Recipe: PB-Banana Coffee Smoothie

🧋 I know this recipe sounds weird for a few reasons, but trust me, it’s DELICIOUS and it makes a quick & easy light breakfast on the go.

1. The peanut butter: I was skeptical too, but it goes really well with coffee

2. Yes, that’s regular ground coffee, not instant. It gives a nice “crunch” to your smoothie.

TIP: If you want to boost the staying powder of this smoothie, add ½ to 1 scoop of vanilla or chocolate protein powder! 🍌

Makes 1 smoothie.

Ingredients:

• ½ tbsp ground coffee 

• 1 tbsp peanut butter

• ½ tsp vanilla extract

• ¾ cup (180 ml) of your milk of choice

• ¼ cup (60 ml) brewed coffee, chilled

• ½ frozen ripe banana (the riper, the sweeter)

• ice, as needed to thicken

• OPTIONAL: Add a small amount of honey or maple syrup to sweeten if necessary

Directions:

1. Place all the ingredients in a high-speed blender and blend until smooth. Add more ice (if it’s too thin) or milk (if it’s too thick) to reach your desired consistency. 

2. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Recipe by: Dr. Saara Haapanen

Photo Credit: Canva by nata_vkusidey from Getty Images 

Recipe: Cherry-Banana Smoothie

This smoothie recipe is DELICIOUS and it makes a great pre- or post-workout snack. 🍒

Plus, it’s a great way to sneak some more nutrients into your picky eaters!

Makes 1 serving.

Ingredients:

• ½ cup (120 ml) of your favorite milk

• ½ tsp vanilla extract (optional)

• Handful of baby spinach

• ½ cup (70 g) frozen pitted cherries

• 1 medium banana

• ½ cup (115 g) plain Greek yogurt

Directions:

1. Place the first three ingredients in a high-speed blender and blend until smooth. Add the remaining ingredients and continue to blend until well combined. If it’s too thick, add a little more milk. Serve immediately.

Recipe by: Dr. Saara Haapanen

Photo Credit: Canva by natashamam from Getty Images

Recipe: Super Greens Frozen Smoothie Bowl

I’ve got a delicious and nutrition-infused smoothie bowl recipe for you. 

TIP 1: To get the most nutrition out of this bowl, mix in the greens & protein powders. 

TIP 2: For more “freeze” factor, use frozen banana and avocado. This will give you a thicker, more ice-cream-like texture

Makes 1 serving.

Ingredients:

• ½ cup (120 ml) unsweetened almond milk or other non-dairy milk

• 1 tbsp chia seeds

• ½ banana, peeled and sliced

• ¼ avocado, peeled and cubed

• 1 cup (140 g) frozen spinach

• ½ cup (80 g) frozen berries

• 1 tsp spirulina powder or other super green powder (optional)

• ½ scoop vanilla/unflavored protein powder (optional)

• 1 tbsp hemp seeds (optional topping)

Directions:

1. Place the milk and chia seeds in a blender and let it soak for about 10 minutes, to allow the chia to gel. 

2. Add the banana, avocado, spinach, and berries and blend at high speed, scraping down the blender as needed. Add 1-2 Tbsp of milk if the mixture gets too thick.

3. Add the spirulina and protein powders (if using). Blend until incorporated. Scrape the mixture into a bowl and top with the optional hemp seeds. Enjoy!

Recipe by: Dr. Saara Haapanen

Photo Credit: Canva by Mila Naumova from Getty Images

Recipe: Mocha-Banana Coffee Smoothie

I’ve got a delicious smoothie recipe that will start off your day great, too!

It’s a crave-worthy mocha-banana coffee smoothie…

And it makes for a great on-the-go breakfast or pre- or post-workout mini-meal.

It couldn’t be any easier to make. Just remember to set aside some of your leftover brewed coffee in the fridge ahead of time!

Also, before you “make that face”, yes... that’s cauliflower in the ingredients list. 🤩

It’s a great way to sneak some veggies into your smoothie. I promise you won’t even taste it.

NOTE: depending on how thick (or thin) you like your smoothie, you might want to adjust the amount of milk you add.

Feel free to mix this one up. You can swap out the dates for 1 tablespoon of nut butter (almond, PB, etc) instead. The dates = a sweeter smoothie, the nut butter = creamier.

Makes 1 serving.

Ingredients:

• ¾ cup (180 ml) cold brewed coffee

• ¼ cup (60 ml) unsweetened non-dairy milk (more if necessary)

• ½ cup (55 g) frozen cauliflower florets

• 1 medium frozen banana, chopped

• ½ Tbsp cacao powder

• ½ tsp vanilla

• 1 scoop chocolate protein powder (optional)

• 2 soft pitted dates (optional) (if the dates are dry or hardened, soak them in hot water first)

• Pinch of sea salt

Directions:

1. Place all of the ingredients in a high-speed blender and blend until smooth. 

2. Pour into a glass and enjoy.

I hope you love this one (even the cauliflower!).

Recipe by: Dr. Saara Haapanen

Photo Credit: Canva by nadianb

Recipe: Pineapple Green Smoothie

When you think “healthy breakfast” … what’s one of the first foods that pops into your mind?

If it’s a green smoothie, you’re not alone! 

Smoothies can be a quick and easy option when you want something cool and refreshing … and I’ve got a spicy-sweet green smoothie recipe that I think you’ll love.

FROZEN GRAPE TIP: Wash and dry the grapes thoroughly then spread them out on a freezer-safe sheet pan. Put the pan in the freezer until the grapes are frozen (about an hour). Then you can transfer them to a freezer-safe container or bag.

Freezing grapes separately can help stop them from freezing together. (I also love frozen grapes as a treat on a hot summer day)

Ingredients:

(Serves 1)

• 1 cup (150 grams) chopped fresh or frozen pineapple

• 1 cup (30 grams) packed chopped spinach 

• 1 cup (95 grams) green grapes, frozen

• Juice of ½ lemon

• 1 tsp grated fresh ginger

• 1 tsp ground flaxseed

• 1-2 Tbsp your milk alternative, water, or coconut water, as needed

• ½ scoop vanilla protein powder

Directions:

1. Place all the ingredients in a high-speed blender and blend until smooth. Add liquid (milk alternative, water, or coconut water) as needed if the mixture is too thick.

2. Pour into a glass and drink up!

Hope you enjoy this one!

Recipe by: Dr. Saara Haapanen

Photo Credit: Canva by Xarhini from Getty Images

Recipe: Warm Maple-Pumpkin Smoothie

This warm smoothie has all the flavors of fall and the holidays. You can enjoy it year-round though.

Makes 1 smoothie.

Ingredients:

• ½ cup pumpkin puree

• 2 dates, chopped

• 1 tsp cinnamon

• 1 tbsp maple syrup

• ½ tsp vanilla or vanilla bean powder

• 1 cup light coconut milk

• (optional: whipped coconut cream topping)

Directions:

1. In a high-speed blender, combine the pumpkin puree, dates, cinnamon, maple syrup and vanilla until well blended. You might have to scrape down the sides of the blender.

2. In a small saucepan, heat up the coconut milk. When it’s hot, transfer to the blender, cover, and blend with the pumpkin mixture until it’s smooth and creamy.

3. Pour into a big mug, top with coconut cream and a sprinkling of cinnamon and enjoy!

Recipe by: Saara Haapanen

Photo Credit: Canva by New Africa studio 

Recipe: Palm Springs-ish Date Shake Smoothie

Have you ever heard of a Palm Springs date shake? The shake apparently were invented in that California resort city – and they’re delicious. The only downside is they are made with ice cream.

This recipe takes the best of the date shake and turns it into a treat you can enjoy any time without feeling weighed down.

Makes 1 serving

Ingredients:

• 3 Medjool dates, pitted, chopped and soaked in 1/4 cup of hot water for 10-15 minutes

• ¼ cup toasted walnuts

• ½ banana, sliced and frozen

• ¼ tsp vanilla bean powder or ½ tsp vanilla extract

• Pinch of sea salt

• Pinch of cinnamon

• ⅓ to ½ cup cashew milk (or other nut milk)

• (optional: ½ cup of ice)

Directions:

1. Place all the ingredients (including the date soaking liquid) in a high-speed blender and blend until combined. Adjust the amount of cashew milk to achieve a shake-like consistency.

2. Pour into a glass and enjoy!

Recipe by: Saara Haapanen

Photo Credit: Canva by etorres69 from Getty Images

Recipe: Choco-Banana Berry Smoothie Bowl

This makes a great breakfast but it’s also a fun nighttime snack if you are feeling a little hungry after dinner. Yes, it contains cauliflower, and yes, it’s yummy.

Makes 2 servings

Ingredients

• 1 frozen banana, sliced

• 1 cup frozen cauliflower

• 1 cup frozen berries of your choice

• ⅓ cup canned coconut milk (shake it up good!)

• ⅓ cup coconut water as needed (or tap water)

• ¼ cup raw cacao powder

• 1 tbsp nut butter of your choice

• 2 tsp maple syrup

• Pinch of Himalayan sea salt

Directions

1. A little bit of the water in the bottom of your high-speed blender, then add banana, cauliflower, berries, coconut milk, cacao powder, nut butter, maple syrup and salt in the blender. Add the rest of the water.

2. Blend until smooth, scraping the sides as needed. This will be thick. Add more water if necessary.

3. Place in two bowls and eat immediately.

Recipe by: Saara Haapanen

Photo Credit: Canva by Anna Makarenkova from Getty Images

Recipe: Vanilla Almond Protein Smoothie

2 Servings

Ingredients:

• 1 cup almond milk

• ½ cup cooked quinoa

• ½ cup almond pulp (or almond flour or finely ground almonds)

• 4 Tbsp chia seeds

• 2 Tbsp maple syrup

• ¼ tsp almond extract

• ¼ tsp vanilla extract

• Stevia, to taste (optional)

• Chopped almonds, to garnish (optional)

Directions:

1. Divide all ingredients between 2 mason jars. Stir until incorporated.

2. Place in refrigerator and let sit overnight

3. Remove and garnish with chopped almonds. Save the second serving for another day or share with a friend. Enjoy!

Photo Credit: Canva by etefaniavizcaino

Recipe: Berry Good Morning Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 1/3 can coconut milk

• 1 scoop vanilla protein powder

• 1 cup frozen berries

• ½ tsp. Cinnamon

• raw honey or stevia to taste

Directions:

1. Blend together and enjoy!

Photo Credit: Canva by yuliyagontar