Dietitian-Approved: A Smart Breakfast Treat To Bolster Will Power During The Holidays

Make a smart breakfast smoothie to start your day on a festive and healthy note.

smart breakfast

The holidays are notorious for tempting us with unhealthy—but delicious—foods. There are numerous tips and tricks to support healthy food choices and stave off overindulgence during the festive season. The challenge is finding the approach that works for you. Summit’s nutrition and wellness team has a sweet and smart breakfast suggestion. The cocoa smoothie recipe tastes indulgent. But it’s a time-saving smart breakfast option packed with well-balanced nutrition. And it can keep you feeling satisfied and less deprived when you confront holiday treats.

Why skipping breakfast isn’t a good idea

Some clients try to save calories by skipping breakfast and lunch on the day of a big party. We sure understand the motivation. But it’s hard to maintain willpower when you arrive at a party feeling really hungry. It’s better to manage your hunger level with healthy choices throughout the day so that you never feel either stuffed or starving. And your day begins with breakfast!

Benefits of the smart breakfast treat

Instead of skipping breakfast to save calories, we recommend a 300- to 400-calorie breakfast of protein, carbs, and healthy fats. For busy people, smoothies are a smart breakfast option. They deliver fruit and vegetable servings that many of us don’t get enough of. You can blend them up the night before to save time in the morning. Also, by making your own smoothie, you control the ingredients. Even though this is a chocolate smoothie, sugar is limited. And it also includes the protein you need to slow your body’s absorption of sugar. This way, you have a more measured sense of energy through the morning while feeling satisfied until lunch.

A smart breakfast doesn’t have to be boring

Why not start the day with a cocoa smoothie? That sounds decadent, doesn’t it? And it’s supposed to! But this particular smoothie is packed with nutrient-dense ingredients like peanut butter, tofu, and spinach—without sacrificing delicious taste. There’s no rule that a smart breakfast can’t include chocolate. This smoothie tastes guilty-pleasure good. When you start the day with chocolate, I think it may be easier to say no to sugary treats later. And this smart breakfast choice delivers the nutritious fuel you need to power through a hectic holiday schedule.

Cocoa Smart Breakfast Smoothie

1 frozen banana

1 cup unsweetened coconut or almond milk

1 tablespoon peanut butter

1 cup spinach

1 to 2 tablespoons cocoa powder

2 teaspoons honey

½ cup silken tofu

Put all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. If you are making this smoothie the night before, store it in the freezer until breakfast.

A tip for a more festive smoothie

Add a drop of peppermint extract to this smoothie in December. The extract transforms the breakfast smoothie into a chocolate peppermint recipe. It adds a holiday theme and great taste!

We all want to enjoy the holidays in healthy ways. We hope this smoothie will help keep you in the habit of eating a smart breakfast, and further from the dangers of overindulging this holiday season. The choices we make now can help us begin 2018 on a happy and healthy note.

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