Strawberry Banana Chia Smoothie is a fruit smoothie recipe with health benefits! A great way to start the day or as a healthy snack any time. Chia seeds help give this fruity smoothie a nutritional boost. 

You know, those little, tiny seeds that you probably see in a lot of people’s smoothie and oatmeal recipes. Yes, some people consider those little seeds a superfood. 

Now when I say superfood I know there are mixed feelings on what is actually a superfood, but for the purposes of this series I am focusing on foods that offer a nutritional punch.  

So far, I have shared a round-up of 13 Must Try Salmon Recipes, 21 Ways to Use Kale and Tandoori Grilled Chicken– each of these recipes or round-ups containing superfoods.

Thousands of years ago, chia seed was a staple in the diets of ancient Aztecs and Mayans.

Chia seeds help boost fiber, protein, calcium, antioxidants, and omega-3s in your diet.  Chia seed contains a wealth of fiber—5 grams in just one tablespoon. 

Did you know that the antioxidant activity of chia seeds is higher than any whole food, even blueberries?

The nice thing is that chia seeds don’t have a subtle nutty flavor that is very mild, so adding them into things like smoothies, oatmeal and your baked goods is easy, and doesn’t change the taste of the foods you love.

If you aren’t sure how to even start using chia seeds here are a few easy recipes that you can throw them into:

Coconut Cranberry Chia Seed Granola {homemade granola is the best}

Peanut Butter Coconut Oatmeal Bites {these are one of our favorite snacks in my house}

Coconut Carrot Smoothie {if you want to sneak some vegetables in your families diet this is the smoothie for you}

Overnight Chia Seed Pudding {make a chia seed pudding, it is filling and a nice breakfast}

Coconut Chia Seed Granola {this is another granola recipe I have used and love with chia seeds in it}

OTHER OPTIONS TO ADD TO SMOOTHIES:

HEMP SEEDS: Do you use hemp seeds? They are great in smoothies and they are packed with so much power. 1 Tablespoon of those small seeds is 5 grams of protein.

That will help keep you feeling full and give you the energy you need. I suggest adding it to your smoothies if you have it on hand!

NUT BUTTER: Nut butters are another great way to add protein and help the texture of the smoothie.

I find if my smoothie is too thin that adding a few Tablespoons or almond of peanut butter will help thicken it. 

SPIRULINA: Spirulina is an organism that grows in both fresh and salt water. One Tablespoon of spirulina  of dried spirulina powder contains protein, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B3, copper and iron.

This is another powerhouse ingredient you can add.

OATS: You might be thinking – oats? And yes, they are a great addition to smoothies. They will thicken it some but I actually like it. You can dump rolled oats straight into the blender. They help keep you full and give you energy thanks to the fiber!

PROTEIN POWDER: If you are looking to up your protein in-take, for example after workouts, try protein powder. There are a lot of varieties in the stores now and some are even flavored. 

CAN I MEAL PREP SMOOTHIES?

Yes! It is such a lifesaver to have everything portioned out ahead of time.

I will use mason jars or ziplock bags to store the ingredients in.

Portion the blueberries, banana and kale in the bags or mason jars and freeze individually.

When you are ready to make the smoothie pull the bag out and add it to the blender.

Then add the milk, Greek yogurt, honey and any additional add-in ingredients.

Blend that beauty up and Wallah!

You have a healthy breakfast or snack!