After a few recommendations from friends, I started reading (well, listening to) Body Love by Kelly LeVeque. What initially piqued my interest is Kelly's focus on science-based, holistic, whole foods nutrition. I'm all about implementing sustainable systems into my life. I don't have any interest in a crash diet with restrictions and deprivation. A huge part of any health journey is education, and I'm excited to dive into this book to help fuel my own health journey!
One "sustainable system" I'm trying to implement in my life now? Starting new things before I feel ready to start. As in, I don't have to be an expert to take the first step!
Kelly was featured on a podcast recently, and I loved learning about her Fab Four Smoothie that she recommends for mornings. I mean, I love me some breakfast. And will still eat a meal some mornings. But drinking a smoothie every morning is not out of the norm for me. Passes the sustainable test! I love the idea of creating a meal that keeps you fueled and satisfied until your next meal. I can definitely be heavy-handed with fruit in my smoothies, so this info was really helpful for me!
"Fab Four meals turn off hunger hormones, squelch inflammation, and provide the body with the perfect complete meal of essential nutrients. The Fab Four is the light structure for eating healthy without “eat" and "do not eat" lists. Simply look at your plate and ask yourself do I have all four components? Protein ups collagen, muscle tone, and metabolism; fat benefits hormones, skin, and cellular health, fiber promotes gut microbiome proliferation and detoxification; and greens (or veggies deep in color) provide cancer and inflammation fighting phytonutrients. This combination is a fail-safe to turn off over 8 hunger hormones in the body so you stop fighting not to eat and instead easily go 4-6 hours without thinking of food or snacking on processed foods." -Be Well By Kelly
I've been making this smoothie every morning for about a month now. And I will say, it has kept me so full and really energized for my workout and chasing Linden. I've REALLY noticed a difference! I used to have a snack break with Linden mid-morning (I listen to my body and will still eat a healthy snack if I feel like my body needs it)- but I honestly have felt great waiting until lunch. That's incredibly valuable to me as a busy mom!
"The Fab Four Smoothie is a formula to help you develop a blood sugar balancing meal replacement shake in any flavor with enough protein, fat and fiber to keep you full. Many juice shops, grocery smoothie bars and smoothie recipes are loaded with sugar, specifically fructose sugar from excess fruit. Fructose sugar stores as fat 20-30% faster than glucose. The #fab4smoothie limits fructose to 1/4 cup!" -Be Well By Kelly
My Fab Four Smoothie recipe: 16 oz water, 2 scoops Raw Meal protein, 2 cups spinach, 1 T almond butter, 1 T ground flax. Blend and serve with ice. So simple.
I will keep on making other delicious smoothie concoctions and smoothie bowls. I just love how this simple smoothie formula fits into my daily routine, and I'll stick to it!
