It’s probably not the first ingredient you think of, but throw some naturally sweet beets into your smoothie and you’ll get a dose of exercise-boosting nitrates, along with magnesium and fiber.
If you don’t have a high-powered blender, use pre-cooked beets. You’ll also find anabolic whey protein from the ricotta and heart-healthy omega-3 fat in the walnuts.
Pro tip: For easier blending, add liquids first; then soft items like yogurt and nut butters; then harder ingredients, such as raw vegetables; and finally, frozen fruit or ice.
This helps lubricate the blender’s blades so they’ll cut through the harder stuff and extend the life span of less-powerful machines.
Ingredients
3/4 cup low-fat buttermilk
2/3 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
1/2 scoop protein powder
1 medium-size beet, peeled and chopped
1 Tbsp walnuts
1 tsp honey
1 tsp orange zest
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ginger powder
1 cup frozen strawberries
Directions
Place all ingredients in a blender in the order listed, and blend on high for 1 minute or until smooth.
