Recipe: Spinach-Pear Smoothie

How much fiber are you getting everyday? FYI, women need 25 grams and men need a whopping 38 grams! I know my husband and I haven't been getting enough, so I've been trying to sneak in a little extra into every meal. I bought a fiber supplement and have been making more beans, which are ridiculously high in fiber. I get bored of beans, though, and tired of cooking, so we have smoothies a couple nights a week. They're a great way to get your veggies and fruit and they're fun to make!

This smoothie has some awesome superfoods in it and contains almost 9 grams of fiber. Drink up!

 

Ingredients:

½ cup milk or juice
1 Tbsp lemon juice

1 cup spinach leaves
2 tsp fiber powder

1 small pear, chopped

¼ cup blueberries

¼ cup pineapple pieces

1 tsp chia seeds

½ scoop protein powder (optional)

Directions:
1. In a blender, combine the milk/juice, lemon juice and spinach leaves. Blend till smooth.
2. Add fiber powder and blend
3. Add fruit, one portion at a time.
4. Throw in the remaining ingredients and blend it all up. Pour over ice and enjoy!

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5 ways to get your 5-a-day!

Goodness know's why it's so much easier to do the things that are bad for us. Like one of my favorite Rufus Wainwright songs says "Everything it seems I like's a little bit sweeter/ A little bit fatter/ A little bit harmful for me". So what you've got to do is find tricks and ways to make it easier to put your health first. One of the easiest ways is to eat more vegetables, but that alone can seem hard for the human brain, which scientists are finding is programmed to choose the easiest ways to do things (such as grab a box of cookies when hungry).

Here are my favorite ways to maximize your veg intake with minimal effort:

1. Get them in at breakfast!

For me, vegetables sometime seem out of place at the breakfast table, but that's not so. Add some chopped peppers & onions to your scrambled eggs. Or top your toast with arugula & a poached egg. (And yes, that egg yolk was actually that bright!)

2. Prep your veggies before you're hungry

Try to always have a container of carrot sticks & celery in your fridge. Easy fresh snacking! If you don't like celery swap it for, my favorite, cucumber!

3. Hide your veggies

No, not under the bed! Hide them in your food! This is especially handy if you have picky eaters at your house. Peas are great in pasta; corn & fresh spinach are delicious additions to soup. I grate zucchini (my husband hates it) and add it to pasta, dips (like the one shown above), etc.

4. Buy in-season

For some reason, a lot of people think fresh produce is only for rich people. Those people have never priced a pound of carrots. They're like under a $1 all year long! If you get sick of carrots though, use this Peak-Season Map to find out what produce is at its peak (and cheapest) in your area. Even if it says there isn't anything, just look at California, Florida, or Texas to see what in-season produce will be on its way to your grocery store.

5. Stock your brain with veggie-centric recipes

Search for vegetarian or vegetable-based recipes. You can always add meat if you want!

Here are some recipes to get you started:

Power Salad

Emerald City Bean Spread

Veggie Wraps

Easy Beans & Rice

Spicy Pasta with Sardines & Kale

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