My new habit is eating a morning smoothie. I even got J into it.
It's a fresh, easy, delicious way to start the day. It may sound cliche, but I'm always trying to find easy ways to get more vegetables and fruits into our diets, and smoothies are a great one.
I also love them because they're so adaptable. You can add lots of different things - fruit, yogurt, any kind of milk, juice, vegetables (though I haven't tried this yet), ground flax seeds, nut butter etc.
Here's how I'm making mine these days:
I ripe banana
About 1/2 cup frozen fruit (we usually use berries)
About 2 Tbsp. ground flax seeds
a few spoonfuls yogurt
Enough milk or liquid to make it smooth and drinkable
Blend it up and enjoy!
We bought a new immersion blender recently, with a more powerful motor, so it makes this really easy. I find the combination of ripe banana and yogurt, plus some frozen fruit, makes the perfect consistency: thick enough, creamy and frothy. I always use plain yogurt (my fave) and I never add sugar - the fruit is sweet enough.
I've been buying Fairwinds Farm goat milk at the Italian Centre and using that in my smoothie. I tasted it on its own and was surprised to find it tasted just like cow's milk to me - no funky sharp taste like most goat's cheese and yogurt has. It blends up into a creamier mix than our other standby, almond milk, but almond milk makes the smoothie a bit sweeter. The goat milk is expensive, but it's really great to have on hand for recipes that just don't work as well without dairy.
To last through the morning without getting too hungry, I usually combine my smoothie with a bowl of whole-grain cereal with milk and raisins, or some gluten-free toast with peanut butter or avocado. Yup, I like a hearty breakfast.
What do you like in your smoothies? Do you add vegetables? Let me know, I'd love some other ideas!
8 comments:
spirulina!
and pea protein.
this makes me want a smoothie right flipping now.
YUMMMM! Tell more about the immersion blender....
Cashews...and mango. I made smoothies yesterday here. I have that same Bob's ground flax seed... I use it mostly in pancakes!
I soak the cashews in water first.
yes, spirulina. I rarely add milk, just fruit and water, but the milk will give you more protein. I have made some smoothies with just spir & carrots/celery & water, also yummy.
I tried this one today -- http://jenloveskev.com/2011/05/31/marathons-smoothies-and-lnd/ -- my first green smoothie ever! I think I need to tweak it, because it is NOT creamy. I'll probably add some yogurt next time and see what it's like. Great flavours, though!
I love the idea of smoothies but I'm one of those person's who like to actually chew something for my meal. Whenever I've had smoothies or shakes for breakfast or otherwise, I feel unsatieted, though full. Strange.
BTW: love the header picture!
A really easy way to start adding veggies to your smoothie is baby spinach - its packed full of good stuff and you can't even taste it! (If you don't believe me, do what I did....start with a few leafs and build up to a handful or two). It will change the color of the smoothie to a nice bright green, (unless you use blueberries).
I also recommend substituting half of your flax with chia (or salba...same thing, one is generic and therefore cheaper).
I'm an almond milk user, so i'm excited to try goat milk :)
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