Thirsty Thursday? I’m not talking about Bonvue Thursdays ladies and gents I’m talking about FREE smoothies at Anna Fascitelli every other Thursday from 4:30-6:00 pm!

Have you ever been in a pinch for time and missed breakfast? Or wondered what you should eat pre/post workout? Smoothies are great for any occasion!

The first Thirsty Thursday on September 13th was an introduction to the event, the what, when, where, why and who? Of Thursdays at Fascitelli.

I stopped in to grab a free smoothie and was greeted by the wellness team that puts the event together. They had a table full of free strawberry banana smoothies as well as some information on the program itself.

 4 Reasons why you should drink a smoothie! 

• They’re quick to make
  Toss in your favorite fruits and veggies and you can be out the door in less than 5 minutes with a healthy smoothie in hand.
• You can take them on the go
  Pour your smoothie into your favorite to-go cup and take it with you.
• They’re filled with nutrients
  SO many vitamins and minerals (keep reading to learn your ABCs of smoothies!)
• They’re Filling
  Filled with fiber and healthy fats it’ll be a couple hours until your tummy starts rumbling again.

Fruits or Veggies? (or both!)

Fruit and veggie smoothies allow for you to intake a variety of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, C, K, calcium, and magnesium.

Berries contain lots of antioxidants that reduce inflammation in your body and help fight disease. Dark leafy greens such as kale and spinach contain lots of iron which helps your red blood cells transport oxygen.

Personally, I enjoy both fruits and vegetables in my smoothies. Many times I’ll make a smoothie and have my roommates try it, they’ll ask what’s in it and I’ll reply “spinach”. They’re always SO surprised that you can’t taste it.

The ABC’s of Smoothies

Whether you put fruits or veggies in your smoothies (or both!) they are filled with vitamins and minerals. But what do they all promote and what can they be found in?

A- Vitamin A promotes healthy vision, skin, and bones. Mango, cantaloupe, kale, and carrots are all high in vitamin A.

B-Vitamin B6 helps the body turn food into energy and helps develop a healthy brain. B6 can be found in dark leafy greens, papayas, and cantaloupe.

C- Vitamin C is essential in regenerating and repairing tissue. Also, it lessens the duration of the common cold! Guavas, kale, lemons, and oranges are all high in vitamin C!

D- Vitamin D promotes strong and healthy bones, reduces the risk of flu, and reduces the risk of diabetes and some cancers. Kale and spinach are great sources, so make your next smoothie green!

I’m Thirsty… Now what?

I’m sure by this point I’ve got you all excited about smoothies and you’re already thinking about making one yourself. If you’ve found yourself wondering what you should put in your smoothies depending on when you’re drinking them here are some tips-

Smoothie in the morning: For breakfast, it’s important to fill it with fruits and vegetables and a healthy fat component. My suggestion would be berries and milk, yogurt or peanut butter. The fiber and fats will help keep you full until lunch!

Smoothie post workout: If you’re drinking a smoothie after working out it’s important to intake carbs and protein to help replenish what you lost while promoting muscle growth! Fruits are actually a great source of carbohydrates and protein can be found in dairy products and nut butter. Or if you prefer you can add a scoop of your favorite protein powder to your smoothie (mine is Vega chocolate!)

Below I’ll post my favorite post-workout smoothie that’s full of protein and yumminess. I use my single serve Nutribullet to make mine, but any blender will work!
(SPOILER: This smoothie may taste so good you’ll mistake it for a milkshake!)

Post workout smoothie recipe!

1 whole banana
1 large spoonful of peanut butter
1 scoop of vega chocolate protein
1 cup of Almond milk (or any kind of liquid you prefer)
½ tsp of cinnamon (optional)

Smoothies are great for any occasion, so head over to Fascitelli this Thursday to grab one yourself! AND make sure you get a punch card! If you attend two Thirsty Thursdays (and get your card punched) you can win awesome Campus Rec gear!

Have you been to a Thirsty Thursday? Or have a favorite smoothie recipe? Share with us below in the comments!

Coming Soon!

SPIKEBALL is being held October 13th from 2-4 pm, and registration for teams of two is from October 1st-11th!

Battleship will be held in the Tootell aquatic center on October 17th from 9-11pm,
registration for teams of 3 is from October 3-16th!

See ya next week!
-Leah