Category: Smoothies, Juices & Other Drinks

Masala Chai Turmeric Latte

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masala-chai-turmeric-latte

 

I have been drinking turmeric lattes for a while now, ever since the arthritis flare up I had last year (as turmeric is such an awesome anti-inflammatory) and I love masala chai also, so when I got given a masala chai spice kit from RawSpiceBar, I thought I’d combine the two, and it was just delicious.

When Braxton goes down for his afternoon nap it’s always that time of day where I am desperate for something warm and sweet and just for me, and this really is a perfect hot drink to enjoy during the short amount of time I get to myself each day.

Give it a go, it’s so warming and healthy and also so good for you!

Ingredients

Mug full of almond milk
1 tsp turmeric
Quarter sachet of masala chai spice mix from RawSpiceBar or other masala chai spice mix
1 tsp maple syrup

Method

Warm the milk in a saucepan and add the spices. Once warm add the maple.

Drink and enjoy!

Love & health,
Lauren

Summer Berry Smoothie

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summer-berry-smoothie

This is basically the same as the summer berry smoothie bowl but this is more of a smoothie than an ice cream. It is our go-to breakfast most mornings, for me and Braxton, I just spoon-feed it to him. When there are no berries we just use banana and the other ingredients and it’s a great way of getting daily superfoods into us.

The Autumn is about to start so trying to get as many berries in while I can!

Ingredients

250ml almond milk (or oat, rice or coconut milk)
1 banana
Handful strawberries
Handful blueberries
1 banana
Handful redcurrants or any other summer berries you have
2 dates
1 tbsp almond butter
1 tsp acai berry powder
1 tsp maca powder
1 tsp chia seeds
1 tsp flax seeds
1 tsp hemp powder
2 ice cubes

Method

Blend all ingredients in the blender and pour into a cup – literally easier than making toast!

Love & health,
Lauren

The Only Green Juice Recipe You’ll Ever Need

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Green Juice

I probably mention them too much (and they don’t even pay me to!) but I just love Able & Cole for their weekly boxes. This week I ordered a juicing box on top of my usual box and pantry stuff.

This juice is full of every nutrient you need to start your day and cleanse your body of its toxins. This is serious immune-boosting, cancer cell-fighting goodness.

Guess who else loved it? Yup – Braxton loves his green juice and he’s only 10 months!

Ingredients

Big handful spinach
Big handful kale
Half a cucumber
3 celery sticks
1 apple
1 inch of fresh ginger
Small handful mint
Small handful parsley
1 lemon

Method

Simply put all the ingredients except the lemon through the juicer, then squeeze the lemon into the cup once it’s done and mix.

Add a couple of ice cubes to make it even more refreshing.

Love & health,
Lauren

Turmeric Latte

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Turmeric Latte

When I was going through my postpartum arthritis flare I had one of these every day. For inflammatory diseases, we’d be silly not to. Turmeric has a hugely high anti-inflammatory content so it’s amazing for inflammation but also great for daily health. In India people drink turmeric drinks every day. My friend Shivani was actually the one who told me to do this a few years ago. She started giving this drink to her son as soon as he turned 1!

It sounds like it’s going to be a bit gruesome but it’s actually really yummy and fulfilling.

Ingredients

Half a mug almond milk
Half a tsp organic, high-grade turmeric
tsp agave, maple or honey
Quarter tsp cinnamon and 1 cinnamon stick if you want

Method

Heat the almond milk in a saucepan.

When it starts bubbling gently add the sweetener and turmeric and mix well. Let it heat a bit more before transferring it to a mug and then sprinkle the cinnamon and add the cinnamon stick if using.

Love & health,
Lauren

Winter Detox Smoothie

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Avocado smoothie

It’s all about the detox this winter and although I usually juice my green veg as I prefer the texture, I also like to make the odd smoothie in the vitamix or nutribullet so that I can get the superfoods in like spirulina, and add an avocado which I don’t do when juicing. This one is great to get the metabolism going and boost the immune system on these cold winter days.

Ingredients

Half an avocado
Handful of kale
1 banana
100ml coconut water
1 tsp spirulina
1 probiotic capsule
1 tsb Manuka honey
2 ice cubes

Method

Add all the ingredients to your blender (I used a Vitamix) and open the probiotic capsule and pour it in. Blend, pour and enjoy!

Love,
Lauren

Peppermint Matcha Latte

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IMG_4849 (3)

I wanted to start a gentle detoxification of the fertility drugs I had to take, so I decided to start drinking matcha tea. I bought the ceremonial grade (this is the highest grade and should be the one you use if it’s for drinking) and started having one cup a day (can’t have more as I’m breastfeeding). One afternoon I fancied something sweet. I used to love a chai tea latte at Starbucks but I try not to drink any of that anymore, so I wondered if I could make matcha into a latte. Turns out you can, and it’s delicious! You can add the peppermint like I did or have it without.

Ingredients

1 tsp ceremonial grade matcha tea
1 mug full of almond milk
1 tsp agave nectar
1 drop organic peppermint oil

Method

Heat the almond milk in a saucepan over a medium heat. Once it’s hot, add the matcha, stir quite well to get the milk to absorb the powder, then add the agave and peppermint oil and stir until well incorporated.

Pour into a mug and enjoy as a warming, satisfying afternoon drink.

Enjoy!

Love,
Lauren

Tropical Baobab Smoothie

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Tropical Baobab Smoothie

I’m really trying to make the most out of the summer fruits before they disappear until next summer! I can’t get enough of them and really miss them during the winter months. As our main food belief is based on chemical free, organic food, we only eat what’s in season. If you eat strawberries in February, the likelihood is they’ve come from a country far away and have had to be packed full of preservatives to keep them fresh until they arrive in the UK so as I said, trying to get my fix while I can.

My iron levels have dropped as I approach the end of my pregnancy so I have increased my intake of Baobab to help increase my iron and boost my immune system. This smoothie is seriously delicious…

Ingredients

200ml almond milk
2 ice cubes
6 strawberries
Large handful blueberries
Quarter pineapple
1 tsp baobab
1 tsp ground flax seeds

Method

Simply put all the ingredients in the blender and blend until smooth.

Enjoy!

Love,
Lauren

Spirulina Smoothie

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Green Spirulina Smoothie

I felt like I needed to be super-duper healthy today, so I picked up the greenest vegetables I could find in my fridge and stuck them in the juicer. Once I was done juicing them, I added them to the blender with a spoonful of spirulina and voila! Spirulina is so thick and icky if you don’t blend it – it can really put you off so make sure you blend it!

Read these amazing facts on spirulina, provided by the amazing Organic Burst where I buy all my superfoods:

  • Supports the immune system. Vitamin B6 and iron in our spirulina powder supports the immune system.
  • Healthy brain and cognitive function. Organic Burst Spirulina powder is rich in Vitamin B6 and contains iron that are known to support healthy cognitive function, in other words your brain power!
  • Weight management. Taken one hour before meals, Organic Burst Spirulina powder can naturally promote the feeling of fullness and prevent over-eating.
  • Healthy heart. Thiamine in Organic Burst Spirulina contributes to the normal function of the heart.
  • Rich, complete and digestible protein source. Spirulina powder is very rich in protein (60-70%), containing 18 amino acids including all essential amino acids. According to studies, spirulina has a very high protein efficiency ratio (PER). Protein in spirulina is four times more absorbable than protein in beef.

Ingredients

Big handful kale
Big handful spring greens
2 celery sticks
Half a cucumber
1 inch fresh ginger
1 lime
1 tsp spirulina

Method

Put all ingredients apart from spirulina and lime in the juicer. Once juiced, add to blender with the juice of one lime and the spirulina and blend on high for a minute with 4 ice cubes,

You are now positively buzzing and vibrating with healthy, clean cells!

Lauren 🙂

Immune Boosting Berry & Superfood Smoothie

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Immune Boosting Smoothie

I’ve been feeling a little under the weather the last few days and the last thing I want to do is to take some nasty, over-the-counter chemical meds that will suppress the toxins. My aim is to release the toxins and let my body heal the natural way. And there are plenty of ways to do this.

I added maca – for extra strength, acai berries – hugely powerful anti-oxidants (both from Organic Burst), chia seeds – a great source of plant-based protein and added to that blueberries – more anti-oxidants (organic of course, otherwise it kind of negates their powers), strawberries and banana, because I need lots of plant-based natural sugars to keep strong.

Ingredients

250ml almond milk
1 banana (frozen or fresh, depends how creamy you like it)
5 strawberries
Handful blueberries
1 tsp maca powder
2 acai berry capsules, opened and sprinkled in
1 tsp chia seeds
4 ice cubes
2 figs, cut up in small pieces (optional)

Method

Simply put all the ingredients into your  blender (except for the figs) and blend. Pour into a cup and add the figs which are yummy to eat in chunks as you’re drinking the smoothie.

I love breakfast!
Love,
Lauren

Beautiful Beetroot Juice

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Beetroot Juice

It’s funny how nature helps us know what we need. When you juice beetroot it looks like blood and it just so happens that the primary benefit that beetroot has on our health, is for our blood. It helps normalise blood pressure and increases the flow of blood to the brain – great for concentration and creativity! Beetroot also has a detox effect on the liver so if you’re carrying a lot of toxins, having more than one raw beetroot at a time may make you feel a little queezy. If you’ve never had raw beets before, go slow. The more you have over time, the more your liver will be used to it and you’ll find it will help you to detox.

I got my Abel & Cole box of organic fruit and veg delivered today (as I do every Monday) and there was a huge bunch of beets in there so I decided to juice some, save some more for juicing over the week, and I lightly steamed some to have ready to use in salads for lunches.

I added some other veg to this, ones I think go particularly well…

Ingredients

2 raw beetroot
3 sticks celery
4 large carrots
1 handful spinach

Method

Juice in a juicer (in a blender you’ll need less)…

Love,
Lauren