This winter has been a little strange…

My body typically resists anything cold during the winter- salads, running outside, yard work.

But this winter I’ve been craving smoothies, the opposite of what usually happens for me. So I’ve been capitalizing on it, loading up on the blended goodness for as long as this craving lasts.

Honestly, my smoothies aren’t anything Instagram worthy. They aren’t vibrant colors (greens + berries don’t make for bright colors…) with beautiful toppings spilling out of the glass. I never measure anything and they are usually the same thing with minor tweaks here and there- a pear instead of an apple, a half a banana instead of a scoop of protein powder, maca powder instead of spirulina. But I noticed that, for as often as I consume smoothies, they are not very well represented in my blog post recipes.

So I decided to actually measure things out, take a picture, and share it with you all. Here it is!

The Prebiotic Rich Raspberry Smoothie!

I have a few goals when I’m creating a smoothie. They are:

1. Get in lots of fiber + antioxidants.
2. Make me full for at least three hours.
3. Taste delish.

This gut nourishing, Prebiotic Rich Raspberry Smoothie recipe has 12 grams of fiber. Remember, we need at LEAST 25 grams of fiber a day for women (more for men) to support our body and gut to function properly. This one smoothie gets you nearly half way there! You are feeding your good gut bacteria, helping your gut run smoothly while nourishing it. And it’s got a load of antioxidants with the raspberries. So bullet #1 is checked.

As mentioned above, this smoothie has lot’s of fiber, which helps to keep our body full longer. This fiber, along with a dose of fat from the almond milk, and the filling rolled oats, helps to stave off hunger for at least 3-4 hours. Bullet #2- checked!

And you know I wouldn’t be sharing a recipe that isn’t delicious. The sweet + tart tang of the raspberries gives this smoothie a kick of exciting, fresh flavor. The sweetness of the ripe banana and raw honey pairs perfectly with the citrus of the orange, and is topped off with a creamy texture that will make this your new go-to smoothie. #3- Tastes delish- check!

If you are feeling smoothies right now as I am, give this one a whirl. You will be supporting your gut, digestion, your body, and satisfying your taste buds. Enjoy!

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Prebiotic Rich Raspberry Smoothie Recipe

Serves 1

Takes about 3 minutes to make.

Ingredients

• 1-2 cups of greens, washed (kale-stems removed, spinach, chard, romaine all work great here)
• 1 cup frozen raspberries
• 1/2 ripe banana (the riper, the sweeter)
• 1/2 of peeled orange
• 1/4 cup rolled oats
• 1/8 teaspoon spirulina, optional
• 1 1/4 cup almond milk (or preferred milk)
• 1/2 teaspoon raw honey
• 3-4 ice cubes

Directions

1. Place all of the ingredients in a blender in the order they are listed. Blend until smooth. Enjoy!

Meal Planning Tip- This recipe lends itself to being thrown together quickly with frozen berries and fruit that just needs to be peeled. You could prep the greens at the beginning of the week to make putting the smoothie together even faster. Just wash the greens, wrap them in a dish cloth, place them in a plastic bag, and keep in the crisper drawer for a dew days, ready to go when you want to make the smoothie!

Naturally gluten-free and vegan.

Let me know what you think of this gut healthy smoothie! Post a pic on Instagram and tag @northwesthealthcoaching!