Something really funny happened last Thursday. I was walking towards Washington Square Park to do some errands, and at the exact second I walked up to the park a medium-sized, moss green van pulled up. A few young guys in their early twenties, floppy jeans and baseball hats opened up the trunk and started pulling out cases of Zico coconut water.
“Hey miss, want a case of coconut water?” asks one of the dudes.
“A whole case?? Um, sure? I could go home and drop them off I guess.” I shrugged. I had heard of them before and knew they were all natural- though I had never purchased them before.
“Good, take two cases!”
So I got loaded up with 2 mango flavored pure coconut water cases of Zico, I turned and went the block and a half home to drop them off. Then I turned to walk back directly the same way…
“Wait miss— you have to take another one, ’cause there is the other flavor too!”
Okay, skip ahead to now, 4 days later. In TOTAL, I received 3 cases of the coconut water that was blessed to me by the universe. I mean, what are the chances to walk by the Zico truck at the same exact time??? There was like a 10 minute window there, b/c those dudes were obviously giving them away by the case to get their sample-giving job done with. 
Well it’s all good b/c some force in the universe wanted me to share these coconut waters with you!
Granted, we go to Chinatown every single week and get a case of 9 young coconuts, so I usually never buy packaged coconut water. But since I had them, I popped a few of the freebies in the fridge, and over the past few days I’ve had a few- when I was wanting something yummy to drink, especially before and after yoga. I must say that nothing is like a fresh coconut, but the packaged ones taste pretty good and are not sweetened, and put the idea in my head to share with you that that are a super convenient option!
So this is an excellent option for people that are extremely busy and where it isn’t possible to go shopping for fresh produce every week. Not everyone lives near a Chinatown that is a 25 minute walk away, like it is for me, to just get a bunch of coconuts. So instead, just buy a bunch of packaged coconut waters at the market next time you get a chance, and keep them in your fridge. Buy a pound of organic spirulina powder to keep in stock. Then, you can make the following drink whenever you get home from work, to give you quick energy to help you motivate to go to yoga class, do yoga at home, or go to the gym, etc. You can even have it as a superfast, easy breakfast. Blend:
The Raw Superfood Drink:
- 1 individual container, or 1 full glass, of Zico, VitaCoco or other natural, not artificially sweetened coconut water brands
- 1 heaping Tbs. of spirulina powder
Coconut water is packed with potassium and electrolytes and also helps build tone when you are doing strength-based activities, like practicing Hatha Raja yoga, etc. Spirulina is 67% green algae protein, and it also contains Omega 3 fatty acids, all the essential amino acids, Vitamin B12, over 2000 enzymes, and lots of iron and magnesium! ☺ You’ll also be amazed at how tasty it is.
Note: This doesn’t have the filling fiber of a green smoothie, and is not meant to replace it in the long term! Just an add on and emergency drink.
By the way, random thought but it just popped into my head… I am so excited about my yoga video, of which the filming looks amazing. One of my big projects this week is to type up the voiceover part of the segments, then I’m going back to LA soon to actually do the voiceover part and finish editing it!! It’s kind of taking a lot longer than I thought to get done…but patience is a yogic virtue after all!
See? Raw food can be easy. And even if you don’t go to the store every few days for produce you can stock up- EASILY- on these two items and make The Raw Superfood drink whenever you want! There is no reason not to. ☺
Have an awesome day.
Kimberly
About Kimberly Snyder
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Kimberly Snyder is a highly sought after nutritionist for many of the entertainment industry's top celebrities and author of the best-selling book, The Beauty Detox Solution. She prepares food for her clients on Hollywood’s biggest film sets and gets them camera-ready for roles and red carpet events... 
Hi Kimberly,
Any tips on opening a coconut? I bought one after reading about its many virtues on your site (which I love, btw) and ended up splashing myself and my kitchen when I finally managed to open it!
Thanks! MM
Young coconuts…I love them so much! Sadly in Greece I can only get the frozen when and if they are available, and the canned ones have sugar in them…
Coconut Water is the best drink ever.
I can’t wait for your yoga video to come out!!
Hi Nina,
Thanks!! It was produced really well so I think you’ll really like it.
You are in Greece??? I sooo want to go there. Where exactly are you from? I have a very good friend, named Yiannis, from Greece…I forget the name of his island though.
I’ll find out!
Hi Kimberly,
Is there any way to know if a young coconut is fresh and good? I went to the Asian store near me a few weeks ago and did a shake test to try to see if I could hear the coconut water inside (it was really hard to hear), as this is what someone told me to do. I ended up buying two young coconuts. One of them was great, but the other had a purple-ish tint inside, and was definitely not scoopable. I was disappointed to have paid for a product I could not use. Is there any way to avoid this in the future? Thanks!
Hi Sara,
I just did a post for my next blog, and I definitely, purposely, answered your question! As I saw your comment before. You’ll see.
And thanks for your great question, and for giving me the idea to mention it!
The shake test is great especially when you are in SE Asia and Polynesia, where you should shake the coconuts that fall from the trees, to access whether they are fresh and consumable. At that point, they are in a large green shell of really thick wood. You can easily hear the water swishing around.
The young coconuts we get in the US have been shaved down into a cone-topped shape, and flat bottom. You can hear the water swishing to an extent, but best to check the bottom, and make sure there are no dark spots or mold of any kind. If so, it has probably spoiled. If the spoilage penetrates into the meat and water part of it, the water will get slimy and the meat could get moldy. Ideally, the coconut meat should be white. Are you using a good cleaver by the way? You’ll go through tons of knives if you keep using them. And the coconut spoons are really helpful- wide and with an angled handle.
Let me know how you do!!
Kimberly
I live in Athens!Greece is not like New York at all food-wise. Living in Athens makes things a lot easier though ti find raw products. My friend actually started a company, ‘mama superfoods’ and they import cacao, maca, coconut butter, mesquite, and other products from Costa Rica and other superfoods from around the world and Greece. If you ever visit drop me a mail!
Hi Kimberly, Mom made the Truffles this evening and they were fabulous! I LOVE all of your information and refer to your site almost daily.
Much Love,
Stacy Wooldridge
Kimberly–
My sister and I have started drinking the green smoothie once a day–but we have noticed an unbelievable increase in our appetites and craving for sweets–is this normal?
Thanks,
Sheri
Hi Sheri
YES that is totally normal. Part of the cleansing process means that old poisons, and cravings get kicked back up, as we have “awakened” those poisons, who are now in our blood and circulation and brought to the forefront. The Green Smoothie, with a ton of alkaline greens and strongly cleansing fruits, can do that.
I’ll say goodbye for now but please keep in touch as to how you are doing!
If you are hungry after the Green Smoothie have something more dense afterwards, like some nuts or an avocado. There are many stages of cleansing, so it may subside for a while, then come back unexpectedly. Just continue as best you can! And remember that your body is going through a transition.
The fact that you are feeling these things means that you are indeed stirring things up. I would take a good probiotic every day. A gravity-centered colonic wouldn’t be a bad idea either, to help remove more toxins. However, if you are progressing nicely by slowing the cleansing process down when you need to = like I told you, by adding some heaviness or cooked food afterwards as you feel, then you may feel okay at the moment. Just make sure you are going to the bathroom regularly!
On that note,
Love, Kimberly
I combined some ingredients the other day in the kitchen & made the BEST smoothie out of the top super foods! Thought I’d share it here for anyone who loves the raw food smoothies! Raw cacao lovers enjoy!
2 tblspns Raw Organic Cacao Nibs
1 cup Organic Unsweetened Almond Milk
2 tlbspns Raw Organic Acai Powder
1/2 cup Raw Organic Goji Berries
1/2 cup Organic Berries (frozen or unfrozen) (I used all blueberries)
1/2 of an Organic Banana
Option: Add 2 tblspns of coconut milk or raw coconut flakes!
Hi Amanda,
Wow! How wonderful and creative our you to share with all of us. Thank you!!
it sounds like a wonderful, after-yoga of after workout drink as well.
xx Kimberly
Hi Kimberley!
So I tried this drink today–and had a hard time finishing it–I had to gulp it down and take a big bite of bread right after!…It has such a strong ‘iron taste’–is there any way I can cover this up?
Thanks for all your great tips!
Hmmm. Iron taste? Try adding a touch of Stevia.
Ya–u know the metallic taste? I’ll try with agave and see if it removes it, but it’s more of an aftertaste that lingers, so I wonder if sweetener will help…I really want to like it!
I had such a hard time drinking this at first too! But then I added some lemon juice and stevia. Not sure if the lemon juice helped significantly or not, but the stevia definitely did!
Hi Kimberly
How are you? Its a nice blog you got here!
Where are you from and how do you know all this stuff?
Is it true that Vita Coco is more “healthy”. I like Zico too.Of-course nothing bets your GGS!
Hello There. I discovered your blog the use of msn. That is a very neatly written article. I will make sure to bookmark it and come back to read more of your helpful info. Thank you for the post. I’ll definitely comeback.
Great, thanks!
When is your yoga video coming out? Where can we buy it?