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Berry Blue Smoothie

This berry blue smoothie reminds me of a blackberry milkshake. Blueberries and blackberries turn it vivid midnight purple, plus it’s thick enough to eat with a spoon. Rolled oats and frozen underripe bananas bring in texture and subtle sweetening, and, because the bananas aren’t completely ripe, the banana flavor doesn’t dominate.

Berry Blue smoothie Simply Smoothies

Berry Blue Smoothie

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What do you eat for breakfast? Granola? Scrambled eggs? Oatmeal? Nothing? I’m going to argue that smoothies are the easiest and most nutritious way to start your day. In our kitchen, mornings mean blender front and center–simply smoothies. Today’s vegan and gluten-free smoothie is Berry Blue Smoothie!

Robbie starts his morning by pouring almond or coconut milk into the blender. My smoothies begin with a cup of water. We both add a banana and another fresh fruit, depending on what’s in season or on sale; half of a pear or mango maybe, and often, a quarter cup of frozen blueberries as well. Frozen berries color the whole concoction beautiful drinkable blue.

Our smoothies are simple and easy, and though they’ve evolved over the years, they don’t vary much from the old groove. I am trying to get more protein in the mornings, so I’m adding a high quality vegan protein powder, or some other protein addition, like almond butter, hemp seeds, or sunflower seeds. Robbie adds kefir and yogurt and lately, avocado.

Horchata smoothie photo for Berry Blue Smoothie cookbook review

Horchata Smoothie

Lately we’ve been stepping out of our usual smoothies routine, inspired by Deborah Harroun’s smoothie cookbook, Best 100 Smoothies for Kids: Incredibly Nutritious and Totally Delicious No-Sugar-Added Smoothies for Any Time of Day. Deborah is the creator of Taste and Tell blog.

Everyone who enjoys nutritious and delicious smoothies, kids at heart too, will discover excellent easy-to-make smoothies in this cookbook.

I’d say 75 of recipes you might want to blend up for breakfast. Others, like the Watermelon Coconut Water, will be better as a pick-me-up later in the day. I sampled and photographed 5 smoothies from the cookbook, and chose the berry blue smoothie for a sample recipe.

Berry Beet smoothie for berry blue smoothie recipe and Simply Smoothies cookbook review

Berry Beet Smoothie

Some of the smoothies are juice-based, like pomegranate, carrot, apple, or orange, which means about 30 extra grams of sugar. I steered away from those, choosing to sample five recipes with milk as the liquid. Most of them begin with non-dairy beverages like almond, coconut or rice milk; if the recipe called for dairy milk, I swapped in vegan unsweetened almond milk.

Vanilla Honey Nut Smoothie photo for berry blue smoothie recipe and Simply Smoothies cookbook review

Vanilla Honey Nut Smoothie

Every smoothie in the book sounds delicious, and the ones I tried are incredibly so. Berry Beet’s color and equally bright flavor–brilliant! Pastel pink Kiwi Strawberry–a smoothie marriage made in heaven. Vanilla Honey Nut—I swear it tastes like a vanilla malted!

The horchata smoothie takes its cue from the Mexican rice drink, except this interpretation is easier to make, and much less sweet—perfect. I always wanted a healthy horchata recipe and now I have one!

More smoothie recipes–from Letty’s Kitchen :

Make it a fabulous week–drink your breakfast!

photos from Best 100 Smoothies book-Simply Smoothies

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I was given a copy of 100 Smoothies for Kids to review. My opinions about the book are my own, not the publisher’s or the author’s.

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Nutrition Facts
Berry Blue Smoothie
Amount Per Serving (9 g)
Calories 176 Calories from Fat 45
% Daily Value*
Fat 5g8%
Saturated Fat 3g19%
Cholesterol 14mg5%
Sodium 60mg3%
Potassium 429mg12%
Carbohydrates 28g9%
Fiber 4g17%
Sugar 16g18%
Protein 6g12%
Vitamin A 325IU7%
Vitamin C 12.2mg15%
Calcium 166mg17%
Iron 0.6mg3%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

13 comments

  • Teri Thomas

    Our family is in a blueberry, coconut milk, kale smoothie rut. I’m thrilled to to be inspired to try some of these unusual combos. Oats? Wow. See ya on Pinterest! Reply · 12 May, 2015

    • Letty

      Glad you like the ideas. Oats thickened the smoothie a bit. Reply · 12 May, 2015

  • Thank you so much, Letty – I’m so glad you have been enjoying the book!! You’ve made some of my favorites here. Thanks so much for sharing!! Reply · 13 May, 2015

    • Letty

      Especially the Berry Beet–absolutely delicious. And you said it was your favorite–I second that. Reply · 13 May, 2015

    • Letty

      My pleasure Deborah! Reply · 15 May, 2015

  • I typically eat a smoothie for breakfast that’s not smooth. In other words I eat fruit, because I’m not yet awake enough to be trusted with power tools (a blender is a power tool, right?) GREG Reply · 15 May, 2015

    • Letty

      Greg–years ago I started my day with a glass of right-then-and-there-freshly-squeezed orange juice. Loved it–but a nutritionist suggested that was a huge sugar jolt and to at least eat a handful of nuts too. Now my breakfast smoothies include protein, be it a spoonful of almond butter or a scoop of protein powder, or a dose of full fat plain yogurt.
      Isn’t a coffee maker a power tool? And an electric teapot? Reply · 15 May, 2015

  • I start my day with a smoothie but I love the look of the Vanilla honey nut. Maybe for dessert!! Reply · 16 May, 2015

    • Letty

      Thanks Tammy. The vanilla honey nut is better for mid-afternoon than breakfast. But it’s so delish you could convert someone to a smoothie habit. Reply · 21 May, 2015

  • Diane

    Thanks to you Letty, I have decided to buy a vita-mix. Reply · 17 May, 2015

  • This looks like a great book! All of those smoothies that you featured sound awesome. I especially love the watermelon coconut water. I could eat smoothies all day if I had that book sitting on the counter. Thanks Letty! Reply · 20 May, 2015

    • Letty

      Thanks MJ! You’re right–I continue to work my way through the book–and it is a good one. Reply · 21 May, 2015

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