If you are looking for a way to jumpstart weight-loss or incorporate healthy foods into your diet, try a healthy smoothie for breakfast or lunch. Since I have started drinking smoothies, I have more energy, my hair and nails are strong, and my skin feels good. I know it’s because I’m getting the added vitamins that my diet normally doesn’t provide. Even on an unusually cold Florida morning like today, where the temperature outside reads 28 degrees, I like to make a smoothie. This morning I had a mixed berry smoothie with banana, two kinds of berries, flaxseed, almond milk, and cinnamon. After the way I indulged on good food these last few weeks, I especially need this morning’s smoothie to help me balance things out.
I started making smoothies about two years ago after reading how good fresh juices and smoothies are for you. Plus, I really don’t like taking a multi-vitamin. Smoothies keep me full through lunch so they also serve as a healthy on the go breakfast for me. After a few weeks of drinking smoothies, I felt great.
Recipe: Mixed Berry Smoothie
- 1 cup of vanilla almond milk
- 1/2 cup to 1 cup of mixed blueberries fresh or frozen
- 4-5 frozen strawberries
- 1 banana (comes out creamier if you peel then freeze a fresh banana)
- teaspoon of cinnamon
- 1 handful of almonds (about 20 almonds)
- 3-4 ice cubes IF not using frozen fruit
- 1 tablespoon of flaxseed
- Using a Ninja, pulse then blend all ingredients together until smooth, add a dash of cinnamon on top and enjoy!
The Skinny on the Ingredients:
Although almond milk and a banana are my two staples for most of my smoothies, I usually use different fruits so that I don’t get bored with the taste. What I use also varies depending on what I have available in my kitchen or what I’m in the mood for that day. I always try to add a variety of berries to my smoothies; usually blueberries, strawberries, and raspberry.
- Blueberries are great because they are high in antioxidants, Vitamin C, and considered one of the super foods you should add to a healthy diet.
- Cinnamon is a great anti inflammatory and source of manganese, fiber, iron, and calcium.
- One cup of strawberries contains over 13% of the recommended daily amount of dietary fiber and only 43 calories so they are a great berry to add to a smoothie.
- Flaxseed is a rich source of dietary fiber to help keep you feeling full, manganese, vitamin B1, and Omega-3 essential fatty acids. Flaxseed is also know to reduce risk of cancer, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
- Bananas are high in fiber and potassium. Bananas also helps stabilize blood sugar between meals and known to lower blood pressure.
- I didn’t have spinach in my fridge today but I usually add a handful of spinach as well. (I promise you can’t even taste it!)
Do you ever drink a smoothie for weight-loss or to incorporate healthy foods into your diet?
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