Chia Banana Boost Smoothie (With Peanut Butter)

This thick and creamy Chia Banana Boost Smoothie tastes almost too decadent to be good for you. High in fibre and protein and packed with minerals - everything a breakfast smoothie should be. And it takes all of three minutes to make, so it's perfect for school mornings when things aren't going to plan. Which is most Monday mornings at our place.

Chia Banana Boost Smoothie

Smoothies are the godsend of breakfasts all over the world, I'm sure of it. Since I bought my NutriBullet I've not stopped using it, it's been one of the only 'modern' day gadgets I've bought and used daily. The rest see the back of the cupboard :)

I don't know why but breakfasts always seems to be the hardest meal of the day and this Chia banana boost smoothie is one that's going to get you out of a rut.

Mornings surprise my two boys. They wake up every morning with a look on their face like they are being punished when I kick them out of bed. I have to shout, coerce and pretty much drag them to the school bus. My girls are totally opposite. They treat every morning like an opportunity to get things done.

I don't know if it the morning vs non morning thing, but everyone is on a different breakfast timetable. The boys could eat a massive 'the works' breakfast fry up the second they open their eyes whilst my girls opt for a slice of toast or a light snack. They only get hungry at morning tea. I've tried for years to get some sort of congruent appetite happening but now I've given up.

I try and keep week day breakfasts simple and fast. Kids get to have a big or small serve depending on their appetite and I have learned not to fuss about how much they eat.

A typical breakfast menu for the week is generally one of these five meals. On weekends I mix it up a bit with pancakes or breakfast fry up:

• Oats
• Wholewheat toast with peanut butter, cheese or scrambled egg
• Yogurt and fruit
• Smoothie
• Homemade granola

What's in Chia Banana Boost Smoothie?

The ingredients are few but each one packs a power punch:

Chia Seeds

Chia seeds are those little black seed 'things' that I used to not care too much for. I didn't really get them understand why they're awesome (spoiler: they are!) or even really know what to do with them.

As it turns out, humans have been eating Chia seeds, forever pretty much. They're highly nutritious and just 2 tablespoon gives you a good start towards your daily needs of:

• Protein
• Fat
• Fiber
• Calcium
• Iron
• Magnesium
• Zinc
• Vitamin B1
• Vitamin B3

So...yes. I want these in our diets!

Bananas

Every wondered why we eat bananas for breakfast? Bananas are among the most widely consumed fruit on the planet. And for good reason too. These curvy yellow fruits pack a punch when it comes to there nutritional value.

• Heart health - They are packed with potassium, a mineral electrolyte that keeps electricity flowing throughout your body, which is required to keep your heart beating
• Depression and mood - Bananas can be helpful in overcoming depression "due to high levels of tryptophan, which the body converts to serotonin, the mood-elevating brain neurotransmitter," Flores said
• Sleep Aid - Bananas contain Vitamin B6 which can help you sleep well as well as magnesium which helps to relax muscles
• Digestion - Bananas are high in fibre, which can help keep you regular. One banana can provide nearly 10 percent of your daily fibre requirement
• Weight Loss - Vitamin B6 can also help protect against type 2 diabetes and aid in weight loss because they taste sweet and are filling, which helps curb cravings. They also help sustain blood sugar levels during workouts.
• Vision - Step aside Carrots! Bananas do their share to help our vision too. The fruit contain a small but significant amount of vitamin A, which is essential for protecting your eyes, maintaining normal vision and improving vision at night.

Peanut Butter

Peanut butter, I think almost universally loved by kids (and adults!). Peanut butter is one of the most popular ways to flavor loads of things, baking, cooking, smoothies or on hot toast and for good reason: It's creamy, nutty and melts into foods making it indulgent and yummy.

I always make sure to buy 100% peanuts only peanut butter. If you have a look at some of the ingredients lists there are some that contain added oils and flavor enhancers. The peanut butter you buy should contain peanuts and absolutely nothing else, bar a pinch of salt. That's okay :)

If you wanted to make your own peanut butter, it's simply peanuts, blended. It can take a bit of time to blend them into a consistency that's workable and you need a powerful blender to get there, but it's dead simple to make. If you wanted to.

More Clean Eating Smoothies

• Mango and banana tropical smoothie
• Peach and pineapple smoothie
• Chocolate smoothie for kids
• Greek yogurt tropical smoothie
• Kids immunity smoothie

How To Make A Chia Banana Boost Smoothie

Ingredients

• 3 Ripe Bananas Roughly chopped
• 3 tbsp Peanut butter 100% peanuts
• 2 cups Almond milk Or whole milk
• 2 tbsp Chia seeds
• 1 tsp Honey Or maple syrup, optional
• 3 Dates Pitted

Instructions

• Blend all ingredients together until smooth. The longer and more powerful your blender the less you'll notice the Chia seeds
• Add ½ cup ice if you want it colder
• Serve!

Chia Banana Boost Smoothie Recipe