Peaches & Cream Smoothie

Yay August! Next weekend is a biggie in Lafayette, CO: The 17th annual Peach Festival is upon us! If you don’t know what this means, let me enlighten you: 30,000 lbs. of certified organic peaches from Morton’s Orchard in Palisade, CO will be yours for the taking – along with live music, hundreds of peach pies, face-painting for the little ones… Here‘s a little video to give you an idea.

Of course, all these glorious, juicy peaches mean inspiration – and another smoothie recipe. Remember, you don’t just want to throw lots of fruit into your blender. That would spike your blood sugar levels, only to have you crash shortly thereafter. Instead, we always want to see 4 building blocks in every smoothie:

• A healthy fat
• A clean protein
• Fruit and/or veggies and/or herbs
• Booster foods!!! (in small quantities, yet with a powerful nutritional punch)

So, here’s your End-of-Summer Balanced Treat:

Ingredients (serves 4):

1/2 can coconut milk
1 cup Greek yogurt (grass-fed is best)
1 large super-ripe banana (peel and freeze the scary-looking ones)
1.5 cups fresh or frozen ripe peaches (organic is key here; check out the EWG’s Guide to Pesticide in Produce)
1-2 dates (if yours are dried-up, soak them for a couple of hours)
1 tsp peeled and sliced fresh ginger root
1 sprig fresh basil
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1 pinch of pink Himalayan salt

Put all this goodness in your blender, and crank it. Follow manufacturer’s instructions, and add some water or ice cubes (6-8 work well) as needed. If you are not using a powerful blender such as a Vitamix or BlendTec, soak the dates before blending, or add an extra frozen banana instead.

In addition to a nice macronutrient balance, this smoothie contains three great booster foods:

Ginger: anti-inflammatory, muscle-pain-reducing and stomach-soothing

Basil: cell-protective (flavonoids), anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory (volatile oils), and a great source of vitamin K (good for your arteries and bones)

Cinnamon: also anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial, and it can help prevent blood sugar swings

Add even more nourishment by topping this creme with superfoods like hemp nuts, chia seeds, fresh berries, bee pollen, raw cacao nibs, a sprinkle of spirulina powder, or any variety of nuts and seeds that you have in your cupboard.

Don’t forget to EAT your smoothie-bowl SLOWLY and mindfully, and chew the seeds, berries and creamy goodness well, for optimal nutrient absorption.

If you have leftovers, you can freeze some of your smoothie in an ice cube tray and add the cubes to future smoothies. Or, you can purchase BPA-free popsicle molds for relatively cheap and create your own healthy, invigorating treats.

And remember: This recipe is only a starting place for your creativity. Find the freshest possible ingredients at your local farmers market or store (seasonal often-times means more nutrient-dense), and get creative!