There are some foods that I know are good for me, and I want to like, but I just can’t bring myself to eat them. Cooked beets are one of these foods. I’ve read all the benefits of beets for runners (or for anyone), so I have tried to figure out ways to get these benefits without forcing myself to eat something I don’t like.
One way to do this is by using beets or beet juice in a smoothie. Sometimes I can find peeled, cooked beets that are prepackaged, and if I add one of those to a smoothie with the right ingredients I don’t even taste it. I don’t have the time or patience to wash, peel, and cook beets all to just add to a smoothie.
A few weeks ago at Trader Joe’s I came across beet juice. Knowing I probably couldn’t drink it straight out of the bottle, I figured it would be a good liquid for a smoothie. I wanted to be strategic though because too much beet flavor could really ruin it for me.
I ended up focusing on using anti-inflammatory foods, so along with the beet juice I used ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, flax seeds, and fruit (pineapple, mango, banana, and strawberries). In order to make the smoothie filling I added almond butter, which really became the flavor of this recipe. Oats also helped to thicken it up since beet juice it really light. Oh, and mixed greens, because you might as well add those to any smoothie, right?
Since it was Sunday morning and all I drank my red smoothie out of a martini mixing glass.
Did I taste the beet juice? Maybe a little. However, what stood out was the almond butter and cinnamon, and other than that I felt like I was drinking a regular green smoothie, just less sweet.
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Do you like beets/beet juice?
Are there any foods you want to like but just don’t enjoy?
Is it warm enough to drink smoothies where you live? (I just drink them all year long!)
I wish I could just eat your beets for you 😀 I would do so willingly!
Aw thanks, I wish you could too!
I love that this recipe combines two great anti-inflammatory foods! I’m also a huge fan of beets so I love any smoothie that has beets lol
I’m glad they work in a smoothie or I would probably never eat them!
The ginger flavor of this smoothie sounds tasty! Somewhere deep in the archives of my blog is a beet and blueberry smoothie – the blueberries mask the beet flavor well. I love beets, especially the golden variety.
Ohh I will need to check out that smoothie recipe!
Here’s the recipe: http://www.thisrunnersrecipes.com/beet-blueberry-chia-smoothie/ (it’s an old post). I used whole beets that are “steamed” in the microwave to cut down on cooking time, but I bet you could use beet juice and just reduce the other liquid.
Thank you! A few weeks ago I found packaged beets that had already been cooked, and I was able to freeze them. I would do that again but I can’t always find them like that.
Hey, that’s actually a great idea. I wish I could drink smoothies all year long but I have that circulatory problem where I get really cold and can’t warm up. When I drink smoothies in the winter, I just about turn into a blue icicle.
Sometimes I feel like there is something wrong with me because my hands or feet cant warm up. Ive been under a blanket by the fireplace all day! But I did drink a smoothie this morning…I must like to torture myself!
This looks great! I do enjoy beets but they make everyone else in this house gag.
Haha well then secret beet smoothies are the way to go!
I actually do not mind beets. I like to put them on my salad or have them with pickled eggs. I have never tried beet juice but I’m sure it disguises the flavor a bit when it is in a smoothie.
It does help to disguise the taste I think! Otherwise I dont think I could drink a smoothie with beets in it.
I’ve been making beet smoothies and drinking beet juice–I truly believe that they have magical anti-inflammatory powers! I put tart cherry juice and frozen cherries in my last beet smoothie and it was delish.
Not to eavesdrop but… That sounds AMAZING! Yum!
I used cherry juice in a smoothie recently too and it was so good!!
I do love beets in salads but adding them to smoothies and soups is a great idea too
I wish I could do them in a salad once in awhile…but for now I’ll stick with smoothies!
I love ginger, beets and turmeric! This looks awesome!
It’s great that you love them because they are all really good for you!
Yum! I actually love beets but have never tried them in a smoothie. And I really should buy them more… I probably eat them once a month. Question, is the .5 cup almond butter correct? or is it supposed to be a tbsp or two?
Woa, thanks for catching that! I usually just throw in a huge spoonful, which is about 2 tablespoons I would say. Not sure how that happened but thanks for catching it!
Not sure if I’ve ever tried beets at all but this looks delicious! Thanks for sharing!
Well if you are nervous to try them I would definitely say that a smoothie is the way to go!
I’m all about the beets! Roasted beets are pretty much one of my favorite foods in the world. As far as foods I wished I liked – I wish I was into pickles, lol. I like really cucumber ones but I hate the super vinegary pickles.
I don’t like pickles either- but they’re not something I necessarily wish I liked. I’m a little jealous of your love for beets!
There was one beet supplement that I tried once and it made me incredibly nauseous so now I’m all weird about drinking beets. Eating them is one thing but the thought of drinking it down… blech.
But, your recipe looks really good so I might have to change my opinion!
Oh no! That’s terrible that the supplement ruined them as a drink for you. I think I will keep hiding them in my smoothies:)
Sounds good! I threw a few roasted beets in our smoothie the other morning, they were leftover from dinner- I loved it and I love the color! I need at add a few of your ingredients next time.
They definitely make the smoothies a pretty color! And its great when you can use up leftovers like that!
Beets are one of those foods that I like but it has to be in the right combination. Pairing beets and feta cheese over greens is one of my all time favorites. I like buying pre cooked beets to throw in smoothies too. And it adds a pretty color too.
Maybe I just haven’t tried the right food combo to go with beets. They do make the smoothie look pretty!
This actually sounds like something I might like LOL I’m not into smoothies (yet), but putting all the fruits in there (well, except for the banana) got my attention 😉
You can really make smoothies taste good pretty easily!
I. Love. Beets.
I’m not a fan of smoothies lol. I know how good they are for me, but I just can’t get into them.
We are just complete opposites with our smoothies and beets! Its too bad you dont like smoothies, but at least you can still get the benefits of eating all the foods that would go into them just by eating them whole.
I’m with you on beets! I did try them in a smoothie a couple years ago (though I did have to roast them first) and was so surprised at how yummy it was!
I was surprised too! I really thought the taste of beets would ruin the smoothie so I was glad that I barely tasted them.
This looks SO good! I have had beets in a smoothie and it was really good! I can only handle it in small doses though, lol!
Haha same here!
This looks good! It could maybe be the thing to get me to fiiinally try beets 🙂
It worked for me! I think they are intimidating any other way.
Love the flavors in here! Total nutrient blast! I love beets enough to eat them without hiding them but it wasn’t always like that!
Maybe there is hope for me too then!
I drink a shake or a smoothie almost every single day. There’s no such thing as a day that is “too cold” for a nutritious drink.
Agreed! They are just too good to pass up even on cold days.