Thank heavens for the smoothie. When one of my teenage daughters oversleeps and has “no time” for breakfast, I can throw in the blender an assortment of fruits, vegetables and things that don’t normally go with fruits and vegetables (like hemp seeds or almond butter) and we’ve got a balanced meal in seconds. The smoothie is something even a 10-year-old like Mr. Picky can make by himself, and he does almost daily. His favorite is a combination of frozen banana, strawberry, pineapple, yogurt, coconut water, coconut butter and a squirt of Barleans Mango Omega Swirl. He even makes smoothies for his friends when they come over. So cute.
I love making smoothies at home, because I can control what goes into them, especially the sweetener. I rarely order smoothies in restaurants because I find them to be too sweet. And I’m not falling for what Jamba Juice considers a smoothie. Anything blended with frozen yogurt or sherbet is basically a fruity milkshake and it is not breakfast material.
I saw this recipe on Joy the Baker a while back and it made me think of flavored waters which I like to have on hand in the summer. (Just take a pitcher of water and toss in some cucumber slices or strawberries or watermelon or even pineapple rinds. Mint is fun to add in, too.) I loved this smoothie instantly. It felt like something I would have at a spa, and I sure don’t go to spas often enough! Â There isn’t an overwhelming flavor of cucumber, it’s so subtle. Â The smoothie feels lightly sweet and super refreshing.
I prepare this several different ways. Almond milk makes it creamy, and coconut water keeps it light and fresh, more like spa water. I don’t usually add extra sweetener to mine, but the kids like it a tad sweeter. Honey or even pitted dates work beautifully. And if I have fresh ginger on hand, I love to add a little for an extra special kick. Ginger is incredibly anti-inflammatory and so great for digestion. Cucumber is one of the most alkalizing foods and terrific for the skin. Â And strawberries are rich in Vitamin C and other powerful phytonutrients. Â Total beauty smoothie here!
The only missing from this smoothie is protein, so I wouldn’t consider this a meal. Â But if you did want to include protein, I would throw in protein powder (keep in mind most are sweetened), hemp or chia seeds, or use yogurt instead of the almond milk. Â Yogurt is more tart than almond milk, so you might need to add a little sweetener to balance it out. Â If you’re tired of your same-old-same-old smoothie, give this one a try and get glowing!
Strawberry-Cucumber Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 cup cold coconut water or unsweetened almond milk click here for how to make your own
- 1 ½ cups frozen strawberries click here for how to freeze fruit
- 1 Persian cucumber unpeeled, cut into large chunks or ½ an English (hothouse) cucumber, seeds removed, cut into large chunks
- 1 Tablespoon raw honey or sweetener of choice optional
- 1 teaspoon minced peeled ginger (optional)
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a blender until smooth.
- Add more almond milk as necessary, depending on your desired consistency.
Notes