Strawberries & Cream Smoothie

Strawberry season has almost ended here in Canada so I’ve been finding all the ways to enjoy them. I love the classic combination of strawberries and cream but made a healthy version of it.

Every time I get my hands on a pint of fresh, local, and organic of berries I whip up this Strawberries & Cream Smoothie. If you only have access to frozen organic berries, they work great too!

If you’re looking for more ways to enjoy summer berries, try my Strawberry Avocado Salad.

Eat More Strawberries for Beautiful Skin

These bright red little berries are full of the skin-loving vitamin C. An antioxidant, vitamin C works to boost hydration and reduce sebum production. Bonus? This beautifying nutrient is also involved in promoting collagen synthesis aka a glowing and youthful complexion. My clients over in The Clear Skin Solution always love when I give them beauty facts about food!

Don’t Be Afraid of Fat

Full fat coconut milk, medjool dates, and vanilla makes for the creamiest smoothie combo. Make sure to use canned coconut milk, not the coconut beverage found in a carton. The canned version is undiluted and full of rich, delicious, and healthy fats.

One specific fat, lauric acid, is a medium-chain fatty acid that the body can easily absorb and use for energy. Try having this Strawberries & Cream Smoothie for breakfast to fuel you throughout the morning.

Why Organic

When including strawberries as part of your healthy diet, it’s extremely important to only choose organic. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has ranked strawberries as the produce most contaminated with pesticides.

According to the EWG:

“Conventionally grown strawberries tested by scientists at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2015 and 2016 contained an average of 7.8 different pesticides per sample, compared to 2.2 pesticides per sample for all other produce, according to EWG’s analysis…[S]trawberry growers use jaw-dropping volumes of poisonous gases to sterilize their fields before planting, killing every pest, weed and other living thing in the soil.”

Opting for organic berries is one of the best ways to reduce your exposure to dangerous pesticides that have been linked to cancer. Frozen organic strawberries can be a more economical option than fresh.

Strawberries & Cream Smoothie

Decadent smoothie full of healthy fats and sweet berries.

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Author: Katie Stewart Wellness

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups organic strawberries fresh or frozen -- frozen will make a thicker smoothie
• 1 banana
• 1 cup filtered water more if thinner consistency preferred
• 1/4 cup full-fat canned coconut milk
• 2 medjool dates
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Optional protein boosters:

• 3 tbsp hemp hearts 10g protein
• 1 tbsp collagen powder 9g protein

Instructions

• Add all ingredients to the blender, including any protein boosters, and blend on high until well combined.
• Serve immediately.