Last year, I was inspired to build more consistent, nutritious options for myself during my busy, remote work weeks.
Two pain points I’ve had in the past have been lunchtime (too busy with work/calls to prepare healthy food) and dinner/the transition from work into my evening routine.
As much as I enjoy the option of having ice cream every night, it’s nice to have healthy, delicious, nutritious options to balance things out. I already feel an improvement in my gut and overall health adding these beverages to my weekly diet.
Life-Saving Mocktails
I followed this “Dry January” recipe exactly below according to an email I received from Akamai.com… most of the items are easy enough to stock up on, unless you go through Citrus aggressively… like I do sometimes.
It’s super simple to make and satisfying to pair with dinner or when relaxing on the couch! Between the tart cherry juice and the fulvic mineral complex, I’m able to get some great nutritional supplementation while also enjoying a fancy, flavorful mocktail after work.
VIA: Akamai.com:
Give this mocktail a try to jumpstart your detox (Use this recipe as inspiration — feel free to modify and adjust to your liking)
Ingredients:
- Carbonated water – plain, lemon, or lime
- Angostura bitters
- Tart cherry juice – anti-inflammatory
- 1 lemon or lime
- Akamai’s Fulvic Mineral Complex
Steps:
- Start off with 3/4 glass of ice in your favorite cocktail glass.
- Add 2 oz. of tart cherry juice.
- Add 2-3 drops of Angostura bitters.
- Add 5 or so drops of Akamai’s Fulvic Mineral Complex.
- Squeeze half of a lemon or lime into the drink.
- Top off with the carbonated water of your choice.
- Stir and garnish with a slice of lemon or lime and maraschino cherries.
- Drink to your good health!
don’t forget to use my referral code if you’re interested in trying any of Akamai’s products… I swear by their mineral toothpowder, oil pulling mouthwash, and fulvic mineral complex!
Life-Saving Smoothies
VIA: FOODHEIM: A Culinary Adventure, by Eric Wareheim.
I have been making many recipes from Eric Wareheim’s FOODHEIM cookbook in the past few years. It’s been one of my favorites! As much as I was excited to make pizzas, Japanese-style fried pork katsu sandwiches, smash burgers, etc. the one recipe that has stuck out to me the most has been the “Life-Saving Smoothie”.
Not only did the name attract me, but the explanation in the book of it being a “secret weapon” and a way “to keep your body happy” after eating all those rich foods sold me.
Since making the smoothie for the first time, I have made some alterations to it, including how I prepare the ingredients per week so that I’m getting in at least 4 smoothie servings during a regular work week.
Very nutritious stuff to balance out all my ice cream, pizza, and burger intake each month and once you do the initial prep, you can make one of these hearty smoothies in less than 5 minutes!
Helpful Tips
I freeze 4 servings of the prepared smoothie ingredients in plastic/Ziplock baggies. The day before I make one, I will move one into the refrigerator so that it’s thawed out for the next day.
In addition to the great fruits and veggies Eric has listed for the smoothie, I have added some additional ingredients like bananas, avocado (mostly to smooth out the consistency, but also for protein), an optional scoop of protein powder, and (if you want to get even weirder/even more heart-healthy), garlic!
This is a dense yet delicious smoothie and it certainly is good on its own as a lunch/meal portion.
Initial Prep (< 1 hour)
Ingredients
· 2 Apples (I prefer Fuji or Honeycrisp)
· 2 Bananas
· 1 Large Avocado
· 4 *handfuls of blueberries
· 4 *handfuls of blackberries
· 4 Garlic Cloves, peeled
· 4 1-2 Inch Knobs/Coins of Ginger
· 4 cups, Baby Spinach
· 1 Large Beet
*A good handful of berries is about 1/3 cup, but you can add more or less of them.
Steps
1. Skin, core, and chop apples. Split it into 4 bags.
2. Halve bananas and split them into the bags.
3. Scoop out ¼ of the avocado and distribute into each bag.
4. Add a handful of each of the berries into each bag.
5. Add a clove of garlic into each bag.
6. Peel and chop enough ginger for each bag.
7. Add 1 cup of spinach into each bag.
8. Peel and chop the beets and then distribute evenly into each bag.
9. Seal bags and add them into the freezer… thaw out in the fridge before you use it!
Blender Prep (Less than 5 minutes)
Ingredients (For the Blender)
1 Bag of Thawed Smoothie Ingredients
8-10 drops of Akamai’s Fulvic Mineral Complex
1 Scoop Protein Powder (optional)
2-3 Ice Cubes
1 Serving, Vitamin C Powder (with mine, I only need a ¼ TSP. Follow the serving size of the supplement/product you’re using.)
1 ½ Cups, Coconut Water
Combine ingredients in blender. Blend on high for 2 minutes. Pour into a glass of your choice with a straw (if you want) and enjoy! This makes enough for 2 small servings or one large serving. Best served cold!
