The gift of cherries & a smoothie recipe

It's cherry season - lay-bys are decorated with the unmistakable green and white stripes and the tanned people than man them. On a side note - why is it only cherries sold in lay-bys? Answers on a postcard...

Cherries are bursting with nutritional properties - they're a great source of fibre and extremely low GL (glyceamic load - good news for balancing blood sugar). And keeping with the idea that characteristics of a fruit hint to what they are good for (their blood red colour) they are great for cardiovascular health by helping to lower cholesterol.

Studies showed that cherries are excellent for reducing inflammation, from the heart through to joints - and are highly recommended for exercise related muscle pain. If all of that wasn't impressive enough, cherries have also shown to promote melatonin production which is a hormone responsible for ensuring you get a great nights sleep. 

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These ruby beauties are rife throughout Sussex and Kent at the moment - most of the A roads around Lewes are homing a cherry stall and now is the time to stock up on this brilliant fruit. Buy loads and once you've stained your hands and tongue get to work on stoning and freezing the rest and make them an essential ingredient of your morning smoothie. They are sweet, full of fibre and an excellent addition year round to your nutritional intake. 

I swear by a cherry smoothie around 3-4 times a week - they're super easy to make and see me feeling satisfied for a large portion of the day. Here's my recipe:

  • 125g stoned, frozen cherries

  • 50g frozen blueberries

  • 40g rolled oats

  • 1 tsp chia seeds

  • 1 tsp nut butter

  • 1 tsp Maca powder

  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon

  • 2 tbsp live natural yoghurt or a couple of splashes of nut/seed milk

  • 75ml water (less if using milk instead of yoghurt)

Put all of above in a smoothie cup/jug ( I use a Nutri Ninja) and blitz until smooth and drink with a straw or pour into a bowl and top with toasted almond and coconut flakes. 

Cherry breakfast smoothie recipe on Tide blog

Places cherries have been spotted (please feel free to add any in comments below!)

  • A275 just before South Chailey

  • A272 between Newick and Piltdown

  • A26 turning right from Lewes at Beddingham roundabout heading to Newhaven

  • Sold at Holmansbridge Farm, Barcombe 

  • Sold at Rushfields, Henfield

  • Sold at Park Farm Shop, Falmer



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