As I’ve stated here before, I’m a big believer in the idea that health, relationships, and wealth are all interrelated. If one area is strong, you’ll be better positioned to have good things happen in the other areas.
With respect to health specifically, I think it’s absolutely one of the most important factors in creating and preserving wealth. If you can’t earn income, or find yourself spending inordinate amounts of time and money taking care of health issues, it will not be conducive to financial success.
Along those lines, it’s important to eat a healthy breakfast. In a previous post, I already shared my frugal oatmeal breakfast, which packs a lot of nutrition at a low cost. Here, I’ll share with you another breakfast favorite of mine: The Blueberry Smoothie.
The ingredients for this concoction are as follows:
1 cup unsweetened soymilk
- Cost: $0.35
- Calories: 70
½ cup frozen blueberries
- Cost: $0.25
- Calories: 40
1 banana – cost
- Cost: $0.20
- Calories: 110
½ cup orange juice –cost
- Cost: $0.35
- Calories: 55
½ tablespoon ground flaxseed
- Cost: $0.04
- Calories: 40
Just put all the ingredients in a blender, and 10 seconds later you have a very healthy, very blue, tasty breakfast right there for you. You can even take it on the go!
This smoothie is loaded with vitamin C, calcium, and other vitamin and minerals as well. The great bonus this has is the Omega 3’s provided by the ground flaxseed. It’s a nutritional bonanza.
Total Calories: 315
Total Cost: $1.19
At one point a few years ago, I was having one 5 days a week. Then, I started tinkering with it, and came up with all kinds of combinations, mixing and matching different fruits, such as:
- Strawberries
- Blackberries
- Raspberries
- Peaches
- Mango
- Kiwi
Additionally, I’ve doctored it up with different juices, and occasionally other ingredients such as kefir or yogurt. Ultimately, the recipe above emerged as the favorite, though it’s good to get some variety as well.
It had been a while since the smoothie days, so I just recently bought the ingredients again to get back into it – albeit at a rate of maybe 2 times a week now. It’s all part of the plan to get back into shape.
How about you?
Ever tried making homemade smoothies or shakes such as this?
What’s your favorite healthy breakfast?
Great way to start a day! Blueberries are rich in polyphenols which help fight cancer. New research shows blueberries also break down fat! Thanks for the recipe!
I also love smoothies. My personal favorite is frozen strawberries, milk, and Splenda. With Weight Watchers, only the milk costs me any daily points, lol. 🙂
My favorite breakfast is one cup of Honey Nut Cheerios with 1/3 cup milk. I can get about 20 breakfasts out of a huge $6-$7 box of Honey Nut Cheerios from Sam’s Club and a $3 gallon of milk. That’s about 50 cents a breakfast or less and it’s only 5 of my 29 daily Weight Watchers points too. 🙂
Crystal – Your smoothie recipe sounds good. As for Honey Nut Cheerios, I haven’t had them in many years but always liked them. I may have to check them out sometime again…
I love smoothies, and I love my Magic Bullet.
I make smoothies everyday. For my oldest son, I combine strawberry kefir, a banana, strawberries, blueberries, and some protein powder. He needs to get some weight back on him and it is such a healthy way to do it (when you add the protein). For myself, I use yogurt, bananas, blueberries and strawberries. I actually had to run to the store yesterday to buy more bananas for our smoothies. It is also great if you freeze the bananas for the smoothies. I peel the bananas, break them into hunks, and then freeze them on a cookie sheet. After a couple hours, I put them in a container in the freezer. That way, they don’t clump together.
Everyday Tips – interesting tip on freezing bananas for smoothies. I might have to try that. Also, the recipe you stated is almost exactly like what I’ve tried before, except the kefir was plain/unlfavored. Anyway, that’s a great start for the day.
During warm weather months, I make something similar, but skip the milk. I use fresh and frozen fruit and juice. One of the advantages is it is quick and I can take into the car.
krantcents – yes, portability and eating on the run is one aspect of smoothies that works for me sometimes…..though I try not to do it too often!
I’m going through a freezer purge as we speak and the back of it has all the leftover berries from last season’s garden. I should start doing this for breakfast. Good idea.
I usually use my berries in pie, but I think this is a much healthier option
Love smoothies and I usually put one together almost every day. I don’t use soy milk any more as it isn’t as healthy as people would think. Many can tolerate it but soy allergies are on the rise.
A good healthy ratio for all smoothies is the 40-40-30 golden ratio. 40% protein, 40% carbs and 30% fat in the form of flax seed, almonds or coconut oil.
The good fats contribute a time-release action that allows the carbs to be metabolized at an even rate so that the blood sugar is not raised to fast. Good carbs are strawberries/blueberries that break down slower to start will.
I typically use egg white powder for the protein or good fat free, no sugar added yogurt.
Sounds delicious, Squirrelers. Assume that the ground flaxseed is something you might find at a specialized store?
The Kefir or Yoghurt is probably healthier for your gut and immune system.
Frozen bananas are great in smoothies because they make them so much creamier tasting. When I had my own hens I used to add a raw egg to my berry smoothies at the end of the blending cycle; the egg added a wonderful protein boost and the fat from the yolk makes it satisfy you for longer than a non-fat drink would.
One of my favorite smoothies is a peanut butter and banana smoothie made with unsweetened almond milk, frozen banana, peanut butter, and a touch of honey for sweetness. I think I’ll make one now!!