College life often can make us feel like there are not enough hours in the day. Though we may not have time to prepare and eat a hearty breakfast every morning, we should still be sure not to skip out on eating in the morning all together. It’s actually pretty easy to squeeze in a quick breakfast into your schedule (and even take it to-go if you need to). A “green smoothie” in the morning is a quick and easy way to start off your day.

A green smoothie is a delicious combo of fruits and veggies blended together to make a healthy smoothie. It can be the perfect way to incorporate more fruits and veggies in your diet. Plus, they are easy to make.

• First, pick out 1 to 3 veggies. Try leafy greens like spinach or kale and something colorful like carrots.
• Second, pick out some fruits like bananas, oranges, and berries to mix in.
• Then, add in water, milk, or even tea. It all depends on your preference.
• Lastly, just blend together, pour, and enjoy!

There are a variety of different recipes available, but it is also fun to create your own. The taste may vary depending on what sorts of fruits and vegetables you add. For example, adding more fruits may make your smoothie sweeter. Making a smoothie with milk instead of water may also alter the taste. My personal favorite consists of a handful of spinach, a few baby carrots, banana slices, strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries all blended together in vanilla-flavored almond milk. If you are a little skeptical about the idea of drinking your vegetables, I would encourage you to try adding more fruits than vegetables first and then adjust your ratios by adding more vegetables when you are ready. Experimenting with fruits that are in season can keep you from getting tired of the same blend. Nuts and seeds can also be added into your blends. For those of you who are into powdered protein, you can add that into your smoothie to go along with your workout routine.

If you are looking for a little more organization and to cut back prep time in the mornings, you can take it one step further and prepare your ingredients ahead of time. Grabbing a few plastic freezer bags and filling them up with your fruits and vegetables can help speed up the preparation process for your breakfast smoothie. Taking a pre-packaged bag of frozen fruits and veggies out of the freezer can shorten your morning prep as opposed to having to quickly slice your produce in the morning in a hurry.

I’ve always been a pretty busy student and would sometimes leave the house without breakfast. My excuse was always “I don’t have time to make breakfast.” However, I always found it difficult to focus in class, and I ate bigger portions during lunch and dinner because I was so hungry from not having eaten breakfast. Smoothies are easy to take on the go. They are relatively quick to prepare and can be poured into a to-go cup to take to class. With a little bit of preparation, now breakfast doesn’t have to be such a hassle anymore.

Article by Marilyn Cabrera

Feature Image Source: Eat Cook Paleo