Summer Berry Smoothie

A summer-inspired smoothie packed with fresh berries, protein, and antioxidants.

This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Nestle, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #BreakfastEssentials http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

Mornings are not my jam. I hit the snooze button on the alarm clock at least 5 times every morning before rolling out of bed. Just ten more minutes. Multiply that number by five and what I end up with is fifty extra minutes of sleep and no time to fix my hair or make breakfast.

That’s where smoothies come in handy.

Oh, my hair? Yeah, that’s a lost cause. It’s food before hair for this gal.

This summer berry smoothie is full of seasonal berries: strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries. It’s berry tasty.

I agree, that was lame. Moving on…

I used a pack of French Vanilla Carnation Breakfast Essentials to give the smoothie a boost of protein, vitamins, and calcium. Each pack contains 13 grams of protein, 21 vitamins and minerals, 25% of your daily calcium.

Basically, it’s nutrition in a glass.

Right now Walmart is offering a $1.00 off coupon when you buy a box of Carnation Breakfast Essentials. I used my coupon to stock my pantry. They make a variety of flavors: Dark Chocolate, Strawberry Sensation, Classic Chocolate Malt, and Classic French Vanilla. They even offer a few no-sugar added flavors.

The berries:

• Blueberries- This gorgeous blue variety is rich in antioxidants and Vitamin C. They’re considered a powerhouse of nutrients and a superfood. The health benefits are endless.
• Raspberries- This plump red berry is good for heart health. They’re high in fiber and Vitamin C. Research suggests that eating more raspberries may prevent the growth of cancer cells.
• Blackberries- These sweet berries tested the highest in antioxidant content per serving. They have disease fighting powers and may decrease the effects of Alzheimer’s and dementia.
• Strawberries- One cup of these juicy berries equals 140% of the recommended daily value of Vitamin C. They help lower blood pressure, fight cancer, lower the risk of developing certain diseases.

Lesson: Eat more berries!

Berries are sweetest in the summer. I stock up at the local farmers’ markets every week. If you find that fresh berries are too expensive, feel free to use frozen berries.

I added half of a frozen banana to the smoothie. The banana thickens the smoothie and adds natural sweetness. Don’t worry, the berries are the star of the show in this smoothie; you won’t even know the banana exists.

This smoothie fits perfectly into my hectic morning routine. It takes me 5 minutes to prepare and can be consumed on the go.

For more recipe inspiration using Carnation Breakfast Essentials, visit their Facebook page.

Print Recipe

Summer Berry Smoothie

A summer-inspired smoothie packed with fresh berries, protein, and antioxidants.

Yield: 1 (10 ounce) glass

Total Time: 5 minutes

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 0 minutes

Ingredients:

1/4 cup milk (almond, soy, coconut, cow)

1/2 frozen banana

1/4 cup low-fat Greek yogurt (any flavor)

1 teaspoon flaxseed meal (optional)

1/4 cup chopped strawberries

1/4 cup blackberries

1/4 cup blueberries

1/4 cup raspberries

1 packet French Vanilla Carnation Breakfast Essentials

Directions:

Add all of the ingredients to the bowl of your blender. Pulse until smooth.

Serve immediately.

You can substitute 1 cup of frozen mixed berries in place of the fresh berries.

Flaxseed meal is optional and won’t change the texture of the smoothie. It does, however, add a boost of fiber.

All images and text ©One Sweet Mess.

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Disclosure: This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Nestle, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #BreakfastEssentials http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV