Banana Oat Smoothie

How yummy does this banana oat smoothie look?  I probably shouldn’t admit this, but I totally just had to look up how to spell banana.  All I could hear while writing it was Gwen’s voice spelling it but I heard far too many n’s.  Dang.  How am I going to be able to help my kid’s with their homework if I can’t even spell banana?

If you don’t think I am a total loser and are still around, let me tell you about my new favorite breakfast.  It is a smoothie recipe with banana and oats.  I eat about 3 bananas a year, on average.  They are not my favorite fruit by any means.  But something about this recipe made me want to try it.  And I’ve been trying to get off the ‘Tarts.  Brown Sugar Cinnamon Pop Tarts have always been my weakness and I attribute many a cellulite dimple to them.  This smoothie is delicious and super satisfying.  AND I have found that I make it when I need something sweet at other times of the day and feel so much better about that choice then when I eat a whole bag of Trader Joe’s Kettle Corn.

The excuse I used to tell myself was that I just don’t have time to put breakfast together in the morning and I have to grab something quick.  But if you make it a priority, it quickly becomes part of the routine and you can make it in no time at all.  There is little to no prep and as you get comfortable with your measurements you can put it together even more quickly.  As I am a terrible judge of well, most guess-timations, I will continue to use a measuring cup to make sure I am not adding unnecessary calories.  This recipe is modified a bit from this one on the Martha Stewart page (which was acting all wonky when I was trying to link to it but I think we all know where to find her if you want to see the real recipe).  Here is what you will need:

1 bananananananana

1/4 cup oatmeal (uncooked – not quick cooking)

1/2 cup plain nonfat yogurt

1/2 cup vanilla soymilk

a squeeze of honey (to taste – I don’t like things very sweet so I sometimes don’t even put it in)

dash or two of cinnamon

Add it all to the blender and get to whirring.  The banana does not need to be chopped up, but you should break it up in to at least 3 pieces so that it will blend well.  I chose to use soymilk instead of regular milk because (spoiler alert – it’s about to get gross) it makes me extra phlegmy.  But I don’t like the tang of soy yogurt so that it why I use cow’s milk yogurt in it.  Quite possibly, a dumb substitution but I can tolerate and enjoy it this way, so there.

And why should cocktails have all the fun.  Add some pizzazz to your banana oat smoothie and drink up!  I have also made several variations of this smoothie to change it up.  I’ve added unsweetened cocoa powder – delicious!  I’ve swapped the soymilk for orange juice and added a dash of vanilla – hello creamsicle.  I’ve also added strawberries to change-up the flavor and added other spices, like nutmeg, for a match made in heaven.  Depending on how long you blend it, your oatmeal will either be pretty darn smooth or a little bit more chewy.  I find that this smoothie keeps me full and I feel good about what I am putting in my body.  Then I only have the rest of the day to worry about screwing up my diet.  Believe me.  I can be the world’s worst eater.  We’re talking cupcakes for breakfast, lunch and snack with a grilled cheese dinner.  Now THAT’S bananas.