We made it through another holiday season.
All the naps, all staying-in-pajamas-until-mid-morning (or later), all the carb-heavy, pant-stretching meals.
And all this means a few things for me:
- I’m ready for a few MORE days off work, without all the holiday craziness. Just a few days to recover from all the food and traveling and business and loud houses.
- It’s time to get out my planner for 2016 and get it all set up and ready! The new year feels just like the start of a new school year for me – a clean slate, a fresh start.
- I’m definitely ready to get back to more regular healthy, clean eating. The holidays are the time to splurge and have family favorites or traditions, but after a few days of indulging, I start feeling sleepy and lethargic, and I just want a salad.
But breaking that sugar/carb habit is always tough, right? Even if it’s just a day or two with a few extra sweets, it’s like starting all over again.
So my favorite way to ease back into a healthy routine after the holidays is to have healthy, filling dishes that FEEL like you’re splurging…but really aren’t. It still feels a little decadent, but is much better for you AND won’t give you that sugar rush/crash.
Working with Dole produce this year has given me even more chances to come up with some fun new, healthy recipes. And I think this is tied with the salad I made a few weeks ago. Maybe that salad and this smoothie will make an appearance together next week!
Like this smoothie.
Perfect for a quick breakfast on the run, a filling afternoon snack, or a dessert for the whole family.
I love using oats in smoothies. If you let them soften for a bit in your milk or yogurt, they blend up just enough to give the smoothie a thicker, almost dough-y texture and a little extra sweetness.
This oat flavor along with the Dole bananas, pecans, cinnamon, and pinch of salt, makes it taste like a cool slice of banana bread. In a glass.
You can’t really ask for a better, healthy breakfast than this.
Banana Bread Smoothie
Ingredients:
- 1 cup milk of choice (dairy, soy, almond, coconut, etc)
- 1/3 cup quick cooking oats
- 1 Dole banana
- 1 Tbsp chopped walnuts or pecans
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 cup ice
Directions:
- Pour milk and oats into the base of your blender. Let the oats and milk sit for 2-3 minutes to let the oats soften a bit.
- Add the banana, walnuts, cinnamon, salt, and ice.
- Blend until smooth.
As a Dole Ambassador, I am provided with coupons and products to sample and use in recipes throughout the year. As always, all opinions and recipes are my own. Thank you for supporting brands that support us!
