Smoothies

One of my morning staples are my “famous” smoothies. After reading the terrible book The Flat Belly Diet (I’m a sucker for bad diet books sometimes), I was left feeling sick. However, I got the idea of making smoothies from the book. Of course, the smoothies in that book were pretty blah, so I spruced them up and ever since I’ve been making smoothies regularly – probably three times a week. Yes, buying these ingredients can get pricey, but considering a Jamba Juice can run for about $7/smoothie, making your own are a great, healthy, and just as good (if not better) alternative.
My recipe is simple and can be changed up based on the season and what you have in the house. Here’s my recipe for a banana peach smoothie:
Start with your fruit. I put a banana in every smoothie I make. I also love to buy frozen fruit which is good season-round. I also throw a splash of fruit juice in. I like fresh squeezed OJ but if you don’t have a lot of time, Tropicana works. I also throw in a splash of acai juice if I have some in the house.
Next up, my “boosters.” Normally at a place like Jamba Juice you can order an extra shot of fiber, or energy. I add a tablespoon of both Benefiber and flaxseed oil for a boost of fiber and omega 3s.

My final touch is yogurt. You can opt for none, but since yogurt is part of my diet, I always include it. Plus, it makes for a thicker texture. I like Yoplait Yoplus, but I’m also thinking about trying Nogurt, which has all the health benefits of yogurt minus the dairy. Once I have all of this thrown into the blender, I add a little bit of crushed ice, blend, and voilà! A delicious smoothie:

Want an alternative? Try these other combos (frozen, canned or fresh):
Banana – peach – pineapple
Strawberry – banana
Strawberry – banana – blueberry
Guava – peach – pineapple
Pomegranate
Mixed berry (blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries)

Enjoy! 🙂