Two-Minute Berry Banana Smoothie

If I was a lady who embroiders, I would make a plaque to hang in my kitchen that says "Smoothies are made from angel's kisses and god's love."There are plenty of imposters out there masquerading as your best smoothie friend; if you read between the lines at any smoothie joint, you'll realize that the primary ingredient in these jokers is sugar, and synthetic ingredients often make a guest appearance. Making your own smoothie at home is so simple, and you can control exactly what goes into the mix. This is one of my favourite combos. It's great with fresh berries, but I like to use frozen because they're so easy to keep around and they make my smoothie nice and cold.

This is my go-to breakfast or post-workout snack when I'm in a hurry. I'm always running late no matter how much time I leave myself, so having this smoothie ready to go is a big help. I like to fill the blender with the ingredients and leave it in the fridge--you can even do this the night before--that way, all I need to do is give it a whirl, and I have something sustaining to sip on while I get ready!

Protein powders have become a popular smoothie addition since I was a kid, but I'm wary of them; the ingredient list is too long and complicated for my comfort level. Besides, unless you're training to be Miss Muscles USA, you don't need to eat 100 grams of protein a day; 50-60 is just fine for most people (check with your doctor to confirm your personal nutritional needs.) One of these giant smoothies, which packs two servings of fruit, also contains about 20 grams of protein from the yogurt and milk--natural sources that I feel confident feeding my body!

One final note: when choosing yogurt, always check the sugar content. An unassuming, single serving container can pack as many as 30 GRAMS! I always use fat-free plain or Greek yogurt, which contain the lowest amount of sugar; if these are too bitter for you, try adding a squeeze of honey!

Ingredients (one giant smoothie):
1 banana
3/4 cup fresh or frozen berries*
1 cup fat-free plain yogurt
1/2 cup skim milk

*If you're using fresh berries, you may want to start off this recipe by crushing some ice cubes in the blender to make your smoothie nice and cold!

Combine all ingredients and blend. Voila!