I haven’t ventured much into the world of papayas. Mainly because the smell can be off-putting. But in Mexico they are plentiful and their health virtues make them difficult to ignore. I’ve made several papaya smoothies in the past but tossing in the peppery seeds…………really takes it up a notch.
“An apple a day keeps the doctor away” is a phrase we’ve all heard before. In the past, I didn’t care for apples. I’d much rather eat a juicy peach or velvety mango. But now, I crave this fruit/seed combo and can’t help but eat an apple a day. It’s my favorite breakfast.
There was a time when I was eating so much fruit that a wise friend gently asked if I was a vegetarian or fruitarian. It was a simple question with a powerful message. I was eating too much sugar.
Before making this 3 seed mix, I learned about Chia seeds from a healer I’d seen in Mexico who suggested I add more protein to my diet. I’d never heard of them before aside from the infamous “chia pet” I tried to grow as a child. But there they were in Mexico, a bin of little black seeds.
Little did I know then, they’d hit super-food stardom. Once I began learning more about these odd seeds, other nutritionally dense seeds fell under my radar. Eventually, I developed my protein rich 3 seed mix which I can’t resist sprinkling on nearly everything………
I’ve been endeavoring to eat more Brazil nuts (or rather seeds) because they are an excellent source of selenium which is good for a healthy thyroid. My goal is to eat two a day but I heard they turn into a velvety smooth milk like cashews.
For a long time, I avoided making nut milks because it seemed complicated and I was certain I didn’t have the right gadgets. That was until I tried homemade almond milk for the first time and was blown away by the taste and texture. It was like drinking a vanilla milkshake that was bursting with life. That day, I ordered a nut milk bag from Amazon and tried my first attempt.
When my good friend Melanie Boyer, a talented yoga and Pilates instructor moved to Punta Mita (Puerta Vallarta), I was lucky enough to be invited to stay with her. I had an amazing time and learned a lot about living in Mexico. I tasted my first Michelada (without Clamato juice), a refreshing glass of icy cold beer poured over a generous layer of fresh lime in a salt-rimmed glass. I also had THE BEST creamy guacamole I’d ever tasted.
Sometimes I buy berries with the grand idea of freezing them so I can add them to smoothies, muffins or a dessert crisp. But then I see how exquisite they and want to eat them completely raw and untouched.
I am loving this Vitamin C blast. It is tasty, refreshing and so simple to make. This fresh juice is great after a workout or if are feeling dehydrated, run down, or just need a lift. No need to plug in a fancy juicer either. Just cut and squeeze fresh fruit with a manual juicer. The combination of grapefruit, oranges, and lemons gives the juice a complexity that none of these fruits have when pressed on their own. The heat of Cayenne is a warming spice that is said to support cardiovascular health, suppress appetite, and relieve congestion.
If Popeye were around today, he’d ditch the cans of spinach and guzzle a kale smoothie. Why? Because kale is a super food. It’s high in Vitamins A, K and C and rich in nutrients and anti-oxidants that fight disease and aging (yay). It’s also low in fat and calories. So why isn’t everyone eating kale? Because kale tastes green and earthy which takes some getting used to. But if you add kale to this kale iron smoothie, it could begin your love affair with it.