The “You Make My Heart Beet” Smoothie
Beets get a bad rap.
People are always like, “Ew, beets. Beets are gross.” But ya know what, peeps were saying the same thing about kale a few years ago before everyone jumped on that cruciferous train.
Well, I’ve found the most delicious way to enjoy beets that even the most vehement beet critic could not deny…
Remember when you first heard of the “Green Monster” protein shakes everyone is obsessed with and you were like: “No way am I putting spinach in my shake!” And then remember when you tried it, and you were like: “Oh My Green, I can’t taste a thing!”
Well, The “You Make My Heart Beet” Smoothie is like that. So try to have an open mind.
It doesn’t hurt that Valentine’s Day is right around the corner.
Beets for your Sweet?
The beets in this smoothie are perfectly blended with strawberries, avocado, and vanilla protein powder to produce a smooth, velvety consistency, and to detract from any taste of actual beets. It’s the perfect balance of carbs, protein, and healthy fat.
So why add the beets if you can’t taste them then?
Besides the fact that they’re red and everyone loves red stuff on Valentine’s Day (just ask Jessica Alba about her favorite red food), beets are also full of vitamins and antioxidants. They have anti-inflammatory benefits, mental-health benefits, and may help prevent cancer.
Oh yeah, and they’re supposedly a natural aphrodisiac. Wink, wink.
So what are you waiting for?! Eat a beet. Or better yet, drink a beet.
And make one for your Valentine too!
The “You Make My Heart Beet” Smoothie
Ingredients:
1 C. Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk
4 large Strawberries
1 small Beet, cooked
1/4 Avocado
1 Scoop Vanilla Protein Powder (I used Vega, it’s my new fav)
Handful of Ice
Directions:
1. Put all the ingredients in a blender (or Magic Bullet) with the ice closest to the blade.
2. Blend.
3. Enjoy!
Total Calories: about 290
Don’t know how to get your hands on some beets? Trader Joe’s sells them cooked and packaged, or you can roast your own. It’s SO easy, I promise.
*This post is linked to What I Ate Wednesday, Real Food Wednesday, and Waste Not Want Not.
Dale Janee says:
This looks so good Whitney and I never thought about putting avocado in a smoothie. I actually make little smoothies with frozen berries, OJ, yogurt and half a frozen banana here almost every day. I have no idea how many calories they are but you’re so right that smoothies get a bad rap, especially huge ones from Jamba Juice.
xoDale
http://www.savvyspice.com
Whitney English says:
I meant to talk more about the avocado in this post! I add it to help with the creamy consistency since there’s no banana in here, but it also helps make the smoothie more of a balanced meal since there’s no fat in any of the other ingredients. I’ve been trying to make everything I eat very balanced lately, so that means the smoothies are either getting avocado or almond butter every time :) Try it in your morning smoothie and let me know what you think!
Emma @ Life's A Runner says:
This is brilliant! I’m not even going to lie, I was skeptical when I clicked on this post because I definitely hate beets! But I have recently gotten on the green monster train, so there’s really nothing stopping me here. Thanks for such an awesome idea! :)
Whitney English says:
Thanks Emma! I was totally skeptical of the Green Monsters at first too. Once I realized you can put kale in a smoothie w/o tasting it, I realized you can do it with a lot of other veggies! You could also try it with golden beets. They might be even milder than red ones.
Bethann says:
I really like to think of myself as an adventurous juicer, but would have NEVER thought of mixing beets and avocado. Genius!
Whitney English says:
I’d definitely take you for an adventurous juicer :) What’s the craziest thing you’ve pulverized lately?!
Jana @ Happy Wife Healthy Life says:
This has me intrigued! I have wanted to use beet in my smoothie but I had no idea where to start. Dumb question I am sure, but how so you cook a beet??
Whitney English says:
Not a dumb question at all!
I was intimidated at first until I realized how easy it is. I have a link above about how to roast them. You pretty much just throw them in the oven for an hour at 400 degrees, wrapped in tin foil, and then scrub off the skin later. It’s that simple!
Ashley @ Brocblog says:
Oooh this sounds like an awesome way to sneak veggies into basically a strawberry milkshake! I love smoothie tricks.
Whitney English says:
Me too! I’m not huge on eating veggies plain, so I have to trick myself into eating them.
Brittany Leigh says:
This sounds amazing!!! My mom hated beets growing up as a kid, so of course she never made anything with beets. I recently started adding them to my juices and I love beets. Now I tease my mom that she deprived me of a food I seriously love!
Whitney English says:
I don’t think I tried beets until I was older too. My mom must have hated them as well! What’s your favorite beet juice combo?!
Arman @ thebigmansworld says:
I love beets- steamed, roasted, pickled…just not on my fingers. Damn stained purple fingers!
I’ve never thought to use it in a smoothie before BUT I’ve had a chocolate cake with beets in it!
Whitney English says:
Oooh chocolate cake with beets?! I MUST have the recipe.
And I totally hate the red stains too. It looks like a mass murder went down in my kitchen every time I roast them!
Davida @ The Healthy Maven says:
pretty pics! And I love beets though they do make something TMI turn pink…kind of weird the first time I tried them!
Whitney English says:
Thanks girl :) Can you see I’m putting in an extra effort?!
And I totally remember the first time THAT happened to me. I thought I was dying until I remembered I had eaten red beets earlier, haha.
Sarah Grace says:
Wow I love this Whitney! It looks so delicious, and I’m on board with beets :)
xoxo Sarah Grace, Fresh Fit N Healthy.
Whitney English says:
Thanks Sarah! Beets are the bomb :)
Sam Brown says:
This looks so good! I’ve only seen beetroot (what we call it in Australia) in juices and the one time I did add it to my juice I added a whole one and the whole thing just tasted like beetroot (which wasn’t actually that bad). Can’t wait to try this combo!
And I totally agree about those green monsters, everyone thought they were gross until everyone else was drinking them and then they turned into the ‘best thing ever’ haha funny how that works
Sam xx
http://www.smart-twenties.com
purelytwins says:
mmm love beets! this smoothie looks perfect!
GiGi Eats Celebrities says:
OO OO Is this what you made with VEGA the other day that CHANGED YOUR WORLD!? :) Your PHOTOS – OMG… Stop it!
Lisa @ The Skinny on Health says:
Yuuuuum looks so delicious!! I’ll have to make this for my boyfriend — perfect Valentine’s Day breakfast! ;)
xoxo
Karen @ Kama Fitness says:
This looks super goooood! I love beets, but I really don’t buy them often because I never know what to do with them..I feel like I always eat them the same ways….but THIS…oh my! This I am totally trying! <3
Kristina @ Damn Ten Pounds says:
I know beets are amazing, but I don’t love them. I’d try this though. I trust you since you added avocado to your smoothie. Best addition since spinach! And I’m forever trying to convince people that you can’t even taste the greens, so I believe it.
Tonya@Healthy, Fit, and Frugal says:
I have to admit, I think I’ve only eaten beets one time in my life. I never think to buy them for some reason but that smoothie does look pretty tasty. I love strawberries so as long as it tastes mostly like that!…
Whitney English says:
The strawberries totally take over the flavor, don’t worry :)
Alex @ Kenzie Life says:
Angela @ Oh She Glows did a recipe really similar to this one last fall with beets, avocado, coconut oil, strawberries, banana and some other stuff I think. I tried it and really liked it, but probably because I put enough banana to mask the taste :)
Whitney English says:
I think Angela is the original Green Monster creator! Love her blog. I tried to make this with bananas at first and for some reason it tasted more “beety” than this version without them. Everyone’s taste buds are different though!
Katy says:
This is such an interesting combination. I will trust you and try it ;)
Whitney English says:
Please do! And let me know what you think :)
Danielle @ Poor and Gluten Free says:
I love beets! My husband doesn’t really like the flavour of them, though, so I have to slip them in to things like Beet Chocolate Muffins and bread ;) Your smoothie looks great, thanks so much for sharing this on Waste Not Want Not Wednesday, I’ve pinned it : )
Whitney English says:
Me too! My dad hates them and he actually told me that this post made him gag, haha. Next holiday I’m slipping beets in his muffins…thanks for the idea!
Melissa @ Nourish By Melissa says:
I love beets! I’ve never tried them in a smoothie though! Sounds cool :)
Kayla Seah says:
This looks so good! I feel like I always have to prove to people how amazing beets are… wait until I share this smoothie recipe.
Whitney English says:
I know. I’m always like, “Don’t knock it till you try it!!”
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