A long, long, long time ago when Scott and I were still running and training for marathons, I had a little herbivore-athletic brand I called "Herbisport." (The logo was so cute, it was my little elephant with sweatbands plus he was holding a dumbbell in his trunk.)
Anyway, I was doing some virtual de-cluttering the other day and came across all the recipes I'd developed for Herbisport (recovery smoothies, DIY energy bars, etc) and thought I'd share them :)
These days we're into yoga, which thankfully doesn't require special "nutrition" and snowboarding (I carry potatoes, which have the added bonus of acting as a warmer!) plus Scott likes to run or bike on occasion. When he does he takes dates for quick refueling, which is probably what I'd do if I ever decided to be a runner again.
Nevertheless, enjoy these recipes if you're ultra active and want a more whole foods nutrition supplement. I used to get the worst "stomach rot" from all the GU's and gels (as well as Gatorade, even watered down) when I was training which is why I learned about sports nutrition and developed these recipes ;)
Herbisport Recovery Puddings
Banana Pudding
- 1 cold banana
- 3 tbsp soymilk
- 2 tbsp cooked quinoa
- 2 tbsp plain hemp protein powder
Chocolate Pudding
- 1 cold banana
- 1/2 tsp honey or agave
- 3 tbsp soy milk
- 2 tbsp cooked quinoa
- 2 tbsp plain hemp protein powder
- 1 tbsp cocoa powder
Oatmeal Pudding
- 1/4 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 cup soy milk
- 1 tbsp raisins (or 1 tsp agave/honey)
- dash of cinnamon and cardamon
Pudding directions: Combine all in a blender, or cook oatmeal as usual, then chill.
Herbisport Recovery Smoothies
Popeye Smoothie
- 1 cup soy milk
- 1/2 banana
- 1 soaked date (or 1 tsp honey/agave)
- 1/4 cup frozen blueberries
- 1 tbsp cocoa powder
- 2 cups fresh spinach
Banana Split Smoothie
- 1 cup soy milk
- 1/2 banana
- 1 date
- 1/2 cup strawberries
- 1 tbsp cocoa powder
Tropical Smoothie
- 1 cup soy milk
- 1 cup frozen pineapple chunks
- 1/4 cup frozen or fresh mango chunks
Neapolitan Smoothie
- 1 cup soy milk
- 1/2 banana
- 1 date
- 1/2 cup strawberries
- 1 tbsp cocoa powder
Smoothie Directions: Blend.
Herbisport Endurance “Sports” Drinks
LEMON:
- 16 oz water
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- pinch salt
- 2 tsp honey/agave (or 2 soaked dates)
- 1 tbsp lemon zest
LEMON-LIME
- 16 oz water
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- pinch salt
- 2 tsp honey/agave (or 2 soaked dates)
- 1 1/2 tsp lemon zest
- 1 1/2 tsp lime zest
LIME
- 16 oz water
- 2 tbsp lime juice
- pinch salt
- 2 tsp honey/agave (or 2 soaked dates)
- 1 tbsp lime zest
ORANGE:
- 8 oz water
- 24 oz fresh orange juice
- pinch salt
Drink directions: Mix together.
Herbisport Energy Bars
Apple Pie
- 1 red apple
- 4 dates
- 1/2 cup cooked quinoa
- 2 tbsp flax meal
- 2 tbsp hemp protein (plain or vanilla spice)
- cinnamon / nutmeg to taste
Ginger Snap
- 1 pear
- 4 dates
- 1/2 cooked quinoa
- 2 tbsp flax meal
- 2 tbsp hemp protein (plain or vanilla)
- 1-2 tbsp fresh ginger
Bar directions: Combine everything in a food processor and process. Shape mixture into bites.
Herbisport Recovery Drinks
Lemon-Aid
- 2 cups water
- 2 tbsp lemon juice (about 1/2 a large lemon)
- 2 tsp honey/agave or 2 dates
- 1 tbsp lemon zest
- 1 tbsp flax meal
- 1 tbsp hemp protein
- pinch salt
Strawberry-Aid
- 2 cups water
- 1/4 cup fresh or frozen strawberries
- 1 tbsp lemon juice or lemon zest
- 2 tsp honey/agave (or 2 soaked dates)
- 1 tbsp flax meal
- 1 tbsp hemp protein
- pinch salt
Berry-Aid
- 2 cups water
- 1/4 cup frozen mixed berries
- 1 tsp honey or agave (or 1 soaked date)
- 1 tbsp flax meal
- 1 tbsp hemp protein
- pinch salt
Drink directions: Blend.
Pre-Workout Energy Drinks - Pineapple
- 1 cup soy milk
- 1/2 cup frozen pineapple
Directions: Blend.
Herbisport Gel
- 4 dates
- 1/2 banana
- 1/4 c honey/agave
Lemon: add 1 tbsp lemon zest
Chocolate: add 2 tsp cocoa
Vanilla: add vanilla extract to taste
Lastly... if you're in a pinch, chocolate soymilk can work as a recovery drink, it's near perfect with the ratio for all the things you need.
AND (!!)
4 dates + 1/2 cup honey or agave = 6 100-calorie gels.