Sip on this banana and goji berry protein smoothie for a pre- or post-workout boost

This delicious protein-packed smoothie with energising banana, goji berries and maca is the perfect way to give your body a serious pre- or post-workout kick!

 

 

Banana and goji berry protein smoothie recipe

Serves: 1

Ingredients:

• 1 frozen banana
• 1 cup almond milk
• 2 tbsp dried goji berries
• 1/4 tsp maca powder
• 1/4 fresh vanilla
• 1 tsp raw honey
• 1 scoop whey protein

1. Method:
   Place all the ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth.
2. Pour into a tall glass and garnish with additional goji berries if desired. Drink up immediately.

How to select and store goji berries

Goji berries are on everyone’s mind right now. And for good reason: The little red berries are little nutritional powerhouses! They’re great in smoothies, smoothie bowls, cereal, oatmeal, trail mixes… You name it! Here’s how to select and store this much-loved superfood.

 

How to select goji berries

Here’s where you can buy goji berries:

• Health food stores
• Natural food markets
• Online

Goji berries are most often available in dried form. Sometimes, though, you’ll find them in the form of a powder or juice. I recommend buying and using dried berries over refined powders or questionable “juice” supplements.

It’s extremely important you only purchase certified organic goji berries, and that you look into the grower or distributor to ensure that the “organic” label really means that the berries were grown organically.

A lot of goji berries are grown in China (even ones that say “Himalayan” on the package). And, as you may know, organic standards in China aren’t always enforced.

Lastly, look for goji berries that are raw (meaning they’ve been dehydrated at low temperatures rather than “baked dry”, as most fruits are).

How to store goji berries

Store your goji berries in an airtight container to keep them fresh. Make sure you keep the container in a cool, dry place.

Note: Don’t store your goji berries in the fridge!

Five creative ways to add goji berries to your diet for longevity, trace minerals and enhanced nutrition

I’ve been snacking on goji berries on an almost daily basis over the past two years. They’ve been part of Chinese Medicine for over 5,000 years – did you know that? Goji berries are great for your diet because they’re dense in antioxidants, carotenoids, trace minerals and other health-promoting phytonutrients.

 

It seems that the issue, though, is that a lot of you don’t really know how to incorporate them into your diet. So, below, you’ll discover a couple of super-duper easy ways to eat goji berries and experience their fruity taste and extraordinary health benefits for yourself.

 

Note: Most goji berries are packaged as dried berries. Think of them as superfood raisins like I do; just slightly less moist. They have a lovely sweet taste, but their taste is far more complex than that of raisins due to the symphony of nutrients and minerals they deliver.

 

Five ways to get your goji berry fix

#1: Blend them into smoothies

Simply add some organic fresh or frozen fruit along with your favourite milk (I love using coconut or almond milk) and a scoop of goji berries to your blender. Blend the ingredients on high-speed or until completely smooth. Enjoy your fruity smoothie for breakfast or after a workout. I also like adding chia seeds, maca powder or pomegranate powder to my smoothies for additional superfood goodness.

#2: Sprinkle them over a bowl of cereal or granola

Goji berries make any plain old bowl of cereal or granola better in an instant. Just sprinkle a spoon or two over your morning cereal, granola or even oatmeal to increase the nutrition density of your breakfast while adding minerals like zinc and phosphorus. They’ll give your breakfast a delightful fruity taste, too!

#3: Add them to nut and trail mixes

Okay, this one’s a no-brainer: Any trail or nut mix (or travel snack mix) tastes better with dried fruit. Goji berries are the perfect option when it comes to this! They’ll add superior nutrition to your nutty mix, not to mention great taste. Plus, their visible natural colour will even make your snack look more delicious.

#4: Soak them to create goji berry tea

You can soak goji berries in cold or hot water to create a refreshing tea. When in water, the berries swell and release nutrients into the water. The Chinese have been using them for thousands of years to make tea. I love doing this at home – it only takes a few minutes! You can also mix goji berries with other teas you might already enjoy.

#5: Bake them into breads and muffins

Although goji berries are more nutrient-dense when you eat them raw, they still pack an impressive nutritional profile when baked. This means you can mix them into recipes for breads, muffins, energy bars and more… And you’ll instantly enhance your baked goods’ nutritional density with a superfood powerhouse!