Vegan Eats – Peanut Butter Breakfast Smoothie

Ever since investing in a better blender, smoothies have well and truly become my breakfast of choice, particularly during the working week. Versatile, delicious and full of goodness, there are so many ways that smoothies can pack a nutritional punch, waking you up good and proper, and providing a solid (or liquid, as it happens) foundation for the rest of the day.

That being said, it’s best to make sure that the ingredients you put in your smoothie will actually give you that energy boost you need. Luckily I’ve been working with Vertese, who have been very helpful in advising me on how to keep my morning momentum going. Nutritionist Samantha gave me a list of breakfast ideas (including scrambled tofu, which makes for the perfect vegan full English!) and offered pointers on how to maintain blood sugar level balance and strive for sustained energy.

I knew a nutty, berry-filled smoothie would work best for me taste-wise, so when I stumbled upon this recipe for a peanut butter and jelly smoothie, I couldn’t wait to try it out. It doesn’t disappoint, and is bursting with nutritious ingredients to set you up for the day ahead.

I start by pouring about a cup full of non-dairy milk into the blender (by a cup full, I literally mean a teacup of liquid). Vertese recommend coconut milk as it is a good source of protein and fat, but I will generally use whichever non-dairy milk I have at the time, so sometimes oat, almond or soya milk. I’ll then add 1 banana, 2 tbsps of peanut butter, 2 handfuls of frozen blueberries, 1 tsp of vanilla essence and 4 pitted dates. I also throw in a heaped tsp of chia seeds for an extra shot of protein, as well as a tsp of maca powder for some added vitamins. After a quick blitz in the blender, you’ll be left with a delicious, naturally sweetened breakfast drink with that signature PB & J flavour.

This smoothie not only tastes great, but is high in vitamins and nutrients, too. The peanut butter is a source of protein, while the bananas, blueberries and dates provide a healthy dose of potassium. Vitamin B – to combat tiredness and low mood as well as to maintain your nervous system – can be derived from the maca powder and fibre from the blueberries. You can customise the smoothie by throwing in any other nuts, seeds and superfood powders you might like; you can never go too far wrong with smoothies in my opinion, so feel free to be adventurous!

Waking up to this smoothie every weekday has really helped to compound the good work that my supplements from Vertese have been doing. Since beginning my course of Ahiflower Oil, Mushroom D and Beetroot B12 and Iron Complex supplements at the beginning of the year, I have found myself with substantially more energy in the mornings. Whereas before I would be struggling to keep my eyes open on the tube, I now feel as though it’s the middle of the day, rather than first thing in the morning. Sensible bedtimes and relaxing evening routines have helped too; a combination of this, the supplements and my go-tobreakfast smoothie will, I’m sure, make for some wonderful mornings to come.