![]() |
photos via Instagram |
I have a new morning routine. It begins at 5:30, and goes like this. First, I stumble to the sink, get a glass of water, and drink it on the couch, usually while staring blankly at my Instagram feed. After a minute, I’ve built up the energy necessary to take steps to obtain coffee, which then fuels the rest of my activities. If there is coffee in the machine from the day before, I drop in three ice cubes and congratulate myself on making iced coffee. If the machine is empty, I grumble a lot, make a new pot, and settle for hot coffee.
When the coffee hits, it’s time to make a smoothie. The smoothie is the highlight of my morning, and it’s all because of the humble avocado.
A friend gave me an incredulous look recently when I mentioned putting avocado in my smoothies. I only started adding them in April, but they’ve already become such a smoothie essential for me that I was totally flabbergasted by her response. I am writing this blog post on the off chance that you, like my friend, have not tried putting avocado in your smoothies yet.
Here are five quick reasons you should do it:
- Avocados make smoothies amazingly creamy and smooth (but don’t add avocado flavor).
- Smoothies with avocados are filling, and keep me full for much longer.
- Avocados are good for you.
- Adding something green to your smoothie can make you feel like you are drinking an actual green smoothie, without any of the green taste.
- It’s fun to peel avocados this way, and it might just make your morning.
1 to 2 cups frozen fruit (choose any combination of the following):
Strawberries
Sliced peaches
Dark sweet cherries (pitted)
Sliced banana*
Raspberries
Blackberries
Blueberries
Up to 1 cup fresh fruit (optional–use any of the above fresh, or try the following):
Cubed seedless watermelon
Cored, chopped apple
1 Hass avocado, deseeded and peeled
Protein powder (optional–I use 3 scoops or 42 g of grassfed unsweetened whey protein)
Extracts and Flavorings (I always use vanilla, and often add one additional flavor):
1/4 teaspoon vanilla, or to taste
1/4 teaspoon almond extract (optional–great with cherries, peaches, and berries)
1-2 tablespoons cocoa (optional–for a chocolate smoothie)
1/4 teaspoon lemon extract or 1 tablespoon lemon juice (optional–add if your smoothie tastes too sweet or could benefit from a bit of tang)
Water to blend, as needed (I usually need about a cup, but my blender is old and weak)
Here’s one of my personal favorites! So yummy, and so healthy! It’s like a multi-vitamin in a glass. A very delicious, creamy, fiber packed, completely un-green tasting, berrylicious multi-vitamin.
•1 cup baby greens
•1 banana, sliced
•1 kiwi, with peel, diced
•1/2 cup strawberry kefir
•1/2 cup frozen cherries
•1/2 cup frozen mixed berries
•1/4-1/2 cup frozen diced avocado
•1 cup apple juice
Enjoy!
That sounds great! Thank you for sharing!
I can't believe I never thought to put avocado in a smoothie, but it is a brilliant idea!
Thanks, Nora–I hope you like it! For me, there's no going back.