For me, the summer is a time for a lot of house guests (much to my husband’s chagrin!). This year it started early – the week before Memorial Day. Since I pride myself on being the perfect host, I always try and make sure that my guests have their “go to foods”, especially for breakfast. There has been a lot of debate in the news over the last couple of months regarding the importance of breakfast. The breakfast “naysayers” arguing that it does not help with weight loss. Honestly, who cares? I think more about the nutrients that may be missed and the lack of energy. (Yep, still don’t think coffee IS breakfast.) Anyhoo – this week I give smoothie tips, product advice and share an interview that talks about foods to start your day.
In this report you will find:
* From Keri’s Kitchen: Orange Splash Smoothie
* Product Pick of the Week: NutriBullet
* 11 Things To Eat For Breakfast That Can Boost Productivity
Photo by: Keri Gans
From Keri’s Kitchen: Orange Splash Smoothie
Last month my 20-something year old niece was visiting me from Hawaii. Her morning routine consists of making a smoothie for breakfast – every day! I was impressed with her creativity and the healthy items she chose to include: mint, almond milk, spinach, coconut yogurt, mango, peach, banana, and cinnamon. BUT, at the end of the day: 1. I felt that her creation was lacking in protein, and 2. It was way too labor intensive for me. (In her defense, she claimed she would normally include 2 TBSP of almond butter and/or a protein powder, and that whipping up a smoothie with a ton of ingredients is really no big deal!)
Anyway – this got me thinking. Her mistake of not adding enough protein I think is common. Most people don’t realize that almond milk and coconut yogurts are not high in protein. And even with a 2 TBSP of almond butter (or any nut butter), you only get around 5 to 8g of protein. Protein, by the way, is important in a morning smoothie to help keep you full. If you only did fruits and veggies, I bet you would be hungry way before lunchtime. Therefore, I am a big fan of dairy in smoothies, low fat, not non-fat (like the fat for satiety too!). If vegan, either opt for soy or definitely include a protein powder.
So, since I don’t think everyone has Morgan’s initiative (or time) to create such a masterpiece, I decided to share with you what I consider to be a healthy AND quick smoothie. In full disclosure, I include Florida’s Natural Orange Juice with Calcium & Vitamin D, a brand that I have chosen to partner with. Including their juice in the smoothie adds great flavor, plus a kick of Vitamin C, potassium and antioxidants. I love that all their oranges come from Florida, not like some of their competitors where the oranges can come from out of the country. Can’t wait one day to meet some of the Florida growers whose oranges make up this juice!
Here’s the recipe:
Orange Splash Smoothie
Single serving size
Ingredients
1 cup low-fat plain Greek yogurt
1 cup quartered strawberries
¼ cup Florida’s Natural Orange Juice with Calcium & Vitamin D
1 TBSP chia seeds
1 tsp vanilla extract
4 ice cubes
Combine all ingredients into blender and blend until smooth.
Nutrition Information
Calories 350
Total Carbohydrates 35 g
Sugar 23 g
Fiber 8 g
Protein 27 g
Total Fat 9 g
Saturated Fat 3 g
Calcium 465 mg
Vitamin C 110 mg
Vitamin D 25 IU
P.S. I did use some of Morgan’s expertise for this smoothie as well.
Product Pick of the Week: NutriBullet
While we’re on the topic of whipping up quick and healthy breakfast smoothies, you may be wondering which blender is best? And, yes, I have a recommendation for you. One of the perks of my job is that sometimes companies send me samples of their products – so I did receive a NutriBullet, which totally came in handy for Morgan’s visit! I used the NutriBullet to make the smoothie above and liked that it blended all the ingredients evenly and quickly, it doesn’t take up a lot of counter space, and that it’s easy to clean. Can’t say I am ready to swap out my typical oatmeal breakfast for a smoothie; BUT if I did, it helps to know that I have a great product already in my kitchen!
Photo by: Keri Gans
11 Things To Eat For Breakfast That Can Boost Productivity
So, which foods may best help you power through your morning? Don’t miss my interview with Bustle.com on some great ideas. Full disclosure – NOT all this tips are mine and I’m not sure I’m totally on board with the hot water and lemon one. However, cannot argue that it is indeed hydrating!!! Read on…