Breakfast Anyone?

Probably the most overlooked of all meals, breakfast is nonexistent for some people, and for others it involves maybe a coffee, and the easiest thing they can pop in their mouth. While I am not here to convert breakfast-haters, I do have an easy and very healthy alternative to those who don’t care to sit down and eat in the morning.

I used to be completely confounded about exactly how to make a good smoothie. However, once you learn a few simple tips, you can turn virtually any fruit into a great smoothie. The two tricks are to start with a good amount of liquid (I am not really one to measure anything when I cook, but around ¾ of a cup and a little over a cup depending on how thick you like your smoothie) and blend with some ice. Right now, my favorite liquid to use is strawberry lemonade from Trader Joe’s. The next trick is to add the fruit slowly, so that as the fruit is added, it can fully incorporate into the liquid. This ensures no chunks and the best, most complete flavor from the fruit. Bananas are a great addition because it thickens the smoothie and they have a great taste (even if they are about a week old). I love berries, so I usually add some strawberries, raspberries and/or blackberries. A tip for dealing with berries, do not wash them until right before you plan on eating them. If you want your berries to last a few days, take them out of their container and place them in a glass bowl. But again, any fruit will do. If you want to add any protein powder or any other supplement, add that after everything else has been blended. This will allow you to eat a healthy breakfast with a few servings of fruit on the go, and it will keep you full until lunch. Enjoy!

Smoothie:
Liquid (anything from strawberry lemonade, orange or apple juice, milk, yogurt or sorbet)
Ice cubes
Two cups of any fruit