Super Smoothie

What is up with all those expensive pre-mixed breakfast shakes? Did you know those are recommended pantry fillers for tornado cellars and bomb shelters? As long as we are above ground and walking the earth, try making your own breakfast smoothie, and pack it with super foods like black cherries and chia.

Look for natural yogurt next time you find yourself in the dairy section of your super market. So many of the popular brands of yogurt contain gelatin as an artificial thickener. Artisanal natural yogurt, sometimes referred to as Bulgarian yogurt, is much thinner than the highly commercial brands, and makes terrific smoothies. Natural yogurt is is my go to breakfast, as I can take it to go. Packed with protein, yogurt will keep your energy steady and strong until way past lunch time. As long as you refrain from adding extra honey or sugar to your smoothie, yogurt should be your first thought instead of meal replacement shakes.

Greek yogurt is thickened by straining out the excess water, and is not recommended as a good yogurt for  most smoothies. But the trade-off is that Greek yogurt keeps your tummy full all day because of its density. Although you can use Greek yogurt for smoothies, you may need to thin it out with a little extra milk, water or juice to make a “smooth” smoothie.

Black Cherries are Loaded with Antioxidants

Also, if you can get reasonably priced fresh black cherries, use those for your smoothie, as fresh cherries have the highest levels of antioxidants, as opposed to frozen cherries.  For Heaven’s sake though, buy yourself a cherry pitter, and remove the seeds from the cherries before you add them to your blender. Or you might find yourself buying a new blender, or even a new set of teeth.