Strawberry Banana Smoothie

This smoothie is a welcome new addition to my pregnancy breakfast menu. I usually eat two eggs any style with two toasts and a big glass of this delicious smoothie. Of course it helps that I don’t have a sweet tooth right now. However, you don’t have to skip sugar if you love it. You can also add some honey or even Truvia for that same sweet flavor but more health benefits.

I love this smoothie as it is! It is sweet enough with the natural sweetness of banana and the whole milk makes it thick and creamy. I think this is the definition of a simple, pure, healthy and delicious drink. Not to mention, smoothies are in general a great source of fiber, vitamins and minerals plus they keep you hydrated. Try this for breakfast or as a mid afternoon drink. This is so filling and absolutely yummy and all it takes is just 5 minutes!

You can use fresh or frozen strawberries to make this smoothie. I usually get fresh strawberries from Costco and those packs are big! So, I freeze half of the pack so that the fresh berries don’t go bad. It just breaks my heart to dump fruits in the waste basket and if you are like me, follow my tips to freeze the fresh strawberries:

• You can freeze the strawberries whole or sliced. Start by thoroughly washing them.
• Next remove the hull. The hull or calyx is the green leafy top of the strawberry, which is generally removed before cooking or serving. Angle a small sharp knife and cut, in a circular motion, around the green leafy top of the strawberry and into the pale flesh directly underneath. Then remove the hull and discard. Alternatively, you can also cut the strawberry in pieces and remove the hull.
• Portion the strawberries (I usually add 5-6 big strawberries in my smoothie so I portion them accordingly).
• Take a sheet of cling wrap/ zip lock bag. Place each portion in a different wrap/ bag and freeze immediately.

I think the beauty of this smoothie is in its simplicity. I just blend strawberries, banana and milk together in my Nutri bullet (extractor blade) and voila! It’s ready! You can add a little more or less milk as per your liking. I think smoothie is the best way to consume a lot of fruits that otherwise would be left uneaten. So, try this! And then post your photos and comments using my hashtag #lifewithoutalu

Ingredients:

• Strawberries – 5-6, washed and hulled
• Banana - 1 fresh, peeled
• Cold Whole Milk – about 1 ½ cups (or as required)
• Honey or Truvia – if required

Directions:

• Add all ingredients to the Nutri bullet cup or blender, and pulse until combined. Serve immediately.

Tip: If the smoothie is too thick, add more milk. If it is too thin, add more fruit, blend again to mix.

Try these smoothies as well:

• Pineapple and Banana Smoothie
• Avocado Smoothie
• Avocado Strawberry Smoothie