MYO: Healthy Salad Dressing & a New Smuice
Despite a few minor setbacks this weekend, the Coachella Clean-Up is going pretty well.
I’ve been getting “loose off the smuice” all week, and feeling amazing.
Note: I mean that in the way that Tyga gets loose off the “goose,” not in a way that refers to bodily functions. Ew.
I seriously have noticed an increase in energy since I’ve been taking down close to a pound of veggies per day. It’s intoxicating . . . or detoxicating, I guess you could say.
Although I love my Kale-Pineapple Smuice, every day I’ve been getting more adventurous with my Vitamix. A kiwi here, a beet there, who knows, maybe next week I’ll be tossing a whole butternut squash in the blender. I don’t know. I don’t know if I’ll have time.
That’s the awesome part about smuicing though. There’s no rhyme or reason. You just grab as many vegetables as you can get your hands on, a little bit of whatever fruit floats your boat, pour some water over it, and you’re golden, or — err — green.
Downing so many veggies and vitamins also helps your body shut down cravings for crap.
Usually I’d scoff at eating a salad for lunch. I find them boring and I can never seem to find a salad dressing that isn’t full of weird chemicals, and that I actually like.
This week though, I’ve been more open to meals where the main ingredient isn’t a heavy grain.
Not so at breakfast though, let’s not get carried away.
Mainly this evolution of dietary taste came from the discovery of the easiest, most fabulous, make your own healthy salad dressing. Read on for the recipe.
Here’s What I Ate Wednesday Monday:
Six egg whites, Ezekiel English Muffin w/ Almond Butter, and coffee.
My mid-morning snack, a Blood Orange & Beet Smuice.
Blood Orange Beet Smuice
Ingredients:
1 Small Red Beet
1 Medium Blood Orange
1/2 C. Carrots
1-2 C. Kale
1-2 C. Spinach
3 C. Water
Ice
Directions:
1. Blend it all together. If you have a high powered blender, there’s no need to cut or peel the beet. Just make sure to wash everything.
For lunch, I broke out my spiralizer to make zucchini noodles as a vehicle for my Gluten-Free Chicken Protein Patties.
I wasn’t in the mood to make my Avocado Dressing, and Zucchini Spaghetti seemed a little too heavy for lunch. So I put my thinking cap on and created a light, zesty, and healthy salad dressing that is almost too easy to make.
Make Your Own Healthy Salad Dressing
Ingredients:
1 T. Avocado Oil
1 T. White Balsamic Vinegar
1 tsp. Lemon Juice
1 tsp. Trader Joe’s 21 Seasoning Salute (or spices of your choice)
Directions:
1. Whisk them all together and pour over your favorite salad or raw zucchini noodles for a fresh burst of flavor!
This dressing is so delicious that I didn’t even need to cook the zucchini noodles to enjoy them. I ate them raw and it was amazing.
Between lunch and dinner, I finished off the massive amount of Blood Orange Beet Smuice I had left over, while I went to work on the evening meal.
I am so excited about how tasty this recipe turned out, but I have to keep you guys wanting more. So — cliffhanger — stay tuned for the full recipe soon.
For now, I’ll give you a sneak peek: Southwest Stuffed Bell Peppers.
Anyone who can guess the secret ingredient will get major street cred in my book.
Dessert was a Coconutty Chocolate Protein Shake, topped with coconut shreds.
All in all, I’d say the Coachella Clean-Up has been a success thus far. Only eight days left till the festival. Wish me luck.
*This post is linked to Real Food Wednesday and Waste Not Wednesday.
Liz says:
Hmm did you mix chickpeas/hummus with avocado to make “guacahummus”?
Whitney English says:
Good guess but the secret is in the stuffing :)
Dale Janee says:
You need to trademark ‘Smuice’ :) The blood orange one looks so good and I am definitely going to try that salad dressing. A lot of them are different in EU so I’m always looking for home made recipes and this looks so good, plus I know it’s healthy if it’s on your blog. Have fun at Coachella – Drew will be there will all his buddies. :)
xoDale
Whitney English says:
Thanks girl! I will look into the TM :)
And I hope I run into Drew!
GiselleR @ Diary of an ExSloth says:
I’m with Dale, you should totally TM smuice!
Also, I used to put beets in my smoothies but I stopped cuz sometimes they tasted kind of off (read: like dirt) lol
Any tips? Or is it something you just have to get used to?
Whitney English says:
Weird! I’ve never noticed a dirty taste haha. Um, maybe scrub them more?!
Karen @ Kama Fitness says:
One of my favourite dressings is using evoo with a touch of freshed crushed garlic & basil. Poured over quinoa & veggies….seriously simple & super delicious!
But it doesn’t end there…every time I add in different veggies (whatever needs to be used in the fridge) lol!
Bethann Wagner says:
Yep, TM ‘Smuice’ please! I can already tell this is going to be the hot new hollywood diet in do small part due directly to your creative and hot influence!
BA
Kim says:
There is avocado oil??? I need to get some of that right away!!!
Then I can try your dressing, too!
Katy says:
I feel like EVERYONE is buying a Vitamix lately. You make it real tempting, English! I also had no idea that avocado oil existed. I’m going to have to pick me up some of that!
Deborah Davis says:
Hi Whitney,
I am so glad I hopped by from the Waste Not Want Not Blog Hop! Your amazing smuices and salads are making me hungry. I love to make my own dressings too.
My latest obsession is an avocado dressing with nutritional yeast, parsley, onion, garlic, apple cider vinegar, a little coconut or olive oil and braggs liquid amino whipped up in my Vitamix. It tastes like creamy heaven and makes any salad it dress it with a feast! II love your blog so I have subscribed and I am following you on social media so I can stay up to date on your latest posts..
Whitney English says:
Thanks Deborah! That dressing sounds ahhhhhmazing. I am definitely going to try it out. Thanks for sharing!!
Leigha @ Minougirl says:
Your eats all look SO yummy! I really want to get a Vitamix – my old blender broke so now I’m using my Magic Bullet!
Whitney English says:
Thanks! I have a Magic Bullet too and I love it. So nice to use when you don’t feel like getting out all the clunky Vitamix equipment.
Melissa @ Nourish By Melissa says:
All your food looks so good haha, making me hungry! :)
Kristina @ Damn Ten Pounds says:
Someones gettin’ loose with the spiralizer! Your zucchini noodles look good. Like convincing me to bite the bullet and buy and spiralizer good. When I’m in a particularly Martha mood, I’ll make my own dressing. I like olive oil, lemon juice, dried mint and aleppo pepper for a kick. So much better then bottled.
Daniel says:
My wife just recently started to make salad dressing from scratch, too. I have to show her your recipe.
Thanks for sharing!