Because skipping breakfast is so overrated. 

Picture this–you’ve slept in again and scrambled to the bus only to realize: you forgot breakfast. Sound familiar?

While skipping breakfast may seem like a “healthy” option, if you’re trying to reach health goals or save time, you may be causing more harm than good.

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with practicing intermittent fasting here and there. But if you’re prone to reaching for a 10 a.m. slice of ‘za or extra whip Frappuccino you’re setting yourself up for an awful sugar crash. The good news is, there are other, more drinkable, options. I’m talking about smoothies.

Here are my 5 favourite easy, quick, and healthy smoothies to get you through till lunch:

1. Mint chocolate peanut butter

Anyone who knows me knows I’ve made the same smoothie almost every day since high school. And for good reason. I’m a chocoholic at heart and adding peanut butter to the deal is a match made in heaven. With healthy protein, fats, and fibre all with a smooth consistency, this one will have you dreaming of Thin Mints all day long.

• 1.5 cups of dairy-free milk or water
• 1.5 bananas, frozen
• 2 tbsp of peanut butter
• ¼ tsp of peppermint extract
• ½ tsp of cinnamon
• 1-2 large handfuls of baby spinach
• 2-5 ice cubes
• 1 scoop of vegan protein powder, chocolate flavoured
• 1-2 tbsp of cacao powder, depending on how chocolatey you want it
• 1 tbsp of chia or flax seeds
• 1 tbsp of hemp hearts

2. The tropical one

If you’re more into lighter, brighter colours – fear not, I’ve got one for you, too. I don’t go the tropical route often but when I do, I always have my go-to ingredients.

• 1 banana, preferably frozen
• 1 cup dairy-free milk
• ¼ cup coconut water or coconut milk
• ½ cup mango
• ½ cup pineapple
• 1 tsp ginger, ground or fresh
• 1 tbsp of chia seeds
• Ice
• 2 scoops of dairy-free yogurt – I like Yoso, and Daiya’s Greek Yogurt varieties

3. Something green

I promise you this is nothing like those grocery store green smoothies that taste like liquid celery. This one’s an adaptation from Oh She Glow’s famous green smoothie. And if you’re not a fan of banana, then this is a good option. It’s refreshing, light, and sure to give you a boost of energy all morning long.

• 1 cup of coconut water
• ½ cup orange, mango or pineapple juice
• 1 green apple, peeled
• 2 large handfuls of baby spinach
• 1/4 cup of fresh mint leaves
• 1 cup frozen mango or pineapple (or both)
• ½ an avocado
• Lemon or lime juice to taste
• Small thumb of ginger, or ½ tsp of ground ginger
• Dash of turmeric and black pepper
• Ice to blend as needed

If you find this smoothie is too sour for your liking, feel free to add a little maple syrup or liquid agave to sweeten things up.

4. Iconic mango turmeric

If you haven’t heard, turmeric has been trending for a while now. And not just for its beautiful colour. The orange root has been praised for its anti-inflammatory health benefits for centuries. Not to mention, it’s great for boosting your immunity and even acts as a memory booster thanks to active ingredient curcumin. Make sure you add the black pepper to increase absorption rates up to 2000%. This is another banana-free option.

• 1.5 cups frozen mango
• ½ – 1 tsp of turmeric
• Small thumb of ginger, or ½ tsp ground
• Pinch of black pepper
• 1 cup non-dairy milk, cashew or coconut work best
• 1 tbsp flax or chia seeds
• Splash of water to blend, as needed

5. Açai what you did there

Where are my fellow açai addicts at? If you’re obsessed with açai bowls but want to skip their $13 price tag, here’s an easy swap. Açai powder can easily be purchased on Amazon. I’ve also purchased frozen packs from Healthy Planet, which has locations all over the GTA.

I usually eat this as a smoothie bowl, but it’s also delicious packed in a blender bottle or mason jar to go.

But don’t just take my word for it–I’ve had three roommates over the last couple years and they’ve all been hooked on my açai bowls.

• 2 cups of frozen berries
• 1 frozen banana
• 1 heaping tablespoon of açai powder, or 1 whole frozen açai pack
• 1 cup of non-dairy milk, dash of water as needed to blend
• 1 scoop of vegan protein powder, any flavour
• 1 tbsp of hemp hearts, peanut, or almond butter (optional)

Toppings

• Sliced strawberries, blueberries, or banana
• Chia seeds
• Granola, or oats
• Hemp hearts
• Cinnamon

And there you have it. So next time you’re sitting in class wondering why you skipped breakfast, consider making one of these.

You can thank me later.

Looking to be more sustainable? Check out 6 ways to be more eco-friendly.

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