Winter Sunshine Smoothie

This week I am tearing around trying to complete my gift shopping; sort out menus and pick up the food I need to complete them; see a few friends and family I won’t get a chance to see over the actual holiday; and wind down my work so that I can close the door (or keep it only slightly ajar) over Christmas itself. It’s mad, it’s mayhem and it needs stamina.

I am not complaining or moaning simply trying to find a clear way to power through it all with a cheerful disposition. 

As you all know food is never far away from my mind, but sometimes when the going gets tough I either forget to eat or make some pretty poor choices – anyone else been tempted with a make-do mince pie for breakfast? (Not just me then …)

I don’t often have a protein drink or smoothie in the autumn or winter months (often preferring my choice to be a hot one) but having tasted this little beauty I don’t know why. Because it’s an internal boost engine of a drink in a glass! Bursting with immune boosting ingredients; some anti-oxidant rich, others cholesterol lowering and some, say others, with anti-depressant qualities – the benefits are infinite. Add natural oats, chilled coconut water and milk and seasonal clementines to that so-called ‘wonder food’ turmeric and warming ginger, and you have a pretty fine winter smoothie to rival any summer berry offering. I am so taken with the life-giving and protective qualities of turmeric (I’ve been reading) that I am going to try ‘golden milk’ as so many of my health writer friends suggest (so watch this space!).

Try this smoothie for now, it’s keeping the smile on my face with or without the sunshine …

 

WINTER SUNSHINE SMOOTHIE

Ingredients

METRIC/US

25 g/1/3 cup rolled porridge oats

225 ml/1 cup chilled unsweetened coconut water

2 tbsp unsweetened coconut milk

2 clementines, peeled and segmented

1 cm/½ inch piece fresh turmeric or ½ tsp ground dried turmeric

1 cm/½ inch piece fresh ginger or 1 tsp lazy grated ginger

 

Method

1.  Place the oats in a blender or food processor and blitz to a finely ground powder.
2.  Add the coconut water, coconut milk, clementines, turmeric and ginger and blitz to combine.
3.  Pour into glasses to serve.

 

SERVES 1

WLS PORTION: ½

V suitable for Vegetarians

 

CALORIES PER PORTION: 192

PROTEIN: 5.1g

CARBOHYDRATE: 40.8g

FAT: 2.1g