Like many college students, I roll out of bed 10 minutes before I need to head to class, hurry to get ready, and rarely eat a healthy breakfast. Most of the time, my go-to morning meal is a granola bar from my desk drawer in my dorm or something that is quick, easy, and lacking in nutrients. Sometimes, I even simply skip breakfast in order to make it to class on time and I have learned the detriments of doing so.
The phrase "breakfast is the most important meal of the day" is a common phrase that I never really understood until I took a closer look. There are several reasons as to why breakfast is essential, beginning with the fact that it boosts your metabolism. Without the initial kickstart of a meal in the morning, your metabolism will slow down and you will not burn as many calories throughout the day. Breakfast is also proven to enhance concentration and learning. Lastly, research has proven that a healthy breakfast has the capacity to prevent diseases such as Type 2 Diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
When I was growing up, my mom would always make smoothies for me to eat in the car on the way to school. When I came to college, I wanted to adopt this morning breakfast tradition, but I didn’t know how to make a quick and easy smoothie without making a huge mess. I finally mastered this task and I am now sharing it so that you don't have to go another morning of your college career without a healthy kickstart to your day.
I found a NutriBullet to be the most effective blender because the cups are made for one serving and all that needs to be cleaned are the small blade and the cup. Once the smoothie is blended, you are set to drink it out of your personal cup or throw it into a to-go cup for the run to class.
To begin, you will need to go out and buy your ingredients.The benefits of making a smoothie just for yourself is that the ingredients will usually last up to 2-3 weeks.
1. Fruit
It can be anything, including frozen or fresh blueberries, strawberries, bananas, pineapples, mangoes, or apples. I choose frozen berries and a banana, so I don't have to cut up my fruit and create a mess. I add about a 1/2 cup of berries and a half of a banana.
2. Liquid
Next, you will need your liquid. I like to use almond milk because it makes the smoothie a little sweeter, but you can also use water, coconut water, any type of milk, iced coffee, or iced green tea. For the liquid, I usually add a cup or until all of my other ingredients are completely covered by liquid.
3. Veggies
You will now need to pick out your veggies. I use a powder that consists of all of the greens that you will need for your day, but you may also use spinach, kale, or lettuce. Don’t worry, though, you will not be able to taste them.
4. Energy Booster
Lastly, you will want to add an energy booster, especially if it’s the first thing that you eat that day or after a workout. I like to use almond butter, but you can use flax seeds, protein powder, peanut butter, almond butter, PB2, or oats.
If you have your ingredients and blender ready to go in the morning, all that you need to do is mix them together, blend for about 30 seconds, and enjoy!
