Let’s face it, the holiday season can be hectic. We’re busy gift shopping, decorating the home, attending school functions, baking, hosting or attending parties, and with so much going on it’s sometimes difficult to maintain energy levels or get enough sleep. We’re also around more people doubling the risk for catching a cold or the flu.

Now is a good time to start powering up your immune system to keep pace with the energy you need to get through the holiday season and avoid being sick too!

These smoothie recipes taste good, look festive and are packed full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to fuel your body. So go ahead, indulge and POWER UP naturally!

Each recipe makes two servings.

Colours of the Season Smoothie

INGREDIENTS

purple layer
2 bananas, peeled and frozen
1/2 cup blueberries
4 large strawberries, hulled, stems removedPower Up for the Holidays-layered
1/2 cup yogurt
1/2 cup prepared baby beets
2 1/2 cups ice

green layer
2 bananas, peeled and frozen
1/2 cup frozen mango or peaches
1 handful kale
1 handful baby spinach
1 squeeze of lime
2 1/2 cups ice

NOTE: You can add a squeeze of honey before blending if you prefer your smoothie a touch sweeter.

DIRECTIONS

Put all the purple layer ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. You want this to be pretty thick so the layers stay defined and separated. Pour mixture into 2 glasses. Freeze for 20 minutes.

Wash and dry blender. Put all the green layer ingredients into the blender and blend until smooth. Use a little coconut water to blend, if necessary.

Remove purple smoothie from the freezer and slowly pour the green layer on top. Serve and enjoy! Note: As long as the bottom layer is partially frozen, you can reverse the layers as shown pictured.

Festive Layered Smoothie

Power Up for the Holidays-festive smoothieINGREDIENTS
1 cup frozen raspberries or strawberries
1 medium frozen banana
1 cup coconut milk
1 cup frozen mango chunks
1 cup pineapple juice
Chia seed, optional (for garnish)

DIRECTIONS
Using a blender, add the raspberries or strawberries, or a mix of both, banana, and coconut milk. Blend the mixture until smooth. Pour into two glasses.

Rinse out blender and dry. Add the mango chunks and pineapple juice. Blend the mixture until smooth.

Gently pour the mango smoothie over the the raspberry smoothie. You can leave the layers sharply defined or use a spoon to pull a little of one layer through the other for a festive look.

For garnish, sprinkle on chia seeds, and add a few colourful straws just before serving.

Green Power Smoothie

Power Up for the Holidays-greenINGREDIENTS
2 apples, cored and cut into chunks
2 small pears, cored and cut into chunks
1 peach, pitted
Juice of one lemon
3 to 4 cups water or coconut water
1 handful kale leaves
2 to 3 large handfuls spinach leaves

DIRECTIONS
Place the apples, pears, peach, lemon juice, and water into a blender, blend until smooth. Add the greens, a little at a time, blending well between additions, until smooth.

Taste the smoothie and adjust flavour by adding more greens or fruit, as desired.

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