Hello bees! Hope you’re well and had awesome long weekends! We seemed to cover off every activity here at Just Bee, from weddings to hen nights, to soaking up the sunshine, going for long runs, checking on the bees and even fitting in a few cocktails (well, it’s got to be done, right?!).

In the midst of all this, one of our lovely worker bees, Hannah, managed to find time to create some truly delish smoothies for us. As you all know, we’re suckers for honey here at The Hive, which is why she offered to share some of her faves… we didn’t have to be asked twice.

Three honey inspired smoothie recipes from our amazing Worker Bee, Hannah (@mylifeisforliving). OK, so Hannah, please tell us what’s so great about smoothies?

• They are great for anytime of the day. Breakfast, dessert, a satisfying snack, pre/post work out, or even as a nightcap before bed. It all just depends on what you put into them!
• They can easily be made ahead of time and packed for when you’re out on the go. I love using a 500ml mason jar or Nutribullet cup when I’m out on the move.
• They satisfy your sweet tooth whilst only using natural sweeteners (just a drop of honey like our Just Bee Drinks!) and natural sugars from fruits and vegetables.
• They pack in at least 2-3 portions of your daily fruit/vegetable intake in only one cup/bowl.
• They contain a great balance of healthy fats, protein and carbohydrates to keep you going without a blood sugar spike and subsequent crash.
• Most importantly, they taste delicious!

And what would be your top smoothie tips?

• Keep a plentiful supply of frozen chopped bananas in your freezer for when the smoothie cravings strike!
• Invest in a good quality blender. This saves time, effort and money in the long run. Currently, I love my Nutribullet Pro 900 as it’s really powerful, but compact too.
• Always add a source of protein and a source of healthy fat. Don’t shy away from the good stuff! A smoothie made purely from fruits and vegetables will cause your blood sugar to spike and won’t be as sustaining.

These are great words of advice from Hannah, because whilst we too love smoothies, some on the market are very high in sugar. As you know, we’re all about using non-refined, natural sugar in controlled quantities, and some of the tips above can help to keep your smoothie lower sugar and nutritionally balanced! If you can make them yourself all the better, or if not, opt for those that are heavier on the veg than the fruit:

1) Green Power Smoothie Bowl  

Spotlight ingredient: Avocado – “the good kind of fat”

Avocados are filling, nutritious and delicious. These green beauties help to regulate our blood sugar levels and act as a natural ‘beauty’ food, supporting our hair, skin and nails due to their high fiber, high potassium and healthy fat content. Their deliciously creamy texture and mild flavour makes them a perfect addition to your daily smoothie, whatever colour you’re going for.

Ingredients:

• One frozen banana, pre-sliced
• ½ of a ripe avocado
• A handful of kale (or other leafy greens such as spinach)
• A large chunk of cucumber or raw courgette, chopped (approx. one inch)
• 1-2 tbsp. hemp protein powder (or protein powder of choice)
• 1 tbsp. chia seeds
• 1-2 tbsp. oats (if you want to make your smoothie into more of a meal, for example for breakfast)
• 150g whole greek yoghurt (or plain coconut or soy if you prefer)
• 1-2 tsp. raw honey
• ½ tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 tsp. matcha powder (optional, but great for added energy and focus)
• 100-200ml almond milk (depending on your desired thickness) (or your choice of other liquid – a Lemon and Green Tea Just Bee works great here too!)

Method: Simply add all the ingredients to your blender. Start with the fruits and vegetables, follow with the dry ingredients, and add the liquid ingredients in last. Blend on a high speed until smooth. Pour into a bowl and top with your choice of toppings, or add a little extra liquid and pour into a glass. Enjoy!

2) Berry Beet Smoothie Bowl

Spotlight ingredient: Beetroot – “the ruby queen”

Beetroots are one seriously underrated vegetable. These gorgeous ruby roots contain cancer-fighting antioxidants, are anti-inflammatory, support heart health, detoxify the blood, and boost endurance, stamina and muscle recovery. This makes them an excellent ingredient, particularly for a pre or post-exercise smoothie. Plus, they turn your smoothie into the most incredible pink delight (which always puts a smile on my face)!

Ingredients

• One frozen banana, pre-sliced
• One small raw beetroot, peeled (approx. 80g)
• One plum tomato or a small handful of cherry tomatoes
• 1-2 tbsp. hemp protein powder (or protein powder of choice)
• 1 tbsp. chia seeds
• 1-2 tbsp. oats (if you want to make your smoothie into more of a meal, for example for breakfast)
• 150g whole greek yoghurt (or plain coconut or soy if you prefer)
• 1-2 tsp. raw honey
• ½ tsp. fresh ginger, grated (or ¼ tsp. ground ginger)
• A squeeze of fresh lemon juice
• 100-200ml almond milk (depending on your desired thickness) (or your choice of other liquid – a Blueberry Just Bee works great here too!)

Method: Depending on the strength of your blender, roughly chop or grate the raw beetroot and add it to the blender.  Add the remaining ingredients to your blender. Start with the fruits and vegetables, follow with the dry ingredients, and add the liquid ingredients in last. Blend on a high speed until smooth. Pour into a bowl and top with your choice of toppings, or add a little extra liquid and pour into a glass. Enjoy!

3) Cacao Orange Smoothie Bowl

Spotlight ingredient: Raw cacao – “Food of the Gods”

Unprocessed raw cacao powder (NOT your standard drinking chocolate powder) is one of the highest containing antioxidant ingredients, apparently higher in antioxidants than foods such as blueberries, green tea and goji berries! Antioxidants limit damage by free radicals in our cells, which helps to protect us from cancer and other degenerative diseases.  Raw cacao is also rich in magnesium, helping to regulate blood sugar levels and immune system functioning and promoting strong bones. It contains high levels of serotonin (our “feel good hormone”), helping improve our overall mood and energy, and it contains moderate levels of caffeine, making it the perfect choice for a morning smoothie!  It seems fitting that the taxonomic classification for cacao, Theobroma cacao, actually derives from the Greek word θεός (theos), meaning “god,” and βρῶμα (broma), meaning “food”, translating literally as “food of the gods.”

Ingredients

• One frozen banana, pre-sliced
• ½ a fresh orange, peeled
• A handful of leafy greens or large chunk of raw courgette, chopped
• ½ of a ripe avocado (optional, but adds creaminess and nutritional goodness)
• 1-2 tbsp. chocolate protein powder (or protein powder of choice)
• 1 heaped tbsp. ground flaxseed
• 2 tbsp. raw cacao
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1-2 tbsp. oats (if you want to make your smoothie into more of a meal, for example for breakfast)
• 150g greek yoghurt (or plain coconut or soy if you prefer)
• 1-2 tsp. raw honey
• 100-200ml almond milk (depending on how thick you like it) 

Method: Simply add all the ingredients to your blender. Start with the fruits and vegetables, follow with the dry ingredients, and add the liquid ingredients in last. Blend on a high speed until smooth. Pour into a bowl and top with your choice of toppings, or add a little extra liquid and pour into a glass. Enjoy!

Thanks so much for this Hannah! You have spoiled us this week with these smoothies – truly bee-licious. You best be careful or the worker bees are going to expect these making every morning here in The Hive!  As Hannah mentioned, the possibilities with smoothie combinations are endless. Feel free to tag @justbeedrinks and Hannah @mylifeisforliving with your honey inspired smoothie creations.  We would love to see how you get on!

For more info, please check out Hannah’s other lovely concoctions on Instagram at www.instagram.com/mylifeisforliving. #mylifeisforliving