Smoothies

When I'm rushing out the door to class in the morning, I sometimes forget to grab breakfast. Anyone trying to lose or maintain weight knows that breakfast is the most important meal of the day because it does just that...breaks the fast! I used to grab protein bars on my way out the door, but the varieties that are actually good for you taste horrible. The bars I actually liked were full of sugar and excess fat. Other items like cereal, oatmeal, and other breakfast foods are just not portable enough to fit into my busy schedule. This is when I decided to turn to smoothies. I can throw a smoothie together in under 5 minutes using my personal sized Magic Bullet blender, pour it into a travel cup, and be out the door. I can drink it over the course of my commute as well as sip it in class. 
Here are some great smoothie ideas I have fallen in love with. I hope you find these to be a delicious and nutritious solution to your morning rush! 

Berry Breakfast Smoothie:
1 cup frozen raspberries, unsweetened
3/4 cup almond milk
1/4 cup pitted cherries, unsweetened 
1 1/2 tbsp honey
2 tbsp freshly ground ginger
1 tsp ground flaxseed
1-2 tsp fresh lemon juice
Add all ingredients to a blender and blend. Feel free to add ice if you like the more frozen treat feel. This will make two smoothies. 
1 smoothie: 112 calories, 1.5g fat, 26g carbs, 1g protein, 3g fiber, 56mg sodium

Super Green Smoothie
1 1/4 cups Kale leaves, stems and ribs removed
1 1/4 cups mango, cubed
2 medium celery ribs, chopped
1 cup fresh orange juice, chilled
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1/4 cup fresh mint, chopped
Combine all ingredients in a blender with ice. This will make 2 smoothies. 
Each smoothie: 160 calories, 0.5g fat, 3g protein, 39g carbs, 5g fiber, 56mg sodium

Papaya Soother Smoothie
1 cup papaya 
1 cup coconut milk (you could also use coconut yogurt)
Juice from 1/2 of a lime
1 tbsp honey
Add all ingredients, plus ice, to a blender. 

Crazy Sexy Goddess Smoothie
1 avocado
1 banana
1 cup blueberries
1 cucumber
Handful of spinach, romaine lettuce, or kale. 
Stevia, optional
Cinnamon, optional
** you could also use coconut meat instead of the avocado, if desired.
Blend all ingredients with ice in a blender. 

Strawberry Fields Smoothie
3 cups almond milk
2 cups fresh strawberries
1 tbsp lemon zest
1 small orange, peeled
1 banana, peeled
1 1/2 cups spinach
Blend all ingredients with ice and serve. 

Green Machine Smoothie
2 bananas
1 cup frozen mango
1 orange, peeled and segmented
1/2 cup guava juice
1 handful of spinach
1 apple, cored and cut into pieces
1/4 cup non-fat Greek yogurt
Blend all ingredients together with ice. 

Cranberry Cleanser Smoothie
1/2 cup cranberries
1 large celery stalk
1 cucumber
1 apple, cored and cut into pieces
1 pear, cored and cut into pieces
Handful of spinach
Blend all ingredients together with ice. 

Sunrise Smoothie
1 cup mixed berries
1 frozen banana (tip: bananas are easier to blend if you mash them before freezing)
1 orange, peeled and segmented
6oz vanilla Greek yogurt
Blend all ingredients together with ice. 

Skinny Raspberry-Lemonade Smoothie
2 cups frozen raspberries
1 cup prepared Crystal Light raspberry lemonade
Blend with ice until mixture resembles a slushy. 

Watermelon Smoothie
2 cups watermelon
Juice from 1/2 of a lime
Lime zest, optional
Blend ingredients together with ice and serve. 

Peach Smoothie
2 peaches, pitted and chopped
1 tbsp honey
1/2 cup fresh orange juice
Blend together with ice and serve