Funky Monkey Smoothie

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I always try to make myself a healthy and satisfying breakfast in the morning, including healthy carbs, protein, fruits, and vegetables. I’ve found that starting the day with a healthy meal is important to maintain weight, stay active throughout the day, and make healthier food choices throughout the day.

And while I can usually make availability in my schedule to have time to make and eat this type of breakfast, there definitely seem to be some days where this is not possible. This was particularly true pre-COVID when I was frequently traveling for work. My morning to-do list had so much packed in with packing for the day of travel ahead, as well as making the time to take my dog on a walk before I dropped him off at doggy daycare.

On these types of mornings, I found that having a healthy breakfast ready to grab and go helped me avoid picking up a more unhealthy item while on the road. I don’t know about you, but when I’m traveling, I find it harder to make and find healthy choices. I would usually end up with some sort of pastry item or a highly caloric breakfast sandwich. These choices are definitely okay for the occasional trip, but with as much as I was traveling, these would not be the healthiest choices to have multiple times per week.

This is where I’ve found it to be a great idea to make a smoothie the night before so I can just grab it before I leave the house. A smoothie tends to be quick to whip up, and then I leave it in the freezer overnight for a healthy grab and go breakfast in the morning.

One of my favorite smoothies that I make, I have named the Funky Monkey smoothie. The ingredient list is short and is made of ingredients that almost everyone has around the house: banana, cold coffee, peanut butter, chocolate protein powder, milk, and ice. Simple, delicious, and contains several nutrients great to help you start your day.

Since the recipe itself is simple, you can add ingredients to amp up the nutrition or give it a slightly different flavor. I found frozen berries mix in great and add a nice flavor to the smoothie. Spinach is also another great add in to get some greens in early in the day.

When it comes to what milk to use in the smoothie – I’ve tried multiple and found that they all work equally well. We keep dairy milk around the house, so that is what I typically use when making the smoothie. If you use almond milk or soy milk, my suggestion would be to use an unsweetened version as the bananas and protein powder are already sweet.

If you are caffeine sensitive or like me – currently pregnant – the cold coffee can be left out as well. I would replace the liquid in the smoothie then with either additional milk or water.

The prep could not be simpler. Add all ingredients to a blender and blend to your desired consistency. I tend to like a thicker smoothie, so I add additional ice to make it thicker.