Shakes for Breakfast

I am not a shake or smoothie person but I have found a fruit smoothie that I enjoy. I drink these now and it is like drinking apples, pom, berries, etc.

It is in the produce section of my grocery. The brand is Farmhouse. I get variations of all berries, apples, strawberry/banana, etc. They are quite tasty and not like a smoothie to me... not thick like you imagine a smoothie to be. I usually pay anywhere from $2-$3.50 for each.

Hope that helps!

My girls' favorite is frozen strawberries, a banana, one part OJ, one part cranberry juice cocktail (about a cup each.) A scoop of nonfat plain yogurt would make it healthier but they don't like it that way.

While the cost for me was not reasonable, Shakeology is a wonderful shake (someone gave me a bag, got me hooked, then I realized I don't have Shakeology money!). However, if cost isn't an issue, their shakes are pretty great. they have vegan options as well as non-vegan options. I believe they have Chocolate (which I understand ont he heartburn issue), greenberry, vanilla and a new fruit based flavor (not actually sure what it is). I actually am following alot of the other recommendations youreceived below in going with the fruit/veggie based shakes and adding protein through other sources (yogurt, seeds, etc.). Good luck!

I just throw a banana, some frozen strawberries, a yogurt and some orange juice in the blender.

It is easy and cost-effective to make your own smoothie packs. What I do is take a bunch of different fruits, cut them up if needed (I leave skins on apples, pears, etc) and then I divide them up into those disposable ziplock containers or bags, then I keep them in the freezer. That way it is super easy to grab one, throw it in the blender, add a few cups of liquid (I prefer water, but you can use milk, juice or add yogurt) and then blend up.

If I have fruit and veggies, including spinach and lettuce, that I know we will not eat before it turns, I keep it in the freezer for smoothies. Same thing with bananas that are overripe. You can also buy bulk bags of cut up frozen fruit for about $10.00 at Costco and these are an easy way to create smoothie packs.

Some of the combos I like are:

pineapple, strawberry, orange, blueberries
apple, pineapple, strawberry
orange, ginger, pineapple, mango
Any combination of fruit really works fine. I usually have about 2 cups of fruit/veg and 2 cups of water. I have a regular ol blender, not a fancy Vitamix, and it works just fine for smoothies.

Also, don't be afraid to add veggies. Spinach, lettuce, kale, cucumbers, carrots, beets, celery, etc are all commonly used. Some taste stronger than others- I prefer spinach and carrots as they let the fruit taste shine through.

Some other combos I love are

peanut butter, banana, milk, a bit of cooked oatmeal (you can use powdered peanut butter to lower the calories. The oatmeal makes it thick and keeps you full)
mango, plain yogurt, ginger, cinnamon, milk (tastes like a mango lassi)
strawberry, cucumber, blueberry, orange, spinach, some mint leaves

You can also add protein powder, chia seeds, flax seeds, oats, etc to boost protein and fiber and keep you full longer.

Just have your blender set up on the counter...put in some yogurt and fruit. Use greek yogurt w lots of protein. If it were me I would have a big tub of plain greek yogurt ready, a bag of frozen mixed berries ready and some really nice ripe bananas. I think that would be yummy. You could add a little honey if it's not sweet enough for you.

I only like the vanilla flavored Carnation Instant Breakfast.

I use a patented whole food product so I am sure I have the right combination of vitamins, minerals, trace elements and plenty of protein. It also includes the newly researched superfood peptide that is proven beneficial for immune system support. I usually have it plain - I put the powder in a shaker cup the night before, and just add water in the morning. I think it's much easier than trying to buy all kinds of protein powders of questionable origin and testing. The added benefit is, with the right build-up of quality nutrients, usually sensitivities (like your problems with chocolate) go away in time. Your body should heal enough that you can eat foods without a reaction. A lot of people eliminate foods that trigger problems, but food science shows us that, by adding what our bodies are missing, we can process those foods just fine. I no longer have allergy symptoms, and I'm never ever sick anymore.

If I feel like adding yogurt, almond milk or fruit, I do so - I think frozen fruit is great and less expensive especially out of season and it works great if you are using a blender or magic bullet - just grinds it up and chills the shake, and I don't have to wash and cut up fresh fruit for the shake. I save the regular fresh fruit for other snacking but I do't "waste" it on something I'm going to pulverize in a blender! Frozen fruit is flash frozen at the time of harvest so it's usually got more nutrition in it that fresh fruit shipped to my area out of season.

I agree that you can add vegetables and other items in unusual combinations. My son adds banana, yogurt, chocolate (just pure cocoa powder) and kale, for example. Sometimes he does peanut butter and banana.

For all of us, starting with a solid base of something that's a complete non-GMO food by itself (even before the fruit, veggies, and additional proteins are added) is really key. We use a patented food (very rare) and never ever use the instant breakfast packets or anything similar that is full of chemicals, emulsifiers and modified starches is important - all the nutrients are in an absorbable format so there's no waste and no empty calories.

My husband drinks a shake almost daily for breakfast. He uses protein powder (he likes the chocolate, but there are other flavors like vanilla, strawberry, etc), almond milk, peanut butter, plain greek yogurt and a banana. The banana really matters, b/c it makes the texture consistency thick like a milkshake, and not watery like a protein drink. oh... and ice. LOL

Just takes a minute in the blender and pour.

Mu husband drinks that muscle milk.. HOWEVER, if you want to make one.. yogurt (your choice) raw almonds, coconut water, banana strawberries and or blueberries (up to you) flax and/or hemp seeds.. I like to freeze the fruit ahead of time and then add it.... that way, the smoothie is nice and icy...
if you like, adding a good peanut butter can also be tasty..

good luck

i do green smoothies- spinach or kale, half a frozen banana, handful of frozen berries, dash of OJ, supplements, cold water.
but if i (or i'm making for multiple people and greens aren't welcome in the morning) want something less green and more breakfasty, i'll do the banana and berries, but add yogurt, raw milk or vanilla almond milk, a little good peanut butter, dash of vanilla, and maybe a raw egg.
love smoothies!
:) khairete
S.