Cherry season is the best season! They’re currently on sale for less than $2/lb (from $5/lb) so after seeing that I got so excited I blacked out and bought 7 lbs. My blood is the juice of cherries.
Other than snacking on them plain, I like to have them with coconut yogurt, make a quick chia jam (you can use that recipe for any berry), dip them in raw chocolate and freeze them for when my sweet tooth needs a hit, and, of course, freeze them for smoothies!
Wash them, pit them, and lay them out on a parchment-lined cookie sheet to freeze individually so they don’t stick together, then put them in an airtight container to use for your morning summer smoothies.
The best part about this simple smoothie is not that it tastes like dessert for breakfast (you’re welcome), but the ingredients actually help relieve stress.
Sweet cherries are an excellent source of Vitamin C, which is depleted when our bodies are under stress. The more stressed you feel, the more Vitamin C you’ll need. Choose the darkest fruit you can find for the highest concentration of antioxidants and anticancer compounds.
Cacao is another stress reliever thanks to magnesium, which is a smooth muscle relaxant that helps calm muscles you don’t have control over, like your heart or colon. The theobromine in cacao also helps open blood vessels to facilitate in the delivery of nutrients to your cells so you’re getting the most out of every last drop. Last but not least, cacao contains anandamide, also known as the “bliss chemical”. We’re feelin’ good all around!
Oh, did I mention there’s spinach in this one? You won’t even know it! #secretgreensmoothie
- 1 cup spinach
- ¾ cup frozen cherries
- 2 tbsp raw cacao powder
- 2 tbsp collagen powder
- ¼ avocado
- 1 - 1¼ cup coconut water
- Ice, optional
- Blend all ingredients together and enjoy!
Is raw cacao powder different from the cocoa powder I buy at the grocery store?
Yes! Raw cacao powder is unprocessed, so it retains more nutrients. You can buy it easily on Amazon, but I always find it at Marshall’s for cheap!
Thanks. I love shopping the food isles at Marshalls!