Some fruits lend themselves to blending much more than juicing. Fruits like bananas, berries and dates have a lower water content than apples, oranges and melons. So while juicing them doesn’t yield the best results, blending them together with water can create some truly delicious smoothies. My friend Karen convinced me to buy a Vitamix blender. To be honest, while I took a bit of persuading, I’m really glad that I took the plunge. The power is fantastic and helps to make really rich and creamy smoothies.
I’ve found it to be all about experimentation. Finding out how thick I like my drinks has taken a reasonable amount of time. I’ve been reading about the benefits of a high carb raw vegan diet as espoused by people like Dr. Doug Graham (foodnsport.com) and have found myself that the more cooked meals I replace with high calorie blended fruit smoothies, the better I’m feeling. Changes that I’ve noticed include a better ability to deal with emotions and to focus mentally. Physically, I’m finding that my skin looks better and that I have great digestion. I was someone who already drank a lot of juice so was somewhat surprised to experience these benefits so markedly.
The funny thing is, I never really set out to become a vegan. It just kind of happened. If I’m honest with you, I’m not sure I really like the term vegan all that much. I found that eating this way really does make a difference to my life on a daily basis. It’s surprisingly easy too.
Simple Fruit Smoothie Recipes
Bananas and water – I find that about 50ml of water per 6″ banana gives me the desired consistency. Pour 500ml into the Vitamix. Then add 10 peeled bananas, making sure to get rid of the stringy bits. Put the lid on securely then blend at level 4 for about 30 seconds. (about 1,ooo calories)
Bananas, blueberries and water – Pretty much the same as the recipe above. However this time I start off with 700ml of water and add 1/2lb of blueberries. Then blend on full power for 10-30 seconds (depending upon whether you’re using fresh or frozen blueberries. Finally, add the bananas and blend on level 4 for about 30 seconds. (1,000+ calories)
Dates and water – I’ve tried a few different kinds of dates but the best as far as most people are concerned are medjool dates. They are nice and soft which makes them perfect for blending. 500ml of water and 15-16 medjool dates. Pre-soaking the dates for a couple of hours makes them easier to blend. I blend them on full power for about 30 seconds. (about 1,000 calories)
As a breakfast “meal”, these smoothies give me heaps of energy at the start of the day. As they’re all so sweet, it kind of feels like a guilty pleasure but the beauty is that they’re actually good for me. As an aside, it’s been months since I’ve had a chocolate craving. The amount of sweet fruit I’m eating and drinking these days easily supresses any sugar cravings I might have had.
Don’t forget, I’ve also taken pictures of some of the juice recipes I’ve made.