In her book, “Calm Your Mind With Food,” nutritional psychiatrist Dr. Uma Naidoo presents a guide to relieving anxiety through diet. She offers “Sunday Morning” viewers a recipe for her beverage of choice: a Cherry Calm Smoothie. She writes:
“Whether you’re traveling or just need a morning after pick-me-up, this perfect smoothie is a must for the holidays – allowing you to feel happy and calm while nourishing your brain and body.
“With a balance of low-glycemic-index carbohydrates, healthy fats, fiber and protein, this chocolate and cherry protein smoothie makes for an excellent on-the-go breakfast that will keep you full and focused throughout your morning.
“For added protein and fiber, add a tablespoon of chia, flax, or hemp seeds.”
Uma Naidoo, MD
Cherry Calm Smoothie
By Uma Naidoo, MD
Serves 1
Ingredients:
- 1 cup fresh or frozen cherries, pitted
- 1 scoop protein powder of choice
- 2 tsps. unsweetened cacao powder
- ½ tsp. cinnamon powder
- 1 tbsp. raw nut butter
- 1 ½ cups spinach
- 8 ounces hemp milk, or milk of choice
Instructions:
Blend all the ingredients in a blender until smooth. Cheers to nourishing your neurons!
From “Calm Your Mind With Food” by Uma Naidoo, MD. Copyright © 2023 by Uma Naidoo. used with permission of Little, Brown Spark, an imprint t of Little, Brown and Company, New York, N.Y. All rights reserved.
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Check out more recipes from the “Sunday Morning” 2025 Food Issue Recipe Index!