Tis the season to have some fun with your breakfast morning smoothie! Which is exactly what I did this morning…what better way to enjoy the sweet flavors of gingerbread cookies (my fave!) than at breakfast in a blood sugar balanced smoothie…no guilt here and super satisfying!
Gingerbread Smoothie
A breakfast twist on a holiday favorite!
Ingredients
- 2 cups unsweetened cashew or coconut milk
- 1 banana* best if frozen
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons unsulphured molasses
- 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger or 1/2 teaspoon dried ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
- Pinch of allspice
- 2 scoops vanilla-flavored protein powder
- 2 tablespoons chia seeds or almond butter
- Add water or more nut milk if you prefer a thinner consistency
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a blender and enjoy!
Notes
*If you like a sweeter smoothie, add an additional 1/2 banana (for a total of 1 1/2 bananas).
Although I do change it up a few times a week, my breakfast staple is typically a smoothie. Smoothies can be a great way to start the day if you are not big on breakfast. Although I am SUPER BIG on breakfast, I find the simplicity of a smoothie is all I need to get a good start to my day.
To ensure your smoothie is “Andrea-approved” make sure that you follow these rules when blending your own at home:
- ALWAYS include a source of protein (I use a plant-based vegan protein powder in mine like Sunwarrior, About Time VE, and Garden of Life), but you could also use hulled hemp seeds or even plain Greek organic yogurt for protein.
- You will need to balance the carbs in your smoothie (aka the ‘fruit’) with a little fat (such as 1-2 tablespoons of ground flax, chia seeds, almond or coconut butter, avocado, etc.).
- Keep the sugar in check by limiting the amount of fruit in your smoothie to a maximum of 3/4 cup per person (so about 1/2 banana and about 1/4 cup of berries). You can use fresh or frozen fruit, but I prefer frozen. It helps make the smoothie more milkshake-like! 🙂
- For an added nutritional boost, chuck in a good handful of spinach leaves or de-stemmed kale.
- To blend, I like to use non-dairy milk beverages like unsweetened coconut milk, cashew nut milk, or almond milk. This helps make the smoothie creamier than just using water.
