A SMOOTHIE A DAY

Smoothies! Is there a better way to start the day? After giving it much thought and consideration, there isn't. Flavorful, creamy, and yummy, it's like having a dessert for breakfast. Besides, smoothies are easy to prepare. Once blended in the Vitamix, smoothies are delicious.

Why? When? When did this begin? That's easy to answer. Next week, on the 14th of June to be exact, is the day it all began. Celebrating the fourth year on my no sugar diet, a lifestyle change that many would refuse to think about or would abandon the diet after a week or two.

One of my favorite smoothies is the Strawberry Cheesecake Smoothie. If you would like to try making it at home, you will need the following:

1 cup of Frozen Strawberries

8 oz of Cream Cheese

8 Ice Cubes

4 packets of stevia monk fruit (Costco)

1 Tbsp of Almond Butter

1 tsp of Creamy Peanut Butter

2 tsp of Vanilla Extract

a Dash of Whipping Cream

enough Almond Milk to cover the ingredients

With all ingredients in the blender and the Vitamix set on high speed, you can start off by pulsating (quick on and off) two or three times. This will break up the ice and the strawberries. Then, blend for a few seconds and pour into serving glasses. If you so desire, a decorative touch can be added by placing a fresh strawberry on the top.

Yesterday, before our once-a-month grocery shopping at Central Market and Costco, for breakfast, I came up with and made a new smoothie, naming it a Triple Berry Nutty Smoothie.

You will need the following frozen blackberries, strawberries, blueberries, cream cheese, hemp hearts, almond butter, peanut butter, unsweetened hazelnut syrup, vanilla extract, stevia monk fruit, almond milk, whipping cream, and ice.

Triple Berry Nutty Smoothie Recipe

8 oz of Cream Cheese

8 Ice Cubes

1/2 cup of Frozen Strawberries

1/4 cup of Frozen Blueberries

1/2 cup of Frozen Blackberries

2 Tbsp Hemp Hearts

1 Tbsp Almond Butter

1 tsp Peanut Butter

1 tsp of Hazelnut Syrup

4 packets of Stevia Monk Fruit

1 tsp of Vanilla Extract

a dash of Whipping Cream

enough Almond Milk to cover the ingredients

Adding all the ingredients into the Vitamix, you blend to

the desired creaminess and pour into serving glasses. Enjoy! Was told that this smoothie was my best ever. That's a nice compliment to start the day.

By the way, if you so desire, you can go ahead and add a decorative top to your berry nutty smoothie.

In case you are missing cinnamon rolls, how about making a cinnamon roll smoothie? That's exactly why I created a Cinnamon Roll Smoothie.

For this recipe, you will need vanilla protein powder, chia seeds, frozen cauliflower, cream cheese, hemp hearts, cacao powder, stevia monk fruit, almond butter, vanilla extract, cinnamon, ice, and a dash of whipping cream, if so desired. Don't forget the almond milk.

Cinnamon Roll Smoothie Recipe

1 Cup of Frozen Cauliflower

8 Ice Cubes

1 Scoop of Vanilla Protein Powder

2 Tbsp of Chia Seeds

2 Tbsp of Hemp Hearts

4 packets of Stevia Monk Fruit

1 Tbsp Cacao Powder

1 Tbsp Almond Butter

2 oz of Cream Cheese

2 tsp of Vanilla Extract

a dash of Whipping Cream

1 1/2 tsp of Cinnamon or Cinnamon to your taste

add enough Almond Milk to cover the ingredients

In your blender or Vitamix, mix the above ingredients to your preferred consistency. Pour into serving glasses and enjoy.

Breakfast doesn't have to be boring. If you want to try my all-time favorite smoothie, that would be my Blackberry Cheesecake Smoothie. Are you wondering how to make it? It's real easy, substituting blackberries for the strawberries in the Strawberry Cheesecake Smoothie recipe above. Using blackberries, you have a flavorful, creamy, and yummy Blackberry Cheesecake Smoothie. Drink up! Enjoy!

As they say, a smoothie a day keeps the doctor away! Knowing, that's what they say about apples. However, the only apple on my diet is the Granny Smith Apples. Yep! You can make a Cashew Granny Smith Smoothie, but save that for another day.

Cheers!