Saturday Smoothies

Smoothies are one of my favorite things to make for a Saturday morning breakfast at home.  They're packed with fresh fruit, vegetables, and Greek yogurt so it's a great way to start the weekend-- especially after a Friday night of drinking and eating out after work.

Smoothies are also a great way to use up leftover items and keep yourself on a budget. I plan a menu out every week to make sure that we don't overbuy when we get to the grocery store on the weekend.  On Saturdays I survey the produce that is left in my fridge and get creative. All that fruit gets blended up and I don't have to feel guilty about tossing unused food. This is also the perfect solution for any too-ripe fruit you have hanging around. Nobody wants to eat a soft strawberry or a brown banana, but they are perfect in smoothies.

So, grab some yogurt, fruit (fresh or frozen), veggies (if you like), and any add-ins you like (oats, honey, juice, peanut butter, chia seeds, etc.) and start blending!

A few smoothie tips:

• My favorite fruits to use are berries (any kind-- fresh or frozen), ripe peaches, cubed pineapple, fresh mango, and always a banana (frozen or not).
• If your bananas are getting really brown/ripe, store them in the freezer. When you're ready to use them, peel, break into a few pieces, and add to the blender. The frozen banana will make your smoothie super thick.
• You can add veggies to your sweet fruit smoothie for nutrition without it ruining the taste. Some of my favorite add ins are spinach, kale, and shredded carrots. You can't taste or see them when they are blended with fruit.
• I prefer to use vanilla Greek yogurt in my smoothies, but plain works too. Just remember that it's not sweet! If I am using plain yogurt I will usually add in a squeeze of honey or a splash of orange juice to balance out that flavor.
• A splash of orange juice, lemon juice, or pomegranate juice helps thin out your smoothie and add flavor. Always use fresh squeezed when you can!
• Sometimes a straight fruit and yogurt smoothie doesn't fill me up as much as I'd like. Try adding a scoop of whole oats or a few tablespoons of raw nuts (like almonds)-- it thickens it up and is like a complete meal in a glass.