I largely follow a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) based ‘”diet” but in the summer one thing I can’t get away from are smoothies.

And, as with everything in TCM, it’s all about balance. So before you jump into a full blown smoothie regime (and I know you will want to after you try these recipes), listen to your body. There are people who can handle cold and others who can’t.

In honour of the warmer weather, I am rounding up 5 of my favourite smoothie recipes:

 

TCM tip: Skip the ice cubes and use fresh fruit instead of frozen for a “less cold” version of the below smoothies.

 

  1. ​​Green Machine

(Recipe from Oh She Glows)​

  • 1 cup non-dairy milk
  • 1 cup destemmed kale leaves or baby spinach
  • 1 large ripe frozen banana, chopped into chunks
  • 1 tablespoon almond butter or peanut butter
  • 1 tablespoon chia seeds or ground flaxseed
  • Pinch of ground cinnamon
  • 1 scoop of your favourite protein powder (optional)
  • 2 to 3 ice cubes

 

  1. ​​Peanut Butter Cup Protein Smoothie

(Recipe from Running on Real Food)​

  • 3/4 cup + 1-2 tbsp unsweetened almond milk (start with 3/4 cup, slowly add a little more to reach desired consistency)
  • 1 serving (42 g) Vega Performance Protein in Vanilla or Chocolate
  • 2 tbsp (14 g) nutritional yeast
  • 2 tbsp (30 g) natural peanut butter
  • 1 medium (125 g) frozen banana
  • optional: 1/2 tsp turmeric
  • optional: a few ice cubes
  • ◦optional: pinch of sea salt

 

  1. Mint Chip Smoothie

(Recipe from Love and Lemons)

  • 4 frozen coconut milk ice cubes
  • 1½ cup frozen spinach leaves
  • ¼ cup mint leaves, frozen
  • 3 soft medjool dates
  • 1½ tablespoon cacao nibs
  • 3 tablespoons Protein Powder
  • 1 to 1½ cup non dairy milk, or as needed to blend
  • optional garnishes: coconut cream, mint leaves, cacao nibs

 

  1. Piña-vocado Smoothie

(Recipe from Cookie and Kate)

  • ½ cup orange juice
  • ½ cup frozen pineapple
  • ½ avocado
  • ½ of a frozen banana
  • ½ lime, juiced
  • 3 tablespoons coconut milk
  • Pinch of sea salt

 

  1. ​​Orange Pineapple Sunshine Smoothie​

(From Healthy Happy Life)​

  • 1 cup almond milk, plain
  • 1 small orange, peeled + pinch of the zest
  • 1 frozen banana
  • 1 – 1 1/4 cups frozen pineapple
  • 1 Tbsp baobab (optional)
  • 1/2 – 1 tsp turmeric
  • 1-3 Brazil nuts or a scoop of hemp seeds or walnuts (optional)
  • 1/8 tsp cayenne
  • a few ice cubes (optional)

Cheers to the summer and don’t forget to listen to your body! Cold smoothies may not be right for you. Speak to an acupuncturist to learn more about your constitution and what foods work for your body type.