For me breakfast needs to be simple. I’ve always been this way. In fact, I don’t even really like to eat anything first thing in the morning. I usually need at least a few hours before I dive into breakfast, and even then I want something simple. I do however drink at least two big glasses of water to start my day to help flush and cleanse the body. It’s such a refreshing way to start the morning and if you’re not already doing it, you should try it too.
When I am ready for breakfast, a big green smoothie ticks all the boxes for me. It’s delicious (seriously!), it’s convenient, it’s full of nutrients and it keeps me feeling full all morning long. One of the ways I save time in the morning is to pre-make my smoothie bags. If you follow me on Instagram you’ve seen me do this before during my weekly meal prep and it’s pretty simple. All you need to do is gather all your favourite smoothie ingredients, chop them up and divide them out into ziplock freezer bags. The only thing I will say about smoothies is to make sure you’re careful about the fruit content. Of course fruit is what will make your smoothie delicious and enjoyable, but too much fruit will cause your blood sugar to spike and then drop soon after causing you to feel hungry again. By adding a small amount of fruit along with lots of greens (fibre) and some good quality fat you’ll have the perfect balance and your smoothie will fuel your whole morning.
So what do I put in my smoothie bags? First off, it’s a good habit to get in to try to switch up your greens each week or so. If you buy kale and spinach one week maybe you try romain lettuce and swiss chard the following week. This week I’m using organic spinach, organic kale, organic romain lettuce and organic parsley. If using parsley in your smoothie freaks you out, don’t worry! You don’t need to put very much in so you won’t even notice it’s there. I also cut up a pineapple and use about 4 little pieces per smoothie bag. Finally, I add 2 tablespoons of hemp hearts for some healthy fats and complete protein. I’m not currently using a protein powder so I’m using the hemp hearts instead because it’s a complete protein source. In the photo above you’ll notice an avocado and a few bananas. I also put both of these things into my smoothies, but not until I’m about to blend it in the morning. All of the ingredients in the photo makes about 8-10 smoothie bags depending on how much you put in each bag. I also recommend you flatten the bag and let out as much air as possible before zip locking the bag and putting them into the freezer. This just keeps them from getting freezer burnt.
So now that the bags are all made up and in the freezer, it’s super easy in the morning to get my smoothie ready. All I do is empty one of the smoothie bags into my Nutri Bullet and add the last few ingredients. I use half an avocado and half a banana, then add about 3/4 cup of coconut milk and a bit of filtered water. I like to add a bit of organic cinnamon in there too, because it’s such a good blood sugar balancer. Then I just blend it up until it’s super smooth and sip away! Sometimes if I don’t add enough liquid it’s super thick and I have to eat it with a spoon. Most of the time I actually like it this way, but if I prefer to drink it with a straw I just know I need to add a bit more liquid. You can totally play around with the ingredients and make your smoothies however you like them, but here are just a few things to keep in mind:
- Use more greens and veggies and less fruit.
- Use organic greens since they are high on the Dirty Dozen list.
- Add good quality fats such as avocado and coconut milk to keep you feeling full.
- Switch up your greens each week to get a better variety of nutrients in your body.
- Use a good quality protein powder, or hemp hearts for a complete source of protein.
- Cinnamon is a good blood sugar balancer and tastes yummy in smoothies.