Dragon Juice

Sweet and slightly tangy, this smoothie is low in carbs but loaded with flavor.

 

- Amanda Burrill, MS

Meal preppers, listen up: If you eat the same thing day in and day out for an extended period of time, in the long run something will be lacking. Trying new foods and having variation in your diet is the best way to increase the overall number of nutrients you give your hot body. If you live and die by your prepared lunches and dinners, then your a.m. protein smoothie is the perfect place to “play around.”

Pitahaya cactus (yes, this comes from a cactus) is known in English as “dragon fruit.” They are native to Mexico but are now cultivated in Southeast Asia, the US, and Israel. They have spread for good reason—they’re tasty, healthy, and once you open them up, surprisingly pretty. Yes, that counts for something. Pretty food tastes better.

Dragon fruit, which tastes like a cross between a pear and a kiwi, is low in calories yet offers many nutrients, including vitamin C, B vitamins, phosphorus, calcium, and antioxidants. These nutrients are proven to do things like lower blood sugar levels, strengthen bones and teeth, promote healthy blood and tissue formation, and strengthen the immune system.