This week we'll explore matcha (plus the many ways to use it) and a special strawberry avocado salad recipe. We'll also delve into May's full moon, a.k.a. the "Flower Moon" (on Monday!) and the importance of electrolytes in our diet.

Eat Colorfully

Seasonal Ingredient Spotlight: MATCHA

Did you know that there are many ways to use matcha beyond just as a drink? Although matcha is wonderful year-round, it's an especially fabulous ingredient in the spring. To celebrate this delightful ingredient AND this delightful season, here are my four favorite ways to use matcha:

1. Make a special matcha latte. If you have a few extra minutes some morning this week, there's nothing more satisfying than a beautiful and unique matcha. Try adding seasonal flavors, like muddled strawberries or fresh mint. My personal favorite for spring and summer is this whimsical Tropical Ocean Matcha.
2. Add it to smoothies. If you enjoy smoothies, try adding 0.5-1 tsp of matcha. Matcha goes nicely with a wide variety of flavors including many fruits, cozy spices like ginger and cinnamon, and coconut, so it's a great addition to almost any smoothie. Personally, I can't start my morning without this Supercharged Green Electrolyte + Protein Smoothie.
3. Use it in desserts. Matcha is a great addition to many desserts including cookies, nicecream, and no-bake treats. You'll love these Raw Vegan Matcha Brownies and this Matcha Honey Swirl Freezer Fudge, which is made from a protein-rich base of cashew butter.
4. Use it in oatmeal. Yes indeed, you can stir matcha into oatmeal and it's a very tasty addition. This works well for either regular oatmeal or overnight oats.

Want to get your hands on the best matcha? I always use Matcha Nude, which is organic. You can save 15% by using the code ROGUE at check-out. And if you're looking for more recipes, there are amazing ideas on the Matcha Nude recipe website (some of which I photographed... can you tell which ones??).

Special Recipe: STRAWBERRY AVOCADO SALAD WITH LEMON BASIL DRESSING

Since I know many of you are gearing up to host spring gatherings, I'm excited to share a beautiful (but easy) spring salad recipe that's sure to impress. This eye-catching salad works for brunch, lunch, or dinner, so it's a versatile recipe to keep in your back pocket for all of the season's holidays and celebrations.

This salad is spring on a plate! Avocados are delightful alongside strawberries, and their creamy texture complements raw veggies like crisp cucumbers and snap peas beautifully. The true superstar is the decadent and creamy lemon basil dressing, which is vegan and oil-free thanks to avocado.

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For the Creamy Avocado Basil Dressing:

• Large, ripe avocado
• Juice of a lemon
• 1 c fresh basil
• Generous few pinches of flaky sea salt

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For the Strawberry Avocado Salad:

• 4 c mixed spring greens
• 3 baby cucumbers
• 1 c sugar snap peas
• 1 c strawberries
• ¼ c roasted salted pistachios
• 2 sprigs fresh mint
• Large, ripe avocado

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Directions:

1. To make the dressing, combine the avocado, lemon juice, basil, and salt in a high-powered blender. Blend until rich and creamy, adding a dash of water as needed.
2. Lay the spring greens on a serving platter.
3. Slice the cucumbers, sugar snap peas, and strawberries, then add them on top of the greens.
4. Sprinkle the salad with pistachios and very finely chopped fresh mint.
5. Slice the avocado and add it to the salad.
6. Drizzle the salad lightly with dressing and serve additional dressing on the side.

Live Colorfully

In the Natural World: THE FLOWER MOON

Keep your eyes to the sky on Monday (May 12) for the full moon. May's full moon is traditionally called the "Flower Moon", a name inspired by the blooming flowers of spring.

Interestingly, May's full moon is technically a "micromoon", which is the opposite situation as a supermoon. That's because this month's full moon is occurring at a time when the moon is at its farthest point from Earth in its orbit, so it looks smaller to our eyes.

Want to catch the micromoon/ Flower Moon in action? You'll be able to see it on Sunday night and Monday night. You can watch it rise those evenings if you look to the east, or you can watch it set on Monday morning or Tuesday morning by looking to the west.

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Self-Care Pick: ELECTROLYTES

Did you know that your body relies upon charged particles (a.k.a. ions) to perform many of its key functions? Called electrolytes, these particles include positively-charged ions such as calcium, sodium, magnesium, and potassium and negatively-charged ions such as chloride, phosphate, and bicarbonate. That's just the beginning though; there are many other less abundant electrolytes that perform important functions in our bodies too.

Electrolytes are critical for our bodies to operate properly. Their roles are very diverse and include helping us regulate blood pH (i.e., acidity), controlling muscle function, assisting with a wide array of important chemical reactions, and governing cellular hydration.

There are lots of ways to get electrolytes into your diet, and generally speaking the human body does a great job on its own with regards to regulating its electrolyte balance. However, especially if you're sweating a lot or exercising hard, you might consider supplementing your electrolytes.

My two favorite ways to get extra electrolytes are: (1) drinking coconut water, and (2) adding an electrolyte supplement to my smoothie every morning (I swear by Sunwarrior's Liquid Light; it has been transformative for me). Be aware that many electrolyte supplements (especially drinks) have loads of added sugar, so read the ingredients carefully. I've also heard Oshun recommended very highly, although I haven't tried it myself.

As always, please note that I'm not a nutritionist. However, supplementing electrolytes has been hugely beneficial in my wellness routine and you might find the same.

Thanks for joining me for this issue of Eat Colorfully, Live Colorfully! I'd love to hear from you, so please feel free to reply with questions, thoughts, or requests. If you missed a previous issue, you can view all my newsletters here. Have a great week!