Click here for where to find quality brands of organic virgin coconut oil.
You now know about the health benefits of incorporating some coconut into your diet, but if you’re like me and don’t like the flavor or taste of coconut, don’t worry, there’s help for us! I have a couple good ideas to get you started below, such as these nutrient-packed smoothies. (Find out where to get coconut oil with no flavor or smell, and although it’s better than no coconut in your diet at all, it’s not AS nutritious and beneficial as the virgin coconut oil.) I really wanted to like the virgin coconut oil, but in most recipes I just can’t do it. However, I found 2 ways that I really did LOVE it!
1. My yummy popcorn made with coconut oil - this really IS good, and tastes like old-fashioned movie theatre popcorn!
2. Smoothies – I got ideas for the ingredients in the book over on the right hand side and bottom of my home page, but I also pulled a couple different recipes together and use whatever frozen or fresh fruit I have on hand. (I use organic as much as possible.) Throw all this into the blender (I love the BOSCH BLENDER):
- 1/2 can organic coconut milk or 2 T. organic virgin coconut oil (but I prefer the milk, because depending on the temp of your other ingredients, the oil will clump up when it’s cold)
- 1 c. raw milk yogurt (you wouldn’t believe how easy this is to make) OR any whole milk yogurt (hopefully you’re with me by now and know that low-fat anything is bad!)
- frozen pineapple, strawberries, peeled apple, peeled kiwi, or any fresh or frozen fruit you have on hand – organic is best
- 2 raw egg yolks (if this freaks you out, read this about raw eggs and then read what a superfood eggs are, these are so good for you and for your kids – full of healthy enzymes! Make sure they’re from a good source though, don’t do this with grocery store eggs. Don’t worry, you don’t even taste them or know they’re in there.)
- juice from 1 lime
- real maple syrup to taste (from your local health food store, bulk food store or farm)
These are so delicious and taste like a pina colada. I pour them into fancy glasses for my kids and they feel extra special. With the leftovers I make popsicles so they can have a healthy treat anytime! (I got some inexpensive Tupperware popsicle makers on e-bay.)
ENJOY!
- Health benefits of coconut oil
- Why everyone should take cod liver oil (capsules are OK too!)
- Life Changes – Five Ways They’re All the Same
- More Healthy Popsicle Alternatives
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
Which local health food store do you use?
Natalie,
Usually Panacea or Harvest Health. Some things I’ll get at Meijer though, or an Amish store up by the farm where we get our milk. Other things are much cheaper online, you just have to check around to find it cheapest, or ask me!
Kelly
We usually melt the coconut oil and pour it in. I have a tiny little cast iron dish that holds about 3 Tbsp. It has a pour spout. I spoon some in there, get it on low heat, just enough to melt it, while I gather and put in the rest of the ingredients. By the time I have everything in my blender ready to go, I start it up and pour the coconut oil right in.
Hey, does anyone else feel nauseated after drinking these? They are WONDERFUL but I always feel a little ill. I’m wondering if it’s because of the high caloric content? (Which is FINE with me…..) I’m just wondering.
I’m drinking this smoothie as I type this. So yummy! I was trying green smoothies before they started causing tummy troubles for my nursing baby. I love that all the ingredients are easily digested but still chock full of nutrients.
Rachel
I did a raw chocolate version of this that the kids and I can’t get enough of!
http://organichomeschooling.blogspot.com/2010/02/another-breakfast-idea.html
Smoothies? Popsicles? Must be warmer by you than it is here!!!
Oh my kids love this stuff anytime! (It is pretty mild here today, though, high of 66, not bad!)
Maybe it’s just me. I want to go to bed with fourteen thick blankets on me, but I’m hurting a lot and the weather is cold and cclammy.
Have you found a good maple syrup that your kids like as much as the ones filled with corn syrup? It has become an expensive taste testing project in our house trying to find pure maple syrup that they like as well as hungry jack
Sandra, why are you hurting?
Hi Grace! Here’s what we did: find a grade A maple syrup – it’s much milder than grade B, but still REAL syrup with no crap. (Only ONE ingredient: maple syrup!) If that’s still too strong (in the VERY beginning it was for my kids still), then *using the Hungry Jack container*, put HALF of the grade A in there and slooowly use more grade A and less Hungry Jack. That worked like a charm with my family way back when. Now we only use grade B, it’s stronger, but much tastier and more nutrients! To find grade A: You may have to call around, start with Wells Orchard, or look online – google ‘real maple syrup Grand Rapids’ or something like that. Also try localharvest.org. Maybe I should make a new FB post just on this…!!
Combination of degenerative disc disease (at least 5 bad discs in my lower back but I’m suspecting cervical involvement at this point from numbness in m arms) with falling off my porch and landing on my head (yes, onto my head with the furniture landing on top of me, I’m talented!) and packing to move without help yet from the dh (he’s working & can’t take time off until the weekend).
My friend Kat is encouraging me to go on a modified paleoish sort of diet starting in October with lots of bone broth, no seeds, nuts or legumes, and said that 8 strict weeks and I may see some relief from the pain. How can I say no to that? I ordered this year’s lamb and am looking for some beef. I’ve got poultry but she said to skip it and most dairy for the initial period, though now that I have a reliable source of raw milk, I’m hoping to be able to add it back in.
I can do grain free but I’ll miss legumes & nnuts.
Grace – My kids have been raised with the real stuff, but there are plenty of recipes for inexpensive pancake toppings. If you want something with some nutrition and don’t mind moderate expense, my personal favorite is whole milk flavored with maple syrup (brown cow or stonyfield, I think, though homemade is good if you have it!) or greek yoghurt with maple syrup or honey stirred in.
I made coconut milk kefir the other day and it made a fab smoothie.
I also put in ice cubes to make it cooler and thicker.
I also put coconut oil in all of my smoothies, but I put it in last. I put it in cold and let the blender chop it up with the fruit and ice. If I put it in the blender first it tends to clump at the bottom and not mix well, but since I’ve made a point to add it as the last ingredient to go into the blender I haven’t had a problem.
Coconut manna (or coconut butter which is basically the same thing) is also pretty fab in smoothies as well.
Sandra, what a great friend Kat is to you!