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A Healthy Banana Smoothie is the Perfect Snack
A perfect snack is hard to find and it is almost impossible to come up with a snack that my whole family will like (mainly because kids are so oddly picky…like a whole apple is okay but and apple cut in pieces is not? I don’t get it.). However, within this recipe for a healthy almond butter banana smoothie lies all of the components needed to create a perfect snack. How is it possible?!? Well, keep reading and you will see the magic.
I have a few snack guidelines that I feel are necessary to make any snack great. Here they are:
- It must have some kind of nutritional value
- It must be portable
- It must be easy to make and eat
That’s it! I don’t feel like that list should be so hard to attain, and yet, it seriously is! When assessing this recipe for a skinny banana almond butter smoothie against my list, it totally wins the prize for a great snack.
- Healthy? Very!
- Portable? Totally!
- Easy to make and eat? Well, it took me about 3 minutes to make and everyone from my toddler to my adult husband could eat them without help so- yes, easy to eat!
I can take this smoothie in the car and not worry about a crumb mess, I can hand it to my little one and know that she is drinking something healthy and I can whip up a batch in no time. This smoothie is seriously perfect.
Easy Smoothie Recipe
As I mentioned, a perfect snack is easy to make. It is just an extra plus if you can make a lot of it in one swoop. Who has hours to create complicated foodsin betweenmeal times? Not me, that’s for sure!
But don’t worry- this banana smoothie recipe will only take about 5 minutes maximum to throw together. I think that is the perfect amount of time to spend making a snack, don’t you think?! Make it a few times and you’ll be whipping up smoothies in two minutes flat!
To save even more time, I will frequently make a big batch of banana smoothies and store them in the freezer. Then, next time I am craving a smoothie, I just pop it out of the freezer, let it thaw for a few minutes and I am on my way, banana smoothie in hand! It doesn’t get much easier than that!
One trick to freezing smoothies is to pour the smoothie into an ice cube tray. Once frozen, you can pop the cubes out, put them in a Ziploc bag and back into the freezer. When you need a smoothie, take out one of your pre portioned bags, dump them in the blender and puree. Since the cubes are nice and small, they will break up quickly. The smoothie will be the perfect consistency and taste as if you just made it. This snack is seriously the best…
Healthy Smoothie Recipe
So on to the big one- snacks should be healthy! It is so easy to find myself reaching for a bag of chips or candy when I am a little hungry or need a little energy. This is such a bad habit and also something I definitely don’t want my kids to be doing. So, the number one reason why I absolutely love this banana smoothie recipe is because it is actually healthy!
Almond butter adds healthy fats, reduces the risk of heart disease and just tastes fantastic (it really thickens up this smoothie too!). Bananas are always a nutritious go to as they are full of potassium and fiber that we all need more of. And chia seeds, well, with omega 3’s, protein, antioxidants…this list just goes on and on!
So when a snack has so much nutritional value, is so simple to throw together and tastes like you are eating dessert, how could you ever say no? You probably wish you were drinking one of these right now…I know I do!
Banana Benefits
Adding bananas to smoothies not only add a whole lot of nutrition but they also help make the smoothie nice and thick. When blended, bananas are super creamy which makes the smoothie have a fantastic texture. Even when the smoothie starts to thaw, it will still be thick. Thanks bananas!
Smoothies are a perfect way to use bananas that are almost over ripe. While many people don’t like eating browning bananas, they actually have the most flavor. Take a look at the video below to learn about the stages of a banana and when it is best to eat.
When your banana begins to brown little too much, peel it and place it in a Ziploc bag. Store the banana in the freezer until you are ready to add it to your smoothie. The frozen banana will taste great and also help make your smoothie nice and cold!
Adding Almond Milk
One of my secrets to making this smoothie is to use almond butter. We already covered the health benefits of almonds (but there are so many more too!) but the almond butter in the recipe also helps thicken the smoothie and gives it a super creamy texture.
I also use unsweetened almond milk as a healthier alternative to regular milk. Bonus almond nutrition! Almond milk is also paleo friendly, dairy free and much lower in calories than regular milk. Go buy a gallon right now- you will use it all the time!
Extra Banana Smoothie
Another little trick I recommend is to freeze any extra smoothie in an ice pop mold. Healthy banana popsicles are a huge hit in my house especially when the weather is hot. Just another way to enjoy this perfect snack in a way that is totally different (your little kids will think the popsicle is something new and exciting when its actually just the same smoothie they had yesterday!).
Need a quick pick me up before a workout. Guess what- this smoothie is it! My husband frequently will have one of these before his morning run as a little something to fill him up and give him some extra energy (he swears it makes him run faster too haha!).
Banana Almond Smoothie Recipe for Everyone
Now that you are likely sold on this smoothie as a great nutritious snack, it’s time to grab all the ingredients on the recipe and get out your favorite smoothie cup! All it takes is 5 simple ingredients and a quick whirl in the blender and you are ready to go.
So give this recipe a try, it will only take you a few minutes and give you a scrumptious snack that is seriously good for you. Your kids will adore it, you will drink it in a few seconds and everyone will benefit from the nutritious ingredients. Ready, set, blend!
Enjoy!
Banana Smoothie Ingredients
- Frozen Bananas
- Unsweetened Almond Milk
- Vanilla
- Raw Almond Butter
- Chia Seeds
Smoothie Requirements
Skinny Almond Butter Banana Smoothie Recipe
★★★★★5 from 2 reviews
- Author: Simple Green Moms
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Total Time: 5 mins
- Yield: 2 1x
Description
Creamy and delicious, this smoothie is the perfect way to start your day!
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 frozen bananas
- 1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 tablespoon raw almond butter
- 1 teaspoon chia seeds
Instructions
- Place everything in a high-speed blender for about 30 seconds then serve immediately.
Notes
Bonus Tips:
Add a handful of spinach to make it even more nutritious (you won’t even taste the spinach)
Try using hazelnut butter or pure ground peanut butter instead of almond butter to switch things up
Add two tablespoons of ground flaxseeds for more plant basedprotein and fiber
Use a 1/4 cup of chia seeds and then let the smoothie sit in the refrigerator overnight to create a skinny banana almond butter pudding
Use bananas that are very ripe for more natural flavor
Substitute the vanilla extract for almond extract to make it even more almond flavored(if that’s your preference)
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