Do you start your day with a smoothie?
Pancakes or cereal are OK sometimes, but let’s rethink this.
Fueling your body in the right manner can truly increase your energy to get you through your day.
Smoothies are the perfect choice to fuel
your energy
If you are fighting fatigue, the common cold, skin problems, or even anxiety, smoothies can help put you on the right path to health.
There are multiple benefits to smoothies. They . . .
*help to increase fruit and vegetable intake
*boost nutrition in your day, with an increase of vitamins and minerals needed
*give your digestion a break
*add fiber to help with bowel movements
*can help kick sugar cravings to the curb
I love to wake up and eat breakfast. When I started drinking smoothies I was skeptical that they would fill me up and keep me satiated. Wow, was I wrong! Starting my day with a smoothie often kept me full until lunch. I didn’t need a snack mid-morning.
There is definitely a difference in my energy throughout the day if I skip my smoothie.
The best part is that they are easy to make
You can certainly find a million smoothie recipes over on Pinterest but it is just as easy to build your own.
Load up your blender with the following:
- Greens: add in ½ – 1 cup of kale, spinach, collard greens, Swiss chard, parsley, or lettuce
- Fruit: add in a banana, berries, apple, or mango
- Fat & Protein: add in 1-2T hemp seeds, chia seeds or flax seeds, pea protein or protein powder, avocado, coconut oil, or nut butter
- Superfood add-ins (optional): raw cacao, bee pollen, shredded coconut, goji berries, collagen powder
- Liquid: add in 1 – 1 ½ cups of water, coconut water, or dairy-free milk
Adding spices to improve digestion is also a smart move. Good additions are cinnamon, nutmeg, turmeric, or cayenne.
Mint is also a great addition.
This is my favorite Green Smoothie:
½ cup spinach
½ cup kale
½ avocado
½ banana
½ t cinnamon
1T cacao powder or protein powder (optional)
1 cup of coconut milk
Blend all together and enjoy!
Don’t stress over having
an expensive blender
While a basic store-bought blender will not truly blend your greens and veggies as needed, a Ninja works wonders. You do not have to start with a Blendtec or Vitamix. I suggest starting with a less expensive investment to make sure you follow through and create a fabulous habit for your health. There’s no sense in spending $400-$500 on a blender and then letting it sit on your counter unused.
Create your healthy smoothie habit, and then celebrate yourself with an upgrade if needed!
A Smart Smoothie Hack
I used to hit the Farmer’s Market to pick up my greens. At home, I would clean, chop, and then place the greens in the freezer for future smoothies.
Last spring I hurt my hand so couldn’t use a knife for a while, yet still wanted my smoothies. I found a large bag of Frozen Organic Spinach and Kale at our local BJs Shopper Club. It was cost-effective, ready to use, and saved me lots of prep time – who doesn’t like that?
So . . . no more excuses that you do not have time! Buy the frozen chopped greens and make your smoothie the night before. In the morning just blend and go. See, no excuses!