A Smoothie Start to Your Day

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IMG_3431IMG_3433IMG_3432IMG_3434IMG_3437At the start of this Summer, I was not loving how I looked or felt. My midsection was less defined, more than a bit bloated, and dangerously veering into muffin top territory. I felt sluggish and slow, especially when hiking or working out. And let’s not even discuss having to put on a bathing suit! So it was time to take action. And when a post from Dr. Oz popped up on my Facebook feed, I took it as a sign to check out his 28 Day Shrink Your Stomach Challenge.

I’ll confess it looked less than appetizing and more than a bit challenging. What? No wine?? But for me the structure and routine were just what the “Dr.” ordered. The results? With some cheats, I lost 9 pounds and 1 1/2 inches on my waist. Bloat was banished, my clothes fit better, my energy levels were upped. And doing a 3 minute plank is now, well, easy.

That said, I did some tinkering with his recipes. I’ve been a breakfast smoothie fan for decades but my old version relied on milk and yogurt. Since dairy was a no no, I had to get creative. My favorite version turned out to be the recipe below, and now I start every day with it. It’s really delicious and keeps me going until lunch. So even if you don’t try the 28 Day Challenge, I hope you’ll try this!

Sunshine Smoothie

Ingredients:

1 cup Non-dairy Milk (I like So Delicious Unsweetened Coconut Milk)

1/2 Avocado (Yes it’s fat but good fat!)

1/2 Banana (I slice up a 2-3 ripe bananas at a time and store in a ziploc in the freezer)

1/4 cup Mango/Pineapple Chunks (I keep bags of frozen organic ones on hand)

(Alternative fruit option to mango/pineapple chunks: 1/2 cup mixed berries. You’ll enjoy a purple smoothie instead of a green one!)

2 tbsp Bran/Chia/Flaxseed Mix (I premix all 3 and store in a big mason jar)

Add ingredients in order of recipe into your blender, from milk to bran mix. I could not live without my Ninja. It’s fast, pretty quiet, and tackles anything. Whir away, then pour into a tall glass and enjoy!

I got my Ninja Blender at Bed Bath and Beyond. They always offer coupons, plus it’s now on sale.

 

 

 

 

3 thoughts on “A Smoothie Start to Your Day

    1. No real science. Basically 1/3 proportion of each mixed into whatever container you have handy. Since Chia Seeds become really sticky when they absorb liquids, I’m now trying ground ones.

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