Coffee-Banana Breakfast Shake

Yeah yeah, I’m not a fan of smoothies. Ayurveda isn’t either. For very good reasons.

The idea of taking a bunch of ice, out-of-season fruits, maybe vegetables, probably some yogurt, or some “protein powder”, and a handful of other random ingredients, dumping it all into a blender because it’s fast, easy and “everything you need”, then sipping on it to start the day makes me cringe. When I close my eyes and imagine all these ingredients in a bowl, it would be the most unappetizing sight and most of us would never desire to eat such a sloppy mess. And if those smoothie drinkers out there knew more about why smoothies are not nearly as “optimal” as they seem, I bet they wouldn’t have to dump it all in a bowl to be deterred.

But sometimes we eat and drink things that maybe aren’t “optimal.” And that’s fine. In fact, it’s GREAT. This Coffee-Banana Breakfast Shake is a perfect example.

News flash: Ayurveda isn’t a “diet” that you follow strictly, leaving out your favorite foods for the sake of your well-being. Ayurveda is a system that examines the energy in our environment, and in our bodies, and provides ways that we can naturally balance those energies, empowering us to manage our own health.  For all of the “rules” and wisdom this 5000-year old system has to share, it also recognizes that there are factors, foods and experiences that have the propensity to push us off of our balance every day. Living with Ayurveda is absolutely about learning about our own innate state of being (prakruti) understanding how we’re likely to be thrown off balance by the environments around us and inputs we encounter (vikruti) and how to use foods and practices to find balance again.

Ayurveda isn’t about drinking the smoothie or not. It’s about understanding whether a smoothie is beneficial for us, or not. And if we choose to drink it regardless, understanding how to balance out the consequences. And from this perspective, enjoying a Coffee-Banana Breakfast Shake is a wonderful exercise in understanding the good, the less good, and the balance of Ayurveda in our foods, and in our lives.

The goods

So let’s get down on this breakfast shake. There are a few amazing things about it, which is why I am so excited to share it with you! First of all, there is nothing to frown upon when bananas, coffee, chocolate, and nuts swirl themselves together with a couple of dates in a blender. BLISS. All of those ingredients are powerhouses of good nutrition; there are so many antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and superpowers among them. From an Ayurvedic perspective, this elixir of tastiness is a pretty great choice; for starters this shake is meant to be enjoyed at room temperature, not cold, meaning it’s better for our digestion. It’s naturally sweetened from those juicy dates, and there aren’t any weird protein products or food derivatives (like those found in a protein powder) mixed in – just exceptional fat and protein from activated pecans. This breakfast shake also contains almost all Six Flavors, save for sour, which is saying a lot for a little cup of goodness. And, while Ayurveda raises concerns about the pitta-and-vata provoking, agitating qualities of coffee, the addition of ground coffee eaten, rather than consumed as a hot and acidic beverage, is also in line with the way Ayurveda recommends consuming this food.

The less-goods:

There aren’t many of these, to be honest, but there are a couple. Back to that point of coffee; if the beautiful, beneficial yet sometimes seemingly boring ancient Ayurvedic texts had their way, coffee would *probably* be left out of the recipe because it can be so very rajasic, meaning that it has a tendency to over-activate the mind, which isn’t preferable. The only other eyebrow-raising quality of this absolutely delicious breakfast shake is that bananas are mixed together with nuts. As you may have heard by now, Ayurveda emphasizes that consuming fruits with other foods leads to digestive imbalance because the fruits digest faster than proteins or fats, and this results in the fermentation of fruit in the gut, and a poor pH balance in the digestive system…and this leads to lots of other distress.

But the truth is that this is a problem if we’re doing it all the time. If every single day you’re enjoying blueberries every morning with your milk and cereal, or fresh fruit with nut butter on your toast, or fruits in your salads, or having an apple alongside your BLT, well then you’re likely to have a poor pH balance in the digestive system all the time. But enjoying a delicious, brain-boosting breakfast shake that combines fruit with nuts every once in a while is hardly an Ayurvedic crime.

The balance

Enjoying the foods that make you feel vibrant is all part of practicing Ayurveda in everyday life. And, understanding the impact those foods have on our bodies and beings, then ensuring that we balance them out with our dietary and lifestyle practices IS the medicine. THIS is the magic, and the reason that diving headfirst into Ayurveda is so invaluable. Consuming this breakfast shake might not be *optimal* for digestion, so enjoy it every once in a while; when the mood strikes on a special occasion. Choose it in cooler seasons when bananas are appropriate for our digestion, on days when your own digestion has been balanced and strong. When you’re feeling confident about your equilibrium. That’s when it will benefit you most.

To keep it all even kilter, on the days that you enjoy this breakfast shake, make sure that you aren’t combining fruits with other foods in your other meals. Make sure that you give your body a full 2-3 hours after you drink it to have another meal, and perhaps enjoy some digestive tea with your lunch to help rebuild and rebalance your digestive system again.

And, more than anything, don’t worry about whether or not you’ve “broken the rules.” Rules were meant to be broken sometimes – especially Ayurvedic ones. And especially when we have our own body wisdom, informed by Ayurveda, to keep it all flowing smoothly

This breakfast shake

Is rich, sweet, cozy and SO GOOD. It tastes like it should be a naughty treat, but everything in here is bomb for your brain and your active bod too.

The ingredients here are as simple as it gets…with a couple of nuances. I have some specific recommendations for where to source chocolate suitable for breakfast, as well as how to get your hands on activated or sprouted nuts. And make sure you do NOT use those frozen bananas you have hanging out in the freezer – save those for the banana bread we’re gonna make later this winter.