Smoothie of the Week: The Ultimate Runners' Smoothies

A while back VitaMix Corporation sponsored a couple of Ultra Marathoners to run across America as their contribution to finding more solutions around the burgeoning epidemic of childhood obesity across America and the world. VitaMix was right there with them (I'm thinking in a camper that doesn't exude too much exhaust-- maybe a hybrid?). The runners, Charlie Engle and Marshall Ulrich, needed massive amounts of calories and nutrients to fuel them each 70-mile day. I don't have access to the soup recipes etc., that they were fed, but the smoothies looked like lacto-vegetarian fare. I changed them up a little to reflect the preferences of the veggie athletes I hang with/know. Skøl!

Banana Apple Oatmeal Smoothie

1 ½ cups freshly-made raw almond milk
¼ cup oats
1 banana
1 apple, quartered
½ cup dried cranberries
½ cup vanilla yogurt OR 1/4 C. Chia Gel*
¼ cup almonds
3 cups ice
Yield: 2 (3 cup) servings


Almond Butter Chocolate Banana Smoothie

1 banana
1 ½ cups fresh-made raw almond milk
2 tablespoons almond butter
2 tablespoons raw cacao syrup
1 scoop Hempseed protein powder

Green Protein Smoothie

1 ½ cups pineapple juice
1 banana
2 cups fresh baby spinach
1 scoop Hempseed protein powder
2 cups ice
Yield: 4 ½ cups (1-1.5 servings)

Banana Split Power Smoothie

2 cups plain yogurt
½ banana
1 cup strawberries, frozen or fresh
1 ½ cups pineapple, frozen, fresh, or canned
Note: If using fresh or canned fruit, add 1-2 cups
of ice before blending
Yield: 1 (3 ½ cup) serving

Recipe Instructions:


1. Place ingredients in the Vita Mix container in order
listed and secure lid.
2. Select Variable #1.
3. Turn machine on and quickly increase to Variable #10,
then to High.
4. Blend for 45 seconds. Serve immediately

*to make Chiaseed Gel, place 1/4 Cup of whole chiaseeds in a quart mason jar and add water to the top. Stir until the seeds are dispersed. Let absorb the water for at least 15- 20 minutes. Stir again. Put on lid and keep in the fridge to use with other recipes. Provides a high source of protein (4 gm in an ounce), fibre, calcium, magnesium, and more Omega3's than any other plant source, including flax seed. Use the "whole seeds" and not milled seeds. There is some indication that milled seeds lack the nutrients.

This smoothie information is for you-- it's my bias-- so please see your own health care professional before making any health-related decisions. If you found anything useful, intriguing, or have questions, I would really appreciate your feedback... please use the comment box below. To your better and better health, ~Cynthia