Best Banana Chocolate Smoothies EVER

My son says the other day,
"Mom, I love you.  Your the best mom because you make the best Banana Chocolate Smoothies EVER!"

I didn't have the heart to tell him where we live (Bay City, MI)
I'm probably the ONLY Mom that makes banana chocolate smoothies.

Why Banana Chocolate Smoothies?
They are a healthy alternative to sugary treats like slushies or ice cream.
Its also a great way to keep from banana waste!  When my bananas get just ripe enough that I don't want to eat them (too many brown spots), I freeze them and use them later for smoothies!

What goes into one of these Awesome Smoothies, you ask?
I took Dr. Furhman's recipe for "Furhman Fudgcicles" and used cocoa powder instead of carob powder, added Chia seeds and modified it to a smoothie.
(therefore the credit really goes to the good Dr. F)

Banana Chocolate Smoothie
1 ripe banana (per person)
1 tbsp cocoa powder (not dutch) (per person)
1 tbsp Chia seeds or ground flax seed (per person)
1/2 tbsp raw cashews (optional.. adds to flavor..  I sometimes use another nut or none if I don't have any)
1/2 unsweetened soy or almond milk (Approximate per person to blend and achieve desired consistency/flavor)
Ice cubes (for desired consistency)

Put all of first ingredients except ice in blender and blend.
Add Ice, if desired, until its as slushy as you like

You can use frozen bananas with or without ice.  If you use frozen bananas without ice it is more of a milk-shake-type of consistency.  If you use non-frozen bananas you will probably want to add ice to chill it and make it a little slushy.  I usually always add ice (whether I have frozen bananas or not) because I like the slushy feel it gives.  If I used frozen bananas and ice I add more soymilk to help me blend it.  Also, if my bananas were smaller than usual and the cocoa is too strong, I will add a little more soymilk to make it more creamy tasting.

What a tasty treat to add along with Breakfast, Lunch, or sometimes Dinner!

Great Weekend & Thoughts of Nutrition.. Here's to Life

Its been a busy, fun weekend so far. It was nice to get to Sanford Beach with my 5 year old son, my best friend, and 3 of her children.

We need to do things like this more often. Since my son is an only child (i could never successfully maintain a pregnancy after him). It is nice for him to be with the other children. I also enjoy hanging out with Bea and her kids, as they are much like family to me.
We swam in the lake and went to the splash park. A great Time was had by all.

Now its Sunday, time for a little Grocery Shopping, a little houswork, AND a little relaxation too!

I have also been thinking about nutrition a lot again this weekend. Its something that has been on my mind a lot lately. In November I did Dr Fuhrman's 6 week holiday Challenge. I lost about 20 pounds since doing it. I had already cleaned up my diet and lost weight prior, but wanted to kick it to the next level of ultimate nutrition. But then I started to slip and slide off again. A vegan muffin here, a little maple syrup there.. Its not just myself that concerns me, however. I am trying to feed my son a very healthy diet without processed foods, without refined flours and without refined sugars. This is EXTREMELY difficult. It shouldn't be, however, CANDY surrounds us! Its at grabbing level in the super market, they put in in almost all the foods, they make sugary fruit snacks and pass them off as healthy, and it is made out to be the norm. I am also surrounded by this prevailing notion that by denying my child these things I will turn him into a "weirdo". I am working really hard on getting over these things. When we go to the grocery store today I will give him his quarter for the machines at the end and am going to encourage him to get a toy and not gum or candy. We will date nut popems at home for a sweet bite or eat some fruit or a smoothie. I haven't even begin to think about how to deal with Halloween this year!

Maybe it is good that his transition has been a little slower than I had hoped (instead of cold turkey), but I can still see the junk food addiction in him. When we went to the family reunion he "cracked out" on the chips and the sweets. I didn't want to say "no don't have any" but next time I am going to have to say.. "chill out and only have a little".. I know potato chips and pastries and baked goods are the worst thing he can eat. I also am not naive enough to think as he gets older he WILL make choices once in a while to eat crappy food with his friends. I do, however, dread the moment he may decide to try meat (ack!) Thankfully, it is enough for him to know right now that meat is "dead cow, dead pig" etc.

To help on Aiden's healthy journey we have been making transitions and modifications to existing things he likes. Instead of Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches we do Natural no sugar Peanut Butter (not that JIF crap) with sliced grapes on whole wheat bread. That was a big transition. We no longer buy store bought juices instead I bought a juicer and once in a while I make him a cup of fresh fruit juice. He won't eat my vegetable soup yet, but I am working on modifications on recipes all the time to feed him healthy things. He has gotten awfully hooked on crisp rice cereal, however, and I am working on healthier breakfast alternatives. He got tired of blueberry oatmeal. I am going to have him help me make a grocery list today and we will decide yummy healthy foods to make. I am going to have him pick out some fruit all for himself at the store (I remember I used to like that when I was a kid).

When I was little I remember my dad would take us to the fruit market and tell me I could pick out one thing. My fondest memory was picking a small personal watermelon just for me. I LOVE watermelon. Sometimes I would pick a peach or a plum. I always loved natures bounties and sweet nectars. We also went blueberry picking every year when I was a kid too. To this day I LOVE bluberries and watermelons the best... MMMMM... I think it is these experiences that shape the way you look at food later in life, therefore I hope to help shape Aiden's outlook to be a healthy one.

As with most things in life, we are taking our journey step by step. We can learn from our mistakes or we can repeat them, and if we repeat them we can choose to either keep repeating them or to make a change. My son isn't old enough to realize the consequences poor eating could have on him later in life, but I do realize it and, as a parent, its my responsibility to feed him accordingly AND set a good example myself.

Here's to a Long, Healthy, Happy Life! Thanks Dr. Furhman for the recipes and sound nutritional advice.