Jude Bolton: 'I would never get picked to play AFL today'

He was one of the feistiest players on the field, and AFL legend Jude Bolton proved he definitely likes his smoothies with a bit of a kick too when I showed him how to make my Chilli Cacao Smoothie.

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Jude and I have met a couple of times doing charity work, and I’ve got a soccer background so he even helped teach me how to properly kick a football. But this time it was my turn to teach him a couple of things with this smoothie.

Chilli might seem like an odd choice to pop in with your usual smoothie ingredients, but trust me, not only does it pack a flavour punch, it’s really good for you.

Cayenne pepper is a great anti-inflammatory, while cacao is packed full of magnesium to support muscle recover. Add in the avocado which covers you off with your healthy fats, as well as the fuel from the banana and you’ve got a nutritional boost that’s perfect for after training.

This chilli cacao smoothie is great for someone like Jude who admits he misses playing for the Sydney Swans since retiring three years ago.

“It’s the training, I miss the competitiveness – having something to train, that outlet,” he says. “There’s that elation you get from succeeding. Then it’s the banter, I miss the boys. You take it for granted while you’re playing.”

One thing he doesn’t miss? “Probably the ice baths, and the analysis after the loss. You play it over in your head, you lose sleep at night going: “I’ve stuffed up”, he says.

But that doesn’t mean Jude’s given up on his fitness routine altogether. A big fan of cardio workouts, he’s also a busy dad to his two young daughters, Sierra and Piper.

“I do climb up the walls at times but with the girls at home, I think that’s softened me a bit,” he says.

How to make the Chilli Cacao Smoothie

Serves 1

Handful of ice
200 ml coconut milk or nut milk
1 banana
½ avocado
2 tbs cacao
Pinch of cayenne pepper
Pinch of Himalayan salt
1 tsp of honey (optional)

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