Five minute fast food for poker players - the smoothie

Lee Davy digs into his culinary handbook to produce a healthy meal that can be made during the five-minute online poker MTT break.

Can you imagine the sheer level of acrimony that would rise above the tables if the game were opened up to the beady eyes of the Health and Safety Representatives?

Ergonomically unfriendly conditions, lack of nutrients, poor levels of hygiene, and a lack of breaks would send them into frenzy. 

The beauty of online poker is you control your environment. You can buy the latest Herman Miller Aeron Graphite, wash your hands, and eat healthily. But the one thing you can’t control is your MTT breaks.

The five-minute hourly breaks are a much-loved respite for the poker community, but it’s not a lot of time is it? This is especially true, if you want to make yourself some food.

With this in mind, I have decided to share a recipe for a fast food option, that is healthy, will maintain your sense of satisfaction, and more importantly, can be rustled together in five minutes. 

The Smoothie

Smoothies are quick, easy, and require no preparation; but you do need a machine that can break down all of your food and churn it into something drinkable. 

I use a Nutri Bullet. They will cost around £100, but the great thing with these bad boys, is they are compact enough to be taken abroad.

So if you are playing live tournament poker, you will always have a way of making smoothies from your hotel room. Here is what I put in to my poker smoothie:

Banana

I use a whole banana in my smoothie. It creates a thicker consistency, and there are a wide range of health benefits associated with the fruit. They contain high levels of tryptophan, and this converts into serotonin, thus making you happier. 

Bananas are also a good source of calcium, regulates blood sugar, and also reduces PMS symptoms for all you female poker players out there. They also help lower blood pressure, and they are great at aiding digestion. 

Avocado

I use half an avocado per smoothie, and this is important to me because I am a vegetarian. Avocados are a great source of protein, and a single avocado contains 15 grams of healthy fats. 

Some of the nutrients included in an avocado include Vitamin K, Folate, Vitamin C, Potassium, Vitamin B5, B6, and Vitamin E. They are also loaded with fiber and help to lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels. 

Flaxseed Oil 

Flaxseed Oil is also rich in fiber, potassium, and a great source of Omega-3. I buy bottles from my local health store, and I put around a tablespoon in my smoothies. 

Flaxseed oil helps reduce the risk of cancer, helps the growth of strong hair and nails, helps create beautiful skin, and also plays a role in burning body fat. 

Goji Berries 

Goji Berries are the most nutritionally dense fruit on earth. They are native to the Himalayas, and contain the highest source of protein of any fruit - once again making them a must for vegetarians.

They contain all the essential amino acids, are chocked full of vitamin C, and contain 15-times the amount of iron that you will find in spinach, prompting the question as to why Popeye wasn’t popping these things for fun, moments before getting jiggy with Olive? 

I use a small pinch of berries for each smoothie that I make. 

Cacao Powder

This is a must in my smoothies because it gives it that chocolaty taste. This is essential for someone - like me - who is trying to create a sugar free lifestyle. I use a tablespoon of Cacao Powder (often heaped), but it’s taste dependent. This superfood has more than 300 nutritional compounds, and it’s another rich source of antioxidants. 

Pea Protein

This is another great source of protein because unlike soy, egg, or certain whey formulas, it’s completely hypoallergenic. It’s also 100% vegan, lactose free, and activates the release of hormones that give you that full feeling. It’s also low in carbohydrates, and is completely gluten free. 

I use about a quarter of a tablespoon for each smoothie.

Chia Seeds

I love Chia Seeds. I sometimes add them to water and drink them on their own. They always remind me of frogspawn, and I know it’s a little strange to want to eat frogspawn, but I always have.

Chia Seeds pack a punch. They deliver a massive amount of nutrients with hardly any calories. They are high in fiber, protein, fat, calcium, manganese, magnesium, and phosphorus.

I always use a tablespoon in every smoothie.

Bee Pollen 

Who would have thought it?

A simple bee can produce a foodstuff that contains nearly all of the nutrients needed by humans.

Bee Pollen is richer in proteins than any animal source, and contains more amino acids than meat, eggs, or cheese. 

I use half a tablespoon per smoothie, which would take a single bee a whole month, working eight hours a day, to create. 

Milled Flaxseed and Almonds 

Nuts are also packed with protein, fiber, and all the essential fats. I buy milled packets containing a mixture of almonds and flaxseeds, but there are so many different varieties at all good health stores. 

I use a full tablespoon of what I like to call ‘nut-dust’. 

Mixed Frozen Berries 

You can add any sort of fruit to your smoothies, but I like using the mixed frozen berries from my local supermarket. They give the smoothie an ice-cold feel to it, which is perfect for my next ingredient. 

Coconut Oil

It’s proven that countries that eat a lot of coconuts are amongst the healthiest in the world. If it works for people in the South Pacific, it will work for me. Coconut Oil increases your level of energy, kills bacteria and helps keeps infections at bay. It also makes you feel full, which always helps, from hour to hour. 

I like to melt my oil down and dribble a little bit into my completed smoothie, and then stir. The chill produced by the frozen berries creates these lovely hard pieces of coconut, and the texture against the smoothie is amazing.

Peanut Butter

Peanut Butter is another great source of protein, and adds to the taste of your final product. It also contains a high level of potassium, healthy fats, fiber, and is another energy booster. I use a gluten free version, and always use a heaped tablespoon of the stuff, but it’s all down to individual taste.

Almond Milk

Once all the ingredients have been placed into the Nutri Bullet I fill it with Almond Milk and give it a whirl. You can also use Coconut Milk, and at a push simple dairy, although I’m not a fan of drinking something that is designed for the inside of a cow. 

Once you have given it a spin, simply take off the top, and the rest is ready to drink. All you need is a spoon to finish off the sticky bits, and your fingers to get into the parts of the jug that the spoon just cannot reach. 

It tastes amazing, is exceptionally good for you, takes less than five minutes to make, and really does leave you feeling like you have just eaten a plateful of steak, eggs and chips - except it’s a lot healthier.