Nutrition experts tell us never to cut out breakfast but, if your mornings are busy, it’s not always easy to have a healthy start to the day. Liz O’Reilly offers a solution.
Missing breakfast can lead to the dreaded mid-morning munchies, so if time or appetite precludes you from having what is often called the most important meal of the day, a smoothie that can be chucked together in minutes could be the answer. I’m by no means an expert but these five recipes are tried and tasted to get you through to lunchtime.
Yellow Peril
Handful of ice cubes, crushed
Handful of frozen or fresh pineapple (no-added-sugar frozen is quicker and less messy)
Handful of frozen spinach
Ripe banana chopped into chunks
Blitz it all together and you’ve got something that tastes a bit like a sin-free slushy. And don’t worry, you really won’t taste the spinach, it’s just there for added fibre and nutrients such as iron and calcium.
Red Devil
Handful of ice cubes, crushed
Handful of frozen spinach
Handful of frozen strawberries
Handful of frozen raspberries
Half an avocado
Blitz together until smooth. If you’re using fresh fruits, you may want to add a spoonful of honey to add sweetness, depending on your personal taste.
Very Berry
Handful of ice cubes, crushed
Handful of frozen spinach
Handful of mixed berries
Handful of cooked beetroot cut into chunks
Half a cup of almond or other nut milk
Blitz till smooth. Beware – if your mix contains blueberries, don’t spill it, it will stain!
Green Goddess
Handful of ice cubes, crushed
Handful of frozen spinach
2-3 sticks of celery, depending on size, chopped into chunks
Handful of cucumber chopped into chunks
Handful of cherry tomatoes chopped into chunks
Half an avocado
A good dash of hot sauce
Blitz till smooth and add your own choice of herbs for added flavour or a pinch of low-sodium salt and black pepper.
Mango Madness
Handful of ice cubes, crushed
Handful of mango, frozen or fresh, chopped into chunks
Handful of fresh baby carrots
Handful of frozen spinach
Half a cup of almond or other nut milk.
Blitz till smooth. Enjoy!
