banana – Pretty Little Pastimes

When I heard it was National Peanut Butter Lover’s Day, I knew this was one occasion I would gladly celebrate! Since I didn’t want to wait until dessert to indulge in the creamy good stuff, I decided to make a breakfast smoothie that would make any self-proclaimed Peanut Butter Lover proud. Not only is it filling, it is also a great source of protein, potassium and Omega-3 fatty acids, fiber and antioxidants, from the chia seeds. If you prefer a sweeter smoothie, you can also add a couple drops of natural sweetener or honey.

Peanut Butter Banana Chia Smoothie

1 large ripe banana
1 cup almond milk (I used dark chocolate flavored)
2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
2 tablespoons old fashioned oats
1 tablespoon chia seeds (optional)
handful of ice cubes

Start by soaking the old fashioned oats and chia seeds in the almond milk for 15 minutes to soften. Place all ingredients in a high speed blender until frothy and creamy. Serve immediately.

I don’t normally pay attention to these funny daily “holidays”, but if it gives me an excuse to snack on peanut butter for the day, I just might begin to add them to my calendar. Enjoy!

Just when I thought I was out of the woods, after a long fight with seasonal allergies, a new bug got ahold of me this week. Everyone around me seemed to be catching the virus, so I new it was a matter of time before the scratchy throat and stuffy nose found its way to me. When I am sick, I tend to be very stubborn. I usually refuse any cold medicine and just try to let me body fight the sickness on its own. I find that when I pay closer attention to how my body feels in its natural state, then I can better judge when fevers are coming/breaking, when I am hungry and when I need more rest.

Since I did not have a lot of energy, I whizzed up this simple Immunity Boost Smoothie to give my system a little kick in the right direction. This smoothie is a combination of fresh raspberries (you can also use frozen), yogurt, bananas and orange juice. The Vitamin C, antioxidants and flavonoids found in the ingredients will help boost your immune system … plus it’s delicious!

Immunity Boost Smoothie

1 cup vanilla yogurt – or vanilla soy milk
1 cup fresh raspberries
1 ripe banana
1/2 cup orange juice
handful of ice cubes

Combine all ingredients in blender. Cover and blend until smooth.

This cold drink was just what I needed to get me through the rest of my day. When I find myself ill during the winter months, nothing sounds better than warm soup, but during the summertime I always turn to something cold. Try this smoothie next time you are looking for a quick boost or a tasty treat. Cheers to good health!