Summer Smoothies In The Kitchen

 

Smoothies are probably one of the easiest and healthiest things to make but being that it’s a boiling summer and I spend most days roasting in my shoe box apartment and they are just so dang good and cooling, I’m going to share my favourite smoothies with you.

In this particular drink I went with strawberries, raspberries and banana for fruit but it’s also unbelievably good with mango, banana and peaches. Sometimes I switch up the juice from 100% orange juice to cranberry juice for it’s diuretic qualities. Pineapple is also mouth watering for the mango smoothie but orange will do just fine. Other than juice and fruit I also add fat free vanilla yogurt. In the past I never liked the taste of Activia yogurt but I recently switched to fat free vanilla Activia yogurt because in a smoothie you can’t taste it as well so you get the probiotic benefits without the taste.  Also in the mix are chia seeds which are a power food due to their amazing amount of nutrients held within the tiny seeds.

   

Fresh summer fruit is easily the best part of summer for me; it helps me get through the season without pulling my hair out from the agonizing pain of slowly baking (dramatic much?) Feel free to sneak a little taste of fruit dipped in yogurt before you make the smoothie but beware of wild beasts lurking around who are out to knab your snack.

 

Mix your ingredients in your blender and take in the colourful scene for a moment because it’s too purdy to ignore.

Chia seeds aren’t just for growing grassy Garfield heads. They look like salt and pepper in the container and to me they have no taste but some say it’s a mild nut flavour. They can be added to almost anything from yogurt, cereal, salads, baking, sauces and the list goes on. In smoothies they get soft and sort of gel so you barely notice they are there. They are an awesome source of omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants and fiber. So basically, there’s no reason not to add the kick of nutrition to your grub.

  

I use about one scoop in my smoothies. They are especially unnoticeable in smoothies that have strawberries, raspberries, blackberries etc. because there are already a lot of seeds floating in the glass so you can’t tell one from the other.

 

Once you’ve tossed it all in your blender you are set to go and watch the blender pulverize the colours into one creamy pink colour.

 

Mmm, the yogurt keep the smoothie thick, you can vary how much you use depending on your preference. I like it a little more thin that thick.

Drink it in a wine glass if you feel like classing up the joint. I drank this beauty in my pajamas with the hole in the crotch but I still felt fancy.

Pretty basic stuff but I’ll break it down for you to make it easier:

Ingredients

2 cups of your favourite fruit: strawberries, raspberries, mango, banana, peach, blueberries. Anything goes and they all mix well for fruity fun.

1/2 cup fat free vanilla yogurt

1-1/2 cup 100% juice (cranberry, orange and prune are all health conscious choices)

One scoop of chia seeds (about 1/2 tbsp)

Directions

Throw it all in your blender and mix on puree for about a minute until everything is smooth.

Feel your horridly hot temperature lower as you gulp until it’s all gone.

 

Do you have a favourite summer food? What do you do to beat the heat?