Let's get healthy with My Blue Tea's brand ambassador @vanessa__genevieve
Who doesn't love a smoothie? It's like having an ice-cream but with less calories and guilt! Rich, creamy and oh so yummy!
Smoothies have become an increasingly popular wellness trend and are frequently marketed as a health food. We actually wanted to share this blog right after the Christmas feasting, thinking it would make for a good New Year's Resolution. But then we realised...wait a second. There was Australia Day coming up on 26th January, and then the Chinese Lunar New Year was on 1st February ... it was non-stop celebrations one after another! Besides, we were also excited to share all the delicious recipes and new products we were bringing in for the Lunar New Year.
So that's why we decided to let this Smoothie blog take a queue number. After all, good things come to those who wait. And at My Blue Tea we always have something that's healthy, fun and yummy to share! All in good time!
We are excited to share some beautiful smoothies for you by our good friend and our Brand Ambassador, Vanessa Genevieve! Vanessa is a scientist (yes, you read that right! A REAL scientist!) who actually took the time to research, study, and read up all she could on Butterfly Pea flower's micro nutrients. She is really interested in what it can do, and we are so inspired by her commitment to really learning about it and getting the facts out there.
Here's what she says about our beautiful flower:
This is my first time using Blue Butterfly Pea Powder! Not only is it very cool with the blue colouring, but I also looked up the science behind it - it is a source of brain food Nootropic @vanessa__genevieve Nootropics are compounds that enhance cognition or treat cognition deficits and are often referred to as “smart drugs”.
What are smoothies?
We've all had more than a smoothie or two in our lifetime, so you may well wonder why in the world are we asking for the definition of a smoothie.
We simply love describing food and getting to know every single ingredient that goes into a beverage, a dish, a snack or a dessert. Smoothies are thick, creamy beverages usually blended from puréed fruits, vegetables, juices, yogurt, nuts, seeds, and/or dairy or nondairy milk.
So even with just this simple basic definition, it is clear that smoothies are seriously very healthy beverages to have! It's power-packed with good stuff!
The most basic smoothie starts with two essential ingredients — a base and a liquid. From there, you can combine any healthy ingredients to your liking. For amateur cooks and chefs who have that creative flair, smoothies make for a great experimental ground. You can have quite an adventure with different ingredients when it comes to smoothies!
Many smoothies blend in some frozen produce or ice cubes to give the final product the cool, icy consistency of a milkshake. However, the flavour profiles vary greatly depending on the ingredients.
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Breakfast for Vanessa is a feast of flavours, textures and packed full of health-boosting ingredients. She shares some of the healthy food she has every morning to keep fit (this is on top of doing squats, weight lifting and running!) She starts her morning strong and ends her night gentle with a goodnight tea from My Blue Tea to lull her into sweet dreams. Vanessa has even done her research on the importance of sleep.
Popular ingredients in smoothies
Whether it is homemade or store-bought smoothies, here are some of the most common ingredients you'll find:
Fruits: berries, banana, apple, peach, mango, and pineapple
Vegetables: kale, spinach, arugula, wheatgrass, microgreens , avocado, cucumber, beetroot, cauliflower, and carrots
Nuts and seeds: almond butter, peanut butter, walnut butter, sunflower seed butter, chia seeds, hemp seeds, and flax meal
Herbs and spices: ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, cocoa powder, cacao nibs, parsley, and basil
Nutritional and herbal supplements: bee pollen, matcha powder, protein powder, and powdered vitamin or mineral supplements
Liquid: water, fruit juice, vegetable juice, milk, nondairy milk, coconut water, iced tea, and cold brew coffee
Sweeteners: maple syrup, raw sugar, honey, pitted dates, simple syrup, fruit juice concentrates, stevia, ice cream, and sorbet
Others: cottage cheese, vanilla extract, soaked oats, cooked white beans, silken tofu, and dairy or nondairy yogurt
Superfood Powders include : Butterfly Pea Powder, Pandan Powder, Dragonfruit Powder, Roselle Powder, Coconut Milk Powder and including Bamboo Tea Infusion.
Uber Pink Protein Oat Bowl Recipe
Vanessa shares with us a special recipe of hers, the Uber Pink Protein Oat Bowl (second photo on the top). Vanessa's Uber Pink Protein Oat bowl can brighten up the day and hopefully put a smile on your faces!
INGREDIENTS
- 40g @flipsmuesli 5 grain porridge
- 1 scoop of protein powder (I use @optimumnutrition Gold Standard in Vanilla Ice Cream). I buy all my fitness supplements from @elitesuppsaustralia
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
- (Optional) About 1/4 cup water if you like to cook it down more like me!
- 100g fresh strawberries
- 15g @byronbaypeanutbutter smooth peanut butter
- 1 tsp @my.blue.tea Pink Dragonfruit powder
- Pinch of salt
Extra health information:
441 calories
P 31g - C 40g - F 17g
How often should you drink smoothies?
Smoothies may form part of a balanced diet, but be sure to focus on fruits with a lower sugar content, and choose natural fresh or frozen produce whenever possible. Include one or more sources of protein like yogurt, kefir or milk, as well as healthy fats from nuts, seeds or avocado. Both adults and children should consume smoothies no more than one portion per day (even though it is tempting to have a second!)
However, remember that a smoothie is not a substitute for water, so you would still need that 8 glasses of water a day even with the smoothie.
Stay hydrated and healthy with My Blue Tea´s range of teas. You can even create a rainbow of colours - add anything acidic, and the tea will change to pink and purple. It´s really rather magical to watch, even though we say so ourselves! For the more chemistry-inclined, you know the formula of adding alkaline to alkaline (Blue Tea has a pH of around 8.4) and you will get green or yellow. This is a safe and fun ´science´ experiment which is healthy and delicious to try!
We love this colour combo Butterfly Pea Powder + Dragonfruit Powder :
White Christmas Protein Bowl Recipe
Here's yet another little treat for you to try! This is one special breakfast you´ll be delighted to wake up to!
INGREDIENTS
* 40 gram rolled oats * 1 scoop vanilla protein powder (I use @optimumnutrition Gold Standard Whey in Vanilla ice cream) * 1/4 tspn cinnamon * @my.blue.tea Butterfly Pea Powder and Dragonfruit Powder * 1 cup almond milk * 1/2 cup water (optional)
Toppings * Blackberries * 15 grams @byronbaypeanutbutter peanut butter * Funfetti
Extra health information:
531 calories P 32g - c 63g - F 17g
All About Vanessa
Vanessa is a Neuroscience PhD student and Corporate. She has a keen interest in unlocking healthy brain ageing and she is always curious to learn more about health, nutrition, how the body works and what we can do to take care of our health and give it the boost it needs. She is also a dedicated athlete - follow her on @elitesuppsaustralia - VANESSA10.
And as our Brand Ambassador, needless to say her favourite brands are My Blue Tea´s range of Superfood Powders, and she also adores Byron Bay Peanut Butter, Honey and we know her list goes on so we may just leave that little mystery there for the next time when we share her health recipes again!
Get to know more about Vanessa here: linktr.ee/vanessagenevieve
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