During the week I am up at 5:00 and out the door by 7:00. I have a lot to get accomplished before I leave and if it weren’t for my husband and fixing me a smoothie every day, I wouldn’t get breakfast. Our routine for the past 4 years is to drink a Mango Smoothie each morning. I will occasionally have something else, but this is quick, easy, and good for you. The other thing is that my husband will make it for me and I love that I don’t have to think about fixing breakfast. It has everything you need to get your day off to a great start and tastes yummy, even for a picky eater like me! You will notice that it has avocado, but believe me, you can’t taste it and it is extremely good for you. 🙂 Just make sure the avocado is ripe as it will taste a bit “green” if you use one that isn’t ripe. My in-laws live out-of-state and always comment before coming to visit that they are looking  forward to having a smoothie for breakfast. Here in Ohio the winter is the best time to try the recipe since mangoes and avocados are in season in many tropical climates where they are grown and the price of the fruit is lower than other times of the year.

I think it is important for us to take care of bodies so we can have the energy to the best we can for our families. I will stick a few recipes in from time to time as I am currently researching superfood smoothies to use occasionally as a meal replacement.I gotta keep those extra pounds at bay!

Mango Surprise Smoothie (from Flat Belly Diet Cookbook)

1 serving 268 calories

1/4 cup mango cubes

1/4 cup mashed ripe avocado

1/2 cup mango juice (You can use apple or pineapple juice instead)

1/4 cup fat-free vanilla yogurt (We have gone to kefir as a healthier alternative.)

1 tbsp freshly squeezed lime juice (We use bottled lime juice when limes are expensive.)

1 tbsp. sweetener (honey, blue agave nectar, stevia, coconut palm sugar)

10 ice cubes

Combine the mango, avocado, mango juice, yogurt, lime juice, sweetener, and ice cubes in a blender. Process until smooth. Pour into a tall glass. Enjoy!