The Smoothie of Life

Unlike some fortunate people (my amazing mother among them) I do not like vegetables. I will eat them for their benefit to my health, and yes, there are times I even enjoy some vegetables. However, as a general rule, I do not "like" them. Unless of course they are a starchy, simple carbohydrate like potatoes. I love the heck outta some potatoes.

As part of my New Year's Mantra, "I live today", I am refocusing my efforts on fueling my body with premium fuel. How can I expect a premium performance from myself if I'm fueling my body with processed stuff it can't use? Our bodies are simply amazing, aren't they? And to keep them running strong they need vitamins, minerals and enrichment from foods like fruit, fish, grass-fed beef and...those dreaded vegetables.

In order to jump-start my day and get some of the vegetable intake out of the way I've been enjoying smoothies for breakfast. I have been having a lot of fun actually, seeing how many vegetables I can hide in my smoothie! Yesterday I had 1/3 cup of each of the following: spinach, kale, chard, fresh cranberries, frozen blueberries, almond milk and 100% pineapple juice. It was delicious! It looked like baby poop, but it tasted great!

Vegetables in my smoothie have made me think about the control I have over my attitude. Let's imagine that there is a kitchen of each day, and that the vegetables in my smoothie are things that I do not prefer to have happen- stuff like a tough day at work, bad weather, a customer who yells at me, etc...then imagine that I have access to the yummy smoothie ingredients and they are moments like smiling at a stranger, being grateful for my family and not taking anything personally. The overall smoothie, what I have to collectively "drink" has vegetables that I don't like in it, but the ingredients I added make it delicious! I can fully enjoy my life, even on days heavy with "vegetables"!

It's not always easy. Sometimes the amount of kale and spinach that I have in my smoothie isn't quite covered by the strawberries and bananas. But you know what? That smoothie is still darn good for me. And tough days, while not necessarily enjoyable, are good for me, too. They provide shadow to light and help me to reach great moments of joy. 

Today (because I live today), may your smoothies be delicious and nutritious, my friends.