One of the things I can tell you about me is that I'm clearly not a morning person.
I've got a friend who's a badass morning person. As soon as he opens his eyes he’s like BING! Awake and ready to go.
I’m not like that, at all.
It’s not laziness. Some people just work on a different cycle. I don't like waking up, I don’t like mornings. That’s it.
Even when I wake up at 6am to go for a morning run: my legs might be moving, but I’m still dozing off.
If I had to map out what my ideal morning schedule would look like, it would be something like this:
6am | Sleep
7am | Sleep
7:45am | Wake up (possibly to the sound of waves)
8am | Make green tea and a smoothie for breakfast + read the NYT
8:30am | Shower and get ready
9am | Leave
Unfortunately it never is like this. NEVER.
Instead, it’s random and messy and most of the time I end up being late.
However, there’s one thing I’d never skip no matter how late I am, and that’s the green tea + smoothie + NYT moment.
It’s a sacred moment and really the only thing I’m looking forward to after opening my eyes.
.jpg "Mango Spinach Chia Smoothie")
Talking about smoothies. Lately I’ve been digging this super delicious, extra creamy smoothie made with frozen mango, baby spinach, banana, chia seeds, and almond milk.
The perfect morning smoothie because it’s deliciously sweet but refreshing at the same.
The key to sweetening up a smoothie - without using a sweetener - is using extra ripe fruit. They might not be as pretty (banana with brown spots anyone?), but those concentrated natural sugars lend a sweetness that can’t be compared.
If you don’t like spinach (or greens) don’t worry, you can’t really taste them.
Drink this Mango Spinach Chia Smoothie and you’ll feel re-energized and ready to start the day with a bang!
.jpg "Mango Spinach Chia Smoothie")
Ingredients
Serves 2
7am | Sleep
7:45am | Wake up (possibly to the sound of waves)
8am | Make green tea and a smoothie for breakfast + read the NYT
8:30am | Shower and get ready
9am | Leave
Unfortunately it never is like this. NEVER.
Instead, it’s random and messy and most of the time I end up being late.
However, there’s one thing I’d never skip no matter how late I am, and that’s the green tea + smoothie + NYT moment.
It’s a sacred moment and really the only thing I’m looking forward to after opening my eyes.
Talking about smoothies. Lately I’ve been digging this super delicious, extra creamy smoothie made with frozen mango, baby spinach, banana, chia seeds, and almond milk.
The perfect morning smoothie because it’s deliciously sweet but refreshing at the same.
The key to sweetening up a smoothie - without using a sweetener - is using extra ripe fruit. They might not be as pretty (banana with brown spots anyone?), but those concentrated natural sugars lend a sweetness that can’t be compared.
If you don’t like spinach (or greens) don’t worry, you can’t really taste them.
Drink this Mango Spinach Chia Smoothie and you’ll feel re-energized and ready to start the day with a bang!
Ingredients
Serves 2
1 cup frozen chopped mango
1 ripe banana
2 large handfuls baby spinach
1 tablespoon chia seeds
¾ cup / 177 ml milk of your choice (I used almond milk)
Directions
Combine all the ingredients in a blender, making sure that the spinach sits at the bottom (this will facilitate the blending process). Blend until smooth and creamy.
If it’s too thick, add a bit of water (two tablespoons should be plenty).
Serve immediately!
Nutrition facts
One serving yields 203 calories, 9 grams of fat, 39 grams of carbs, and 7 grams of protein.
1 ripe banana
2 large handfuls baby spinach
1 tablespoon chia seeds
¾ cup / 177 ml milk of your choice (I used almond milk)
Directions
Combine all the ingredients in a blender, making sure that the spinach sits at the bottom (this will facilitate the blending process). Blend until smooth and creamy.
If it’s too thick, add a bit of water (two tablespoons should be plenty).
Serve immediately!
Nutrition facts
One serving yields 203 calories, 9 grams of fat, 39 grams of carbs, and 7 grams of protein.
.jpg)
In winter, I echo your sentiments about waking up, Mike - but in summer - I am just like your friend! I love a hot summer morning - perfect for a 5-ingredient smoothie like this!
ReplyDeleteI hate hot summer mornings... :D
DeleteLooks incredible Mike, loving the color!
ReplyDeleteThanks Co!
DeleteI am definitely going to have to try this one. Yum!!
ReplyDeleteAwesome Lauren!
DeleteThe ripe bananas are a must, this is perfect Mike, love it!
ReplyDeleteThanks man!
DeleteI'm totally a morning person, but when winter rolls around and it's dark outside, I actually tend to sleep in a bit later than usual. What a great smoothie combo! I love mango so much in smoothies, it's actually acted as a banana replacer for me (since I don't tolerate the latter so well). :-)
ReplyDeleteYou morning people...I don't know, really...
Deletech-ch-ch-chia! well done, the color is gorgeous and i bet its super delicious!
ReplyDeleteIt is super delish K!
DeleteI've been trying to be a morning person my whole life and I still sleep walk through my morning routine! I've started drinking a 32 ounce green smoothie first thing and it's really helped. I haven't tried chia seeds in it though, so this needs to happen right away!
ReplyDeleteIf you're not a morning person, you'll never be one, no matter how hard you try to be one. It's just like that...
DeleteI NEED THIS RECIPE, in real-life form. Mangoes are, hands down, my favorite fruit. And I hardly ever put them in smoothies! That is changing now. Thanks for sharing :) hope you're having a great week!
ReplyDeleteMangoes in smoothies are the best thing ever!
DeleteSeeing as all the berries have been on recall here (a hepatitis outbreak!), I've been missing my smoothies because just bananas get redundant- Genius to try a mango!
ReplyDeleteMango is the shiz in smoothies, you have to try it!
DeleteI am like you, Mike! We get up stupid early to go to the gym, but I often say that I'm not actually awake until I'm on the elliptical machine...and by then it's too late to get off. Plus, that's what Sportscenter is there for...to entertain me and keep me from watching the timer on the machine. I think I should put one of these smoothies out in front of me while I'm working out...it would be like chasing a carrot. Except it would be a mango spinach chia carrot. #WolfpackSmoothieShoppe
ReplyDeleteWe are basically the same person David! ;)
Delete#WolfpackBrothers
I am one of those very irritating persons who wakes up at 5am absolutely wired, ready to go, jumping off the bed, singing, smiling, full of energy... of course, the sound of waves would never hurt...
ReplyDeletenote to self: buy frozen mango chunks (don't tell my Brazilian friends, they would only use the real fruit)....
OMG Sally I hate you, you can't be one of 'those' people. You need to become a night owl asap!
DeleteThere was a time in my life when it was so hard for me to wake up early that I needed my passport to remember my name, address and family status. Now I don't mind at all to get up early but of course with this energy boosting smoothie it's a lot easier and more pleasant.
ReplyDeleteWow! I would have never imagined that mango+spinach combo would have looked so appealing! :)
ReplyDeleteGood to know you've seen such awesome results. Keep it up!
ReplyDelete