Smoothies to the Rescue!

So yesterday I finally opened my Ninja Professional, it had been sitting in it's box for about a month, I will get into the why later on. For now lets talk about how excited I was to give it a try!

I use to own a Jack Lalannes Juicer, (they work really well for home btw) and I know the benefits of regular juicing and really miss my juices. They definitely added energy to my day, which is what I am in need of now. 

Originally I bought the Ninja because I heard you could also juice with it as well, I wanted a product that I can use for both juicing and smoothies, not to mention something that could work like a food processor. Prior to buying my Ninja I had done some research on different things I could do to get healthy with diet alone and I read in more than a few health articles and books, how essential a high fiber diet really is.

Because of my chronic conditions, (I will get more into that on a different post), I am not able to have much physical activity a lot of the time. I need to do something that is easy and affordable, to kick start my body again. I am just sick of being sick and tired all the time!

So from my past experiences with juicing I knew some favorite combos to try, I just was not sure how they would work in the Ninja. I do not own a strainer so I was also wondering how the texture would be and if I wouldn't mind a little pulp in my drink. 

Here is the Recipe of my first drink:

2 med carrots (washed and chopped to about 1" size)
1-2cups baby spinach
1 medium apple (washed and cored, I like to leave the peel on)
2-3 oz 100% orange pineapple juice (with the ninja I need some kind of liquid)
1-2 oz  water (added as needed for a smoother texture)
A dash of ginger and cinnamon

I totally forgot to take a pictures- I did find some images online and it looked a lot like this:

And had the texture of about this:

So it was not completely smooth like a real juice but it sure comes close enough for me and I did not mind the little bit of pulp. A bonus is that my 12yr old daughter really liked it and she remembers how smooth and tasty the juices my old juicer would make. The fiber in pulp is really very filling, not to mention packed with nutrients! Our bodies really need fiber if you do a Google search you will get tons of health articles as to why it is soo important.  

Dietary fiber — found mainly in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes — is probably best known for its ability to prevent or relieve constipation. But foods containing fiber can provide other health benefits as well, such as helping to maintain a healthy weight and lowering your risk of diabetes and heart disease.

The health benefits to a high fiber diet was one of the main reasons I wanted the Ninja vs a regular juicer. A friend of mine did buy me an inexpensive juicer about a year ago, but that was such a hassle and mess, plus it did not yield much juice, so it has been collecting dust. I really did get spoiled on my old juicer and would still have it if I had not moved states. I gave it to my aunt so she can try out all the new juices she learned at a juicing class, she still has it.

For my next drink I went more for a smoothie, my daughter was wanting some ice cream and though I did find a "healthy" homemade ice cream recipe I did not have any frozen banana's that was required. Don't worry I will be trying out that recipe and posting the results! 

So here is the Recipe of our Dessert Smoothie my daughter has named Rarity:

1 cup of frozen blueberries
1 med banana
2-3 oz nonfat- greek vanilla yogurt
1-2 oz of nonsweetened vanilla almond milk
A dash of ginger and cinnamon 
(you can adjust the amounts of yogurt and almond milk to a preferred texture)

Here are some pictures I found online of what the smoothie looked like:

Soooo yummy!

Okay that was the adventures of my first day with my Ninja! I did make a breakfast smoothie for my daughter this morning and it was good, but a little on the tart side- so will post on that recipe seperately. The Rarity one will be a hard one to top and I see it becoming a regular additon and alternate for a healthy treat!

Here is some more information on the health benefits of a high fiber diet- 

• Lowers cholesterol levels. Soluble fiber found in beans, oats, flaxseed and oat bran may help lower total blood cholesterol levels by lowering low-density lipoprotein, or "bad," cholesterol levels. Studies also have shown that fiber may have other heart-health benefits, such as reducing blood pressure and inflammation.

• Helps control blood sugar levels. In people with diabetes, fiber — particularly soluble fiber — can slow the absorption of sugar and help improve blood sugar levels. A healthy diet that includes insoluble fiber may also reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

• Aids in achieving healthy weight. High-fiber foods generally require more chewing time, which gives your body time to register when you're no longer hungry, so you're less likely to overeat. Also, a high-fiber diet tends to make a meal feel larger and linger longer, so you stay full for a greater amount of time. And high-fiber diets also tend to be less "energy dense," which means they have fewer calories for the same volume of food.

I hope you have enjoyed this blog and if you have any great smoothie ideas of your own please post in the comments below! Cheers and God Bless!

Rarity~

*All qoutes were taken from the article- "Dietary Fiber: Essential for a healthy diet" by the Mayo Clinic Staff : Dietary Fiber: Essential for a healthy diet