This Very Berry Breakfast Smoothie has been designed as a healthy breakfast that’ll keep you going until lunch. It’s packed full of fruit, vegetables and protein to help combat sugar cravings and get your day off to a great start!
It’s been a couple of weeks since I posted my last Smoothie recipe – the Pineapple Passion Collagen Smoothie. So, I thought it was about time I posted another. Especially because I’ve been drinking them most mornings recently to give my weight loss a boost.
I’m not really in the business of making smoothies as a snack. That’s not my thing. I want a decent smoothie that will be breakfast in a glass. Which means it needs to deliver on nutrients including fibre, protein and healthy fats as well as being satisfying and delicious. This Very Berry Breakfast Smoothie is another winner, and I’m so happy to be bringing it to you.
WHAT MAKES THIS SMOOTHIE BREAKFAST-WORTHY?
FRUIT
The fruit is my favourite ingredient in a smoothie. It adds a natural sweetness that turns a smoothie from yuk to yum and is genius at overpowering the earthy taste of greens. I don’t know about you, but I certainly need that! My sweet tooth hasn’t been dampened enough at this point to be in love with a super green smoothie. It’ll happen one day, I’m determined. But for now, not so much. They’re an acquired taste that’s for sure!
But what makes fruit breakfast-worthy? Well, the fruit is an excellent source of fibre, which plays an important role in gut health and keeping us full until lunch.
VEGETABLES
Spinach is my smoothie vegetable of choice. It’s so easy to hide the “green” earthy flavour with fruit. So, if like me, you’re not into green smoothies, spinach is where to start when adding greens to your breakfast drink.
But it’s also extremely good for you. Do you remember Popeye? The cartoon where the iconic Sailorman would down a tin of spinach, and every time he did, he turned into a super-strong dude that could do pretty much anything.
Well, I can’t promise that kind of action, but there was undoubtedly a reason why spinach was the chosen vegetable to bring superpowers upon the legendary Popeye. It is insanely nutritious. Spinach has carbohydrates, fibre, vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, fatty acids and amino acids. (Source)
Furthermore, it may help those of us who suffer from cravings. In a study where sixty overweight and obese guys and gals ate spinach before a meal, results showed increased satiety and reduced hunger. This is excellent news. If we can be satisfied for more extended periods, then we may be less inclined to overeat, which could lead to weight loss. So yeah, you’ll see me eating a portion of spinach on the daily!
PROTEIN
This smoothie gets its protein from two sources. Greek yoghurt, which makes the smoothie creamy, as well as a selection of seeds, which add a subtle nuttiness.
Protein is helpful for weight loss because it can reduce your appetite and hunger levels, helping you to feel more full with less food. As Kris Gunners talks about in the article 10 Science-Backed Reasons to Eat More Protein, “protein reduces your level of the hunger hormone ghrelin. It also boosts the levels of peptide YY, a hormone that makes you feel full”.
So, if you’re sitting there thinking you can’t overcome your cravings and that you don’t have the willpower – then this is for you. This information is backed by science, you guys. If you’re struggling to lose weight, if you find yourself indulging more often than you’d like, if you’re regularly binging, including protein at mealtimes could help.
WATER
I’m a fan of adding water to my smoothies. Moreso than milk or milk alternatives because, well, water is free. Yeah, I’m not proud. But, it’s also a vital component of keeping our body healthy. Of course, it’s hydrating. But it’s also another great tool in our kit for helping to reduce cravings and support weight loss.
As Nicola Shubrook discusses in her article, What are the health benefits of drinking water? – our brains are not able to tell the difference between hunger and thirst, so it’s easy to be tempted to reach for a sweet treat when we may just need a glass of water.
SMOOTHIES ARE SO EASY!
As long as you’ve got the ingredients to hand, smoothies are so easy to make. If you’re short for time in the mornings before heading out to work or sorting out the kids, a smoothie takes 5 minutes and contains so many nutritious ingredients. It’s worth planning your shop to have some smoothie ingredients on hand.
Are you looking for a healthy smoothie? This Very Berry Breakfast Smoothie might just be what you’re looking for! If you make it, I’d love to know how it turns out. Please get in touch in the comments and let me know.
Very Berry Breakfast Smoothie
EQUIPMENT
- Blender
INGREDIENTS
- 225 g (1 Cup) Frozen Pineapple
- 100 g (1 Cup) Frozen Mixed Berries
- 60 g (2 Cups) Spinach Fresh, washed
- 2 tbsp Greek Yoghurt
- 1 tbsp Ground Flaxseeds
- ½ tbsp Sunflower Seeds
- ½ tbsp Pumpkin Seeds
- 250 ml Filtered Water
INSTRUCTIONS
- Put all the ingredients in a blender and blend for 2 minutes or until smooth.
NUTRITION
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