Smoothies

Blueberry Breakfast Smoothie Recipe

August 1, 2018 by Dana

*This Blueberry Breakfast Smoothie Recipe may contain affiliate links. If you click these links and make a purchase, PLA will receive a commission for referring you. This enables me to keep the blog going strong. 🙂

Umm Hi, Hello. Brand new VITAMIX owner right here you guys! I am super excited to share this Blueberry Breakfast Smoothie Recipe post with you today because I just mixed this baby up in my brand new blender. When you get this excited about a kitchen appliance, you might be 30 something.

Can I just admit that I’ve been hardcore stalking this blender on Amazon since Christmas of 2017. Hardcore stalking like re-checking the price just to make sure it didn’t go down on a weekly basis. It may have even appeared on my Amazon Baby Registry. That’s right, I have all the baby things so when my Mom asked me to create a registry for baby number 5 I decided a blender would be totally appropriate. Spoiler alert: I didn’t get the blender at my baby shower!

On Prime Day 2018 I just so happened to do a quick search and found out OMG IT’S ON SALE.

Then 2 days later it arrived because Amazon does magical things like this. My husband directly said it was not in the budget for me to get this blender so I was thinking of ways to make it appear without being super over dramatic about it. Should I hide it in a closet or pretend my Mom bought it for me? How does one slip a blender past their husband?

Turns out the delivery guy had different plans because he placed my new blender right on the front porch 5 minutes before my husband got home from work. It was hiding at the front door in a huge box that said Vitamix on the outside. My husband came in and didn’t mention the blender at all. When I peered outside and saw the huge box I started laughing and he immediately said he saw my blender on the porch. Then I had to explain to him that when things are on sale, we buy the things. We don’t wait on buying the things because then Prime Day is over and we still want the things and will continue stalking them until they arrive at our door in a big Vitamix box. Moral of the story, just buy the Vitamix!

Products from Amazon.com

Initial Vitamix Thoughts

I will be doing a full Vitamix review quite soon, however my initial thoughts on the Vitamix is that it does live up to the hype! This Blueberry Breakfast Smoothie Recipe was so smooth I had to add ice to my next one just to make it a little thicker. I prefer to use frozen blueberries because they are easy, and it was no problem at all for the Vitamix. Ice was also easily blended. I was previously using a Ninja Master Prep for all my blending needs and the Vitamix is definitely lightyears ahead of my old blender. My smoothies are super smooth, almost like juice if I don’t add ice. I am testing different blends, specifically a kale blend to see what the best ratios are for getting greens super smooth. Stay tuned for that! 🙂

Sunrise Protein Smoothie

February 8, 2017 by Dana

Hello and welcome back! I’m posting this Sunrise Protein Smoothie today to let everyone know I’m actually alive and well and still creating delicious recipes for my family. 🙂

So where have I been? You know, to sum it up I’ve been super busy with my family. We have four little boys to take care of and since the baby was born last September I feel like I’m in survival mode everyday. I also have a relatively new photography business that is taking up quite a bit of my time. If you are in the Central Pennsylvania area go ahead and check me out! www.danacarvellphotography.com

My business is specializing in newborn and family photography and things have taken off to the point where I feel like I’m ignoring my first baby, my 3boys blog! I got a swift kick in the rear when I realized that I still get thousands of hits a day and I’m so missing my foodie community. It almost was like a big wake up call:

“Hello Dana! There are thousands of people reading your recipes everyday! You are killing in in stats, where are you!?!?”

It kind of just dropped on my lap, honestly. So here I am! I not only love doing this, it is like a breath of fresh air!

So i’ve decided to try to dedicate a little time each week to still posting and doing something that I ultimately love to do. I’ve had such a positive experience here and I love it! And of course, by the way, since upgrading my camera, and getting A TON of experience in taking pictures of people I’ve also grown so much in my food photography. Gone are the days of super over exposed images. 🙂 I also really love taking pictures of food because hello! Food does not move! Most of the time I’m chasing around toddlers. Don’t get me wrong, I love a challenge, but a subject that is motionless once in a while is so fun!

As I mentioned since our 4th boy was born last year I’ve been in survival mode. Little by little we are getting back to our own “normal” but it has taken quite some time. Just because our baby is 16 months old doesn’t mean things have gotten a whole lot easier, just different. More of chasing mom around the house begging to be carried around all day so that mom can literally do nothing, including cook for the rest of the family! haha In order to get healthy, whole foods into my own body I have resorted to a lot of smoothie recipes because… again…survival mode ya’ll!

I hesitated to post this Sunrise Protein Smoothie recipe because it seems so simple. At the same time I thought, why not!?!? This is real, this is what I’m eating, and I should share it. It doesn’t have to be super elaborate for readers to find it helpful. So here it is! 🙂

How to Choose the Best Protein Powder

This is one thing that made me hesitate to post this Sunrise Smoothie Recipe because I don’t want folks to pick a protein powder that contains a ton of unhealthy ingredients. In the back of my mind I’m saying:

“I’ve seen some really bad ones. Will someone choose that?”

So here. I’m telling you straight. Read the ingredient list. Look in the “naturals” section, and choose wisely. Choose organic if you can, try to find the shortest list of ingredients, and stay away from soy. I’ve actually seen partially hydrogenated oils in GNC’s protein powders, as well as a bunch of others. Like really GNC!?!?! How dare you throw horrible ingredients into a powder that is marketed to people trying to be healthy. These are the things that just simply anger me because it is necessary and dangerous. I love Food Babe and she has a list here that will help you choose. While mine is not on her list, I would still highly suggest all Vega products as they taste great and have worked very well for me!

I use Vega protein powders that are the best I’ve found. Yes, they are vegan. No I’m not following a Vegan diet. However their ingredients check out and I will be eating non-vegan foods the rest of the day so it is a nice change.

Vegan Peanut Butter Banana Protein Smoothie

January 6, 2016 by Dana

Ohhhh Heyyy There!!!

Being that this is my first post back after a few month hiatus from blogging to.. Oh I don’t know, HAVE A BABY I thought it was only fitting to talk postpartum weight loss and how ~~horrifying,~~ I mean awesome of an experience it can be!

If you haven’t been here before let me quickly bring you up to date. I’m 28, I have 4 boys, and my husband works a job that takes him away from home about 80% of time. I have a 9 year old who is currently in need of a ton of homework help, a 4 year old who is the easiest of the bunch, a strong willed 2 year old who is ever so cute/a raging emotional mess/potty training, and a breastfeeding baby who basically loves and needs Mommy almost 24/7. Needless to say I change a lot of diapers, deal with about 100 boogers a day, and by the end of the day I don’t even know my name anymore (give me about an hour after bedtime to remember it :)). Finding time to do things like exercise and meal plan is super challenging right now but I am feeling ready to think about what I’m eating and where I can make better choices (hello organic sourdough bread and butter, I’m staring at you).

Oh…and one more small detail.. I am going to a BEACH WEDDING in FOUR short months..Mic drop.

Yes. Beach Wedding. Me. In a bathing suit. On a beach. Not only am I attending the wedding, I am in the wedding (my sister is tying the knot). IN THE WEDDING. 80+ people looking at me walking down an isle (ok, I’m not the bride so let’s face it, nobody gives two hoots about me) however I’d prefer to be feeling a tad bit better about my body at that time. And… dun dun dun… I have a dress that doesn’t fit me. Ok, ok in all fairness I can get the dress on but I would need about 5 layers of Spanx to tame all the lumps and bumps under the dress. Me + 5 layers of Spanx under a dress in Mexico = Not happening! So I have a ton of motivation right now to make it happen.

On a really serious note before we dive into the recipe, I’ve always taken postpartum weight loss very lightly. I’m not very hard on myself about it, and I don’t feel super down about the way that I look. Sure, I’d love to take a selfie without that extra chin (wait a minute, I don’t selfie) but you know, I have a beautiful baby to care for everyday and that is good enough for me. I’ve always gained weight while pregnant and it has always taken me 6-9 months to shed the extra weight. I know my body did something incredible just 3 short months ago and I remind myself of that every time I feel “fat.” I will never compare myself to any other person or celebrity because all of us are working with a different deck of cards. Plus, now I have an excuse to buy a bunch of leggings and ponchos from Grace & Lace and basically never take them off. 🙂

I picked up this Vega Protein Smoothie pouch at Wegmans after eyeing it up for a couple of weeks in a row. I’ll admit, I made a few really gross concoctions with it at first. I mean gag-worthy. Then I realized if I just kept it simple the results were awesome! Vega has a few different flavors but I settled on the vanilla and I really like the taste. My main goal in trying to eat healthier/think about what I’m eating/feed myself quickly is just to try to keep things realatively simple. I’m not following any type of meal plan, I’m just keeping myself in check with a food diary app, sticking to unprocessed foods, and incorporating more fruits and veggies into my daily routine. I know what works for me is routine, routine, routine. So instead of walking into the kitchen and ravaging through a loaf of sourdough bread I’m going to think about it first. Then maybe dig into some carrots and hummus, or make a delicious Vegan Protein Smoothie with my Vega protein. See where I am going with this?

I should also mention that my handy-dandy Ninja Master Prep is still going strong! I LOVE THIS THING! It isn’t the most high quality blender, but baby it gets the job done darn good. I’ve had mine for about a year and a half now and it is still blending like a champ. I use it almost every day. Yay for the Ninja Master Prep!

Coconut Cherry Matcha Smoothie

January 3, 2015 by Dana

This antioxidant loaded smoothie is not only great for your health, but delicious!

What better way to kick of 2015 then with a delicious antioxidant bomb like this Coconut Cherry Matcha Smoothie?!? Oh me, oh my this one is super delicious, and with a touch of coconut cream tastes like a dream boat. I mix up quite a few smoothies every week but this one is here to stay!

With the New Year in full swing I know there will be a ton of “getting healthier” resolutions being made. Incorporating smoothies with whole foods in them is a great way to begin cutting processed foods. Simply substituting a healthy smoothie for a processed snack is a great start! Even if you try doing it for a week, you will see how much more energy you have, and how much better your body feels. The energy I get from a smoothie like this one is unlike anything you can get from a packaged, processed power bar. If you have a “getting healthier” resolution I’m with you. Even a person who has a food blog about not eating processed foods can fall off the wagon at times (Hello M & M’s my kids got for Christmas). What I’ve noticed this year with not eating processed foods is that I’m the minority. Anywhere we go, there is junk all around us. When you start making choices NOT to eat those things, people notice. All of a sudden you become the “health freak.” This year I want to own the way I feel about food and not let social situations make me cave and feel like I have to eat those things. Here’s to not letting social pressure get me this year! 🙂

I have been eyeing the matcha powder at Wegman’s for quite some time, I must admit. Hello! Aren’t all the cool kids doing it or something? Of course they are…. of course they are. Now, not that I’m really cool or anything because let’s face it, when you chase 3 kids around everyday your cool factor kind of goes down a little. You know, like when you are at the grocery store in a “mom hat” and you’ve been wearing yoga pants for the last 365 days? Yeah, I’m totally that mom. But, but… I just kind of hate jeans. It’s not me, it’s them of course!

Moving on, I know matcha powder can be a tad on the expensive side, so fear not because you can use a teabag with 1/2 of water to substitute for the matcha powder + water. I paid $8.99 for a small tin of matcha powder at Wegman’s, however it can range anywhere from $5 – $80+ depending on the quality you are looking for. I wouldn’t spend more then I spent at Wegman’s simply because you only get a few teaspoons of product in the tin.

I created this smoothie using two layers because I like doing layered smoothies. You can layer yours or simply mix everything together. This is also a thick smoothie, so if you like smoothies a little thinner you can add some additional water. Enjoy! 🙂

Coconut Cherry Matcha Smoothie

Cherry Layer:

Ingredients:

1/2 cup frozen sweet cherries
1/2 frozen banana
1/2 cup coconut milk*
1 Tbsp coconut cream*

Directions: Blend everything together until very smooth.

Matcha Layer:

Ingredients:

1 tsp matcha powder (or 1/2 cup green tea, eliminating water below)
1/2 frozen banana
1/2 cup water
1-2 tsp honey
3-4 ice cubes
1 Tbsp unsweetened coconut flakes (optional)

Directions: Blend everything together until very smooth.

* I use canned light coconut milk as opposed to dairy-substitute coconut milk because it doesn’t contain as many additives. Yes, this product is higher in fat but the fat naturally separates from the milky part so it is super easy for me to just use the milky part. Take a spoon and push aside the thick, creamy, layer at the top and your milk should pour right out. The 1 Tbsp coconut cream is simply the creamy part at the top. Here is a link to the product I use.
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Vanilla Mint Green Smoothie

December 11, 2014 by Dana

A new week, a new smoothie! I know, I know, didn’t I just post a smoothie recipe? But I’m kind of in love with this one, and Hello! It is December! Doesn’t that mean it is time to put mint in things? Candy canes, bark, cookies…..smoothies!

Now, let’s just hold onto our minty horses for a quick second because all those candy coated holiday minty concoctions are missing the fact that fresh mint leaves have many awesome health benefits. From aiding in digestion to fighting acne, mint can do it! I could keep going and going but I think my friends over at Organic Facts sum it up in their Health Benefits of Mint post. If you want more minty facts, head on over and check them out! Interesting stuff I tell ya, and seriously who knew?

If you’ve never been one to pick up a bunch of fresh mint at the grocery store I highly suggest it. Believe me, after you make this smoothie that fresh mint will work its way into so many other things you hadn’t even planned on making! Tomorrow I’m going to make a big ol’ cup of green tea and throw some mint leaves into that, and then after that I might just steep it into some cream and make a batch of ganache to whip up some icing for a party this weekend. So yeah, I’m getting my mint on this week, and you can too!

What I also discovered while making this smoothie was the glorious, soft-serv-ish concoction I got from the frozen ‘nana, coconut milk, and vanilla bean. I mean, seriously, I could have easily sat there with a spoon and just ate it like that! It is thick, smooth, and oh so creamy! I think I see a lot more frozen ‘nana + coconut milk + other goodies in my future. Plus, my kids are completely on the frozen ‘nana bandwagon. Healthy snacks say what????

So let’s talk coconut milk…because I didn’t really address this in my Strawberry-Pomegranate Green Smoothie post. I prefer to use canned coconut milk because it doesn’t have any weird additives (hello carrageenan) but you can use any milk (or liquid) you’d like. I used Native Forest Organic Light Coconut Milk.I chose this brand because they do NOT use BPA in their can linings. If you haven’t been following you might have seen me mention I’m kind of OCD about canned foods. The first step to addressing your issues is admitting you have a problem, right? HA! Ok, I know I’m a total weirdo about canned foods but hey, I don’t like the idea of putting weird chemicals into my body. So non-BPA linings for me it is, and Native Forest fits the bill. I found this coconut milk in the organic-ish baking section of my local grocery store.

I also added some chia seeds to this smoothie for extra antioxidants/protein. While these little balls of nutrition are pretty awesome, they do add a jelly-ish texture to the smoothie. If you haven’t tried chia seeds yet, I would suggest putting a few in water and allowing them to expand, then trying them before actually putting them into the smoothie. I don’t really love the texture of them, but for nutritional reasons I added them. If you are on the fence, I’d say just omit them altogether! While they do add extra nutrition, they aren’t everyone’s cup o’ tea, and that’s cool! 🙂

Products from Amazon.com

Vanilla Mint Green Smoothie

Vanilla Layer

Ingredients:

1 frozen banana
1/2 cup light coconut milk (canned version)
1/4 vanilla bean pod or 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 Tbsp chia seeds (optional)

Green Mint Layer

Ingredients:

1/2 frozen banana
1 and 1/2 cups fresh spinach
10-15 fresh mint leaves
1/4 cup coconut milk

Directions: Thoroughly blend until all ingredients are smooth. Serve immediately.

Strawberry Pomegranate Green Smoothie

December 6, 2014 by Dana

*Update 2018: I am now the proud owner of a Vitamix. Thank You Prime Day 2018 for making all of my blender dreams come true. I still think the Ninja Master Prep is a great blender is you are using it lightly or don’t need a completely smooth smoothie, however I can’t say enough about the Vitamix! It is amazing.

Hello Friday! I’m going all Instagram-famous-healthy-people on you today, with this Strawberry Pomegranate Green Smoothie. I mean, come on… paper straws and layered smoothies? How could one go wrong?

I’ve secretly been dying to make a layered smoothie just to make my kids go “oooooooohhhhh!” After I made this today I told my 3 year old is was a “Raph Smoothie” aka the red Ninja Turtle. He’s my smoothie boy already but the words “Raph Smoothie” intrigued him enough to want some immediately and he loved it! With no signs of anything green in sight him and the baby were fighting over the last drops. I combined some frozen bananas, strawberries, the water from a can of coconut milk, pomegranate arils, and spinach to make this and it tasted fantastic without being completely weird and chunky.

Maybe his smoothie was kind of Ninja related because I used my Ninja Master Prep to make it! I’ve talked about it quickly before, and I have to say it again, for the price I love this thing! To be totally honest, we are not the kind of family who can afford blender such as Blendtec or Vitamix. I’m sure those blenders are wonderful, but hello! They are expensive. That’s a crap ton of money for a blender. I just can’t!

Anywho, when we brought the Ninja home I wasn’t quite sure if I was convinced it would actually live up to all of it’s infomercial hype. I’ve seen far too many crappy products on those things to really trust a word that is being said! However, I think it does do what it says it is supposed to do, and the quality is good enough for using it a few times a week. I will say, I had to move the ingredients around a bit to get everything super smooth, but I’m totally fine with that if it saves me a ton of money. I use it like a food processor and obviously, for making smoothies! So far, it is living up to the infomercial hype.

Just one more quick note, yesterday I discovered how to whip coconut cream. I put a can of full-fat coconut milk in the refrigerator and then skimmed the cream off the top and whipped it. The water that was left is what I used for this smoothie, however you can sub the milk straight from the can, or any other milk you’d like!