Beet & Blackberry Smoothie

I can’t tell you all the odd combinations of things I have thrown in the blender. Parsley, whole lemons, nuts, coconut meat – really anything that will fit has taken a whirl. Now that I am on day 12 of a cleanse, I am starting to feel the common cleanse bloat creep in. This is one of the most annoying and ironic parts of a whole foods cleanse for me. Why the heck do I feel like a balloon when I’m eating close to a perfect diet? Some say cleanse bloat is brought on by fiber and others think it is the increased amount of fruits and vegetables your body is dealing with (hello 4 cups of squash). In any case, a friend recommended eating a beet a day to combat the feeling. So far, so good! Praise the magic of those bloody beets.

So here is my favorite beet smoothie – so incredibly vibrant in color and packed with goodness. The whole milk yogurt adds some creaminess to the drink while the berries sweeten it up ever so slightly. I love tossing whole citrus into the blender (in this case, a lime) but if you are less impressed with a tart drink then skip the lime or add in some raw honey to lessen the bite.

Neon Pink Beet & Blackberry Smoothie

makes 1 glass

1 small beet, peeled and finely chopped or grated

1/2 cup blackberries

1/2 cup plain whole milk yogurt (substitute with nut or plant milk for dairy free)

1/2 a lime, skin removed

1/2 cup water or ice

1 tablespoon honey (optional)

Toppings: Sprinkle of chia seeds, sprinkle of toasted unsweetened coconut.

Simply blend all the ingredients together until smooth. A powerful blender can handle the dense beet but if your blender has trouble with hard vegetables you may want to strain the smoothie through a sieve before serving. This is a tart, lip puckering drink (which I like) but add in a bit of honey if you want a more balanced blend.

May your technicolor drink bring you through the darkest of days, those that start at 4:30 pm and stretch until the next morning. Cheers friends!