For the past few days, I’ve really been under the weather. My body has not been a fan of 6 hour drives to and from my hometown of Cleveland combined with sleeping on a couch and being around my family’s pets. Pet dander allergies are the worst, let me tell ya.
I usually only get sick about 2-3 times a year and I think the reason is partly due to the foods I consume. I’m a firm believer that the food you eat will affect your immune system and every time I come down with a sore throat or sickness, I try to cure it the au natural way. Sipping tons of yogi tea or drinking turmeric juices from Whole Foods. This past week when I started feeling icky, I bought some green juice, throat comfort tea and this elderberry syrup recommended to me by an Instagram-foodie-friend, Courtney Swan. I’ve been following her for years and she is my #1 health-spiration. Little did I know, elderberry syrup is the modern day cough syrup without the fake artificial colors and flavors. It’s just concentrated elderberry! This berry is known to improve immune systems in a flash and just a teaspoon a day does the trick to help you bounce back to normal.
But like always, I find that eating the right foods and drinking a TON of water gets me back on track. Especially after two weeks of eating out constantly and experiencing the commotion of the holidays, I decided to whip up this bowl of goji berry bliss this afternoon to get in some Vitamin C, greens and protein. Goji berries are known to have more Vitamin C than oranges which makes them the ultimate superfood in aiding a sickness naturally. Combined with healthy fats from coconut butter, oranges, strawberries and pineapple, this bowl is the ideal way to get in essential nutrients.
P.s. I promise you can’t taste the greens!
While I like to think of this bowl as an aid in helping me fight off my cold and travel bug, this would be quite the treat come the New Year to detox from all of your holiday cookies and glasses of champagne.
- ½ orange, frozen
- ½ cup pineapple, frozen
- 5 frozen strawberries
- ½ cup 365 Organic Coconut Water (or use Harmless Harvest)
- ¼ cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1 cup frozen kale and spinach mix
- 1 tablespoon Vega Protein and Greens, Vanilla flavor
- ½ cup Whole Foods in-house granola
- 1 tablespoon Essentially Coconut coconut butter
- 1 tablespoon goji berries
- Combine the first seven ingredients in a high-speed blender until thick. Add ice if necessary.
- Spoon into a bowl and top with granola, followed by coconut butter. The coconut butter should be liquid state before spooning onto your smoothie.*
- Add goji berries on top!
- Devour and enjoy 🙂
My favorite part about this bowl? The crunch of the coconut butter that turns into a somewhat “magic shell”. I can’t get enough of coconut butter. It kind of runs in my blood. My aunt and dad are coconut enthusiasts and although they’re more of the coconut cake and macaroon kinda people, I am addicted to coconut butter, milk, yogurt and water. Not only do coconuts provide good hydration but the fats in the meat are high in healthy saturated fats. The good kind of fat!
A little bite of the green smoothie with the granola and crunchy shell has me swooning and already feeling infinitely better.
It really is amazing how minimal ingredient food can make you feel much better.
Now ditch the bowl of Frosted Flakes and dive into this bad boy!
-Addie
*All of the products mentioned above are ones I love and support. Thank you for making these posts possible!*
Emilie @ Emilie Eats says
Pictures on point ??
rachel @ athletic avocado says
now this is the only way I’m gonna eat kale! Looks delicious!