I love smoothies because I can fuel my body in a matter of minutes so investing in a Vitamix Blender was money well spent! With the price of groceries, consuming 7 to 10 servings of fruits and vegetables each day might seem daunting but repurposing them into a smoothie can help to stretch the grocery budget.
Leftover fruits and veggies are perfect for smoothies!
- Mixed salad greens – we can’t seem to consume those lovely packages of pre-washed salad greens fast enough so when they start to turn a bit wilted I’ll throw them in the freezer for my next smoothie.
- Leftover fresh or cooked veggies – a weekly tidy up of the fridge & veggie drawer helps repurpose small quantities of carrots, celery, broccoli and sweet peppers that I can chop up for that day’s smoothie or pack for the freezer. Now that’s aiming to reach the 80/20 smoothie rule (80% vegetables and 20% fruit) to maximize nutrition while keeping sugars in check.
- Frozen fruit & veggies – small bags of peas, beans, or berries can easily be finished up in a smoothie.
- Bananas – the counter life of a banana is about 5-7 days depending on ripeness at time of purchase so when they become spotty & overripe I throw them in the freezer. Bananas thaw quickly and make for a creamy, healthy breakfast smoothie or I can mix into a batch of Raisin Bran Muffins to reduce or replace sugar.
Recently, I purchased a massive bag of limes from Costco at a great price while not quite thinking through how I was going to use them all before they turned. My husband sourced a great idea to make lime salt which is basically combining dried lime zest with salt. We sprinkled some on sliced avocado ~ Yum! Citrus is so versatile for sweet and savory recipes.
- Seasoning: Sprinkled on fresh fruit, vegetables, or salads for an added zing.
- Marinades/Brines: Use it to season meats or fish before grilling or roasting.
- Snacks: Great on popcorn!
The breakfast station is essential in every kitchen so if the heart of your household is overdue for a reset, contact me to schedule a free consultation ~ email niki@tickoffthelist.ca.