Mornings take on a new meaning when you become a mom. Whether you wake up to the sound of an alarm or the sound of a waking child, mornings have the tendency to go haywire… quickly! But, being the supermom that you are, why not make a small change that will impact the rest of your day?
You know that saying, “breakfast of champions” right?
I’m here to give you a step-by-step guide on how to really supercharge your day for all the champions in your life. It all starts with a few superfoods that will keep your super mom cape charged up all day through. I’m talking about enjoying a breakfast smoothie the whole family will enjoy.
A smoothie is a quick and easy way to get all the amazing nutrients your body needs, without having to graze through another boring salad!
For the past 2.5 years, we have been starting (most) mornings off with superfood smoothies. It’s fun to get the kiddos involved in the process as well because they feel a sense of accomplishment when they help choose the ingredients. Speaking of ingredients, there are 4 main categories you want to target when building your superfood smoothies.
#1 Leafy Greens
Yes, leafy greens are essential to your health, providing tons of vitamins and nutrients like vitamin K, vitamin C, vitamin E, antioxidants, and many more. All which help different functions of the body such as: regulating blood, improving bone health, remove free radicals, and support overall health. Superfoods such as kale, spinach, and swiss chard are excellent leafy green choices to add to your smoothie recipe.
An added bonus, you can find most of these in your frozen food sections. It’s a quick way to add lots of nutrition and texture to your smoothie. The fresh versions are great too! The key is just getting them into your diet any way you can. If you’re not much of a green-loving goddess, there are tons of green superfood powders you can use in place of the real deal. The options are vast!
#2 Protein
Protein is one of the most satisfying food groups because it is so filling. The fuller you feel the less you will crave junk food. Adding more protein to your diet also helps to regulate your hunger hormone, ghrelin. There are numerous options you can use when it comes to adding protein to your smoothie: protein powder, almonds, Greek yogurt, spirulina, and the list goes on. The point is to use what you have on hand to pack an extra punch of goodness.
#3 Good Fats
The taboo fat category! This is an area you actually do not want to shy away from. Getting the right kinds of fats into your diet is essential. And by right kind of fats, I mean healthy monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are commonly found in avocados, nuts, coconuts, fish, and eggs. Now I’m not recommending you put a fish in your smoothie, but avocados, nuts, full-fat dairy, and coconut oil are excellent options. Healthy fats are a vital element to support brain function and LOWER cholesterol levels. It’s those unhealthy trans and saturated fats that caused a bad name for the good guys.
#4 Fiber
Lastly, we can’t forget about fiber. This is a very important nutrient that aids in digestion, lowers cholesterol levels, lowers the risk of heart disease, and provides many more benefits. Majority of leafy greens are rich in fiber, but for an extra added kick you can toss in some chia, flax, or oats to boost the fiber level of your super smoothie!
Now we’ve made it to the fun part. It’s time to put it all together!
Here’s the basic recipe:
- Take a blender and start by adding a cup of liquid (water, milk, milk alternative).
- Next top that with a handful or two of your favorite leafy green (fresh or frozen).
- Add in some protein of your choice.
- Top that with a scoop of coconut oil, or any good fat you’d enjoy. Don’t forget to pack in that fiber.
- Blend all the ingredients together and now you have yourself a superfood smoothie.
If you’re making the smoothie for several family members, make the necessary adjustments by adding additional liquid and ingredients.
One of the main reasons I love making smoothies is because the combination of ingredients is endless!
Below are some of my personal favorite combinations. Of course, if you have allergies to any of the ingredients below, make swaps to accommodate your diet and needs. All ingredients listed below with an asterisk (*) are ones I’d recommend getting organic. There many are benefits to consuming organic items, so I try to stick to the Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 lists when buying produce. As always do what works for you!
Enjoy these tasty superfood smoothies:
Power Booster
Almond Milk*
Mixed Greens*
Papaya
Banana
Blueberries*
Coconut Oil*
Chia Seeds*
Hemp Hearts*
PB Blast
Almond Milk*
Mixed Greens*
Apples*
Oranges
Banana
Peanut Butter*
Chia Seeds*
Tropical Breeze
Almond Milk*
Spinach*
Blueberries*
Cucumber*
Mango
Banana
Ginger
Super Pink Power
Almond Milk*
Mixed Greens*
Blueberries*
Beets*
Banana
Ginger
Garden Sink
Almond Milk*
Spinach*
Celery*
Blackberries*
Banana
Figs*
Chia Seeds*
Hemp Hearts*
So what’s your favorite smoothie flavor combo? Let me know in the comments below!