Orange Creamsicle Immunity Smoothie
You guys, the season is upon us...COLD, FLU, STREP, and basically anything other illness you can imagine season, that is. I hate it. DESPISE IT.
I have two things to talk about on this post, one is the KICK A$$ power of this smoothie, perfect for little ones who are having a hard time eating solid foods, or may have trouble taking medicine. This smoothie is PACKED with nutrients, sweet enough for kiddos to enjoy, and has tons of optional add ins to give it even more of a immune system boost. Our kiddos suck it down, and ask for more!
The second thing I wanted to touch on was the fact that I've found the be all, end all to water bottles. The simple fact is, I will NEVER buy another brand of bottle, and lucky for me, Pura Stainless, the ONLY 100% plastic free and Certified NONTOXIC bottles are not only well made, and smoothie friendly, BUT they also are designed to grow with your kiddos from infant to young adult! There are several interchangeable silicone tops that range from a nipple for bottles, to straw, to sippy spout, to sport lid. There are also a range of sizes, insulated vs non-insulated options, and colors which makes it so versatile for the entire family. I initially discovered the bottles when I was looking for a container for smoothies that would allow the kiddos to drink a thick smoothie through a wide straw, but not spill it everywhere like most other bottles.
These are the ones. They've already been dropped a zillion times, banged up, chewed on, and they're still holding strong. Our insulated versions keep these smoothies cool for hours! We also take them everywhere, including to restaurants so we don't have to mess with spills from other cups. I'm OBSESSED. If you're interested, check out Pura Stainlessfor more information. Not only are they environmentally friendly, but they're also “Non-Toxic” which means everything to me. Did you know that many BPA free plastic bottles use a substitute called BPS which has been linked to endocrine disruption and is potentially as toxic as BPA. By eliminating plastic of any kind, you don't have to worry about the sneaky ways manufacturers will hide toxins when you're using Pura bottles. I just absolutely love it.
So now that I've shared my love affair, let me talk a little about this recipe! What I've done is basically created a base for you guys and listed some optional, but HIGHLY recommended add-ins, if you want to really load up this smoothie with immune supporting power. I am not a medical professional, so I can't make recommendations on dosage with certain supplements, but these are ones that have been recommended to us by nutritional practitioners. We use the following brands personally, if you're interested in learning more about these specific supplements:
LIVfit Superfood Blend(no added sweetener, flavor neutral, has a TON of B vitamins, Vit C, A, probiotics, protein and more)
Klaire Labs Infant Probiotic Powder (great for restoring gut health after antibiotic dose, and for strengthening immune system as a regular supplement)
Elderberry Syrup:(here is one you can find online, we use one from a local farmers market--it is an incredible immune booster)
Nordic Naturals Arctic Cod Liver Oil(Orange Flavor-besides being an important supplement in general, it has been shown in some studies to reduce the onset of infection, especially URI in children)
Thorne Vit D/K2 Drops (can turn on key genes that trigger an anti-microbial response to help your body more quickly fight off infections)
Ok, now go forth and fight this cold and flu season my friends!
Orange Creamsicle Immunity Smoothie
Ingredients:
1 frozen banana
1 cup frozen cauliflower (pre-cooked)
1/2 cup fresh squeezed orange juice
1/2 cup coconut cream
2 tbsp collagen peptides
1/4 tsp pink himalayan sea salt
The above is the base, i would highly recommend the following optional add-ins for optimal immune support!
1 tbsp superfood blend (we use livfit brand)
1 tsp probiotic powder
elderberry syrup (adjust amount based on recommended dosage)
arctic cod liver oil (adjust amount based on recommended dosage-we use nordic naturals orange flavor)
vitamin d/k drops (adjust amount based on recommended dosage, we use thorne brand)
Directions:
Add all ingredients to blender.
Blend until smooth.
Makes two servings, ENJOY!