With St. Patrick's Day falling on a Friday this year, you can bet that a lot of green beer will be consumed. If green beer isn't your thing, or if you need some beneficial green foods to balance out the effects of that green beer, then I've got you covered. I've also got a great green food that will go perfectly with that green beer.
Peach & Peashoot Smoothie
2 large peaches or 2 cups frozen peaches
2 cups pea shoots
2 cups water
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon coconut oil or MCT oil (optional)
Blend all the ingredients in a high-speed blender (such as a Vitamix or Nutri-bullet). Drink this before heading to the bar, or the next morning.
Cream of Cucumber Soup
(Raw Food Made Easy for 1 or 2 people by Jennifer Cornbleet)
1 ½ cups chopped romaine lettuce
1 cucumber, peeled, seeded and chopped
½ cup water
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon crushed garlic
½ avocado, chopped
2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon minced fresh herbs (dill, mint, tarragon, cilantro) or one teaspoon dried
Put the lettuce, cucumber, water, lemon juice, garlic, and salt in a blender and process on medium speed until smooth. Add the avocado and oil and process until smooth. Add the herbs and process just to mix. Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator, this soup will keep for 2 days.
Throw this into a mason jar and have it for lunch on Friday.
Guacamole Cheat
2-3 ripe avocados
sugar-free salsa
fresh lime juice (optional)
I have to admit I hate chopping food, so this cheat lets me avoid chopping. Mash up the ripe avocados, mix in salsa to taste (and squeeze in some lime juice if using) and you are done. Avocados are incredibly nutrient dense, and have healthy fats. I like to eat mine with flax seed crackers, but it's so good I'll eat it with a spoon.
Happy, Healthy Eating!
Tracey
(PS - beer isn't really part of a gut healthy diet, so if you are going to indulge try to at least get a gluten-free beer.)