Blueberry Almond Smoothie

Blueberry almond yogurt smoothies are a perfect, healthy, and delicious breakfast for those busy mornings when you just. can’t. even. 

Confession: It took me a LONG time to figure out smoothies. When I was in college there was a smoothie bar inside the university gym (which we’d occasionally visit without any intention of working out). But this was not your modern day, ginger shot, spirulina sporting smoothie bar, friends. This was the smoothie bar of 2004. Which basically meant lots of over sized milkshakes masquerading as healthy, post-workout beverages with unassuming names like “Strawberry Breeze” and “Mocha Jam”.

A few years later I had figured out their cunning ruse But when I tried to make healthy versions at home, they honestly kind of sucked. I couldn’t get the ratio of liquid to stuff quite right so they’d either be bland and watery, or thick and sludgy. I always ended up making way too much (and leftover smoothie still seems kind of gross IMO). And they were never “smooth” enough – especially when best friend kale came to call.

Fast forward nearly a decade and I’ve finally figured it out. I stopped eyeballing everything and actually tried some G-D recipes, which fixed the consistency and quantity problems pretty quickly. As for the smooth factor – well blender technology has come a long way in ten years. So that issue sort of fixed itself.

So what should my trip down the last 15 years of smoothie memories teach you? Basically that just because it’s a simple little thing, it’s OK to follow a recipe. Try out some that sound good, see if they live up to the hype, and once you’re comfortable feel free to on riff on the theme. But if you still want to go the freestyle route, here are some helpful tips I’ve learned along the way.

How to make the best smoothies

1. Cold = good. Frosty smoothies sound delightful. Lukewarm, not so much. Also if you use frozen fruit it will make your smoothie lighter and creamier in texture (kind of like a milkshake – but honestly who are we kidding here, it’s NOT a milkshake).
2. Slice bananas, then freeze. It’s really hard for a blender to break down a big ole chunk o’ banana, so give it some help. I slice mine, put them on a baking sheet lined with parchment or wax paper, chuck the whole thing in the freezer overnight, and transfer the frozen pieces to a zip top bag the next day.
3. Not into banana? Here are some alternatives that will mimic the body and texture of a nana without the flavor. Frozen riced cauliflower, avocado, oats, greek yogurt, chia seeds, nut butters, or dates.
4. Ratios. I find that 1 cup of liquid is sufficient for about 1 1/2 cups of stuff.
5. Composition. A good smoothie should have at least four components.
   • Liquid (duh). For this feel free to use any juice, milk, or alternative milk you’d like. A half and half mix of milk and coffee is also very yummy.
   • Body. Something that gives it a little heft. This is normally where a banana (or the alternatives I listed above) come into play. Protein powder also does a great job here.
   • Flavor. What’s the main flavor of the smoothie? In this case it’s blueberries and almonds. Don’t go overboard here. Three distinct flavors is plenty, and I might even say overboard.
   • Add-ons. These are things that add a little something extra. Cacao nibs for texture, nut butter for extra richness, chia seeds because you healthy AF. The sky is kind of the limit in this category so go to town.

So that’s your primer on smoothie making. Hopefully there will be more as we all come out of our wintry carb-lined cocoons and face the sunlight. If you make this one, or riff on it, snap a pic and tag me (@jo_eats_ on IG). I love seeing your creations!

And if you need any other healthy breakfast ideas, check these guys out.

• Chocolate Raspberry Quinoa Overnight Oats
• Asparagus and Ham Frittata
• Healthy Whole Grain Pancakes
• Mexican Chocolate Ovenight Oats

Yay Friday!

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