Breakfast – Berry Smoothie & Oatmeal

Here’s a simple recipe to get us started – a very basic fruit smoothie! We probably drink smoothies once or twice a week. My basic recipe for one adult is: 1 cup orange juice, 1 cup frozen berries, 1 ripe banana, 1 Tbsp ground flaxseed meal. For kids, I’ll use half this amount. Today I used mostly blueberries and a few raspberries. Alternatively, I’ll occasionally make a creamy smoothie using soymilk instead of juice. I especially like this when I have frozen strawberries, peach, or melon to blend in.

This morning we paired a fruit smoothie with oatmeal for a healthy breakfast. We had oatmeal with raisins, raw walnuts, and a drizzle of pure maple syrup. Oatmeal has a good amount of protein and iron, and the vitamin-C rich smoothie enhances our bodies’ ability to absorb the iron, which is a plus! Also, both the flaxseed in the smoothie and walnuts on the oatmeal provide us with omega-3 fatty acids. I prefer oatmeal with a bit of chewy texture, so I use slow-cooking rolled oats and bring the water to a boil before adding the oats. A dash of cinnamon while cooking adds a nice touch.