Maca Morning Motivator Smoothie

Maca, which is found in the high Andes mountains of central Peru, has been touted as a superfood for its multiple health benefits. It’s been eaten as a medicinal plant for over 3,000 years to boost libido, strength, and stress. Today I’m sharing with you my Maca Morning Motivator Smoothie recipe which takes advantage of one other benefit maca provides – increased energy.

What is Maca?

The maca plant is a cruciferous vegetable known scientifically as Lepidium Meyenii. It contains 133% of the recommended daily dose of vitamin C as well as other nutrients such as vitamin B6, manganese, copper, potassium, and iron.

One ounce (28 grams) of maca root powder contains 4 grams of protein and only 20 grams of carbs and 1 gram of fat. It also contains bioactive plant compounds like polyphenols.

The powder form can provide stable energy without the jitters you get with caffeine. It has a slightly sweet, nutty, and earthy taste, which makes it ideal for smoothies or blended drinks.

Aside from this smoothie recipe, I like to enjoy it in iced coffee and lattes, but it also works well in baked goods, energy bars, and oatmeal.

Where can you get it?

You can find maca powder in your local health food store in the supplements section and through online retailers. If you’re new to maca, consult your doctor to see if it’s right for you, especially if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or have thyroid problems. Also, start with a small amount, such as half a teaspoon to see how your body reacts to it.

Blending Tip

If you find your blender doesn’t give you that smooth consistency you want, make sure you add the liquid to the blender first. Doing this allows the blender to pull down the ice and other ingredients into a “vortex” for a better, smoother blend.

For easy cleanup, fill your blender with about a cup of water and a few drops of dish detergent. Cover and blend. The action will easily scrub bits off the inside of the carafe. Empty the contents, give it a good rinse, and enjoy the time you saved with this quick cleanup tip.

Personally, I love my BlendTec blender.

Easy Swaps

If you have nut allergies or dislike the taste of almond milk, you can substitute with coconut milk.
Want to skip the vanilla protein powder but still want some sweetness? Try substituting a banana, two pitted Medjool dates or a teaspoon of vanilla extract.

Storage

I highly doubt you’ll have any leftover, but if you want to whip up a big batch in advance, it will keep well in the fridge for a day or two. Store it in the blender carafe so you can easily remix it just before serving.

Alternatively, pour individual servings into mason jars and shake well before drinking. Mason jars also make it super easy to travel with or take to work.


​Maca Morning Motivator Smoothie

This maca smoothie is rich and chocolatey but packed with superfoods to give you a boost of energy to kickstart your day.

Prep Time: 1 minute
Cook Time: 1 minute
Servings: 1

Ingredients:
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• 2/3 cup plain unsweetened or unsweetened vanilla almond or coconut milk
• 1-2 scoops SP Complete Vanilla or Veg-E Pro Complete Vanilla protein powder (Standard Process)
• 1 tablespoon Maca powder
• 1/2 tablespoon cacao powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground Ceylon cinnamon
• 5 ice cubes

Directions:
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1. Add all ingredients to a blender. Mix until desired consistency.
2. Sprinkle cinnamon or cacao powder on top.
3. Serve and enjoy!

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If you’ve tried one of my recipes, leave a comment and let me know what you think. Shared it on social media? I would love to see it! Tag your post with #RealLifeOutlawBlog, so I can find it.


Be Well & Thrive!
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With Love & In Health,
Sarah Outlaw, MH, MSACN