Breakfast Smoothies

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, a fact, mostly ignored. And one can hear some really amusing excuses for skipping breakfast, "didn't have time", "nothing in the fridge", "trying to lose weight", oh yes, this is my favorite one, "I forgot!". Forgot or ignored, the implication on your health is disastrous once skipping breakfast is made into a habit. Breakfast provides the body with energy (fuel) to keep us going through the day without dipping into our energy reserves. After dinner time, there is a minimum eight hour gap before our body receives any sort of nourishment, depriving the body has long term consequences. There are also some of us, who want to eat their breakfast, but the start of our day is so full of activity, that making, more than eating breakfast seems to be a waste of time. This is where healthy smoothies will come handy.

Smoothies are basically a blend of milk, yogurt with fresh fruits, or just lots of fruits or vegetables, topped with crushed ice(optional), honey, maple syrup, cereals, spices, tofu, dry fruits, or anything that takes your fancy, or is easily available in the fridge.

Easy Smoothie Recipes

For Weight Loss

Recipe 1
Ingredients:

• Skimmed milk, 1 cup
• Fresh strawberries, 6
• Orange juice, 1 cup
• Flax seeds, 1 tbsp
• Whey protein powder, 1¼ tbsp

Blend all ingredients, except flax seeds and whey powder. Pour smoothie into a tall glass, and spoon the flax and whey, blend it well. Sip on.

Recipe 2
Ingredients:

• Uncooked oatmeal, 4 tsp
• Apple juice, ¾ cup
• Frozen banana, 1
• Frozen peaches, ¼ cup
• Stevia, ¼ tsp

Blend all ingredients in a blender until smooth and creamy. Serve with some crushed ice.

For Kids

Recipe 1
Ingredients:

• Fresh yogurt, 1 cup
• Banana, cut into small pieces, ½ cup
• Frozen strawberries, 8
• Grapefruit or orange juice, 1 cup
• Raisins, 1 tbsp
• Crushed ice, 1 tbsp

Pulse all ingredients in a blender, until thick and smooth. Pour in a glass and garnish with chopped raisins.

Recipe 2
Ingredients:

• Chocolate syrup, 2 tbsp
• Choco chips, 1 tbsp
• Chocolate ice cream, 4 scoops
• Fresh full fat milk, 1 cup

In a blender, combine all ingredients, until smooth and chips have all blended well. Pour in a glass and garnish with some choco chips.

For Energy

Recipe 1
Ingredients:

• Strawberry flavored milk, 1 cup
• Frozen strawberries, 5
• Frozen raspberries, 6
• Celery, 2 stalks
• Apple juice, ¼ cup

Chop celery stalks in small pieces and blend with all ingredients in a blender. Serve topped with ice cubes.

Recipe 2
Ingredients:

• All bran cereal, 2 tbsp
• Cinnamon, ¼ tsp
• Nutmeg, ¼ tsp
• Slice apple, 1
• Vanilla essence, ¼ tsp
• Skim milk, 1½ cup

Reserving two slices of apple, pulse all ingredients to blend it to a smooth beverage. Pour in tall glasses and garnish with apple slices.

Protein Smoothies

Recipe 1
Ingredients:

• Whey protein powder, 1 tbsp
• Frozen cranberries, ½ cup
• Kiwi, peeled, 1
• Chopped apple, ½
• Skimmed yogurt, ¾ cup
• Soy milk, ½ cup
• Banana, chopped, ½
• Orange juice, 1 cup
• Unsalted peanut butter, 2 tbsp
• Flaxseed, ¼ tsp

Blend all fruits with orange juice, until smooth. Add the remaining ingredients and pulse once more. Pour into glasses chilled.

A healthy blend of fruits, vegetables, herbs, milk, yogurt, etc will keep you sailing through each day quite energetically. So get the blender out and whip up some health!