Berry Oatmeal Super Smoothie

Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day. So many yummy possibilities. Recently we've been trying out new smoothies. I eventually want to start juicing (just watched Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead), but a new juicer isn't in the budget yet. Last week's Food Network Healthy Challenge focused on breakfast and this week we are focusing on whole grains. What better way to transition than a breakfast smoothie that includes oats. I am a HUGE fan of oats and oatmeal. I became attached to it during my pregnancy when I was trying to avoid high blood pressure.

This morning we experimented with this delicious looking recipe for a Blueberry Oatmeal Super Shake from Life is Great. I was out of some of the ingredients so we substituted and added some of our own. Here is what we came up with

Berry Oatmeal Super Smoothie
(modified from Jordan MacVay)
Yields 4 cups.

• 1/2 cup ice cubes
  
• 2 very ripe bananas
  
• 4 ounces fresh blackberries
  
• 2 tablespoons natural peanut butter
  
• 1/3 cup old fashioned oats
  
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/4 cup coconut water
  

Place all the ingredients into a blender and blitz on high speed for a few minutes. Serve with optional garnish of banana slices and some frozen blueberries with a drizzle of honey.

As you can see - it was a great success! I think next time I will make sure the bananas and berries are frozen for a thicker texture. I LOVED that the smoothie contained so many ingredients that I could feel good about giving my children. The honey soothed their little coughs. The oats and peanut butter filled their tummies. And the fruits loaded them up with vitamins and minerals for the day. There aren't huge amounts of each of the ingredients in the smoothie, but it sure beats a bowl of sugary cereal! Plus they think they are getting a treat for breakfast - can't beat that. Here are some of the benefits:

• Calcium, from the milk
• Vitamin D
• Potassium, from the banana & coconut water
  
• Fiber, from the banana & blackberries & oats
  
• Protein, from the milk & peanut butter
  
• High Vitamin C, from blackberries

In addition you get all the health benefits from coconut water:

• raises metabolism
• boosts immune system
• fights viruses
• aids in digestion
  

I am participating in

Beauty & Bedlam's Tasty Tuesday
Food Network's Healthy Weekly Challenge