumber or half of a giant one

½ lime, peel eliminated, however depart elements of the pith for further taste and vitamin C

1 Medjool date or ½ banana for added sweetness (elective)

Go “further” if you’d like, with as many of those extra nutritious powerhouses as desired:

Substitute ¼ cup of your favourite liquid with ¼ cup aloe

1 to 2 teaspoons açai powder

½ to 1 teaspoon matcha powder

½ to 1 entire scoop of favourite protein powder

¼ to ½ teaspoon of turmeric powder

Place cauliflower and all liquid components into the blender and mix properly.

Add in remainder of the components within the order listed above.

Mix all components till clean.

Makes one giant (about 32 ounces) or two smaller (about 16 ounces) smoothies.