Power Smoothies

So February is almost here! I hope your January went well. It's been quite a turbulent month for me and I've certainly been tested in a few ways, but I'm looking forward to making the rest of 2016 the happiest and most successful year yet - no matter what else is thrown my way!

I'm not really one to make new year's resolutions, but I do believe in setting personal goals throughout the year. And at the beginning of January, I decided it was time to set myself an affirmation for the next 12 months. This year for me is the 'career year'. Oh yes. The career year.

After spending 10 months over 2014-2015 travelling and experiencing amazing things in South East Asia, I feel that now is the time to concentrate on my career as a writer. It's my dream job and hey, you got to give yourself the chance to realise your dreams, right? So I'm currently working super hard  (my two internships have both turned into paid work, yay!) to learn everything there is to know about the editorial industry... Fingers crossed it pays off one day in the not so distant future!

Anyway, enough about my life, on to the recipes! I promise you're going to love them.

For Christmas, I got a brand new blender (yay!). Usually I'm a devout porridge-eater at breakfast time. Very rarely do I stray from the comfort of my cinnamon and banana oats and peanut butter. However, recently I've been getting a bit experimental, and I can honestly say I've been converted to starting the day with a smoothie!

I used to worry that they wouldn't fill me up in the same way that a big steaming bowl of porridge does - how wrong I was! Having so many different types of fruit, vegetables and dairy-free milks really does the job! I also enjoy adding crushed nuts and seeds to add a bit of variety to the texture, plus it sneaks in my daily dose of protein, omega 3 and healthy fats.

I love making smoothies so much that I thought I just had to share my four favourite flavour combinations with you.

Super Nutty Green Queen

Super Nutty Green Queen

Smoothie and avocado on toast... Yum!

This protein-packed baby will leave you feeling energised and glowing from the inside out. It's an amazing breakfast smoothie, and it's also perfect for replenishing muscles post-workout. If you're new to green smoothies, it will ease you in with it's creamy, nutty taste which masks the greens., You can work your way up to hardcore kale and spinach smoothies!

Ingredients

1 large banana

1 cup spinach
1 cup almond milk

1/2 an avocado
1/4 cucumber

2 tbsp peanut butter

1 tbsp chia seeds

2 tbsp vegan protein powder (optional)

Method

Add all the ingredients to the blender and give it a whiz for approx 30 seconds.

Once the mixture is a smooth consistency, add mixed seeds and crushed almonds for a bit of texture!

Berry Beautiful

Berry Beautiful Smoothie

Berry smoothie featuring MORE avocado on toast 

This one is a power house of anti-oxidants and essential nutrients. It's quite sweet thanks to all the berries and the coconut milk so it's perfect for satisfying sweet-toothed cravings.

Ingredients

1 cup frozen mixed berries

Handful blueberries

1 large banana

1/2 cup kale (sneak your greens in, guys!)

1 cup coconut milk

Method

Add all the ingredients to the blender and give it a whiz for approx 30 seconds.

Top with seeds and desiccated coconut.

Cacao-wesome

Cacao-wesome Smoothie 

Okay,  I think I have an addiction to avocado and tomato on toast! 

It may taste super indulgent, but it's totally healthy and nutritious. Again, is got an amazingly high anti-oxidant count so it will leave your hair, nails and skin glowing.

Ingredients

2 bananas

handful blueberries

2 tbsp peanut butter

1 cup almond milk
1/3 cup water

1 heaped teaspoon cacao powder

Method

Add all the ingredients to the blender and give it a whiz for approx 30 seconds.

I love to add seeds and crushed almonds to this one. Also, to make it more substantial at breakfast time, and half a cup of oats.

The Clean Green Smoothie

I added chia seeds and pumpkin seeds for extra protein here

This is my go-to smoothie recipe when I feel like I need to up my greens intake. It tastes really clean and refreshing. It's more green tasting than the Nutty Green Queen (thanks to all the kale and spinach!), so if you're just starting your journey with green smoothies, I'd suggest working up to this one!

Ingredients

1 large banana

1 cup spinach
1 cup curly kale
1 cup almond milk

1/2 an avocado
1/4 cucumber
Handful of blueberries

Method

Add all the ingredients to the blender and give it a whiz for approx 30 seconds.

I like to add flaked almonds and seeds to this one, I really love the texture the give to the smoothie.

The beauty of smoothies is you can really mix them up and experiment with different flavour combinations. What's your favourite smoothie recipe?