Get With the Beet!

RECIPE OF THE WEEK: Beet Smoothie

Beets are nutritional powerhouses, tasty and versatile. If you have not already made friends with this amazing veggie, now is the time. Beets are a great source of folate, manganese, potassium, copper, betaine, and more.

Beets have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and detoxification properties, and facilitate regular elimination (daily consumption of beets is an easy and nutritious way to offset constipation). Golden beets vary in nutrient value somewhat from red beets, but both are great.

Beet Basics: choose beets that are firm, smooth skinned and deep in color. If they still have their greens attached, even better. Easiest way to cook them is to remove the greens and roots, steam until tender to a fork or knife. This will take 20-40 minutes, depending on the size of the beets. Alternately, place in a covered baking dish with a few tablespoons of water and roast in a 425 degree oven until tender.

Let cool, and then slip off the skins (yes, your hands will turn a vibrant magenta, but it doesn't last long!). Slice and toss with organic olive oil and sea salt. Maybe add a splash of vinegar (I prefer balsamic with beets, but whatever you like). If you have the greens, steam them briefly (3-4 minutes), and serve the beets on top of their greens. I like to steam six or more at a time, and have them ready to go in the fridge.

Also try pureeing your cooked beets in a food processor with horseradish, olive and sea salt (all to taste) for a zesty condiment invented by Angela Coon, our lead 21 Days to Better Health practitioner. Or, you can simply grate raw beets into your favorite salad.

• 1 small raw (or cooked) beet (about 2/3 cup peeled and diced)

• 1 large green apple (chopped, skin on)

• 1/2 banana (chunks)

• 1/2 cup fresh or frozen pineapple chunks (substitute fresh or frozen blueberry, or mango)

• 2 scoops SP Complete and 1-2 scoops Whey Pro OR 3 scoops SP Complete Dairy Free instead of SP Complete/Whey Pro

• 1 cup water (or less if you use ice cubes)

Optional

• 10 ice cubes

• ½ tsp grated ginger

Mix all ingredients in blender. Drink, enjoy!

Slightly modified from ACoupleCooks.com