Sweet Potato "Pie" Smoothie

As I was roasting sweet potatoes for dinner last night, I realized there was no more room left on the baking sheet for my final sweet potato! I’ve thought about trying a sweet potato smoothie for awhile now and thought this is the perfect occasion! I already had a peeled a cubed sweet potato, so I steamed it and then let it cool. I threw that in the freezer along with a small banana in preparation for a smoothie in the morning. Let me tell you, this is an IDEAL way to start the morning! This smoothie is creamy, filling, and tastes just like fall! There is loads of protein, healthy fats, and fiber to keep you feeling satisfied all morning too :)

Ingredients:

• 1 small sweet potato, steamed, cooled, and frozen

• 1 small banana, frozen

• 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt

• 3/4 cup almond milk

• 1 tbsp ground flax seed

• 1/2 tsp cinnamon

• Pinch of all spice

Directions:

• Add all ingredients and blend until smooth. If necessary, add more almond milk. If you’re looking for more spice, add it in!

• OPTIONS: Add in peanut butter or almond butter or a pitted date for a little extra sweetness!

Power Morning Smoothie

I’ve written a lot in my blogs and newsletters about how important it is to start your morning with a nutrient-rich breakfast that is high in protein, fiber, and healthy fats. With this powerful combination, you’ll be able to nourish your cells after a night’s slumber and you’ll create balanced blood sugar levels, which will in turn help keep your energy levels stable and fuel your brain. This Power Morning Smoothie has it all - healthy fats (flax), protein (greek yogurt), and fiber (spinach and banana). Not only will It will fill you up and leave you feeling ready to tackle the day ahead of you, it’s delicious. The banana adds the perfect amount of sweetness and the greek yogurt adds a rich creaminess. Hope you enjoy!

Ingredients:

(serves 1)

• 1 frozen banana

• 2 large handfuls of spinach

• ½ cup plain greek yogurt (I like 2%)

• 2 tbsp ground flax

• ½ cup almond milk

Directions:

• Blend and serve

Beet and Berry Smoothie

When I was at my older sister’s house a few months ago, she made her kids (ages 5 and 3) pink smoothies as a snack. I thought it was such a smart idea to entice her kids with colorful smoothies in order have them get some nutrient-dense fruits into their bodies! If you put a banana or a date into a smoothie, the natural sweetness will cover up any “veggie flavor.” I don’t remember exactly how my sister made her smoothie, but it inspired me to create my own version. I use beets to give this smoothie a rich pink color, plus they are anti-inflammatory and support detoxification in our livers. For the beets, no need to cook them. I just peel one, chop it up, and throw it into my blender.

Ingredients

(serves 1)

• 1 medium sized beet, peeled and roughly chopped (or 1 cup frozen beets)

• 1 cup frozen organic strawberries

• ½ cup unsweetened almond milk

• ½ banana

• 2 tsp ground flax seeds

Instructions

• Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth

• Top with sliced bananas and cinnamon (optional)

You can always improvise! You can add a scoop of almond butter or some protein powder to make it more filling! You can even add a few dashes of cinnamon to create a more warming flavor. To make this smoothie sweeter and more appealing to your children, try adding a full banana instead of just half. Enjoy!