Oof! Anyone else feeling a little bloated after the holiday weekend? If so, a great way to lighten up your diet after a period of indulgence is to swap out one of your meals for a nutrient-dense smoothie! I like to have one in place of my morning meal when I am most prone to hit the carbs (hello, waffles and pancakes and scones, oh my!), but smoothies make for an excellent, easy and fast lunch as well.
The beauty of the smoothie is that the options are endless and you can customize the ingredients to suit your unique tastes and preferences, and one of my favorites was created by one of my health coaching clients (and dear friend), Matt Hoglund. Matt's morning smoothie combines antioxidant-rich berries and cacao, healthy fats in the form of avocado and almond butter, and a touch of sweetness from potassium-rich bananas. Oh, and a little caffeine-boost from a hit of black coffee ensures that this smoothie will keep you fueled up and energized for hours! Ready to whip one up? Here’s how…
Matt’s Morning Smoothie Recipe
Ingredients:
- A mug of coffee (set out to cool to room temperature)
- 1/2 large frozen banana (peeled and sectioned before freezing)
- 2 Tbsp. unsalted almond butter
- 1/2 avocado
- Handful of frozen blueberries
- 2 tablespoons of unsweetened almond milk
- 1 teaspoon of cacao powder
- dash of vanilla extract
- hearty dash of cinnamon
Directions:
Add all ingredients to blender. Pulse until ingredients are well-combined and then turn blender to medium speed and blend until smooth. Pour into your favorite glass and enjoy!
Oh, and if you're interested in kicking off 2017 with a whole foods detox and some healthy new habits, I'll be leading a Whole30 Program starting January 2nd, 2017! Join the Whole30 2017 with Ashley Facebook Group to get support from me and a community of detox-ers as well as tips, tricks, and recipes for navigating a Whole30 cleanse!