So, that cold weather hit us like a brick this weekend. One moment we’re downtown enjoying an engagement party (wearing shorts), and the next moment we’re strolling home and a torrential downpour with sideways 40 mile-an-hour winds hit us! We were shoved against buildings, hit in the face with leaves and street crap, and soaked thoroughly.
Then, it was really cold! And dreary! And cold!
So, I guess now is the best time to be eating and drinking the right foods to make sure you don’t get sick.
Have you heard of Maca? I had heard about it, but didn’t really know anything about it. So, here’s the lo-down on this trendy super food:
It has been found to boost immunity, adaptability to stress, muscle recovery, energy, skin clarity, and libido. Wow. Yup, all of that.
Yup, “chocolate” and “healthy” belong in the same sentence, always!
The downside? Well, if you don’t like the taste, then I guess that’s a downside. But honestly, it just has a “earthy” taste…if that makes any sense. I’ve found, though, that you can easily blend it into smoothies and not taste it!
So, this magical Peruvian powder (it comes from a root, but the powdered form is very versatile) is a great thing to add to your “medicine cabinet” (i.e. your pantry of fabulously healthy ingredients).
Immunity Boosting Choco Maca Smoothie
½ banana
1 tsp. Maca Powder (Navitas Naturals)
½ tsp. Chia seeds (optional)
½ tsp. Chia seeds (optional)
1 ½ Tbs. cocoa powder
¼ tsp. cinnamon
½ tsp. vanilla extract
1 Tbs. Stevia (or sweetener of your choice)
1 cup unsweetened almond milk
½-1 cup ice
cacao nibs (optional topping)
~Put all of the ingredients except for the cacao nibs into your blender and blend until smooth. Pour into a large glass, top with cacao nibs (optional) and enjoy!Strike up a conversation: What are you doing to stay healthy as the real Fall weather hits?
I’ve never heard of Maca but I’m for anything that will help boost the immune system this time of year! I’m going to have to keep my eye out for it!
Thanks for linking up to MTM Mondays!
Yum! I haven’t experimented with maca, but I’ve heard all about it. We were trapped in the Viet Hoa, the Asian market on Cleveland, when the storm hit. Their power went out and the automatic doors slammed shut. It was kinda crazy!
Crazy! First of all, I didn’t know we had an Asian market so I definitely have to go there! Second, yeah we were coming from Main when it hit! We ducked into a storefront but then had to run home!
I love Maca and use it all the time! Tastes great (like butterscotch) and goes with just about everything. (in oatmeal, Maca latte’s, etc) Just curious though … where is the smoothie you have posted getting it’s chocolate color from? There’s no chocolate in the recipe other then the nibs sprinkled on top. I am making this now and will probably add a tsp of raw cacoa powder. But what gave yours it’s dark color?
Oh my goodness! Thank you for calling that to my attention! When I copied the recipe from my written copy to the computer, I forgot to put the cocoa in the list! I definitely used cocoa in it! I used 1.5 Tbs of cocoa, but you can adjust that to your liking! I’ll be editing this now 🙂
WOW! This smoothie sound absolutely delicious Melissa. I am definitely going to have to make one! Maca is amazing! I recently found an amazing raw cacao based blend of only four other natural heart healthy ingredients, http://www.mitoxcell.com , that I am going to put in there! I love raw cacao and the great benefits that it gives you. Your recipe is SO creative! Keep it up!