I am slowly emerging from the food fest that was December and have spent a week eating cleaner and leaner. I have been trying to increase the amount of fruit and vegetables in my diet and limit the sweets, biscuits and chocolates. I was doing rather well until I was forced to exterminate a packet of Thornton’s chocolates one afternoon after attempting to consume ‘just the one’. It took another four chocolates and creeping guilt to realise that drastic action was needed – chocolates meet bin.
Smoothies are a good way of boosting your fruit and veg in a rather pleasant fashion and this week I came up with a couple of concoctions which hit the spot. ‘Boo to Winter’ has tropical notes and if I wear a t-shirt and close my eyes in a centrally heated room whilst drinking it I can go someway to banishing the winter blues. The ‘Avo-Berry’ Smoothie is ridiculously creamy due to the inclusion of avocado and a great way of getting something green into the wee grumbling tummy.
BOO TO WINTER
Chopped up flesh of one mango (I actually used a packet of fresh mango from the supermarket chiller)
One banana
Cup of coconut milk
Half a cup of natural yogurt
Blitz and pour
(this is not too thick so good with a straw. If you like your smoothies thicker then add some extra banana)
THE AVO-BERRY
One banana
Cup of blueberries
Cup of yogurt
Half an avocado
Blitz and pour
(this is a thick one – rather like a really creamy yummy yogurt. If you want it a bit thinner and straw friendly add a splash of water or milk to the mix though not too much)