In case you hadn’t noticed, Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, which means it’s time to spend a little time showing some love to the most important person in your life.
And by that, I mean you.
That’s right. YOU. You’re totally awesome, and you should be giving yourself a little TLC.
The usual Valentine’s Day cliches like chocolates and roses and bubble baths are all perfectly nice, but I think there’s something a little more appropriate when it comes to treating yourself right. I’m talking about giving your heart a little love this month.
Me, I’ve taken to replacing my habit of eating sodium-laden breakfast sandwiches and carb-o-riffic bagels with fresh fruit smoothies.
My secret weapon is unsweetened Almond Breeze almond milk, which I love for all sorts of reasons – it has no cholesterol and no saturated fat, it contains heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, and it clocks in at a skinny 35 calories per cup.
All I need to do in the morning is fill my blender with an assortment of colourful fruits and veggies to get a healthy start on my daily recommended servings, a splash of Almond Breeze for a boost of calcium and creamy flavour (and a hint of vanilla, if I’m thusly inclined), and a spoonful of Greek yogurt for extra protein. It’s a healthy and surprisingly tasty start to the day.
I’m not much of a morning person (and by that, I mean I grdugingly fall out of bed about half an hour before I have to be out the door), so I wasn’t sure how well I’d be able to fit a morning smoothie into my routine.
Turns out, it’s easier than I expected, since I just measure out fruits and veggies the night before and then place them in the fridge to thaw out overnight – that way, they’re only partially frozen in the morning and blend up in a jiff.
I try to shake things up with a different combination of fruits each day, though this Berry Mango Smoothie is pretty regular in the rotation.
Aside from the fact that it’s a lovely shade of bright pink, it’s also got a lively tangy berry flavour that wakes up my sleepy tastebuds, and just enough natural sweetness not to need any added sweeteners (though you can definitely add a squirt of honey or agave if you prefer your smoothies a little less tangy).
Feeling inspired yet? If you are, the wonderful folks at Almond Breeze have supplied me with three (yes, THREE) smoothie kits to give away. Just scroll down to the bottom of the post for more details.
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Disclosure: While I wasn’t compensated for this post, the lovely folks at Almond Breeze did provide three (yes, THREE) smoothie gift baskets to give away to my readers. All opinions shared are 100% my own.
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- 1 cup frozen sliced strawberries
- ½ cup frozen raspberries
- ½ cup frozen mango chunks
- ½ medium banana, sliced
- ½ cup Almond Breeze unsweetened almond milk (vanilla or plain)
- 2 tbsp cranberry juice
- ¼ cup non-fat vanilla Greek yogurt
- 1 tbsp honey (optional)
- Combine all of the ingredients in the order listed in a high-speed blender, and process until smooth. Serve immediately.
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Giveaway Details:
The Prize:
Three lucky readers will win an Almond Breeze smoothie kit, including a single-serve smoothie blender, and Almond Breeze products including coupons for refrigerated Almond Breeze almond milk.
How to Enter:
Leave a comment sharing your favourite smoothie creation, then sign into the handy-dandy Rafflecopter widget below to complete your entry and get more info on bonus entry options.
Eligibility and Deadlines:
This contest is open to Canadian readers only (apologies, my US and overseas friends). Entries will be accepted until midnight February 20th, at which time a winner will be randomly selected from all eligible entries received before the deadline.
Favourite smoothie combo: Frozen garden Kale, frozen raspberries, banana, orange juice concentrate, and water!
Banana Smoothies with Greek yogurt Bananas and Cocoa Powder
I can’t get enough bananas and mangos with just a touch a kiwi!
Blueberries, Raspberries and Banana Smoothie would be my choice! Yum
My latest smoothie obsession is with almond milk, frozen mashed sweet potatoes, pineapple, mango and a raw carrot. Yum!
i love strawberry and lime in my smoothie And a bit of vanilla paste
I love my smoothie with pineapple, coconut, greek vanilla yogurt and then I thrown in some protein powder and flax – pina colada smoothie! :)
I love any smoothie with mangoes!
I love a smoothie with Almond Breeze, chocolate whey protein powder and frozen strawberries. Reminds me of neopolitan ice cream!
My favourite smoothie has to be Mango Orange!
Mango smoothies for the win please :) Yummmmm!!!!
I make smoothie with vanilla soya milk, mango, papaya and honey! It’s yummy in taste and refreshes you ☺
My favourite smoothie includes goat milk, frozen peaches, strawberries, pineapple, a pinch of cinnamon, a handful of baby spinach and a scoop of vanilla protein powder. Yum!
Chocolate avocado is my favorite!
Love strawberry banana smoothies (& so does our one year old!). This prize pack would make mornings easier! Thanks for a great giveaway! :)
I actually like Kale smoothies mixed with a bunch of fruits in the summer
I love decadent smoothies that are so thick you need a spoon! Banana and dates make such a tasty one!!
BLUEBERRIES AND APPLE AND PINEAPPLE
I love mango and spinach smoothies!!
Crap…just realized this is not open to US residents! So sorry–dismiss my entries–ugh!!
My favourite smoothie creation has always been yogurt, strawberries, a banana and mango!
I love bananas, strawberries and yogurt!
Strawberry banana with yogurt is my favourite!!
Mine usually contain spinach and mangoes with Greek yogurt and flax. It’s not a pretty colour, but it’s a great way to start the day!
Any smoothie with raspberry, mango and yogurt
I love banana smoothies (Greek yogurt, some nut butter, coconut water) with some spinach for added nutrition!