27 Comments

Sounds like a delicious smoothie! Have you thought about your next breakfast, for when you get tired of this one? Maybe make a breakfast chart?!?! 😊 (did you already make a breakfast chart?)

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hahaha I am not sure what the next one will be! remarkably i'm still loving this smoothie....

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I used to be a dedicated smoothie drinker, but in the winter, I need a hot breakfast! Oatmeal everyday, but with lots of the smoothie components mixed-in (PRO powder, chia, flax, berries).

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Yummm - I just got back from a trip to England and had so much good oatmeal. Your note is inspiring me to add more to my rotation…

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The way I gasped when you hit the nail on the head here ———-> “I want to eat the smallest amount of food possible so I can feel full without eating more than that because I’m scared of being fat and protein fills me up….but it’s not okay to say all of that these days so I just say I’m working on getting enough protein.” 😱🤯🤯🤯🤯

This was both painful and almost….vindicating (?) to read. The truth of it all.

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For whatever’s it’s worth, I have the same reaction…!!!!

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I love that your smoothie is free of 🍌, because those things are not food (at least in this house: they make me puke and they give my spouse heartburn). I am generally a bowl-of-cereal-with-milk breakfaster, but one thing I’ve noticed is that on mornings when I play hockey, if I eat an oat-based cereal, I’m not starving when I get off the ice 4 hours later, the way I am if the cereal is rice- or corn-based. I’m thinking protein has something to do with that, because everything else is the same.

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Interesting!!!

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Love passion fruit and all things tart. I hear you! Headed to the Kingston Hannafords (thanks for that tip too) when the icy snow clears up. This looks delicious. Wondering why you use coconut water as the liquid. You talked about the protein rationale but not this. Just curious? Thanks!

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Yes the roads were so icy this morning! I made the mistake of trying to go somewhere and then changed my mind. No big thoughts for the coconut water other than when I make the smoothie with juice, I find it too sweet - water is too bland - and milk of any kind is too creamy. So coconut water just seemed like the right thing! Plus it’s full of electrolytes and potassium which can’t hurt!

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Thanks again. Have been enjoying this all weekend. Delicious! Stay warm.

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Oh yay!!!

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I like smoothies with frozen berries, and maybe a second type of fruit that I don't enjoy eating raw/whole (apples and oranges, ahem), chia seeds & hemp hearts, and soy milk. Sometimes I add a nut butter, and lately I've been adding collagen powder. I like the Ninja bullet-style blender too. I didn't think we needed one, since I love my stick blender, but the Ninja is better for some things.

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It really is! I love my stick blender but the ninja makes such perfect smoothies and is just so easy.

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STATE championships!!! Where/when -amazing! Since I asked about protein I'll just share for me it wasn't about filling up so I could calorie or carb (my fave food group) restrict. As you know I too am weightlifting and having started at the "late" age of 57 (three year anniversary of pushing/pulling/lifting is this July)...everything I read/researched or heard from my coach was that especially for post menopausal women...it is rather difficult to build muscle even with lifting heavy weights 3x a week if you don't also take in enough protein. Ever grateful for this wonderful newsletter!

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Albany in march!!!! Yes to everything you said!!!

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Woo hoo to decanting and tart yummy food! I unobsessively think about eating some protein to maintain my muscle and bone mass as I age. Feels sensible to me😻

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Yes!

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I feel like you read my mind - I just bought that exact frozen passion fruit last week with vague ideas of making a smoothie. The rest of the ingredients are all staples in my household, so I'll be trying it soon.

I've been trying to increase how much protein I eat without getting weird about it and not losing the joy that I get from cooking and eating. Adding a little protein powder to something I already like is such an easy way to get a little boost and has been helpful.

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🩷🩷

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Thank you for sharing your journey 🙏🏼 I have been working with my endocrinologist and a nutritionist. It's been eye opening as a trained health coach, the indoctrination of what is "good" and "bad."

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Frozen passion fruit was sold out at my Minneapolis coop today so I think you have some influence!

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😂

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Julia, you are touching on something so huge here. I have always had really complicated feelings about protein because it has signified to me exactly what you're saying, "how can I make myself the most full by eating the least." The South Beach Diet I was put in my youth really hammered home the idea that a slice of Canadian bacon or an egg white should satiate me for like several hours. (Truly, thank goodness for therapy!)

This "get enough protein" dialogue, whether you're in perimenopause or pregnant or trying to gain muscle or lose weight whatever is so chaotic. My feeling about protein powder now (since I learned to have my own nutritional thoughts) is that I'm probably getting enough from my food and yet I literally just ordered this powder called Ka'chava THIS WEEK because I thought, well, maybe I could use the extra protein and nutrients. Like huge shrug. One thing I've learned over time is that nutrition and eating well is about adding good healthy foods to your plate and not subtracting. So like if someone wants to add protein powder, great, but it doesn't mean they needs to eat less real food in the process.

But I love your final note, which is that policing everyone else in the way that we can't help but police ourselves isn't doing anyone favors. Thank you for opening up the conversation. You are, per usual, the best.

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thank you for this note ariel! I really like what you're saying about adding/subtracting. and trust me I really know the huge shrug of it all....UGH! sorry we're in all of this, but glad to be in it together. xoxoooxx

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Having companions to weather the storm makes it so much easier and tbh it’s not so bad. Especially with all your wonderful recipes. ❤️❤️❤️ you’re the best.

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🩷🩷🩷

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