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Indulge your tastebuds with this Chocolate Hazelnut Smoothie Bowl. It tastes like dessert, but also a nourishing breakfast! Swap the straw for a spoon! Smoothie bowls are becoming more and more popular these days. Pinterest is filled with beautiful smoothie bowl creations. My dietitian friends Liz & Janice over at Meal Makeover Moms even made a Smoothie Bowl Coloring Cookbook!
Making a smoothie bowl instead of an on-the-go drink can help practice mindful eating and encourage slower eating. It’s easy to suck down a smoothie in a few big gulps. By enjoying a smoothie bowl with a spoon it can help you slow down, be more aware of what you’re eating and pay attention to whether or not you are actually hungry. What’s fun about smoothie bowls are the fun toppings you can add. Opt for nutrition powerhouse toppings like fruit, nuts, & seeds. Rather than blending toppings into a smoothie, add them on top smoothie bowl and enjoy their crunch with a spoon rather than through a straw
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Add a boost of flavor and nutrition with a Tropical Wild Blueberry Smoothie. By posting this recipe I am entering a recipe contest sponsored by the Wild Blueberry Association of North America and I am eligible to win prizes associated with the contest. I was not compensated for my time.
It dropped to 2 degrees here in NJ this past weekend.. BRRR. Simple tasks like running errands was brutal in the cold. I kept envisioning a getaway to a warm tropical island. Sadly, there were no tropical island trips planned in the near future, so I had to improvise. Instead I created a tropical wild blueberry smoothie.
You may think I’m contradicting myself for wanting to get away to a warm place and then make a cold smoothie, but smoothies are a staple in my kitchen year round, no matter what the temperature is. Why? Because smoothies are so easy to pack in a ton of nutrition with a variety of healthy foods coming from all food groups.
Plus, smoothies are so easy to customize with various combinations, so you’ll never get bored! I always like to experiment in the kitchen with new combinations and new ingredients. One new ingredient I tried in this smoothie recipe are wild blueberries. Wild Blueberries have twice (2x) the antioxidant capacity of larger cultivated blueberries. A growing body of research shows the potential health benefits of Wild Blueberries including gut health, diabetes, cancer and brain health.
I often find that certain fruit flavors, like blueberries, get lost when getting mixed into a smoothie because other strong fruit flavors take over.
Wild blueberries are a little extra special than your regular cultivated blueberries. Wild blueberries have a more intense flavor than regular blueberries. Wild Blueberry plants grow wild and are genetically diverse with thousands of interlocking plants spreading naturally across fields called barrens. It’s this diversity that gives Wild Blueberries their complex and delicious flavor — an extraordinary mix of tart and sweet. Smoothie Tip: Use frozen fruit when making smoothies. This will chill the smoothie plus thicken it without using ice, which can water down the flavor.
The Wild Blueberry crop (99% of it) is frozen. These potent little berries are individually quick frozen (IQF) at harvest locking in their nutrition and taste. It’s nature’s pause button.
You don’t have to get out of your pajamas and wait on line at Starbucks to enjoy lattes anymore. Learn how simple it is to make your own latte at home. This Mocha Latte tastes indulgent without breaking the bank.
Disclosure: I was asked to participate in the @CocoaVia #HeartMonth campaign as a member of the Healthy Aperture Blogger Network. I was compensated for my time.
I’m from New Jersey and in NJ people feel very strongly about their coffee. Dunkin vs. Starbucks. When I say people feel very strongly about their coffee, they will openly tell you why they like their choice and how you should too.
Dunkin or Starbucks?
I don’t often get coffee out, as I prefer to make it at home, but when I want to grab a quick cup of coffee I’ll stop at Dunkin. For more of the specialty drinks, like lattes, I prefer Starbucks, so you could say I’m the rare NJ coffee drinker. I don’t pick sides.
I’m the type of morning person where coffee must be present during my morning routine. I don’t want to have to wait until I’m already out the door to get my caffeine fix. Coffee beverages, like lattes, can be part of a healthy diet. An average latte contains one full serving of dairy.
When I found this little milk frother gadget, I realized how easy it was to make lattes at home and get that perfect amount of foam like if a barista was making you a latte right in your own kitchen.
There is just something about sipping on a warm coffee in the morning that makes me happy. Skip the chocolate syrup for a mocha latte and try using a packet of unsweetened dark chocolate CocoaVia® cocoa extract supplement, a daily cocoa extract supplement that delivers the highest concentration of cocoa flavanols, which are scientifically proven to promote a healthy heart by supporting healthy blood flow†.
Chocolate is a fabulous treat, but it’s not a reliable way to get sufficient quantities of cocoa flavanols. Traditional cocoa processing, which includes drying, fermenting and roasting of beans, destroys many of the flavanols naturally present in the cocoa bean. CocoaVia® supplement isolates the “good stuff” in chocolate in a convenient, versatile form, without all the calories and fat.
Print
Cozy up to a delicious mocha latte that you can make right at home!
Ingredients
Scale
1 teaspoon instant espresso powder
2 tablespoons hot water
8 ounces low-fat milk
1 packet CocoaVia® unsweetened dark chocolate packet
(optional) 1/4 teaspoon coconut sugar (or sweetener of your choice)
Instructions
Prepare instant espresso by stirring instant espresso powder with hot water in a coffee mug.
In a small pot over low-medium heat, warm the almond milk, just until tony bubbles begin to surface. Remove from heat and use an electric milk frother to create foam.
Slowly pour the warmed milk over the prepared espresso using a large spoon to hold back the milk foam. Spoon as much foam as you desire on top.
Stir in one CocoaVia® unsweetened dark chocolate packet and coconut sugar (if using).
Serve immediately.
Notes
CocoaVia® cannot be baked or heated, as the process will destroy the cocoa flavanols; It can be poured into hot milk or other liquid
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Power up your blender for a twist of a campfire favorite – s’mores!
This “Easy as Breeze” post is sponsored by Almond Breeze Almondmilk. Thank you for supporting brands who help make this website possible!
S’mores – it’s a summer time favorite. Summer is not complete without a perfect s’more over a campfire. S’mores creations have really gotten creative lately. Adding a reese pb cup instead of a chocolate square, adding in a brûlée banana slice, or even using chocolate chip cookies instead of graham crackers. I’m thinking a little more out of the box today with a drinkable form.
As crazy as this sounds, my uncle didn’t know what a s’more was. Uhhhh.. what! How do you not know what a s’more is?! And even after my cousins and I explained it to him, he never says it correctly. He pronounces it like s’moré.
With no opportunity being around a campfire or fire pit yet this summer, I had to improvise to enjoy my s’more craving. Simply toast marshmallows by broiling them. NOTE: keep an eye on them! I burned the first batch, oops!
The chocolate almond milk was the perfect addition to make it taste rich and indulgent. It literally tastes like a drinkable s’more. If you have s’mores ingredients at home, it’s time to make a s’more smoothie .. now! You can thank me later.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place marshmallows on baking sheet and place under broiler on low for 2-3 minutes. (note: keep a close eye on the marshmallows as they can burn quickly)
In a blender, combine the chocolate almond milk, vanilla Greek yogurt, toasted marshmallows, chocolate squares, and graham crackers. Blend until smooth.
(optional) Melt additional chocolate and rim the glasses with chocolate and crushed graham crackers. Add additional toasted marshmallows, graham crackers, and chocolate for a garnish.
Notes
Don’t skip toasting the marshmallows or they will not blend up all the way in the smoothie.
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This Very Berry Smoothie Bowl is berry good! With protein and tons of juicy berries, you’ll feel energized all morning.
Disclosure: This is my recipes for Welch’s Recipe Contest. I am eligible to win prizes. I was not compensated for my time.
It’s hot and humid here in New Jersey. I am not complaining. After this long winter, I’ll take any warm weather, humidity and all.
I just started officially training this week for a 10k coming up this summer. My last race was April of last year, so I need to get back into my training groove. I’ve been running, but not really structured from week to week. With this added humidity, I’ve had some pretty sweaty runs and craving anything refreshing after, while getting in some post run fuel.
I’ve been loving smoothies, but I end up drinking them so fast without even really getting to enjoy them. This Very Berry Smoothie Bowl, is thicker that is better to eat with a spoon rather than through a straw. It will help slow you down and enjoy all the wonderful flavors, plus, you get to put on whatever fun toppings you like!
This Very Berry Smoothie Bowl has a little extra twist by adding 100% Welch’s grape juice. While adding a boost of fruity flavor, it also brings along many health benefits.
Welch’s and their team of Nutrition Experts can help explain why concord grapes, just like in Welch’s 100% grape juice can help with maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Colorful fruits and vegetables offer essential vitamins, minerals and beneficial plant nutrients, like polyphenols. And, while it’s certainly important to eat a rainbow of produce, it’s worth paying attention to the purples and blues.
Toppings: additional banana slices, raspberries, blueberries, chia seeds or coconut, sliced almonds, etc.
Instructions
In a blender, combine the raspberries, blueberries, banana, vanilla Greek yogurt, 100% grape juice, chia seeds, and ice (if using). Purée until smooth, about 1 minute.
The smoothie should be thick, so if needed, add more ice until desired consistency is reached. Pour into a bowl and top with your favorite toppings.
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Start of your morning satisfied with a wholesome smoothie. Boost your smoothie with protein by using whole food ingredients.
Now that the weather is getting warmer, I’m craving smoothies in the morning. I love how quick and easy they can be. One quick tip that I have made a habit, is that the night before, I put all my ingredients in the blender. So all I have to do in the morning is give it a whirl and my smoothie is ready to go! Another prep trick is to make little baggies of all your smoothie ingredients and pop them in the freezer. Then in the morning, all you have to do is add your base (yogurt, milk, water). Smoothie in seconds!
I love my smoothies, but the key is finding the right combo of ingredients. Smoothies will fill you up because of their volume, but I like to make sure there is enough protein and fiber to really fill me up. I don’t want to feel hungry an hour after drinking it. I do use protein powders from time to time, but I don’t like to rely on them because 1) real food first 2) it can get expensive.
The protein star of this smoothie is Siggi’s Mixed Berries & Acai yogurt, packing in 14 grams of protein in 1 serving! Additional protein is coming from the powdered peanut butter (5 grams), chia seeds (3 grams), and a little more from the rest of the ingredients. Total this smoothie has 24 grams of protein, plus 12 grams of fiber!
After drinking this delicious recipe (ps tastes like a pb&j), I was full an satisfied! Of course, you can vary the flavor combos and sneak in some veggies, but always make sure to boost it up with some protein and fiber!
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Happy Saint Patrick’s Day! Go green for Saint Patrick’s Day with my favorite green smoothie combination.
Some exiting things have been happening over in my little blog corner of the internet world. The other day I found out that I made the the 2015 Cabot Fit Team with 7 other fabulous bloggers! Whitney Bond of Little Leopard Book, Carrie Burrill of Bakeaholic Mama, Audra Fullerton of The Baker Chick, Julie Harrington of RDelicious Kitchen, Brianne Izzo of Cupcakes & Kale Chips, Kelly Mahoney of Kelly the Culinarian, Anne Mauney of FANNEtastic Food, and Kita Roberts of Pass the Sushi. Read more about each of these bloggers here!
We will be running the TD Bank Beacon to Beacon 10k in Cape Elizabeth, Maine on August 1st. I can’t wait! I better start training soon!
You may be expecting a “shamrock shake” mint kind of smoothie on St. Patrick’s Day, but I’m sticking to my go-to green smoothie to share with you today.
Funny story, last year when I make a “lightened up” shamrock shake, my first attempt I added too much mint extract. Tasted like straight up toothpaste … gross. I’m not a huge mint fan, rather more of a peanut butter kind of girl, so this variation hits the spot! Plus, the secret it making it creamy is the little bit of Cabot Greek yogurt.
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I’ve been a little obsessed with kefir lately. When I saw they had an eggnog flavor, I jumped right on it. I’ve been enjoying kefir as is, but this time wanted to try it in a recipe.
Kefir naturally has a tangy flavor, so when incorporating it in a smoothie, a banana was the perfect way to sweetened it up.
Eggnog only comes around once a year, so I don’t mind indulging in a small glass one time a year. Eggnog just screams Christmas to me, and I want to enjoy that seasonal treat more than once without the guilt!
Enjoy as a breakfast, snack, or dessert to get in the holiday spirit! I know what I’ll be making for breakfast Christmas morning!
Indulge in the holiday seasonal flavors without packing on the pounds. Feel good about drinking eggnog with this eggnog smoothie recipe!
Ingredients
Scale
1 banana
1 cup Lifeway kefir eggnog
1 cup unsweetened almond milk
(optional) ground nutmeg
(optional) ice
Instructions
Simply add ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth.
For a thinner consistency add more almond milk. For a thicker consistency add ice.
Sprinkle with ground nutmeg.
Notes
For a festive rim: take 2 tbsp of sugar and mix in 1 drop of red food coloring. With a damp paper towel moisten the rim of the glass. Coat the rim of the glass with sugar.
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