There definitely was a time in my life, not long ago, that I was not very familiar with making smoothies at home. I would drink my smoothies out, BIG smoothies to be honest, and then was horrified to find out that the smoothie I was drinking had around 500-700 calories in it. Eek.
Sorry, but I’d rather eat pizza for those kind of calories. Or a bag of potato chips.
Of course, I could have always just ordered a smaller smoothie, but whatever…I just started making my own at home instead.
I finally have my perfect/favorite way to make a smoothie down pat and it’s become my go-to breakfast during the week…which I enjoy in one of my many insulated cups (that I just LOVE) on the drive to drop off the kids at school.
The key to smoothies in my opinion is frozen fruit. I’ve tried making them with ice, but I really just don’t like how they turn out….kind of watery and slushy and just not appealing to me. So I stick with the frozen fruit and I get a refreshing, ice cold smoothie every time. I also started adding chocolate protein powder in my smoothies to turn them into a complete meal. The protein powder is optional, but I highly recommend it if you need something to hold you over for a few hours, it does the trick.
Aggie’s Blueberry Breakfast Smoothie
1 cup frozen blueberries (or strawberries)
1/2 frozen or fresh ripe banana (optional, for extra sweetness)
1 cup regular almond milk
1 scoop chocolate protein powder (optional, for more of a meal-type smoothie – I am not a protein powder connoisseur, the only one I’ve tried is Jillian Michael’s whey protein and I have been loving it for months now)
Add your frozen fruit to your blender and let sit for about 5 minutes to let it defrost slightly for easier blending. Add milk and protein powder, if using, and blend for 30-45 seconds until smooth.
Amber likes to sing to me when I make my morning smoothie. She’s always on key too.
Cleaning tip: When I got my new blender last year, my friend Kelley gave me the most simple, yet invaluable tip on how to clean out my blender easily each day. It is brilliant and works like a charm. All you need is about a cup of hot water from your faucet and a tiny squirt of dish soap (rinse out the leftover smoothie out of the pitcher first!) and BLEND. Rinse well and you’re all set. The key to this little trick is to do it immediately after you make your smoothie, don’t let it sit in the sink all day.
Do you have a favorite way to make smoothies?
Here’s a few more I’d like to try:
Pistachio Smoothie from Amy at She Wears Many Hats
Skinny Green Tropical Smoothie from Gina at skinnytaste
Cranberry Cherry Mango Smoothie from Katie at Good Life Eats
Chocolate, Peanut Butter and Banana Smoothie from Makes and Takes
and don’t forget to try my own Green Smoothies and Extra Pink Berry Smoothies.
{ 31 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m a huge breakfast smoothie fan. I find the protein powder makes a huge difference on the outcome. I also like using my magic bullet because the cleanup is SO easy. Almond milk is fantastic in smoothies
I love the hint of sweetness almond milk gives. It’s just enough, I don’t have a huge sweet tooth so the fruit and almond milk is perfect. what kind of protein powder do you use? my parents and siblings use their magic bullet all the time too!!
I have a smoothie almost every morning! Love it!
such a great way to get the day started isn’t it?
good article.
thank you Paula!!
My mom was known for her smoothies when we were growing up. My kids still have smoothies every time we visit her. Frozen bananas are the best with any smoothie because they add that thickness without using ice. They are also the easiest way to get my kids to eat spinach. Just add some mint leaves and a few chocolate chips!
frozen bananas changed smoothies for me for sure. they make such a difference! I’ll have to try the mint and chocolate chips, that sounds great Melissa!!
I love smoothies! Our blender has at least one a day whirling around in there. At least.
we have at least one going on every day too. I make the kids smoothies often too, with all kinds of fruit and almond milk (no protein powder)…such a cool treat for the hot afternoons!
I really need to get better about doing smoothies! And I need a Blentec!
I hope the Blendtec fairy visits you! I love mine. Smoothies are such a great no-brainer breakfast for me. Hope you have a great day!
Great recipe. I am on the fence about getting a Vitamix or a Blendtec. How do you like your Blendtec?
I love it! I have friends with both, I don’t think you can go wrong with either. It’s definitely made smoothie making a whole lot easier and better
I’ve used both the Vitamix and Blentec, and I definitely prefer the Blendtec!
I just got my Designer Series Blendtec, and its AWESOME!! Would never want an ugly Vitamix.
Alexis – We have a Vitamix in our home and we love it. I really should use it more, though. Maybe I will break it out tomorrow for a morning smoothie!
Thanks, Aggie for the great information here!
My hubs LOVES to make smoothies, but I just don’t have the patience for them. But I love yours! And that tip? UH, GENIUS.
That Kelley…..
seriously, the blender cleaning tip is genius. I have always disliked cleaning the blender for some reason.
come over, I’ll make you a smoothie!!
A couple of us were just talking yesterday about our Blentecs, and about this brilliant way to clean it!! I’ve been making a lot of smoothies – this one sounds delish!
I love making smoothies at home. I rarely buy them.
Thank you for that blender cleaning trick! I will definitely use it!
Love this! I’m a huge fan of smoothies and especially love making my own. I even add spinach or other greens to mine usually because you really can’t taste them. It’s awesome! I really need a better blender though, I make all my smoothies in my magic bullet
Looks yummy! I love to add a 1/2 cup of plain uncooked Quaker oatmeal and a hand full of kale or spinach too (you will never know it’s in it). Also a tsp of cinnamon is very good! I hate to sound funny but the oatmeal will clean you out the next day if you know what I mean, which is good
I know I’ll definitely be making my own smoothies once I have a blendtec!
one day…
Easiest way to get into a Blendtec is to get a Factory Recondition on their 3 pay option. You can see it here http://www.blendtec.com/products/total_blender_factory_reconditioned?affiliateid=299558
The pic of you dog is priceless! Thanks for the recipe . I need to start making smoothies again.
That looks really yummy! I found a tip on Pinterest to put together little freezer “smoothie packs” that have everything in them already except the liquid (almond milk, juice, water, whatever you want). I buy greek yogurt in bulk, then freeze individual servings in muffin cups. I buy frozen fruits and fresh fruits that are in season…prep them, put about 1.5 – 2 cups of fruit and 3 of the yogurt “muffins” into a quart-size freezer bag and pop them in the freezer. When I’m running around in the morning like a chicken with my head cut off, it’s easy to throw the smoothie pack and some almond milk in the blender, and there you go! Great time saver, and would be easy to throw protein powder, bran, oats, or anything else you like in there.
I love making smoothies at home, too. My littles love having them for breakfast and/or snacks. This one looks delicious!
Ever since I dreamed up my strawberry-avocado smoothie with dates and hemp seeds, my husband and I have been on such a smoothie kick! We keep meaning to try more, but we really love that one
I have a Vitamix and I love it. I make smoothies most days. For myself, I put about a third of a cup of rolled oats in first and blend them into a powder. After that, I add almond milk, a frozen or fresh banana, a cup or so of berries (usually blueberries or blackberries), a big spoonful of nut butter, and a handful of greens. If I used a fresh banana, I also add a few ice cubes. I love this smoothie and I feel like the oats help me to stay fuller longer. My son and husband don’t like the oaty taste and texture, so for them I just do frozen fruit (banana, mango, berries – whatever we have) almond milk, greens, and yogurt.
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