It’s about a million degrees outside.
The only thing I want for breakfast on these days is a big arse smoothie!
My mornings usually consist of the following:
- Rolling out of bed
- Wetting down my crazy spiked up hair (short hair + restless sleep = rockstar AM ‘do)
- Brushing my teeth
- Eating a date or spoonful of PB
- Throwing on running clothes
- Running or the gym
The date/PB keeps me going to 4-6 miles – more than that and I’d need more substance – but in this heat I’m never very hungry when I first get back.
The solution? A smoothie! It’s easier to drink than eat post-run and the coldness helps me stop sweating (yes, I even sweat post-shower) before going to work.
Ever since the jaw-breaking incident, I’ve been pretty creative with making a substantial drink.
99.9% of the time I use a protein powder – bonus is that is adds sweetness without excess sugar. You can also use dates, Stevia, honey, agave to get the right level of sweet sans protein.
I also ALWAYS toss in a cup o f spinach or kale. You really can’t taste it and you get all those nutrients. Why wouldn’t you add it?
My Top 5:
1. Sweet Potato
This is a go-to for me. I usually have a sweet potato laying around. Usually half eaten from the previous meal.
Adding the potato makes this smoothie sweet, super creamy, and reminiscent of the pie (in a good way – I don’t actually like the pie… maybe a consistency thing?).
Avocados after the perfect ingredient – they give your drink a creamy shake-like texture and have virtually no taste.
I’m always guilty of letting 1/2 an avocado go to waste – I eat part on a salad, the other half turns brown, and I toss it (basically throwing away a dollar per!). Until I discovered that you can freeze avocado. Cut it into quarters and toss it in tupperware (with your collection of frozen bananas 🙂 ).
I hate to play favorites… but this one is my favorite. It’s like a cherry bomb with squash! Yes, I realize that doesn’t sound as appetizing to normal people as it does to me.
Seriously though. Again with the creaminess, but this one has that rich, winter squash sweetness too. You already know (I hope!) that cherries and chocolate are a great combo. Just think of the nutrients in this one little drink!
By now you should be bouncing up and down with excitement in your desk chair. Try it – you’ll know I’m not nuts.
It’s no secret that I’m a fan of Indian food. It borders on addiction. As such, I naturally love lassis. Mango is good, but they can sometimes be too sweet.
When I saw a more savory lassi on a local menu, I knew I needed to amp it up with protein and call it a recovery drink. Indian-style.
5. Mocha Banana
I cannot believe I almost forgot about this creation! Banana + chocolate + coffee. It is a great way to use the leftovers from your pot o’ coffee, ensuring that you’ll be properly caffeinated for the day.
If you are really hard core – and I am – you’ll crumble a chocolate muffin on top too. Guess what I’ll be having for breakfast… *still kicking self for going so long without this smoothie*
***
Many say they couldn’t get tired of oatmeal or peanut butter or cookies… I couldn’t get tired of smoothies.
What’s your favorite smoothie?
What the one thing you could never tire of?
I don’t think I could ever get tired of hummus.
I can never get tired of cheese or nut butter 😉
Mmm I am loving that Mocha Banana smoothie. I love any smoothing as long as it has a frozen banana in it. Thats my favorite part!
DO you make all your smoothies in a magic bullet??? I love mine!!
I do – it’s so convenient! 🙂
I hate to admit that after a brief flirtation with Tropical Smoothie in college…and the “smoothies” (really just insanely ripe mangoes pulverized in the blender) we drank in Costa Rica…I have not had the desire for a smoothie. I have this thing about chewing rather than drinking. Yours look so pretty though! Maybe one day…
Money-back guarantee: if you try #3 you’ll be in love.
Oooh what awesome combos! I never would have thought to put half those things in smoothies. I’m guessing the sweet potato is cooked when you add it? Or do you juice it and use the juice?
They are cooked. If I had a juicer I would totally try it, though it wouldn’t be so fantastically creamy. 🙂
As always, you come through when I needed motivation the most. I’m in a smoothie rut and was starting to get bored with my old usual (almond milk, chocolate whey protein powder, chia seeds, spinach or kale if I’m not out). Can’t wait to try some of these! Also? Had no idea you could freeze avo’s. I also eat half, throw the other half in the fridge, and it turns brown. :/ Good to know!! Thank you!
I will never tire of smoothies either! I loved the avocado idea, now I need to add a sweet potato!
Oooh love all of these ideas! Been feeling like I needed to switch up my usual smoothie routine so thanks for the ideas! I have a couple of avocados ripening as we speak! 🙂
Nut butter, cheese and pasta will never get old for me! I’ve never thought of adding sweet potato or avocado…great idea!
I love smoothies! My go-to is chocolate protein powder, milk, ice, 1T PB and 1/2 banana. YUM!
I use a magic bullet too, which is awesome 🙂
One thing I could never tire of… hmmm… peanut butter or grape juice!
I like mango smoothies 🙂
Oh yeah.. the post run sweats-my brother always goes to work sweaty even after a shower as well lol!
Thank you! Now I can try that sweet potato smoothie finally 🙂 #5 looks amazing too though
I am a fan of sweet potato smoothies, but the others are new to me. Creative!
I can’t get enough pizza. If it weren’t so high-calorie/fat/cholesterol/carb/etc., I think I could eat it daily!
I haven’t had a smoothie in about a year after getting out of the smoothie-all-the-freakin-time kick…but I’m starting to miss them a little! My favorite was made with chocolate PB protein powder, a banana, a little actual PB, and a drizzle of chocolate sauce. Yum!
I love avocado in smoothies and sweet potato sounds like such a good idea!
I never ever tire of sweet potatoes. Cook them anyway you please and I will still love them
Now I will have to try them in a smoothie, I have never heard of such a thing! Apparently I live under a box or something… 🙂
The sweet potato and avocado smoothies are…intriguing 😉
Ah, thank you, thank you, for this great post with so many wonderful, healthy, refreshing ideas!! It’s 45 C with the humidex here (’bout 115 F). Thirsty indeed!!
Oh my! I have so many fun ideas for smoothies now – thank you! The two I will def. try out ASAP are the banana avocado and the banana mocha. YUM!
Avocado in a smoothie? Brilliant! I tried spinach in a smoothie for the first time today and may never have another smoothie without it. I love my strawberry/mango combination. Fantastic.
Oooh, I so love posts that link to tried-and-true recipes! I’m now going to click through in the hopes of finding a non-banana smoothie here… stupid bananas still cost $3.50 each in Australia 🙁
It’s the opposite of a million degrees here but chilly summer or not, these smoothie’s look incredible!!
I’m drooling over the idea of butternut squash and cherry smoothie…
I am the queen of throwing just about ANYTHING in a smoothie! My favorite is ginger-cashew! Mmmmmm 😀