Nutrition

your morning smoothie

Written by Jennifer Miller

As summer gets into full swing, life seems to

get busier and busier. And we don’t know about you, but the thought of a hot breakfast on a 100 degree North Idaho morning sounds like a big pile of no thank you to us. Enter your new fave, a breakfast smoothie. We know everyone knows what a smoothie is but how can we make it filling enough to keep us full until lunch and good enough to want to make every day? Below you’ll find our favorite tips and tricks to make the yummiest (and healthiest) breakfast smoothie!

• Get a good blender! Yes it matters especially if you’re using it everyday. A good blender will help your smoothies end up smooth, not chunky. • Order matters. If you’re adding leafy greens, add them first to your milk of choice. It will help them blend up better. • Veggies. Speaking of vegetables, smoothies are a great way to sneak in an extra dose. Throw some spinach or kale into with your favorite fruits to add to the nutritional value. • Frozen is ok. Adding at least one frozen ingredient helps your smoothie blend better. Have a bunch of bananas turning brown? Cut them in half, store them in a sealed bag in the freezer for your next smoothie. • Protein! Want the full feeling to last until lunch? Pack in the protein. Your favorite powder, a scoop of hemp hearts, chia seeds and nut butters are perfect additions and the more the merrier. • Add Fat! Fatty acids provide energy and are a good source of vitamins. Coconut oil and avocados are great additions. • Say No. There can be too much of a good thing. Skip over fruit juices and canned fruit which can have added sugars and lack fiber, using instead real or frozen fruit. Skip low or fat free yogurt and go for protein packed Greek yogurt. w -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------If you’re strapped for time and can’t make your morning smoothie, head over to our favorite local smoothie shop: The Wellness Bar. 3 easy locations (2 with drive thrus) make your breakfast easy to grab on the go. Our favorite: The CDA Athlete - this blueberry & banana based smoothie has added greens, protein, and healthy fats to help you conquer the day!