I found myself struggling to find an adjective that would best describe this particular smoothie… There weren’t a shortage of them, no- that wasn’t the problem. In fact, I had an overload of words that came to my mind. Indulgent, Heavenly, Delightful Creamy, Perfect, Decadent… I ended up settling for the first word that came to the forefront of my mind: Indulgent. Yes, this was like drinking dessert.

This smoothie is not only amazing to start your day with, but it could also help you when it comes to curbing late afternoon sweet cravings or serve as a healthy post-dinner dessert. The best thing about snacking and/or starting the day with smoothies, is how quickly you can assemble them. And yes, like with any other food, there are learning curves. The more smoothies you make, the quicker you will be at making them. You will start coming up with your own concoctions and you will soon have measurements implanted in your head, which can only come in handy when you need to make a quick breakfast and drink it.

The superstars of this smoothie are goji berries. They have traditionally been used in ancient Traditional Chinese Medicine for centuries. In fact; theres been a debate as to whether they are fruits, herbs, or both. They boast a health acumen that is nothing short of miraculous. I like them because they’re loaded with beta-carotene, fibre and antioxidants. I strongly encourage you to read up more on these tiny vibrant. berries. I find that if you soak them in water overnight, they’re easily dissolvable into your smoothie. They have a rather dense and chewy texture (similar to dates), tasting sweet at first but then there’s a hint of herbs towards the end. They are easily accessible, with most grocery stores carrying them. In Toronto- I purchase them at any health food store or larger retailers like Whole Foods and/or The Big Carrot.

Makes 1 Glass- for this smoothie you will need:

• 1 ripe frozen banana cut into slices
• 2 ripe kiwis sliced
• 1 cup of ripe frozen strawberries. I like frozen fruit because it adds nice texture to your drink.
• 1 handful of goji berries, pre-soaked so they dissolve easily
• 1 cup of almond/coconut or cashew milk *carrageenan free
• 1 tablespoon of raw almond butter OR coconut butter

Blend on high until your desired consistency is achieved. I usually blend for at least 20 seconds. Enjoy it!!

Optional:

If you like to add a bit more sweetness…

• 1 tablespoon of raw honey or blue agave syrup will do!
• You could also add 1 tablespoon of hemp hearts for added protein

*Carrageenan has been linked to cancer by some preliminary studies. I always ensure my non-dairy milk choice is carrageenan free as a precautionary measure.