How to begin your day with a healthy breakfast ?

                                                         (BANANA OAT BREAKFAST)                                               

Start your morning off with this thick and creamy Banana Oat Breakfast Smoothie that is healthy, delicious and super quick to make!  It’s also dairy-free and vegan with zero refined sugar!

I don’t know about you, but most of us just don’t have the time in the mornings to throw together a healthy breakfast which is why I love to make smoothies!  Fruit smoothies are absolutely delicious, don’t get me wrong, but sometimes you just need to switch things up and enjoy something a little more filling!  This banana oat breakfast smoothie is thick and creamy with such a delicious texture that’s different from your typical smoothie because it’s blended with oats, creamy yogurt and ground flaxseed meal which adds a delicious, nutty flavor to the smoothie as well!

Now let’s talk about the bananas.  You can of course use fresh or frozen bananas, but let me just say that frozen bananas reeeeally make this smoothie that much creamier!  Trust me on this.  The best way to freeze bananas, in my opinion, is to first peel them and then cut them in half (or thirds depending on their size) and double wrap them in plastic wrap.  This keeps them nice and fresh without getting freezer burn while sitting in your freezer.  Then when you’re ready to make your smoothie, simply throw them right into your blender.  I always save ripe bananas to freeze ahead of time so that I’ll have them on hand whenever I’m in the mood for a smoothie 🙂

The added banana in this smoothie also adds a hint of sweetness along with the cinnamon which is why there was no need to add any sugar or honey to this recipe.  I mean if it tastes this GOOD without the added sugar, why throw it in??  I also used vanilla flavored yogurt in this recipe as well, but if you are planning to use plain yogurt then I would suggest also adding a drop or two of vanilla extract for even more sweetness and flavor.

Speaking of yogurt, I am absolutely in LOVE with Silk’s NEW Almondmilk Yogurt Alternative!  Not only is this a great dairy-free and vegan option, but the yogurt is super rich and creamy and tastes absolutely delicious!  It was the perfect addition to this smoothie, but you could also throw it in your favorite dips, baked goods or just enjoy it all on it’s own for breakfast in the mornings!

Silk Almondmilk Yogurt Alternative comes in five delicious flavors (plain, vanilla, strawberry, peach and dark chocolate coconut – my favorite!) and each single-serving has 5-6 grams of protein straight from delicious California almonds.  Silk is also now offering new 24 oz tubs which are great for a variety of uses!  The other thing I love about Silk’s Almondmilk Yogurt Alternative is that they actually contain ingredients you can feel good about consuming.  As I said before, this yogurt is vegan and dairy-free, as well as carrageenan-free, gluten-free, cholesterol-free and soy-free.

Along with using the vanilla-flavored Silk Almondmilk Yogurt Alternative, I also added a half cup of Silk’s unsweetened vanilla almond milk to really bring this smoothie together!  If you aren’t using frozen bananas I would also suggest throwing in a few ice cubes in order to get that smoothie-like consistency.  It just tastes much more creamier in my opinion!

I have also been known to add a spoonful of peanut butter to this smoothie (or you could use any nut butter for that matter!) for even more taste and additional protein!  You really can’t go wrong when making a smoothie and since YOU are the one who is going be enjoying it, make sure to make it all your own 🙂

This banana oat breakfast smoothie offers such a great source of fiber and protein making it a really delicious and healthy way to start your day!  It also couldn’t be any easier to throw together too.  All you need is 5 minutes and you can take this right out the door with you.  Your kids will love this too!

Remember if you DO make this recipe, make sure to share your photos on Instagram or Twitter hashtagging #eatyourselfskinnyrecipe so that I can see your delicious creations!

ENJOY !!!