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Writer's pictureLaura Warren
Nov 27, 20173 min read

Practical Words of Wisdom: Riki Hoeata - Creator of Craft Smoothie


So as many of you know I am a MASSIVE fan of all things smoothie related!!

They have been an absolute lifesaver in terms of packing in nutrients in between running a business, having two young children and training clients. In all honesty if our house was burning down after getting the people and cat out, I'd take the blender next; cause it is seriously utilized that much.

Riki and his company Craft smoothie have made life that much easier - in terms of the BEST SMOOTHIE INGREDIENTS DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR! Like my food bag but better in my humble opinion!!

I'm lucky enough this week to glean a recipe and some practical words of wisdom from Riki!


Riki​ ​Hoeata​ ​in​ ​an​ ​'activated'​ ​nutshell...​ ​

What​ ​is​ ​your​ ​food​ ​philosophy?

I’m​ ​big​ ​on​ ​creating​ ​healthy​ ​habits,​ ​rather​ ​than​ ​restrictions​ ​when​ ​it​ ​comes​ ​to​ ​food.​ ​For​ ​me, this​ ​means​ ​eating​ ​a​ ​diet​ ​rich​ ​in​ ​whole​ ​foods​ ​with​ ​plenty​ ​of​ ​leafy​ ​greens​ ​and​ ​fresh​ ​seasonal produce.​ ​This​ ​makes​ ​it​ ​easy​ ​to​ ​avoid​ ​processed​ ​foods​ ​and​ ​refined​ ​sugars​ ​because​ ​what​ ​I’m eating​ ​is​ ​made​ ​from​ ​scratch​ ​-​ ​smoothies,​ ​sauces,​ ​dressings​ ​-​ ​in​ ​saying​ ​that​ ​I​ ​live​ ​by​ ​the quote:​ ​“it’s​ ​what​ ​you’re​ ​eating​ ​habitually​ ​that​ ​impacts​ ​your​ ​health,​ ​not​ ​what​ ​you​ ​eat​ ​on​ ​the odd​ ​occasion”.

What​ ​are​ ​3​ ​foods​ ​you​ ​can't​ ​live​ ​without?

  • Bananas​ ​-​ ​​ ​they’re​ ​a​ ​staple​ ​in​ ​our​ ​smoothie​ ​recipes​ ​so​ ​it​ ​would​ ​be​ ​rude​ ​not​ ​to​ ​mention​ ​them!

  • All​ ​things​ ​coconut​ ​-​ ​coconut​ ​water,​ ​coconut​ ​yoghurt,​ ​coconut​ ​cream​ ​and​ ​coconut​ ​chips​ ​are all​ ​staples​ ​at​ ​home.​ ​Green​ ​curry​ ​has​ ​to​ ​be​ ​one​ ​of​ ​my​ ​favourite​ ​dishes​ ​because​ ​I​ ​like​ ​to experiment​ ​with​ ​making​ ​curry​ ​pastes​ ​from​ ​scratch.

  • Avocado​ ​-​ ​enough​ ​said!

What​ ​is​ ​your​ ​number​ ​one​ ​tip​ ​for​ ​vitality?

Having​ ​good​ ​routines​ ​in​ ​place​ ​so​ ​you​ ​can​ ​establish​ ​healthy​ ​habits​ ​is​ ​key​ ​to​ ​vitality.​ ​What you​ ​do​ ​in​ ​the​ ​morning​ ​impacts​ ​how​ ​the​ ​rest​ ​of​ ​your​ ​day​ ​unfolds​ ​and​ ​having​ ​healthy​ ​morning habits​ ​in​ ​place​ ​will​ ​have​ ​positive​ ​follow-on​ ​effects​ ​for​ ​the​ ​rest​ ​of​ ​your​ ​day,​ ​and​ ​also​ ​your vitality.​ ​Creating​ ​healthy​ ​habits​ ​around​ ​nutrition,​ ​fitness​ ​and​ ​mindfulness​ ​are​ ​all​ ​important elements​ ​that​ ​I​ ​factor​ ​into​ ​my​ ​morning​ ​routine.

What​ ​are​ ​some​ ​of​ ​your​ ​tips​ ​for​ ​people​ ​starting​ ​out​ ​on​ ​their​ ​healthy​ ​journey?

My​ ​advice​ ​to​ ​anyone​ ​starting​ ​out​ ​on​ ​a​ ​health​ ​journey​ ​is​ ​to​ ​start​ ​small​ ​-​ ​make​ ​small sustainable​ ​changes​ ​to​ ​your​ ​diet​ ​or​ ​lifestyle​ ​until​ ​those​ ​changes​ ​form​ ​into​ ​habits.​ ​Then you​ ​can​ ​gradually​ ​start​ ​introducing​ ​additional​ ​changes,​ ​one​ ​by​ ​one,​ ​to​ ​make​ ​sure​ ​you don’t​ ​lapse.​ ​By​ ​allowing​ ​yourself​ ​time​ ​to​ ​get​ ​comfortable​ ​with​ ​one​ ​new​ ​routine,​ ​you’re more​ ​likely​ ​to​ ​sustain​ ​that​ ​change​ ​in​ ​the​ ​future.

What​ ​inspired​ ​you​ ​to​ ​create​ ​Craft​ ​Smoothie?

I​ ​started​ ​Craft​ ​Smoothie​ ​after​ ​I​ ​was​ ​forced​ ​from​ ​a​ ​professional​ ​rugby​ ​career​ ​due​ ​to concussion.​ ​Smoothies​ ​had​ ​always​ ​been​ ​my​ ​go-to​ ​when​ ​I​ ​was​ ​playing​ ​rugby​ ​because​ ​I​ ​was juggling​ ​a​ ​full-time​ ​job​ ​and​ ​needed​ ​an​ ​easy​ ​way​ ​to​ ​refuel​ ​with​ ​the​ ​right​ ​nutrients​ ​between​ ​a demanding​ ​work​ ​and​ ​training​ ​schedule.​ ​When​ ​l​ ​learn't​ ​that​ ​I​ ​was​ ​never​ ​going​ ​to​ ​be​ ​able​ ​to return​ ​to​ ​rugby,​ ​I​ ​had​ ​to​ ​start​ ​thinking​ ​about​ ​what​ ​I​ ​was​ ​going​ ​to​ ​do​ ​next,​ ​which​ ​was​ ​really the​ ​catalyst​ ​for​ ​bringing​ ​my​ ​idea​ ​for​ ​Craft​ ​Smoothie​ ​to​ ​life.​ ​I​ ​knew​ ​I​ ​could​ ​help​ ​other​ ​busy Kiwis​ ​with​ ​a​ ​fun​ ​and​ ​easy​ ​solution​ ​for​ ​establishing​ ​healthy​ ​habits​ ​through​ ​superfood smoothies.

What​ ​are​ ​some​ ​fun​ ​facts​ ​about​ ​Craft​ ​Smoothie​ ​readers​ ​might​ ​like​ ​to​ ​know?

  • We​ ​send​ ​95%​ ​of​ ​our​ ​smoothie​ ​boxes​ ​out​ ​of​ ​the​ ​region.

  • I​ ​designed​ ​the​ ​Craft​ ​Smoothie​ ​logo.

  • We​ ​like​ ​to​ ​get​ ​creative​ ​with​ ​our​ ​recipe​ ​names,​ ​you’ll​ ​have​ ​to​ ​try​ ​them​ ​out​ ​to​ ​see​ ​what​ ​I mean.

  • No​ ​two​ ​smoothie​ ​boxes​ ​are​ ​ever​ ​the​ ​same​ ​-​ ​our​ ​recipes​ ​are​ ​changing​ ​each​ ​week.

  • Every​ ​week​ ​we​ ​give​ ​away​ ​random​ ​gifts​ ​in​ ​some​ ​of​ ​our​ ​boxes.

Would you share a​ ​favourite​ ​recipe​ for readers to try?​

My​ ​favourite​ ​recipes​ ​tend​ ​to​ ​change​ ​on​ ​a​ ​weekly​ ​basis,​ ​but​ ​if​ ​I​ ​had​ ​to​ ​pick​ ​one,​ ​I’d​ ​go​ ​with:


‘Stealing​ ​The​ ​Limelight’

Add to the blender:

  • 1​ frozen banana

  • ½​ ​an​ ​avocado

  • ½​ ​a​ ​mango

  • Juice​ ​of​ ​1​ ​small​ ​lime

  • Handful of baby​ ​spinach

  • 1/2 cup of soaked cashew​ ​nuts

  • Pinch of Vanilla powder

Blend all ingredients till smooth.

Pour into a jar and top with Coconut​ ​chips

So now I bet you all want to know how and where can you sign up??!


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