The 60-Second Smoothie

This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. 

I am so not a breakfast person. While I do wake up fairly chipper and ready to go in the morning, I’m just not hungry. I think I learned this from my dad. I worked for him in his small law office when I was in highschool. Dad wasn’t a breakfast person as long as there was a big old pot of coffee–black–the way manly men drink a cup of joe.

I couldn’t get on the black coffee train, but now I do enjoy the ritual of making that first cup in the morning–light and a little sweet, just like me.

Still, not eating breakfast has so many negative consequences. I’m starving by lunch and perhaps don’t make the best choices. For me, breakfast really has become the most important meal of the day.

One of the easiest ways I’ve found to have a good breakfast without cooking is to blend up a smoothie. I hear there are these things called “smoothie recipes”, and I’ll link to some later, but I’m a clean-out-the-fridge-and-freezer kind of smoothie maker.

Here are some of my fast, no-fuss smoothie tips:

Have a great blender. It doesn’t have to be super expensive, but you do want it to pulverize ice and completely liquify your plant ingredients, especially berry seeds. I hate a bunch of gritty seeds in the bottom of the glass. I have a Vitamix, which is amazing at smoothies, but I was given a less-expensive Ninja blender which I think is excellent for what it costs.

Keep your favorite basic ingredients on hand. I can throw any kind of fruit and most green leafy vegetables in my smoothie and love it, but I there are some I prefer. I stock up on frozen berry mixture whenever I’m at the store. Whole Foods has a surprisingly low price for frozen fruit. My Kroger has great large clamshell containers of spinach. I don’t add sugar or honey, but I do throw in one date (make sure the pit is out!) for sweetness, nutrition, and a great subtle flavor.

Here are fifty basic smoothie recipes from the Food Network to get ideas for your own smoothies going. I love anything with berries. My tip–add a dash of cinnamon for flavor.

Make enough for two (or more!) The sound of the blender at my house is a siren’s call to my teenagers. I don’t mind sharing if I make a little extra. And I know that they are getting something packed with nutrients.

Focus on nutrition. Of course, your recipe needs to taste great, but make sure you are starting your day with great nutrition. It’s the only thing stopping me from putting in a scoop of ice cream. My base for every smoothie recipe I make is one cup of ice and one cup of milk. There are lots of liquids you can add to a smoothie, but milk has nine essential nutrients, including vitamin D, and is a very inexpensive way to add more protein to your diet.

Most Americans consume only a single serving of milk each day, when most people really need three servings a day. Learn more about milk and good health here: Why You Should Drink Milk for Good Health

I’ve enjoyed learning more about the how to add more milk in my diet for good health. You can learn more by going to MilkTruth.com for more information.