New Green Smoothie Recipe: On Trying to Eat Healthier
Interestingly, I’ve gone through phases during the pandemic. First, Phase 1 was: There’s no time to eat. I have to lead my entire organization to create an effective Distance Learning for Equity plan in the span of one week and three days. Then there was Phase 2: This is really stressful and awful. Let’s make life better with junkfood! (I literally bought every mix made by King Arthur.). Now I am in Phase 3: Why not use this time to focus on getting healthy? Phase 3 is when I discovered my new green smoothie recipe.
I have put on 15 pounds in the last year. And I’ve mainly been putting on fat around my belly. This article from Harvard Health Publishing illuminates the dangers of accumulating fat around the middle (especially in women). This article from the Mayo Clinic reiterates that fat around the abdomen is linked to premature death. I’m not bringing this issue up to body shame anyone else—I am only talking about my own body and what feels healthy for me. Everyone has to decide for themselves and their lives what feels right to them. Truly. For me, the science behind these articles resonates with me, and I want to set up my body to age in what I believe to be the most optimal ways possible—for me.
I’m 42 years-old, so I’m guessing I’m starting to become pre-menopausal. During menopause, fat starts to shift to the abdomen area. I don’t think my eating habits have changed too much over the past year. Therefore, I think my age is impacting my hormones and my metabolism.
Because of my desire to reduce belly fat, I’ve been using MyFitnessPal to pay attention to how much I’m eating. I’m always surprised by how few calories my body needs. Currently, I am only trying to lose 1 pound a week. If I eat healthy meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, I can even eat a little ice-cream for dessert! I’ve been serving myself ice-cream in measuring cups to keep an eye on portion size.
I’ve still been walking for an hour every day on my treadmill desk.
As for breakfast, I’ve been making this green smoothie and eating a hard-boiled egg.
Green Smoothie Ingredients
- 1 c coconut water
- Lemon juice
- 2 c fresh spinach
- 1/2 c frozen pineapple
- 1/4 of an avocado
- 1/3 of a cucumber
- ice
It’s simple but feels very healthy.
I was asking myself the other day: “Sara, what is something you have splurged on that you don’t regret?” (I guess I’m getting really bored with sheltering-in-place?) My answer was: my Vitamix! Clicking on the link reminded me how expensive it was! At least I’ve had it for about 10 years. I just love how smoothly it blends everything. Every bit of spinach and every chunk of ice gets perfectly blended.