How Does a Blue Watermelon Smoothie Relate to Prepping?

Yes, another food post. Sorry that every single post over the past two months has been about either food or biking, but there's a good reason for it. Since seriously committing to getting in shape, which includes getting rid of the excess weight, my focus has been primarily on that job.

And it is a job. To keep myself on track, I need to keep reading books about eating for optimal health (and easy weight loss), I need to participate in online discussion boards about healthful eating and the benefits, I need to plan meals with delicious foods that support my health, and I need to exercise my butt off. Well, not really "off" so much as decreasing its mass and reshaping what's left.

To my readers that are into the whole prepper lifestyle, this may seem like I've lost my focus. I don't think so. While I may not be preserving as much food as in the past (although I've canned applesauce and peach chutney in the past week), both my sweetie and I feel this is exactly what I need to be doing right now to prep for a lower energy lifestyle.

To survive in a future with oil that is more expensive as it becomes more scarce, I need to be in good physical condition. I need to be able to walk and bike more places more often. I need to be able to haul big loads on my Xtracycle.

To survive in a future where the climate is changing, I need to conserve water here in the desert. Smaller size clothes will take up less room in the washer, ultimately leading to fewer loads and lower water use. Being in better physical condition will mean more water is hauled out to the garden instead of being allowed to flow down the drain because I'm tired.

To survive in a future where the economy is even more tight, being able to wear smaller clothes will make thrift store shopping easier. The larger sizes have far less selection than the smaller ones and the pants tend to wear out on the inner thigh seams due to chafing. (Ladies, if you're heavy, you know what I'm talkin' about.)

These are just a few of the considerations. There are bigger ones as well. With peak oil and economic woes, medical care is likely to get more expensive. Changing my lifestyle to minimize the risk of the chronic diseases of rich Western societies - cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes - saves tons of money and pain in the long run. Frequent trips to the doctor, prescriptions, ongoing tests, hospitalizations, and home health care equipment are all very expensive, not to mention time-consuming! Spending a little extra time daily to make sure I prepare healthy food and get my exercise done is well worth it.

And, of course, if you want to have a really bleak view of the future, if the shit does hit the fan, it would sure be nice to be able to run faster than the other guy when the "eaters" are comin' after you!

So, on to the smoothie. The way I am eating now incorporates a lot of tasty, unrefined plant foods such as whole grains, potatoes, sweet potatoes, vegetables, beans, and fruit. Lots of nutrients, lots of fiber, lots of complex carbohydrates for energy, little fat, and no cholesterol. This smoothie is full of fruity goodness with a booster of complex carbohydrate and even a little spinach.

I normally don't make a lot of smoothies because I prefer to chew my food. Chewing is a good thing as digestion starts in the mouth with the release of digestive enzymes that start breaking down the food. Chewing also helps increase the feeling of satiety over gulping a blended food. This smoothie, however, still has some texture to it. I generally take a small sip with the straw and chew the smoothie in my mouth before swallowing. Yeah, you already knew I was weird.

Blue Watermelon Smoothie

1 cup of peeled, seeded, and chopped watermelon
1/2 cup frozen (or fresh) blueberries
1/2 of a large banana (the other half will keep well in the fridge if the cut end is covered)
1/3 cup frozen or fresh greens (such as spinach, kale, chard, etc.)
3 tbs Kashi 7-Grain Nuggets (or Grape-Nuts cereal)
3 tbs non-dairy milk (I am currently using oat milk.)
1/2 tbs brown rice syrup, optional

Process in a blender on medium speed for 30 seconds.

Sip slowly, chewing each mouthful before swallowing.