I'm no cook, so it's taken me a long time to adjust to a clean diet. And I mean a loooong time. Full disclosure, I'm still working on it. As a former vegetarian, I never learned how to cook meat and it doesn't come easy to me. Also, due to my chronic fatigue, I don't typically have the energy to cook from scratch using only whole foods. Again, working on it. I know it is important and I will get there eventually, but in the meantime I try to get my nutrients in the simplest manner possible.  

Enter smoothies. If there is one thing I make like a pro, it's smoothies. Throwing a bunch of healthy stuff in a Vitamix and turning it on...no problem. I got this.

Over time I developed my go-to smoothie that I make every morning. I start my day on a nutritional high note to ensure I get greens, healthy fats, and antioxidants daily. Plus it tastes delicious

This recipe can be made Paleo/AIP if you omit the kefir. I add it, because Lyme disease patients can benefit from probiotics to offset the antibiotics. It can be made vegan if you also omit the collagen. The collagen helps me make up for eating a very limited amount of meat. 

​Nutrition Packed Go-To Every Day Smoothie Recipe:

​​Serves 1-2

-1 cup water
-½ cup kefir (omit if Paleo/AIP, vegan)
-1 tablespoon Grass-Fed Collagen (omit if vegan) 
-Handful of greens  
-1 tablespoon raw cacao or raw carob powder  
-½ small banana (frozen)
-¼ avocado (frozen)
-1 cup frozen organic berries (any kind, but I prefer a mix of blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries)

Throw it all in a Vitamix or high-speed blender until well blended. In Vitamix: level 10 for about 1 minute. Voila. This is the model I have. It is by far my favorite kitchen appliance: 

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​Prep Tips: 

-Each week I halve 4 small bananas and quarter 2 large avocados. Then, I put them in freezer bags and keep in the freezer. It's enough for a week's worth of smoothies. 

-If you want to use fresh fruit and veggies simply add ice instead of water.   

I use Gotham Greens, which are locally and sustainably grown in Chicago and New York. At Whole Foods they cost the same as other organic greens, but stay fresher longer, because they are grown right here. You can buy these greens in the Midwest or the New York Tri-State area.  

I use this Grass-Fed Collagen:

I use this carob powder: 

And I use this cacao powder: ​

Leave a comment if you give it a try or discover any delicious adjustments to the recipe. 

"So, what if, instead of thinking about solving your whole life, you just think about adding additional good things. One at a time. Just let your pile of good things grow." - Rainbow Rowell

I love Shamrock Shakes. And I mean I LOVE Shamrock Shakes.

Back in the day it was not a stretch to ingest 10 of those bad boys in one Shamrock Shake season, which was an official holiday for me. I love the green color, the minty taste, the once-a-year excitement of it all.

But, alas, I have Lyme disease and as we know--sugar feeds Lyme. From the McDonald's Nutrition Fact website, there is 73 grams of sugar in the small Shamrock Shake. That is more sugar than I eat in a week. 

But the secret to a happy Lyme life is substitutions, not eliminations. We can substitute a walk for a run, a candlelit dinner at home for a night on the town, a small piece of dark chocolate for a triple fudge brownie sundae.

Lucky for me, Lisa Wells from Cook Eat Paleo, has developed a Lyme Diet friendly Shamrock Shake:  

Healthy Shamrock Shake Recipe

​In honor of my Irish heritage, and my former obsession with the Americanized Shake version of it, I decided to give it a whirl.  

I gathered up all the ingredients from Whole Foods and got out my Vitamix. It's not as fast as picking up at shake at the drive thru, but 5-7 minutes later I had a Shamrock-like shake.  

The texture and taste were great. I used maple syrup to sweeten. Of course it didn't taste exactly like the real thing, but there was no guilt or stomach ache afterward.  

Happy St. Patrick's Day and may you be lucky enough to find a substitution for your favorite treat. 

​What healthy recipe should I try next? 
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"For each petal on the shamrock this brings a wish your way. Good health, good luck, and happiness for today and every day." - Irish Blessing