BY SHALEEN DESTEFANO
Ok, so we were sold on this recipe from the title, because . . . life. It’s January, so we are all trying to lean toward improving our diet and health routines, which makes this quick breakfast a no-brainer. We found this recipe from the food blog Half Baked Harvest and adapted it to fit our taste. She uses hemp seeds, but we prefer chia. She uses a nut milk, but we love unsweetened vanilla flax milk. There are no rules, it’s a smoothie, so you can really get creative and add what is most appealing to you. What we love about this smoothie is the gorgeous green color and the fact that we feel good about ourselves when we drink it. It sets you down a healthy path for the rest of the day. This particular smoothie is packed with healthy fats and protein, so you won’t feel hungry after 20 minutes. The chia seeds are full of antioxidants, protein and fiber, so they pack a huge punch and are extremely low in calories. Did you know avocados have more potassium than bananas? Also, they are vitamin rich, so basically if you drink this smoothie you will look a decade younger. We like to tell ourselves this as we sip on the green goodness. Drink your greens and enjoy!
Ingredients
1/2 small to medium avocado, peeled
1 cup fresh spinach (or 1/2 cup frozen spinach)
1 fresh or frozen banana, peeled and cut into chunks (optional-but adds sweetness)
1/4 cup frozen mango or pineapple chunks
1 tablespoon chia seeds
1 teaspoon maca powder
1 scoop protein powder (optional)
1 cup unsweetened vanilla flax milk, plus more if needed to thin
frozen or fresh berries and granola, for serving
Mix ingredients in blender and serve.