Tasty. Easy. Healthy.

Blueberry Smoothie
Lori_NY / CC BY 2.0

Tonight at work, I was talking to a customer and asked him, “What would you like to see in a recipe that would have a healthy bent?” He answered, “low fat, low cholesterol, fiber and probiotics.”

At first glance, this list doesn’t seem like much more than a tasteless meal of some sort of diet crackers. I’m happy to report it doesn’t need to be that way. The first recipe that came to mind was one for a breakfast smoothie. Sometimes, I think that this is an obvious and maybe, boring suggestion. But after delving further into the conversation with my blog inspirer, I realized that there are some important ingredients that may be a fun new addition to your diet for some of you.

The first place to start is with kefir. Here you hit three key priorities: protein, probiotics, and low in fat. I personally use the organic plain low-fat version. You find kefir in the dairy section of your grocery store. It has the consistency somewhere between milk and yogurt, comes in a variety of flavors, and it has a variety of uses beyond the smoothie. I use the plain kefir to make creamy salad dressings or as a substitute for yogurt.

Next, I add ground flax seed. This is an excellent source of omega-3s and fiber. You can blend a tablespoon in with your smoothie and not even notice it is there.

Frozen organic berries are a must as well. Here, you will get antioxidants and great flavor. The frozen berries are picked at their peak of ripeness so flavor and vitamins have had more time to develop. I love blueberry, kefir, a half of a frozen banana and flax for a quick and delicious breakfast of afternoon pick-me-up on the go.

Stay tuned for my next blog when I’ll tackle the same challenge with a lunch on-the-go idea.

Until next time, stay fresh and delicious!

~ Chef Domenica

What do you add to your smoothies? Share your recipes and kitchen tips with the Food and Cooking Community.