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Beet Green Smoothie – Sweet and Healthy

Beet green smoothie is a way to make a sweet and healthy smoothie you’ll love… that is so refreshing!

beet green smoothie.

You can have a healthy and deliciously sweet green smoothie that’s not a bitter one. It’s great for breakfast or a daily sweet break.

…You can beet that! 🫜

Where to get the beets? Find a local farm or farmers market. There you can find the greens directly from the source without having to grow your own garden or driving hours out of your metro city.

beet green smoothie from fresh beets and beet greens.

And beet greens are some of the healthiest greens on the planet.

They are full of anti-inflammatory ingredients like A, C, E vitamins.  Plus minerals including magnesium that we usually don’t get daily enough of compared to say, potassium that’s on many food labels.

But you shouldn’t go overboard with beets, as with most good things in life.

Even healthy foods are good up to a certain point. Moderation is the sweet spot. And a smoothie a day is one way.🧉

With fiber, this helps your gut and is good for healthy weight maintenance.

And if you have extra beet greens: you can make a nice anytime salad that’s similar to a spinach salad.

What will make it extra special, says my catering self 😊, is wilting the greens with heat and about a teaspoon of water. That softens the greens. And then to take the bland taste to an extra special WOW, add a few douses of garlic powder (I find fresh whole garlic too strong), pears or apples, and walnuts for a crunch.

Fresh farm salads don’t need a salad dressing, but if I were to add one it would be with balsamic vinegar and Buffalo mozzarella (or substitute with other mild white cheeses, and even cottage cheese).

But now it’s breakfast time… and a sweet breakfast smoothie will do! And a beet stalk is my new happy Twizzler.

These are the simple beet green smoothie ingredients: beet greens, natural peanut butter, and a banana.

The most pure peanut butter to buy that’s good for a healthy smoothie has just roasted peanuts and salt in the ingredients (that you stir).

And if peanut butter or banana is not your vibe, but sweet IS… beets also play great with berries! You can make a beet blueberry smoothie that has a punch or make an after fasting herbal rose beet smoothieschhweeeet and sweet!

beet green smoothie ingredients.

Simply blend and enjoy! Or add your other healthy goodies like chia or flax seeds and protein powders that are a healthy good smoothie ingredient opportunity. 💚

beet green smoothie.
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Beet Green Smoothie - Sweet and Healthy

Beet greens are a healthy way to make a sweet green smoothie.
Author Brandy @ Healthy Happy Life Secrets

Equipment

  • blender or Magic Bullet

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup beet green leaves and stems
  • 1 Tbsp natural peanut butter
  • 1/2 medium banana
  • 1/4 cup milk of choice, or less to make a thicker consistency
  • flax or chia seeds, and protein/nutritional powders (optional)

Instructions

  • Blend ingredients.

Notes

You can change the smoothie thickness by how much liquid you add. If milk is not desired, you can also use water that's thinner.

Pavlova Fruit – No Flour Dessert

Pavlova fruit dessert is a delicious meringue based dessert with fruit. You usually see Pavolovas piled high with berries. But a hot tropical twist to that can be with fruits like Vitamin-C rich pineapple, kiwi, guava, bananas, mango, and cherries to make a rainbow effect as in eat-from-the-rainbow anti-inflammatory healthy. Recipe below.

Rainbow pavlova fruit dessert grits based pie.

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can also omit the sugar in your egg-white meringue base for a no-added sugar dessert that’s just full of juicy fruit sweetness.

If you’re feeling the dry air, then this is a good way to hydrate with food-as-medicine.

And instead of a traditional egg meringue base altogether, you can add a grit or oat pie base bottom. Save your egg yolks for pasta, curds, and ice cream.

Either way is a way to enjoy the tropics from home, and the healthy benefits of tropical fruits.

Loaded with Vitamin C and fiber, fruit also have minerals and  are high in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory ingredients. Most tropical fruits are also very juicy to quench your thirst and cooling. Instead of reaching for a beverage with calories, eat healthy tropical fruits.

What’s fun about a Pavlova fruit dessert is you can make it your own swirls and patterns.

Like I did with this one leaning into dark color fruits like pomegranates that are fall fruits usually available around September.

Pavlova fruit with fall color fruits.

…Or a spring fresh fruit sweet-tart one. This is such an easy and great dessert way to celebrate seasonal fruits and zhugh up a breakfast or brunch.

berry pavlova fruit with fresh late spring or early summer fruits.

This one has a no-sugar meringue base (egg whites only). And believe me the sugar was not missed… with strawberries and rhubarb that are fresh around May months. And added blueberries and Greek yogurt to lean into the healthy ingredients.

The dreamy meringue colors were made from plant-based natural food colors that contrasts well with red fruits.

Whatever you’re color-vibing on, you can make eat-from-the-rainbow healthy colors from natural foods (that I’m all about)! 🎉

What’s not to love about a Pav-love-a?

Rainbow meringue pie recipe.
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Pavlova Tropical Fruit Meringue Pie

This will make a 6-8" meringue base depending on how much you spread out. You can add a lighter pie bottom and add tropical fruits ontop that are high in Vitamin C. You can make this in under 2 hours.
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 50 minutes
Author Brandy @ Healthy Happy Life Secrets

Equipment

  • silicone mat
  • baking pan (optional)

Ingredients

  • Tropical fruits, chopped
  • 2 egg whites
  • cream of coconut or Greek yogurt

Instructions

  • For Pavolva, whip at least 2 egg whites to medium peaks to make the meringue base. Usually 5-7 minutes with a mixer on medium to med-high speed. Add meringue shape you desire to a baking pan with a Silpat mat for easy intact meringue lift.
  • Bake in 200°F oven on lower oven rack until the meringue feels solid and formed (like packed snow) or edges begin to lightly toast, usually about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Let meringue cool in refrigerator for about 30 minutes.
  • You can use the meringue as a base or you can separately make a grits pie base that's quicker to bake, with grits, egg, coconut oil, and a little water or liquid that complements tropical fruit flavors. Add enough grits until the base sticks together. You can substitute grits for oats. Bake in slightly higher temperatures (e.g. 325°F) until pie base comes out clean with a toothpick. You can add to upper oven rack with meringue at 200°F and after you pull out the meringue, turn the heat up and leave the pie in the oven. Let cool. And then add meringue ontop.
  • Ontop of meringue, add fruits of choice or on-hand and make a pattern design or pile ontop. Layer or dollops of Greek yogurt if you like or pipe coconut cream (solid flesh of coconut).
  • Tropical fruits are great decorations as you can cut out shapes with cookie cutters. (e.g. dragonfruit, pineapple, passion fruit, and guava). If you want to keep it less fruit sugar, use berries and green bananas.

Notes

Do not add any fat (e.g. butter or oils) to the pan. I recommend using a Silpat or silicone mat (not parchment paper or foil) for easy meringue peel off. If you don't have a pan that it fits in, just use the silicone mat with the meringue ontop in the oven. 

High Fiber Food List and Surprising Facts

High fiber food helps you have a naturally gut healthy life. And if you’re fiber-maxxing these days, some foods are higher fiber in each food category.

high fiber foods printable list.

Besides this printable graphic, check out the selected list below of highest fiber foods.

…Which btw, increasing fiber may be catching on as a trend, but it not a new healthy idea. Your GI tract has always loved you and those before you for increasing fiber.

…and it has been on a nutritional label for years, but is still often overlooked.

The dietary fiber line item is under the carbs category, but indigestible, unlike carbs (that are digested).

And the indigestible fiber supports a healthy gut life.

…Where the fiber we eat comes from foods that have outer plant-based fiber, such as wheat and fruit skins.

Wheat bran and prunes are good examples of the XX in fibermaxxing, as super fiber foods.

And basically, there are two kinds of fiber that make up dietary fiber count: soluble and insoluble. 

Many plant-based foods have both, but when we think of fiber to help food passage, it’s the insoluble fiber kind that we need more of daily.

Think of insoluble fiber as a growing bigger tumbleweed in the desert.

Healthy foods are all around us.

And in the gut, that could be a wad of cabbage or popcorn moving through your body’s water channel tract.

…Or it could be other daily foods like leafy greens, nuts, lentils, beans, and plant-based foods that also have high fiber counts.

Fiber foods are usually affordable foods year-round at places like Aldi grocery stores… and you can find interesting fresh-off-the-farm grown seasonal foods at local farmers markets, such as different kinds of radishes and leafy greens.

Rainbow chard.

The common mature version of these plants generally have more fiber than say microgreens that are the baby versions, and super healthy for other reasons.

Then there are the cereal grasses with fiber, such as wheat, that can be added in your daily diet, like in a fiber healthy brownie recipe that you can make and even enjoy for breakfast.

…And another breakfast way to get in these fiber foods is from organic fruits in a smoothie.

Adding fruit skins to your blender helps you consume more fiber.

Today women are recommended to get approximately 25-30 grams, and for men, 30-38 grams of fiber.

And these are just a few high fiber food suggestions where you can rack up more gram points:

Smoothies – Fruit and veggies are good sources of fiber, and whether it’s a sweet smoothie or green smoothie, your body fiber benefits. Or a veg-fruit blend of the two like in a green mango smoothie.

…Oh, and you can make delicious dessert smoothies too (which is my favorite), like a blueberry cheesecake smoothie.

Did you know cocoa powder has 7-9 grams of fiber per ounce? That’s double or more fiber than. in a medium apple. Finding an unsweetened and natural cocoa powder (not an alkalized Dutch processed) is healthier.

…And that you can add to a chocolate fiber-y coconut chocolate smoothie.

For more healthy smoothie ideas, get the FREE smoothie guide.

Green lentils – Peas and lentils are related, but from different plants or parents. They’re like cousins to each other. And you can make  mushy peas with higher fiber via green lentils, that substitute green peas (that don’t have as much fiber).

Navy beans – The queen of high fiber beans are navy beans. Navy beans are also called pea beans (they have that in common with chickpea-garbanzo beans that also have both pea-bean in the names).

They may not be as easy for you to source as other beans, but are often found in a 15-bean bag. You can easily make this a healthy meal in a homemade bowl of turmeric soup.

And if you’re having a tough time finding these beans (vs cannellini or Great Northern beans that navy beans are often confused with), check out dry beans at places like Walmart markets that usually have a larger selection at lower prices. And you can’t go wrong with pinto beans either.

But if you’re hesitant about beans altogether, you can avoid the reason why many people sometimes stay away from the bean digestive effects…

Tip: And if that’s your bean experiences after digested, try a bag of dried beans. Soak the beans overnight or longer in a bowl of water. Absorbing the water, the beans will expand and grow in size, maybe as big as a lima bean, so add more than enough water to fully cover. Then low and slow cook the beans until soft.

Try them and note the difference for your body. Either way, it will be a different experience than canned beans.

Psyllium husk – This is one of those supplemental powders that has been around. It’s definitely an alternative, but one that often comes with additives and sugar. You can get enough fiber from your healthy food diet if you try.

…So maybe challenge yourself to get enough fiber from foods? Because then you’re eating more plant-based foods that also offer vitamins, minerals, and anti-inflammatory body benefits. Just a thought.

Artichoke – This a prebiotic food that feeds good bacteria (good for a gut baby). The common globe artichokes look more like pretty green roses with the concentric petals.

You’ve probably also heard of Jerusalem artichokes… that are tubers (like water chestnuts or potatoes) and not related to those artichokes. They actually look more like potatoes on the outside. But that’s okay if you get confused between the two, as both are fiber healthy.

Both artichoke types have prebiotic fiber (inulin) that feeds good bacteria, found also in asparagus, chicory root, garlic, bananas, alliums (e.g. onions and garlic).

Passion fruit – The passion fruit is also passionate in fiber with about 25 grams per cup compared to 8 grams in berries like raspberries, that are also considered high fiber fruits.

But passion fruit is great for people who don’t love sweet fruits, but if you do, you can pair with other tropical fruits in a smoothie, like sweet dragon fruit, pineapple, or kiwi that are easier to source. Or add in to coconut.

Avocados – You can find avocados on so many healthy lists, but as for fiber, it’s also a winner! It’s higher than many fruits. So add the superfruit in your smoothies, dips, and smears. You can try with coffee that’s a laxative, in a 2xx morning avocado coffee smoothie. 🥑 And then grow a little avocado plant from seed.

Prunes – These are dried plums that are good snacks that have balanced soluble and insoluble fiber. Plus you’re eating the skins that are mostly insoluble fiber (reason for daily fiber) and the flesh or pulp is soluble.

And they taste consistent. Because you probably remember the plum tastes from in season vs. off season where they can be sweet or sour.

For prunes, the natural fruit sugar in them act as laxatives. They make great home snacks (and not so much take-a-long-snacks). And you can try adding to your cooking, like pairing with meat if you eat.

Wheat bran – A wheat kernel has bran (outer layer), germ (inner seed) and endosperm (middle layer). Whole wheat flour has all, but the bran has the higher insoluble fiber, like most skins.

Flour is also more processed. But you can easily add wheat bran into your bakes like a whole grain roll or daily biscuit. You can also get this in your fortified cereals if you don’t like to bake.

Barley – Getting both soluble and insoluble fiber, barley has both like prunes.

To prepare, it’s easier than dry rice. It’s closer to quinoa where you can dry toast for a minute (optional), and then cook in water until soft.

It’s a good alternative to rice or oats. It’s a healthy ancient grain like buckwheat and amaranth where you can add a little into your bakes.

…That makes this ‘lil home baker happy. 😊

Banana Bread with Matcha – Easy as Pancakes!

Banana bread is an easy bread you can make for brunch.

And this one is a mixed batter (and not a proofing bread dough) before it’s in the oven, so you’ll save hours! Think of it like a quick pancake batter.

matcha banana bread

…And you can make this simple, where all you need is a pancake mix and a banana.

It has added matcha too.

…Oh, and then add a little milk and/or yogurt for moistness. You can also make your own easy banana bread mix with flour (gluten and gluten-free), baking powder, and choice of sweetness (such as maple syrup or honey that are good for breakfast and lower sugar than sugar).

You can also get your healthy ingredient adds in like matcha tea in banana bread.

Matcha is a healthy anti-inflammatory green tea, good for calming that also supports weight loss. 🍵

matcha banana bread batter.

…Where less sugar is also going to support those efforts.

I also added in healthy gluten-free buckwheat flour to the mix, that’s high in protein and fiber… and good in healthier pancakes and a recipe like this.

You can hide the healthy ingredients after you combine the ingredients.

But I left a small trail of spring green matcha on the top of the batter, so you can see it’s there. The color will also blend in more after baked. 🌱

Only the banana bread will stand out in the end.

And that’s a good way to hide healthy ingredients for those who are picky eaters!

…But that you’ll feel better about it in there and anyone you’re sharing with!

The best part is: you can make healthier breakfast sweets like this matcha banana bread without compromising any tastes.

You can also make other delicious low-sugar bakes or low-fat healthy desserts that are better for your healthy eating brunch meals and breakfast missions.

matcha banana bread
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Matcha Banana Bread

This is a banana bread with healthy matcha and made with a simple batter and baked.
Course Breakfast, desserts
Cuisine American
Total Time 45 hours
Author Brandy @ Healthy Happy Life Secrets

Ingredients

  • 1 cup pancake mix (or all purpose flour, 1/4 tsp baking powder)
  • 1 tsp honey or maple syrup
  • 1 banana, sliced vertically in half
  • 2 tsp matcha powder
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tbsp yogurt (optional)

Instructions

  • Combine ingredients in a bowl.
  • Pour batter into baking vessel and bake at 325°F for about 40 minutes or until golden brown.

Virgin Berry Tea Mocktail Drink – Mother’s Day

Virgin berry tea is a mocktail drink that can be made delicious for a special Mother’s Day drink.

Virgin berry tea mocktail drink for special Mother's Day.

Shaken, not stirred, you can easily make a mocktail drink like this with your Magic Bullet blender recipes and brunch waffles. You can shake the ingredients over your shoulder and this will create a smooth frothy tea beverage like this virgin berry tea drink that all ages can enjoy.

This goes well with at a brunch with berry lavender tea scone, berry shortbread no-bake recipe, blueberry cheesecake, lemon strawberry trifle, Belgian waffles, and even cardamom cookies (…that could be the card for mom?).

Happy Mother’s Day!

Btw, when my mom was with us on earth, she spent most of her working career as a dressmaker, so this light pink and purple color berry tea celebrates her life well and fits into the 2026 Met Gala’s Costume Art theme she would’ve liked. She never ate desserts with sugar, but had plenty of fruit.

…Oh, and if your mom is more a Mint Julep Kentucky Derby type, then you can try this Virgin Mint Julep tea drink anytime of day.

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Mother's Day Virgin Hibiscus Berry Mocktail Drink

This is a virgin pink and lavender celebratory and festive mocktail drink with healthy notes that any mom would love! The drink checks the boxes for the service and quality time love language mom as she kicks up her feet to sip on this special mocktail that can be made into a cocktail.
Course beverage
Cuisine American
Author Brandy @ Healthy Happy Life Secrets

Equipment

  • martini strainer or other strainer

Ingredients

  • blueberry tea
  • hibiscus tea
  • can of coconut cream (or heavy cream)
  • blueberries and strawberries
  • lavender tea bag

Instructions

  • Reserve the thickest part of the coconut cream. Then mix the thinner part of the cream to make a milk consistency that will be used for blending.
  • Combine brewed blueberry tea and hibiscus tea and milk consistency cream. Shake up and strain to create the lavender purple color layer. Optional: add berries to this layer if you wish.
  • Freeze the first layer.
  • Repeat the second step but omit the blueberry tea to make the pink color layer as red and white make pink. Optional: add berries to this layer if you wish.
  • Freeze the second layer.
  • Add the thick coconut cream to the top. Add a little of the milk consistency cream to make the thickness of choice.
  • Decorate with dried hibiscus and lavender tea leaves, and/or fresh fruit.
  • Enjoy and watch the drink change colors!