Looking for a quick, delicious, nutritious way to start your day? Why not go with a breakfast smoothie! Smoothies are healthy, tasty, and super portable for when you’re running out the door to get to work or class!
The fruits and veggies
Ok, so the main stars are, of course, going to be your fruits and veggies. The fruit part is easy. Choose fruits that you like the taste of, and try to mix things up! Remember, the more colors of fruits and variety in your smoothie, the more nutrition you’re getting! Popular fruit choices include: bananas, strawberries, blueberries, mango, pineapple, and more! Tip: keep a freezer bag full of any type of frozen fruit. Toss some into your blender when making your smoothie for a nice texture and to keep it nice and chilled! Otherwise, add some ice to get that thickened smoothie feel.
As for vegetables, now, don’t worry, I won’t be telling you to blend a bell pepper into your smoothie! What works perfectly for getting some veggies in is leafy greens. Leafy greens like kale or spinach are the perfect way to get some added nutrition into your smoothie, and they DON’T compromise taste. Win-win!
Liquid
You’ll need some sort of liquid to tie it all together. Decide if you want a juicy base or creamy finish to your smoothie. Any kind of juice works great for a smoothie. Or you could choose milk, or a non-dairy milk such as oat, almond, or soy milk. Yogurt also works amazingly for a richer smoothie, choose Greek yogurt for a protein boost (because of its thickness and low water content you may need to add a splash of milk or water to help blend everything together). And if you’re watching your calories, a little water always works too!
The extras!
The best part about smoothies is that you can toss in “extras” and get added boosts! Consider adding protein powder or some peanut butter for a great way to start your day off, especially if you hit the gym in the morning. Oats can be blended in as a thickener and for some fiber and healthy carbs to give you sustained energy till lunchtime. For some more flavor, throw in a little cinnamon or dried mint. Craving some chocolate? Put a spoon of cocoa powder in with your smoothie.
Toppings
Have some time for breakfast at the table today? Try a smoothie bowl. Pour your blended smoothie into a bowl, and top with seeds like chia seeds or hemp hearts, some fresh berries or banana slices, and some crushed nuts like crushed walnuts or pecans. Grab a spoon and dig in!
Check out some smoothie recipes here. Need more breakfast ideas? Check out my blog on fiber-filled breakfast foods here!
