Maca Macqui Breakfast Granola bowl

It’s not hard to tell by now if you have been reading my blog that i am a smoothie fanatic. Coming out with new combinations all the time to get my morning fix for a super powered breakfast.

With the help of my friends at Navitas Naturals –  I am able to infuse my smoothie with the best of super foods.

I have been sampling this wonderful new dried berry powder from the Macqui berry.

Here are the specs.

Mak -ee

The edible purple berries of the native Chilean evergreen shrub (Aristotelia chilensis).

Anti-aging Berry

Maqui berries are native to the pristine Patagonia region of Chile, where they are regularly consumed by the Mapuche Indians – one of the longest-living cultures in the world. Recently, scientific research has confirmed a strong connection between the protective nutrients found in maqui berries and richer, disease-free mode of living.

The Power of Maqui

With an amazingly high ORAC value, maqui berries offer more antioxidants than any discovered fruit – with a particularly high potency of anti-aging flavonoids like anthocyanins and polyphenols. Recent studies have demonstrated these antioxidants to support a wide variety of bodily functions, including improved brain performance, heart health, liver strength, anticancer activity and – as the Machupe Indians likely know – overall longevity. Plus, the fruit offers a premium source of vitamin C, calcium, iron, potassium, and is a natural anti-inflammatory food.

Antioxidant Advantage

With such a profoundly rich supply of health-improving phytochemicals, even using just small amounts of maqui powder will vastly enhance the nutritional benefits of other foods or recipes. Containing a mild, unsweetened berry flavor, maqui is easy to use: try blending with other fruits or sweets in smoothies, desserts, or sprinkle on top of a breakfast bowl.

Maca (ma-kuh)

a herbaceous plant native to the high Andes of Bolivia and Peru. It is grown for its fleshy hypocotyl, which is used as a root vegetable and a medicinal herb.

Incan Strength

The root of the maca plant has been used in indigenous Andean cultures as a source of nourishment and healing for many millenniums. A radish-like root, maca is indigenous to the mountainous and ragged terrain of the Peruvian highlands. Although its foliage may be small and unassuming, the harvested root of the maca plant was traditionally used by Incan warriors in preparation for difficult expositions and battles, and was consumed to increase stamina and energy. So esteemed was this special root, that it later became used as a form of currency by the Spaniards — a practice which still carries on in some areas of Peru even today. Enjoying a massive resurgence in use, maca continues to be one of the most appreciated superfoods on the market. Navitas Naturals offers maca in 4 forms to suit all needs: a raw powder, a gelatinized powder, and a capsulated form of each.

Given that this is a superfood powerhouse, different from Acai – which I also greatly love, I am thrilled to have it part of my morning smoothie routine.

To complete my bowl I have added my

Maca Macqui Breakfast Bowl

1 cup almond milk

1 scoop Sun Warrior Protein

1/2 frozen banana

1/2 cup frozen blueberries

1/4 cup chopped spinach

1 tsp maqui powder

1 tsp maca powder

1 tbsp coconut oil

Place all ingredients in the blender and blend until smooth! Enjoy and top with some  GIRLNOLA granola!

Boost up with a Prana Bar!

If you haven’t tried or heard of Prana Bars before, let me give you an introduction. These super-powered bars first made their way into my life when I was living in New York City going to Culinary School. I lived around the corner from this amazing health food store that was always stocked with unique products. I grabbed a handful of these bars one day, as I was enticed by their bright, colourful packaging and the ingredients were just as exciting. I am so happy I stumbled upon them because now every time I go to the US, I stock up (as they are unfortunately not available in Canada)! There are very few bars on the market that I stand behind and these happen to be one of them!

Prana bars have fun combinations like goji- goldenberry, acai-coconut, raspberry-pomegranate. So exciting and unique. Every bite is delicious and they are loaded with enzymes, protein and fiber. They are also raw, organic, unprocessed, non-gmo, soy free, no sugar added, gluten free, dairy free, vegan and all natural! They fill you up and make a great snack! (Delicious Snacks are my theme for the next few weeks – and these bars are included as one of the options for my packaged product guide to snacks – see blog post coming up soon!) Whether you enjoy them for breakfast, before a workout, after a workout, for a midday snack or just to tie you over between meals – they are sure to give you a boost!

So if you haven’t had the pleasure of trying these bars yet, I am offering a little taster teaser contest!!

The first 10 people in CANADA ONLY:  (sorry USA’ers I can’t send food to you – but you can order them directly from Prana Bars!)

1. To comment below and tell me why they would love to try a Prana bar

2. To Tweet about this Contest (+ follow me on twitter) – and comment about it below

3. To Post it on Facebook (+ become a Fan of Delicious Knowledge) – and comment about it below

Will be the lucky recipients of one of these super delicious bars!

If you are one of the first 10 to respond to any of the above you will get first picks of the flavour combination that you would just love to try!

Ready. Set. GO!

Goldenberry Goji

Apricot Goji

Raspberry Pomegranate

Apple Pie

Apricot Pumpkin

Coconut Acai

Mango Maca

Blueberry Coconut

Cashew Almond

Mango Maca