Recipe – Apricot Banana Chia Smoothie

Prep Time: 2 minutes
Blend Time: 2 minutes
Total Servings: 1 20 ounce smoothie, or 2 10 ounce servings

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to pick fresh apricots from my cousin’s tree.  We went there for a bbq, swimming, and poker party.  I was hesitant to pick so many because I was unsure I would be able to eat them in time.  My cousin reminded me that I could freeze them and suggested using them in morning smoothies!

You can actually freeze a lot of fruit – which is especially handy if you’re like me and like to shop the 2 for 1 baskets of strawberries!  To freeze the apricots, I simply split them in half, removed the pit and popped them into a freezer bag.

They were perfect in this smoothie which can be prepared in five minutes or less!  Pair this with a slice of whole grain or whole wheat toast for a small and very filling breakfast on the go.

• 4 apricots, halved (if frozen then 8 halves)
• 1 3/4 cup Unsweetened Almond Milk or 1 cup Fat Free Milk
• 1/2 Banana, ripe
• 1 tbsp Peanut Butter
• 3 tbsp Sprouted Chia Powder, Navitas Naturals

Toss everything in a blender and blend on a high speed (Frappe or Liquify) for one to two minutes or until evenly mixed.

Enjoy!

How many cups of fruit does this make?

1.5 to 2 cups of fruit is recommended per day.  However, the new ChooseMyPlate.gov wants consumers to make half their plates fruit and vegetables. Personally, I feel half our plates should be filled with vegetables (complex carbs, fiber) and fruit treated as a side.

1/2 banana = .25 cup of fruit
4 apricots =  approximately 1 cup of fruit depending on size of apricots

Did you know that  3 cups of milk/dairy is recommend per day?

1 cup Fat Free Milk = 1 cup

Although Almond Milk is a non-diary beverage it does provide 20% of daily recommended value for calcium per cup!