An easy on-the-go breakfast is always a great recipe to have in your back pocket. That is one reason this easy berry smoothie recipe is so great! You can make it a day or two before you need it and store it in the fridge – or even freeze it and let it thaw overnight in the fridge.
Why an easy breakfast? As a registered dietitian I know how important breakfast is to kick start your brain in the morning. However, I’m not one to eat as soon as I get up. I need some time to wake up first and gather myself together.
Sound like you? Then this easy and quick breakfast option is ideal! You can either make it the night before, or whip it together quickly as soon as you’re ready for breakfast.
What do you Need to Make it?
This recipe takes only 4 ingredients (and an extra one for garnish if you want) and you may have most of these in your pantry or freezer already. Here are the main ingredients you will need and why I chose them for this recipe.
Kefir
If you aren’t familiar with kefir is similar to yogurt, but more of a thick drink. It is a fermented food that is great for supporting gut health and has been linked to reducing stress and improving your mood. You can read more about how that works in my post about the 10 best foods for stress relief.
For this recipe you can use either a berrry flavored kefir, vanilla, or unflavored if you want to reduce the amount of added sugar. I use the berry flavor or vanilla which allows me to add a minimal amount of agave or honey to this.
Berries
Fresh or frozen berries will work in this easy smoothie. I prefer frozen because I’m usually drinking it right after I make it and having the frozen berries adds a nice chill and thickens the smoothie a bit.
I love triple mixed berries – blueberries, strawberries and raspberries, but any mix or single berry would be delicious.
Berries are great for brain health and are a part of my daily routine. If you’ve read other posts of mine you know I’m a huge fan and firm believer in the research that supports their ability to help reduce our risk of dementia.
If you want to learn more, check out my cookbook: The MIND Diet for Two: 65 perfectly portioned recipes to boost your brain health on Amazon! (affiliate link)
Chia Seeds
These little guys pack a pwoerful nutrition punch and they also have a big function in this smoothie recipe.
Nutritionally, chia seeds are rich in plant-based omega-3 fatty acids, they contain fiber, antioxidants, magnesium, phosphorus and B vitamins.
Most of us don’t get enough of many of these, especially omega-3s and magnesium and all of these nutrients are important for our brain. Omega-3s help support our memory, magnesium is important for sleep and reducing stress, antioxidants help reduce inflammation and B vitamins support energy.
Now, I do sweeten this with a little honey or agave syrup. You can skip it or use a sugar free liquid sweetener instead if you perfer. Liquid sweeteners are better than granulated sugar. They blend well and don’t leave a gritty texture.
How to Make this Smoothie
I lead off by saying this is easy and I meant it. I use a handheld immersion blender and place all the ingredients in a cup and blend it up. You really can pull this together in 5 minutes or less.
If you need to store it overnight, the chia seeds will expand but they help keep the smoothie thick and creamy.
You can easily double or triple this recipe. Just use a full sized blender if you are making a larger portion and then pour it into individual cups to store and serve.
Storage Recommendations
Store it in the refrigerator overnight or for a couple of days. It will last for 2 – 3 days.
You can also freeze this smoothie. Just pack it up in a freezer safe container and thaw it in the fridge overnight. It wil last in the freezer for 3 – 4 months.
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Berry Breakfast Smoothie
Equipment
- Food Processor or Blender
Ingredients
- 1 cup kefir low fat, vanilla or plain
- 1 cup frozen berries a mix of blueberries, strawberries, raspberries work well
- 1 tsp honey or agave syrup
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- 1 tbsp pomegranate seeds for a garnish
Instructions
- Place kefir and berries in the bowl of a blender or food processor. (If the berries are frozen solid, allow them to sit for 5 minutes before starting)
- Pulse the blender to break up and soften the berries.
- Turn the blender on high and blend until the mixture begins to turn pink in color.
- Add the agave syrup or honey and chia seeds and blend quickly.
- Let it sit for at least 10 minutes to allow the chia seeds to hydrate.
- If you aren't enjoying it right away, cover it tightly and store it in the refrigerator. Top with pomegranate seeds before serving.
