Smoothie |ˈsmo͞oT͟Hē|
noun
1 the thick, smooth drink I choke down in order to get breakfast into me first thing in the morning.

As a person who is almost never hungry first thing in the morning, I’ve always hated the phrase, “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” I’ve spent most of my life skipping breakfast, saving up my love of softly scrambled eggs and granola parfaits for weekend brunch where it’s acceptable to eat these things at noon, when I’m finally hungry for them. Something happened in the last couple of years though, which I begrudgingly attribute to being in my thirties: I am no longer able to make it through a morning workout on an empty stomach. I’m good for the first thirty minutes or so, then the low-fuel gauge pops on and I’m no longer able to sustain a high (or sometimes even medium) intensity. Well, if I’m going to pay $25 for an hour-long spinning or bootcamp class I’ll be damned if I’m going to bonk halfway through! My solution: smoothies.

Smoothies have come a long way since Jamba Juice started us mainlining sugar icees through a straw in the name of “health.” Most of us now know that a blender filled with fruit juice, sorbet and a frozen banana isn’t made healthy by adding a scoop of protein powder. The ideal smoothie is low in sugar (that includes fruit juice!), full of protein, vitamins, a little fat and whatever other benefits you can sneak in like anti-oxidants. I change up my smoothie ingredients regularly to get lots of different goodies in my system and to stave off flavor boredom. Below is the recipe for an anti-oxidant rich morning smoothie I make when a cup of coffee alone seems inadequate and I need a kick in the face to wake up.

Coco Buzz Smoothie
serves 1

1 cup unsweetened vanilla coconut or almond milk
1 tbsp raw cocoa nibs
1 tbsp whole coffee beans
1-2 tbsp unsweetened dried coconut
1 tbsp acai powder
1 tbsp nut butter
*I sometimes also add: maca powder, chia seeds & protein powder. I try to keep the sweetness to a minimum but if you really need it try adding a tbsp of pure maple syrup or half a small banana.

Place all ingredients in vitamix or blender with a few ice cubes. Blend thoroughly until smooth. Drink up!♥