Channing Tatum's Go-To Hack For Including Vegetables In His Diet
Whoever said children were fussy vegetable eaters had never met an adult. And they most certainly hadn't met Channing Tatum. In an interview with Men's Journal, Tatum's trainer, Arin Babaian, gave readers all the deets about Tatum's "Magic Mike XXL" body. "Channing doesn't love vegetables," he said, "but nutrition is fundamental." Nutrition is important indeed, especially if you're following a routine like Tatum that involves starting a day with a bike ride, ending it with a six-mile run, and squeezing in three more workouts in between.
So how did Tatum meet his veggie requirement? With lots and lots of smoothies. With the help of several Nutribullets around the house, Tatum churned kale, spinach, and romaine into a smoothie and gulped it down with the help of strawberries and blueberries. He then drank an additional smoothie alongside six eggs for breakfast as well as another one with a meal consisting of chicken, yam, and more veggies.
You've got to give it to the actor for his dedication towards getting in his daily greens.
There are several ways to amp up the flavor of a green smoothie
A spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics told USA Today that green smoothies are a great way to pack in the nutrients of veggies whilst keeping the fiber content intact. Meaning, smoothies can even help keep you fuller as well as keep you hydrated. But that doesn't mean that smoothies have to be plain and boring. Several tricks can go a long way in making them a lot more flavorful!
HuffPost vouches for the superior taste of fresh vegetables as compared to frozen ones and recommends picking superfoods for their taste as well as the nutrition value. A squeeze of citrus fruits like lemon can also add flavor to smoothies. Epicurious says that spices and seasonings can be a savior for bland smoothies: Think cinnamon or cardamom powder, turmeric, salt, vanilla extract, a knob of ginger, or even cocoa powder. If your smoothie lacks sharpness, add in a splash of apple cider vinegar, for sweetness try dates or applesauce, and if it's a tangy flavor that you want, Greek yogurt is the answer (via Food52).
Eating Well also says that not all green veggies belong in a smoothie. While it may be tempting to throw in a head of raw broccoli in there while you're at it, certain bitter, strong-flavored, or fibrous veggies like arugula, asparagus, Brussel sprouts, and collards simply do not belong in a smoothie.