July 17, 2011

Smoothies for the Summer

Delicious and easy smoothie recipes and ideas for a refreshing summer!

There are many nutritional benefits when it comes to smoothies, because they are so versatile. You can add fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts, tofu, plant milks, vegan yogurts, protein powders and et cetera to build your own nutritional powerhouse!

Smoothie Chains:
Smoothie King
Jamba Juice

Recipes:
3 Delicious Smoothies: Ava's, Creamsicle, & Banana Split
Ultimate Superfood Smoothie
Ultimate Superfood Smoothie 2
Blueberry Banana Smoothie
Strawberry Oatmeal Breakfast Smoothie
Perfect Purple Detox Smoothie
Blueberry Soaked Oatmeal Smoothie
Beet Smoothie
Beet Smoothies Love
Raw Vegan Chocolate Cherry Ripe Smoothie
Paulin's Unique Vegan High Protein Smoothie Recipe
Protein Chocolate-Strawberry Smoothie Recipe
Strawberry Orange Coconut Smoothie
Summer Sweet Smoothies
Mango-Peach Smoothie
Mongolian Strawberry-Orange Juice Smoothie
Healthy Green Coconut Smoothie
Tropical Pina Colada Smoothie
Sweet Veggie Smoothie
Cilantro Surprise Smoothie
Tomato Smoothie
Lemon Kiwi Cooler Smoothie
Wheatgrass Smoothie
Pure Delight Smoothie & Vegan, Organic Beauty
Vegan Protein Chocolate Bliss Smoothie
Purple Monstrosity Fruit Smoothie (use vegan honey)
Peanut Butter and Banana Smoothie (use vegan honey)
Mango Strawberry Banana Smoothie (use vegan honey)
Tofu Smoothie (use vegan honey)
Green Slime Smoothie (use vegan honey)
Gloomy Day Smoothie (use vegan yogurt)
Plush Purple Grape Smoothie (use vegan yogurt & plant milk)
Orange Smoothie (use plant milk)
Mango-Banana Smoothie (use vegan yogurt)
Kiwi Strawberry Smoothie (use vegan frozen yogurt)
Triple Threat Fruit Smoothie (use vegan yogurt)
Groovy Green Smoothie (use vegan yogurt)
Berry Healthy Breakfast Smoothie (use plant milk)
Most Awesome Breakfast Smoothie (use vegan yogurt)

Even More Smoothies
Planet Smoothie's Blog
Healthy. Happy. Life. and The Lunchbox Bunch. Smoothies
My Vegan Planet: Top Ten Vegan Smoothie Recipes
Vegan Smoothie Recipes
Vegan Chickie Smoothies

Suggestions and Tips:

Plant milks: Plant milks on their own and fortified contain many essential nutrients. And with all the different types, brands, and flavors, it is easy to experiment with. Milk is generally an emulsion of protein and fat in a water-based liquid. For plant milk, it's an emulsion of plant protein, oils, etc. The emulsion is where the creaminess comes from in milk. If you have less water, then it's (plant) cream. Plant based milk is nutritious and tasty, and it does not carry the harm and health problems associated with animal based milk.1 The most popular plant milk is soy milk (that comes from soybeans). Other plant milks include almond, rice, hemp, coconut, peanut, cashew, and oat. Most have the flavors: original/unsweetened, vanilla, and chocolate. All plant milks taste different, even within the same plant; the taste and thickness comes mostly from the brand. I have pretty much all plant-type milks and my favorites are almond, rice, soy, and hemp. My favorite brands are Almond Breeze, Rice Dream, Westsoy, Living Harvest Hemp, and So Delicious Coconut. Generally the more fat the plant milk has, the thicker it is. Although not in all cases Silk Almond is thick, with no extra fat added.

Fruit: It's a no-brainer that fruits are healthy for you, and full of antioxidants. Due to most fruits being sweet, then you most likely do not have to add an additional sweetener. Berries, açaí, grapefruit, papaya, grapes, and avocado are among the most nutritious fruits out there.2 3

Seeds: Seeds are highly nutritious and can be a great addition to smoothies. Flaxseed & hempseed are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Flaxseed & hempseed can reduce inflammation, lower the amount of lipids, help with depression, fatigue, diabetes, arthritis, Alzheimer's, and more. Flax seeds contain more omega-3 fatty acid than fish. Another hempseed source is hemp milk. Flaxseed works best when ground and not heated.4 Fennel seeds have a strong antioxidant activity.5 Sunflower seeds are an excellent source of vitamin E and can help lower cholesterol.6 Pumpkin seeds has anti-Inflammatory benefits and may promote prostate health.7 Sesame seeds are a good source of calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, vitamin B1, zinc and dietary fiber. Sesame seeds have the highest total phytosterol content (400-413 mg per 100 grams, 100 grams is equivalent to 3.5 ounces) of nuts and seeds.8

Nuts: Nuts can be a good addition to smoothies due to it's nutrient content. Nuts generally have a very low glycemic index, and help lower blood sugar. Dietitians frequently recommend nuts be included in diets prescribed for patients with insulin resistance problems such as diabetes mellitus type 2. The fats in nuts mostly are unsaturated and monounsaturated. They are good sources of vitamin E and riboflavin (an antioxidant), protein, folate, fiber, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, copper, and selenium. Almonds and walnuts can lower serum LDL cholesterol concentrations and help prevent coronary heart disease. Raw walnuts are considered the healthiest nut, and contain omega-3 fatty acids.9 10 11

Thickener: A thickener for a smoothie is not necessary; but some like a nice, thick, and creamy smoothie. Bananas are a common thickener for smoothies; they are a good source of potassium and other nutrients that make it a good addition. Other thickeners include ice, silken/soft tofu, nuts, and seeds. You could also just add less liquid and more solid.

Sweetener: Most smoothies should be naturally sweetened if you use fruit and a vanilla plant milk. If you want to add a sweetener unsulphured blackstrap molasses has many health benefits. Other sweeteners include maple syrup, agave nectar, unrefined and cane sugar, brown sugar/turbinado sugar, stevia, cinnamon sugar, vanilla, barley malt syrup, sweet sorghum, brown rice syrup, and sugar beet.12

Remember to check back here often for new post, I try to update at least once a month. Look at my past blog posts for vegan information, resources, and links. Please like Vegan Peace Blog on Facebook and follow on Twitter and on Tumblr! E-mail me me if you have any suggestions for new posts, questions on this blog or veganism or questions regarding this post or know any more sites relating to this post. Even though I read/see each site, Vegan Peace Blog is not affiliated with any. Websites are also subject to change.




July 2, 2011

Vegan Fourth of July 2011

Vegan Fourth of July recipes and ideas!

Menus
VegWeb Fourth of July!
Keeping it Light and Cool on the Fourth of July
VegNews Vegan July Fourth
4th of July Vegan Recipes
Vegetarian, Vegan 4th of July Menu and Tips
4th of July Barbecue
Celebrate July Fourth With A Cool Vegetarian Cookout
101cookbooks Fourth of July Recipes
Fourth of July Vegan Recipes
Vegan July Fourth
Independence Day 2009
Vegan Cookout Basics
Vegan Menu for July 4th!

Barbecue Recipes
Your Clay Baker, Your BBQ, and You
Vegetarian Barbecues
Vegan BBQ with Colleen Patrick-Goudreau (video)
Vegan BBQ Recipe (video)
Fourth of July Vegan Barbecue
Vegan BBQ For The Fourth Of July
Vegetarian BBQ & Healthy Grilling Recipe For The 4th of July
Vegan Barbecue For July 4th
Vegan BBQ on July 4th and Vegan Peach Melba
Vegetarian Barbecue Recipes
Vegetarian Barbecue
VegWeb BBQs
BBQ Tofu
BBQ Grill – Vegan Style
Time to BBQ
Vegetarian Grilling
Memorial Day Vegan BBQ
Barbecued Seitan Ribz
Vegan BBQ Ribz

Barbecue Sauce
Ever Make Your Own BBQ Sauce?
Vegan BBQ Sauce
Mango-Chipotle BBQ Sauce
South Carolina Golden Mustard Barbecue Sauce
Barbecue Sauce (Fat Free)

Hot Dogs/Burgers
Hot Dogs
Hot Dog Recipes
Vegan Burgers

Skewers/Kebabs Recipes
Fourth of July Vegan Skewers
Vegan Gardein BBQ Skewers Review
Curried Grilled Seitan Kebabs
Vegan Kebabs
Basic Vegetable Kebab
Vegetarian Kebab Recipe
B.B.Q. - Kebabs

Fourth of July Sandwiches
5 Picnic Sandwiches and Inspirations for the Fourth of July
BBQ Pulled Jackfruit Sandwich
Vegan BBQ Sandwich. In 5 Minutes.
Barbecue Tempeh Sandwich
Vegan BBQ Sandwich and Pinto Beans
BBQ Homemade Seitan Sandwich
Eddie G's BBQ “Beef” Sandwiches
Barbecue Sandwich (Soy Free & Fat Free)

Potato Salad
Mom's Special Potato Salad
Perfect Potato Salad (Low Fat)
Creamy Potato Salad With Avocado
Spicy Vegan Potato Salad
Baked Potato Salad

Side Dishes
Easy Deluxe Baked Beans
More Baked Beans
Vegan Sweet and Sticky Wingz
Vegan BBQ Fried Rice

Chili
VegWeb Chili Recipes
Spicy Two-Bean Vegetarian Chili
Zoë's Vegetarian Chili
Whole Foods Vegetarian Chili
Super Easy Vegetarian Chili
Bold Vegan Chili
The Best Vegetarian Chili in the World
Recipezaar Vegetarian Chili
Celebrate Texas Independence Day with – Vegan Chili?
Independence Day Smoked Chili with Ancho Chiles

Drinks
Fourth of July Cocktails
Fourth of July Cocktail
The 6 Best Vodka Cocktails for Your 4th of July Bash
Fourth of July Drinks
Root Beer Float

Deserts
Vegan Cooking Independence Day
VegNews TV: Chloe Coscarelli's Vegan Fourth of July Treats
Dairy-Free Recipes of All-American Classics
Independence Fruit Salad
Strawberries and the 4th of July
Caramel Apple Pie!
Starry Blueberry Pie
Vegalicious Vegan Strawberry Shortcake
Novel Eats Vegan Strawberry Shortcake
Fatfree Vegan Kitchen Strawberry Shortcake
VegWeb Strawberry Shortcakes
Plum Cobbler
Peach Cobbler
RootBeer Float Cupcakes
Vegan Blueberry Muffins
Seasonal Berry Cobbler
Chocolate-Dipped Ice Cream Sandwiches
Chocolate or Mocha Root Beer Float

Ideas & Fun:
Kaboose 4th of July 2010
123Greetings Fourth of July
History Fourth of July
The Holiday Spot Fourth of July
Celebrations Fourth of July Ideas
Fourth of July on the Net

Remember to check back here often for new post, I try to update at least once a month. Look at my past blog posts for vegan information, resources, and links. E-mail me me if you have any suggestions for new posts, questions on this blog or veganism or questions regarding this post or know any more sites relating to this post.