Coffee + Chia Seed Smoothie

Or I guess if we wanted to get weird and fancy ...

Yeah I threw a flower in and it doesn't help my photography noskills. Don't think I sit around sipping smoothies while smelling God's artwork and smiling smugly like some bizarre television mom. I've just been reading too many blogs and thought it would be a nice touch and help the aesthetics but .... never.

I'm a big big big big big big BIG fan of routines. Not so much the "eat sleep wake" or "wake sleep eat" - we played that game with Julia for a few days and well ... that was a nice period of disciplined and organized that I hope to hit again ... one of these years. My routine is more knowing that I'll get out the door before lunch to go on a run and knowing that I can mostly count on the big kids napping every day around 1 or 2 and then knowing that they'll go to bed around 7:30 or 8 every night and I can kick back with some Hulu, a kicky Theo, and no toddler fighting to assault my drums until morn.

I used to be a big coffee + lots of creamer drinker but then I think I got too lazy to make coffee in the mornings but I still like it and am wanting to reap its benefits after nights of life with Theo. And sometimes Sebastian. And fine -- Julia still wakes up too. It's great. I'm a big believer in the power of the Chia as I really do buy into the claim that it helps stave off afternoon sugar cravings and I'm always up for more protein in my diet. So ... enter this. I make and drink/eat/chug it sometime before I go on my walk/run and as soon as I'm found hiding outside the kids bring me spoons because they want some. It's a ritual. We predictable.

Although! This morning I piled the kids in the car before they'd had a single calorie to eat at 7:00 because Simon had left his pager at home and I was going to drop it at the hospital for him. Except that he actually left his pager in his car so .... as not to waste all that energy expelled getting the kids in the van we took a long drive and hit up Dunkin Donuts. Never underestimate my ability to shock the masses with my spontaneity.

Smoothie recipes are dumb because who really measures anything going into a smoothie and who really needs someone to tell them how to make a smoothie these days but HERE:

ingredients:
one part coffee
one part milk (I use almond but - get crazy with creamer or milk of the cow)
handful of Chia seeds (okay maybe two tablespoons)
one tablespoon of coconut oil
one banana
some greek yogurt (I scoop the non-fruity parts off the light 'n fit cup)
ice (at least 3 cubes ... maybe more ... esp if the coffee is hot from the pot)

optional:
spinach
sweetener (agave, real sugar, stevia, etc)
peanut butter
unsweetened cocoa powder
whatever you vant

The only important thing is to try to let the seeds soak in the coffee or milk for several minutes before blending so that they "gel" and you don't get them stuck in your teeth ... if you don't care then just toss everything in and purée that puppy to smooth goodness.

oh and I read on a blog (was it yours? I don't remember) that an easy way to let babies eat bananas without having to do a damn thing is to give them half with just 1/3 of the peel pulled off.

Theo is still working on his fine motor skills but this kept him entertained for a bit. It was nice. And messy - next time he's going scando and shirtless.



¡Salud!