Coconut Cherry Matcha Smoothie

This antioxidant loaded smoothie is not only great for your health, but delicious!

What better way to kick of 2015 then with a delicious antioxidant bomb like this Coconut Cherry Matcha Smoothie?!? Oh me, oh my this one is super delicious, and with a touch of coconut cream tastes like a dream boat. I mix up quite a few smoothies every week but this one is here to stay!

With the New Year in full swing I know there will be a ton of “getting healthier” resolutions being made. Incorporating smoothies with whole foods in them is a great way to begin cutting processed foods. Simply substituting a healthy smoothie for a processed snack is a great start! Even if you try doing it for a week, you will see how much more energy you have, and how much better your body feels. The energy I get from a smoothie like this one is unlike anything you can get from a packaged, processed power bar. If you have a “getting healthier” resolution I’m with you. Even a person who has a food blog about not eating processed foods can fall off the wagon at times (Hello M & M’s my kids got for Christmas). What I’ve noticed this year with not eating processed foods is that I’m the minority. Anywhere we go, there is junk all around us. When you start making choices NOT to eat those things, people notice. All of a sudden you become the “health freak.” This year I want to own the way I feel about food and not let social situations make me cave and feel like I have to eat those things. Here’s to not letting social pressure get me this year! 🙂

I have been eyeing the matcha powder at Wegman’s for quite some time, I must admit. Hello! Aren’t all the cool kids doing it or something? Of course they are…. of course they are. Now, not that I’m really cool or anything because let’s face it, when you chase 3 kids around everyday your cool factor kind of goes down a little. You know, like when you are at the grocery store in a “mom hat” and you’ve been wearing yoga pants for the last 365 days? Yeah, I’m totally that mom. But, but… I just kind of hate jeans. It’s not me, it’s them of course!

Moving on, I know matcha powder can be a tad on the expensive side, so fear not because you can use a teabag with 1/2 of water to substitute for the matcha powder + water. I paid $8.99 for a small tin of matcha powder at Wegman’s, however it can range anywhere from $5 – $80+ depending on the quality you are looking for. I wouldn’t spend more then I spent at Wegman’s simply because you only get a few teaspoons of product in the tin.

I created this smoothie using two layers because I like doing layered smoothies. You can layer yours or simply mix everything together. This is also a thick smoothie, so if you like smoothies a little thinner you can add some additional water. Enjoy! 🙂

Coconut Cherry Matcha Smoothie

Cherry Layer:

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup frozen sweet cherries
• 1/2 frozen banana
• 1/2 cup coconut milk*
• 1 Tbsp coconut cream*

Directions: Blend everything together until very smooth.

Matcha Layer:

Ingredients:

• 1 tsp matcha powder (or 1/2 cup green tea, eliminating water below)
• 1/2 frozen banana
• 1/2 cup water
• 1-2 tsp honey
• 3-4 ice cubes
• 1 Tbsp unsweetened coconut flakes (optional)

Directions: Blend everything together until very smooth.

* I use canned light coconut milk as opposed to dairy-substitute coconut milk because it doesn’t contain as many additives. Yes, this product is higher in fat but the fat naturally separates from the milky part so it is super easy for me to just use the milky part. Take a spoon and push aside the thick, creamy, layer at the top and your milk should pour right out. The 1 Tbsp coconut cream is simply the creamy part at the top. Here is a link to the product I use.

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