14. Shop bought smoothies
Smoothies are a great way of ensuring that we’re getting a good intake of fruits and vegetables along with all their vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other phytonutrients.
The problem is, often if we buy one for convenience from a shop, the chances are, there’s some form of added sugar to add sweetness that appeals to our palate. Even if this sugar is in the form of honey, agave syrup or maple syrup, it’s still sugar, it’s still adding unnecessary calories and it’s still not adding any other nutritional value.
So the answer is – to make your own! Which may be easier than you think, you’ll just need to invest in a blender or specialist smoothie make like a NutriBullet. As a general rule, you’ll need liquid as a base, so water, cow’s milk or a dairy free alternative such as oat milk or protein rich pea milk.
Then add a small banana for thickness, and a handful of berries and some other chopped fruit (frozen works perfectly, we love strawberries, cherries and melon). Something green is good too, so if you’re brave, a handful of chopped kale, or for a sweeter taste, try spinach. Then finally a spoonful of nut butter or yoghurt for a protein boost. Whizz it all together, which takes seconds, and away you go – a healthy, low sugar smoothie for breakfast on the go.