Berry Banana Breakfast Smoothie

~Amanda~

There’s nothing quite like a refreshing, healthy, and delicious smoothie to start off your day or cool you down on a hot summer afternoon. Smoothies can be incredibly nutritious when made with the right ingredients and give you a great boost of energy. I LOVE smoothies and drink them very regularly (I used to drink them before work every single day, but I had to switch to oatmeal in the winter because I got so cold and could never warm up, but now it’s summer so I can start again!). The best thing about smoothies is that they’re so versatile and you can make a delicious one with ingredients that you probably already have in your house. In my case, I know what I love in my smoothies so I am always sure to stock up on those ingredients at the store every weekend so I’m set for the week.

This smoothie recipe is my go-to and one of my favorites…not just because it tastes so good, but because it has such a great balance of nutrients and ingredients that are so good for you. I always start with some frozen berries (I buy Kirkland Nature’s Three Berries from CostCo). They keep for so long in the freezer so I always have them on hand. In addition to those, bananas are one of the many fruits I add; they are high in potassium which is good for nerve and muscle function, high in pectin which aids in digestion, and tryptophan which is converted into serotonin (a great mood-booster so perfect to have in your morning drink). I also almost always add strawberries to my smoothies too. They are full of fiber, potassium, and vitamin C…one cup gives you more than 100% of your daily serving! Plus they’re naturally sweet so it adds great sweetness and flavor to your smoothie.

I firmly believe in adding some greens to all my smoothies. It’s a great way to get them in your diet and they’re so easy to put in a smoothie because when combined with all the other ingredients, you don’t even taste them, but you get all the nutritional benefits. This smoothie calls for spinach (I add kale too if I have it around). Spinach is so great because it’s low in calories, high in vitamins, and it’s a good source of more than 20 nutrients including fiber, calcium, and protein. Chia seeds are another must for me as they are an excellent source of fiber and omega-3 fatty acids which are essential for heart and brain health. They also have a good amount of calcium in them! I also really love the texture and how they help thicken up smoothies. Finally, I add almond milk as my liquid because it’s low in calories, some Greek yogurt to thicken it up and add some creaminess, and some local honey for an added touch of sweetness. Once you get all your ingredients together and blend them up with some ice, you are rewarded with an incredibly tasty and nutritional smoothie to get your day started off on the right foot…before you know it, you’ll be in the smoothie routine and loving ‘breakfast’ every morning!