Bluberry Oatmeal Smoothie: To Hemp or not to Hemp

To hemp or not to hemp? Before you answer that question, ask this one: "Are you having a drug test any time soon?"

Allow me to explain. I've been using hemp seeds as a source of protein for a few months now. Hemp seeds are nutty in flavor and slightly crunchy. They can be eaten raw, made into milk, prepared as tea or ground into meal. Besides topping my salad, I've be making a homemade hemp milk for use in my morning smoothies. Smoothies that are enjoyed not only by me, but by my guy.

Enter a new job opportunity for said guy; an opportunity which requires a drug test. I do the first thing any normal, non-drug using individual would do at this point - I Google it. What I find is hundreds of articles, each one contradicting the last. In a skeptical and wavering voice I notify my SO that he is in the clear; no doubt he felt there was a bit of a white lie hidden in my delivery. But one of us worrying about it was enough. I offhandedly suggested we stop mixing hemp smoothies until the result of the drug test were in as a precautionary measure.

In the meantime, my research over hemp seeds deepened. My understanding is that Hemp seeds (and oil)  have a range of 5-10 ppm THC. So failing a workplace drug test is extremely unlikely. Unlikely is not a definate, but it's fairly firm.

If you need to play the straight and narrow for a few weeks, go sans hemp with my Blueberry Oatmeal Smoothie. It's made with almond milk. Then, when your results are in, fire up the hemp smoothie for a celebration.

Fat and Happy Food Blog Tips and Techniques:  My Blendtec blender is super amazing and super powerful. You may need to tweak the liquid to ice ratio or use fresh bananas for the best results based on your blender.

Blueberry Oatmeal Smoothie

3/4 cup Almond Milk 

(my homemade almond milk has cinnamon and vanilla in it. If you are using store bought, you may want to add a dash of each into your smoothie for the best flavor)

1/3 cup Oatmeal, uncooked (not steel cut)

1 frozen banana, roughly chopped

1/3 cup Frozen blueberries
3 tbls hemp seeds

handful of ice

Add all all the ingredients into the blender, blend on high for 90 seconds. You may need to add a little water if your smoothie is too thick. Enjoy immediately. Serves 2.

Homemade Almond Milk

1 cup Almonds

Pinch of salt

4 cups water

Dash of cinnamon

Dash of vanilla

Place the almonds in a container and cover with water. Let sit overnight. Drain and rinse the almonds. Put the soaked almonds in the blender, pulse to chop them up. Add a cup of water and blend on medium to get the almonds moving. Add a two more cups of water and blend on high until the milk becomes smooth, let this run for a few minutes. 

Because I use this almond milk in smoothies, I tend to make it on the thick side. Test it and decide if you want it thicker or thinner; adjust the water accordingly.

Strain using a cheesecloth. You can use a simple wire mesh strainer instead of the cheesecloth, the almond milk will have a chalkiness to it and not be 100% smooth. This may not be a bad thing depending on your use.

 Use immediately or store in the refrigerator.