Antioxidant Berry Smoothie

I have never been a morning person. Ask my brothers who watched with glee during the late 1980’s how my father would splash my face with glasses of water to wake me up during high school, of course, after he had tried to get me out of bed for the 10th time! Thanks to him, I don’t think I ever got a late pass in school but, my goodness, how much I still dread weekday mornings! During college I had to wake up very early to train for volleyball and in Washington DC it can get pretty cold on a fall or winter morning. I would set up the alarm clock about 1/2 hour before I had to wake up to get ready. The snooze button and I are still the closest friends. Je!

As of today in my home, I confess that weekday mornings are usually rushed and hurried. Everyday, I tell myself if I get up earlier the next day, it will all be better. Thankfully, I leave as much as I can ready the night before, like book bags, homework, snacks, uniforms, a teacher’s note, work related paperwork, bills, my famous to-do lists, etc. in the hopes that everything runs as smooth as possible as I wake up the next day and nobody leaves anything behind. My husband is out of the morning equation and is a simple bystander in the whole weekday drama. Sometimes I find myself tense and yelling “We are going to be late!” so many times that I end up exhausted once I drop them off at school, and its not 8:30 am yet! So in an attempt to start the day with no frowns on the face and in a peaceful manner, one of my New Year’s resolutions is getting up earlier and liberating myself (and my children) from the hectic morning rush. Of course, to accomplish this task other things have to happen like, getting more organized, establishing time boundaries, going to bed earlier and following a consistent sleeping routine. Awwwgh… that word… routine!!!!! I am adverse to routine!!!!!!! But I have faith in myself and truly believe that I will become a better person, mother, professional and wife because of this!

That being said, hectic mornings leave little space for cooking breakfast, which is a very important meal of the day. Its not good for anyone to leave the house with an empty stomach and unhealthy to eat out everyday. So my kids are used to having fruit smoothies for breakfast (and they like them too!). Its easy and quick to make and you can take them to-go. Also, very nutritious. I use only fresh fruit, but you may use frozen as well. If I don’t have açai berry juice, which has antioxidant properties, I substitute with freshly squeezed orange juice or plain yogurt. Sometimes we also have time for cereal, ham and cheese sandwich, oatmeal or toast, but the fruit smoothie is a constant. I also make Papaya Smoothie (my favorite), Strawberry-Banana Smoothie and Banana-Oatmeal Smoothie, but this one is their favorite. During weekends we prepare more elaborate morning meals like omelette, poached eggs, tortilla española, french toast, yogurt with fruit and granola, egg burritos or pancakes. Here is my recipe for delicious Antioxidant Berry Smoothie which is also a great snack during mid-afternoon.

Enjoy!

Antioxidant Berry Smoothie

Ingredients

6 medium to large strawberries

1/3 cup blueberries

1/3 cup açai juice

1 tsp honey

1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract

1 cup of ice

Procedure