Recipe: Year of the Dragon Smoothie
Chinese New Year Smoothie (Photo: Jennifer Kass for Well+Good)
It’s the Year of the Dragon! Bring on happiness and prosperity.
This smoothie follows a Chinese Five Elements recipe for happiness. (We’re still working on the smoothie recipe for prosperity.)
In Five Elements theory, each season corresponds to an element (winter is water), as well as a color, organ, and specific foods recommended for health.
Winter calls for extra TLC for the kidneys, and the color is a deep blue.
So this smoothie relies on antioxidant-loaded blackberries, blueberries, and dark leafy greens that are considered great for sluggish kidneys and energy this time of year.
A superfood bonus comes from Chia seeds, which contain the highest amount of plant-based Omega-3 essential fatty acids. The seeds also help combat depression thanks to their fiber, and have a serving of protein for vital energy.
And a splash of coconut milk lends creaminess, which we all know is happy-making. —Text and recipe by Jennifer Kass
Recipe: Year of the Dragon Smoothie
2 leaves of swiss chard
1/2 c organic frozen blueberries
1/2 c organic frozen blackberries
1 Tbsp raw honey
1-2 Tbsp Chia seeds
1 c coconut milk
Sounds fantastic! Cant wait to try it!!!
Yum, looks great. would definitely love to see the Prosperity Smoothie :)
Great combo of ingredients! Berries are especially important this time of year to boost our immune systems, with everyone getting sick with winter colds and flus. Gotta love frozen berries which allow us to enjoy their antioxidant benefits all year round!