It's a smoothie day.

Today is a smoothie day. Why? Well, it’s summer and it’s hot out… and my workspace is currently getting blasted with a sunbeam so it is WARM! Not a bad thing, but I want my lunch to cool me down a little. Plus, I picked up some downright delicious apples from the farmer’s market this weekend and I always have cinnamon in abundance. Plus, spinach is just a non-negotiable constant in my house.

Smoothies are such a great summer meal! Especially if you look into the energetics of the ingredients that you use. One thing that I learned in nutrition school is the science of Ayurveda, which is all about the energetics of everything, and I found it fascinating. Ayurveda is one of the world's oldest holistic (“whole-body”) healing systems that was developed more than 3,000 years ago in India. It is based on the belief that health and wellness depend on a delicate balance between the mind, body and spirit.

The main goal with Ayurveda is to promote good, lasting health instead of constantly battling disease. It offers solutions for things like heat conditions (such as dehydration, headache, rash, cramps, digestive problems and loss of appetite[1]) and cold conditions (such as cold limbs and extremities, shivers, feeling cold “in your bones”, digestion and blood pressure slows, blood vessels constrict[2]). Ayurveda emphasizes good health and prevention and treatment of illness through lifestyle practices (such as massage, meditation, yoga and dietary changes). It also frequently uses a variety of herbal remedies. All in all, it can teach us a lot about how to live a more balanced life!

So why am I rambling on about Ayurveda? Given that I had to work in the hot sun, on a hot day, all day today so far, my entire being is feeling overheated and just plain TOASTY. So my solution? Bring about some Ayurvedic balance and get some cooling foods in for lunch!

Apples are considered astringent, sweet and sour in Ayurveda, which are all cooling tastes. Cinnamon is warming, but it is also sweet, pungent and bitter (more cooling tastes). Peeled almonds are cooling, and spinach is a heating food, but most bitter greens are cooling, so spinach may sometimes impact people that way too, depending on what you serve it with and how it is cooked (raw foods are cooling). Overall, this recipe has a nice balance, so I will not get TOO overly shivery and should still be able to focus through a full afternoon of work. Plus, TONS OF FLAVOUR! That's the bonus about using things like fresh fruits and REAL cinnamon for this.

Plus, it is a SUPER yummy smoothie! Adding the greens+protein power is just a smart move I think, as that will help me to power through the rest of the workday and finish strong.

Living healthy has never tasted so yummy…

Apple Cinnamon Smoothie:

· 1 cup plant-based milk (I like using cashew best)

· Ice, as needed to create desired texture

· 2 cups apple chunks, core and seeds removed

· 1 cup spinach

· ½ scoop vanilla greens+protein powder of choice (you could just use a p

· 2 – 3 tbsp. peanut butter

· 2 tbsp. hulled hempseeds

· 1½ tsp. ground cinnamon

· ¼ tsp. ground nutmeg

1) Add the ice and plant-based milk to a high-powered blender and pulse to break up the ice cubes