We recently covered some yoga snack ideas for sustenance before a morning yoga class, and we also wanted to touch on some homemade beverages that can take the place of a heavy breakfast, or help replenish you after your workout.
Here are two simple and nutritious drinks you can make in a blender if you’re looking for something quick after (or even before) your next yoga class.
The Yoga Smoothie
Smoothies are a great way to consume raw nutrients in a flash, and are perfect for when you get home from a class and need a quick way to properly nourish yourself and start your day. There are a thousand variations on the perfect smoothie, but we like this one from Elkhart Yoga:
In a blender, mix:
- 1 stalk of celery
- A handful of any leafy green vegetables
- Half of an avocado
- Half of a banana
- A quarter cup raw cashews
- A Pinch of cinnamon
- 1 cup coconut water
The great thing about this smoothie is that you can customize it based on your taste and what’s available (hence the lack of consensus on what makes the perfect smoothie). We think it’s a good thing though. No cashews? Use almonds. Nut allergy? Forget about the nuts all together and double the dose of Avacado. The general combination of nutrients present in a smoothie like this is impressive in itself — especially considering you can blend one up in the time it takes you to read this article, and be on your way to digesting it and absorbing all of those great nutrients just a few minutes later.
Bulletproof Coffee
What exactly is bulletproof coffee? Great question, and you may have already heard of it. This one comes from a (largely) paleo trend of adding two tablespoons of butter and a bit of MCT oil to your morning coffee. Sound crazy? What about all of the saturated fat? Well, there are brilliant instructors that swear by this beverage every morning, and for good reason. While we wouldn’t recommend replacing every breakfast with bulletproof coffee, the concotion has it’s benefits (below). But first, the recipe:
Also in a blender, mix:
- 2 cups (500ml) of hot coffee
- 2 tablespoons of grass-fed, unsalted butter
- 1-2 tablespoons of MCT oil
Now, the benefits. The main draw to enriching your morning cup of coffee with butter and oil is the benefit of added energy and the fact that this a serious appetite suppressant. Yogis who swear by this beverage say it gives them a huge boost of energy, and keeps them feeling nourished for hours after class. It also has the creamy consistency of what may be normally considered a “dessert drink”, so for many, it’s as delicious as the smoothie.
In the end it’s really up to whatever works for you. Just keep moving!
Keep moving, be… powerful.
