Beets are a hard veggie to swallow. They look funny, taste like dirt, and can make you gassy! Gross? Right? As gross as they may be, beets are very beneficial for runners. According to Canadian Running Magazine "Beets, like coffee, are well known for their 100 per cent legal performance-enhancing properties. (They’re also full of health-promoting vitamins, iron, folic acid, and anti-oxidants.)" The news kept getting better. A 2014 study found that beets may also be useful in increasing blood flow to fast-twitch muscle fibers - A fancier way of saying they can make you faster.
No matter what the nutritional benefits, beets are a hard taste bud pleaser. There are a ton of online recipes available that can help you incorporate them into your nutrition plan, but some of them are just plain gross. To help you save time (and your buds!), here's one of our favorite recipes from Well Plated by Erin. It requires minimal time and simple ingredients, however please note it may take a few practices to get it right based on your specific preferences. (It only took us 3 tries!)
Check it out and let us know what you think in the comments below!
Blueberry Beet Smoothie Prep Time: 4 Minutes. Blend Time: 1 Minute. Total Time: 5 Minutes Serving Size: 2 small or 1 large. Ingredients:
1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk or milk of choice
1 cup mixed frozen blueberries or mixed berries (We prefer blueberries or strawberries)
1 small 8 ounce beet peeled and diced. (Cut this amount in half if you despise the taste of beets)
1/4 cup frozen pineapple
1/4 cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt use non-dairy yogurt to make vegan
Optional sweetener: 1-2 teaspoons honey plus additional to taste (use agave to make vegan)
Optional mix-ins: chia seed
Instructions: Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Serve immediately. Nutrition
Serving: 1g | Calories: 95cal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 1g | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 13g |
Happy running friends!