Bored With Breakfast?? Try Some Healthy Smoothies...

Instead of skipping breakfast or having that boring bowl of oatmeal, try one of our healthy smoothies to increase your energy and provide a powerful nutritional boost early in the day.

Here are our top 10 favorite healthy smoothie recipes which are all based on the heart healthy formula: 300 calories, 50% carbohydrates, 30% protein, 20% fat.

These healthy smoothies will help you improve your heart health, lose weight and prevent cravings. They are quick and easy to prepare and taste delicious. Play around and customize them exactly the way you want - all you need is a blender and the basic smoothie recipe:

1) Basic Berry Smoothie

8-10 oz filtered water/ice

One and a half cups of mixed berries fresh or frozen

1 teaspoon of flax oil

30 grams vanilla protein powder

1 oz (2 tablespoons) plain or vanilla yogurt

Combine ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. This berry smoothie provides you with the basic smoothie recipe. For different flavors look at the variations below:

2) Banana/Strawberry. Instead of the 1 ½ cups of mixed berries, use ½ banana and ½ cup of strawberries.

3) Purple Passion. Instead of 1 ½ cups of mixed berries use 1 ½ cups of powerful antioxidant filled blueberries , this is all time my favorite breakfast smoothie.

4) Orange, Pineapple, Strawberry Swirl. Replace the 1 ½ cups of mixed berries with 2 ounces of orange juice, ¼ cup of pineapple and ¼ cup strawberries.

5)Crystals Green Supreme. Delete the yogurt from the basic berry recipe above and add a cup of greens ( spinach, collards, romaine lettuce, dandelion greens or any other greens). Crystal, our health coach, replaces the 1 ½ cups of mixed berries with raspberries. She also adds a teaspoon of fresh grated ginger to her green smoothies for an added kick.

6) Marvelous Mango Chai smoothie Replace 1 ½ cups of mixed berries in the basic recipe with 1/1/2 cups of mango. Make 8 oz of Chai tea with a chai tea bag , let soak then cool in the fridge and use instead of the water in the recipe.

7) Mighty Melon Smoothie. Replace the yogurt in the basic recipe with 1/4 cup of 100% apple juice, and replace the 1 1/2 cups of berries with melon (cantaloupe, honeydew or watermelon). Increase protein powder to 40 grams and flax oil to 1 1/4 teaspoons.

8) Hawaian Wake Up. Delete the yogurt and replace the 1 ½ cups of mixed berries in the basic recipe with ½ banana, ½ cup pineapple and a tablespoon of coconut cream.

9) Banana Bread Smoothie.
50 grams (2 ounces) light vanilla soymilk, 1 1/2 teaspoon of almond butter, I small banana, 8 oz filtered water/ice, pinch of ground cinnamon, 30 grams vanilla protein powder, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.

Place all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. Enjoy!

10) Chocolate Banana Smoothie.
40 grams vanilla protein powder, 1/1/4 teaspoon flax oil, 2 teaspoons unsweetenened chocolate powder, 1 small banana, 8 oz filtered water/ice.

Smoothie substitutions:

Substitute 1 teaspoon of flax oil for a tablespoon of ground flax seeds. Flax oil and seeds are rich in the essential omega 3 fatty acids and are critical for good health, particularly high blood pressure.

If you use yogurt select brands that contain active live cultures (we like to use the Greek yogurt by Liberte’.) Substitute the yogurt for ½ cup almond milk, soy milk or skim milk if preferred.

Add a tablespoon of your favorite green powder or whey mineral powder to your healthy smoothies for additional nutrient benefits.

Frozen fruit is usually frozen at peak freshness and provides a good alternative when fresh fruit is not available.

These healthy smoothie recipes are recommended for breakfast and are based on 300 calories each but feel free to increase each ingredient by approximately 25% to make a 400 calorie lunch or dinner smoothie.

Hope you enjoy your healthy smoothies, feel free to contact me with any suggestions or questions you may have.

Protein Powder:

Nutritional research shows that adding protein to your meals may help you feel fuller, decrease your cravings, increase your metabolism and help you lose weight.

A high quality Protein powder is an excellent addition to your smoothies, in fact you can add protein powder to yogurt, cereal, cottage cheese, home made cookies and bars etc. I have tried many protein powders but it is hard to find a high quality protein powder that tastes good and is made with stevia instead of sugar.

I recommend the high quality protein powder from ProGrade, their chocolate flavor is delicious! Here are some of their yummy recipes:

Chocolate covered Strawberry Milkshake

Frozen Mint Frappuccino

Coffee Banana Milkshake

French Vanilla Iced Coffee

Harvest Shake

For additional questions on the power of protein, ask Jayson from ProGrade:

"Jayson, Is Protein REALLY Going to Help Me Lose Weight Fast?"

I'm Dairy Intolerant. Can I Still Use Whey Protein?

Best Weight loss Advice.... Ever?

New Research on Unique Benefit of Whey Protein

Hope you enjoy your healthy smoothies, feel free to contact me with any suggestions or questions you may have.