Banana Smoothie for Breakfast

This summer, I've not only been trying to clean up my eating, but I've also been more intentional about what I put into my body. Because what doesn't go in is just as important as what does!

One thing I knew was missing was a steady source of fiber. I've slowly been adding more vegetables and leafy greens to our diet, but while we are transitioning to that I was still needing a boost. So I decided to try adding flaxseeds to some of the foods I was already eating. And I've found that they are good for so much more! In addition to increasing my daily fiber intake, flaxseeds also provide a healthy dose of natural antioxidants (lignans) and omega-3s (alpha-linolenic acid). And I actually really love the texture they add. You can add it to baked goods, sprinkle on oatmeal or in smoothies or on salads. The possibilities are endless. You don't need a lot, and I don't use more than 1-2 tablespoons per day. I was already making breakfast smoothies on a regular basis, and now I just stir in a little bit of flaxseed at the end!

Banana Smoothie with Flaxseed

1 frozen banana
1/2 cup of milk
3/4 cup of plain yogurt
1-2 teaspoons coconut oil
sprinkle of shredded coconut
dash of cinnamon
drizzle of honey
4-5 ice cubes
1-2 tablespoons of flaxseed meal

I blend all the ingredients except for the flaxseed because I've found that it gets stuck in the blade of the blender. After I pour the smoothie into my glass I just stir in the flaxseed and let it sit for a minute. It's really hard to mess this up and actually some of those measurements I estimated because I never really measure! If I have other fruit on hand I'll put some in for variety. My goal with this drink was to not add extra sugar than was already found naturally in my ingredients if possible. I use plain yogurt and just rely on the banana, honey, cinnamon and coconut for the sweetness, and it does the trick! Yum!