Strawberry Banana Smoothie

For the past six months, I've been working reallllllllly hard to cut back on my sugar intake. You don't need to do excessive research to know that Americans consume entirely too much sugar. If you take a peek at any nutrition label in your fridge or pantry, chances are sugar is not only one of the listed ingredients, but one of the main ingredients. Not good.

Strawberry Banana Smoothie from The Galley Gourmet

My quest to decrease sugar consumption started when my friend Sarah told me about her recent lifestyle change of cutting out all refined sugars. Do what?!? The thought of never eating foods that contained refined sugars was a foreign concept that I could not wrap my brain around. If you are one of those people who'd rather have two servings of dessert at the expense of skipping dinner, you know what I mean. But this is what made me realize that I needed to make a change-I was addicted to sugar. So, after pouting for a few days, I finally made the commitment to cut back on my refined sugar consumption.

Here I am six months later, eating better, feeling better, and not always craving sugar! I've also noticed that I have more energy. It's amazing how foods can affect your body in ways that you don't even realize. While I still occasionally treat myself (everything in moderation), I have managed to maintain a low refined sugar diet.

How?, you ask. Smoothies. I live for smoothies. Not only are they cold and creamy (a perfect substitute for that late night ice cream craving), but they are packed with nutritious and naturally sweet fruits. So do your body a favor, pull out that blender, and whirl up this delicious (my all-time favorite) smoothie.

Strawberry Banana Smoothie
(Serves 1)

1/2 medium banana
4-5 medium strawberries, frozen
1/4 cup low fat no salt added cottage cheese (this sounds weird but it's the secret to a super creamy smoothie!)
1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1-2 handfuls of ice

optional add-ins:
1-2 packets stevia
1 scoop unsweetened vanilla protein powder
1-3 tsp chia seeds

Add all of the ingredients to a blender, starting off with the ice. Blend for 30 seconds, or until all of the ingredients are thoroughly mixed. If you want a thicker smoothie (more like a slushi), add another handful of ice; blend until smooth. Drink immediately.

Nutritional Information (without optional add-ins):
1 smoothie
Per serving:
Calories: 150
Fat: 2g
Fiber: 3.5g

Pros:
-Quick and easy to make
-Healthy
-No refined sugar
-A good breakfast, snack, or dessert
-Versatile (experiment with different combinations of fruit)

Cons:
-Possible brain freeze

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5