I am obsessed with papaya and watermelon right now! I can’t get enough of either. This is the smoothie I have been making for the past couple of weeks for my papaya fix. It is the ideal summer smoothie, light, refreshing and the perfect amount of filling. I can make it all the way to lunch with this and sometimes beyond depending on how much I have.
Papaya is delicious when perfectly ripe, a combination of a delicate sweetness and a slight peppery bite. It reminds me a little bit of arugula in that way but obviously fleshy and fruity . It is hydrating, and loaded with a gut healthy digestive enzyme called papain, which helps to keep bloat at bay and detox your body. It contains a good amount of fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium and magnesium. All of which contribute to beautiful, glowing and hydrated skin.
This is a great example of the difference between not ripe and ripe.
When you go to purchase your papaya make sure that it is tender to the touch, not too soft, much like an avocado. You also want the green skin to be 80% yellow and some what spotty. The inside will be that gorgeous orange color. I do not put the seeds in my smoothie. They are actually what give the fruit it’s peppery taste. What I do, do though, is save them to make salad dressings. The seeds have a whole host of other nutritional benefits that I can talk about later.
I always make sure to add quality fat and protein to my morning smoothies. Hemp seeds and Chia seeds are my go to. They are easily digestible, keeping my energy levels high and help to balance my blood sugar so that I don’t crash a few hours later, like you tend to get from many other fruit smoothies.
In this recipe I used lime which is delicious with papaya, but lemon is pretty amazing to. I always try to mix up the greens I am using in my smoothie to get a variety of vitamins and minerals. This week I had a mix of baby swiss chard, spinach and kale. Usually it’s whatever is on it’s way out in the fridge. I added banana and a good portion of low glycemic strawberries to round it all out. I always keep my greens to fruit ratio at least equal. Meaning I always try to have as many cups of greens as I do fruit. More is always better of course.
This recipe makes 64oz, it is a great addition to your regular smoothie routine and the kids love it!
Papaya Strawberry Green Smoothie
Servings: 3-4
Time: 5 minutes
Difficulty: easy
The ideal summer smoothie, light, refreshing and the perfect amount of filling.
This is would probably be amazing with a little bit of coconut oil blend in as well!
Ingredients
3 cups of greens, well packed
3 Tbs of Chia Seeds
3 Tbs of Hemp Seeds
1 heaping cup of strawberries fresh or frozen
1 cup of chopped papaya
1 ripe banana
juice of 1 lime or lemon
Directions
In a blender blend the greens and seeds together first until well blended
Add the fruit and the juice of your lime or lemon and blend again until well combined. Approximately 2 minutes.
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