If you’re feeling a bit delicate and need to kickstart not just your morning, but 2016 in general then you need to be whizzing up this banana, date and espresso smoothie and start thinking about your New Year’s Resolutions.
I’m very happy to be pressing the re-set button on life after a very challenging year not just in our household, but for a lot of my friends too. So I wanted to create an energy-giving smoothie to banish the negative and fanfare the start of a more positive era. I’m not normally one for making resolutions, but given it’s a new chapter it feels right this year.
So what’s on the list?
- The boys and I are going to join Matthew and go vegetarian for the month of January. This will make cooking easier as we’ll all be eating the same thing. I hope to experiment more with veggie food and create some real family favourites that shake up our weekly meal plans. After the indulgences of Christmas I want to try and get as much fruit and veg into our diets as possible.
- Rather than have a dry month, Matthew and I are going to endeavour to only drink alcohol at weekends. It feels like a more balanced approach.
- I need more exercise than simply walking the dogs, so i’ve downloaded the couch to 5k app to get my fitness levels back up to scratch. Once i’ve completed this I hope to up my exercising game and join in with the weekly parkrun 5ks on the seafront here. They also have a kids one so i’d like to get the boys involved too.
- Have faith in myself and my abilities. I want to have a great year creating my own work and dancing to my own tune.
- Learn to play the drums! We had a family lesson in December at the Yamaha Music School to get Arlo ready for having lessons of his own, but he wasn’t the only one who was loving it – I had the biggest grin on my face throughout! You’ve got to hold on to things that make you feel that good, so i’m going to save up so I can have drum lessons too.
What are YOUR thoughts for 2016? While you’re thinking about it, here’s the recipe for that delicious smoothie…
Happy New Year Smoothie
serves 1
Ingredients
1 banana
3 dates, stones removed
300ml milk
1 shot espresso
Method
Put all of the ingredients into a blender and blitz until smooth and frothy. Serve immediately.
Blender love
If you’re on the lookout for a decedent blender, I can whole-heartedly recommend my Optimum Froothie which always does such an incredible job of blitzing things to a perfectly smooth consistency. If you’re trying to clean up your diet this month, like so many of us, then this is definitely the right tool for the job!
Happy New Year everyone – thanks for supporting my blog and here’s to a bright, healthy and happy 2016 all round! xxx
As this recipe is cheap to make and uses up leftover fruit from the holiday season, I’m entering into Credit Crunch Munch hosted this month by Camilla over at Fab Food 4 All, supported by Helen at Fuss Free Flavours.
Disclosure: I am an ambassador for Optimum Froothie and have included affiliate links in this blog post. If anyone decided to purchase one of these blenders after reading my post and clicks on the link I will receive a small percentage of the sales.
A smoothie with espresso certainly gets my vote. 2015 was a trying year for so many people I know but hopefully 2016 will be a cracker for everyone, in a good way! I’m loving your resolution list, nicely balanced and lots of fun things too.
Thanks Sian… 2015 is behind us all now thank god! Here’s to a year with more fun in it… and more coffee!!!!
Delicious sounding smoothie! And good luck with the resolutions. I’m trying to eat more fruit and vegetables
Thanks Corina – yes me too, trying to eat as much natural food as possible and avoid lots of processed nonsense.
Oooh coffee in a smoothie – I’ve never tried that! Happy new year 🙂
Happy New Year to you too Emily!
I’m doing a 30 day smoothie challenge plus going vegetarian for the month of January too so this recipe is timely. Happy New Year.
Wow – that’s a lot of smoothies! Good luck!
I love you resolution of learning how to play the drums! Good luck with the month ahead x
Thanks Sam!
This smoothie sounds amazing. Just what I need to get be going in the morning. It’s been a struggling getting back into our usual routine after the Christmas break but this might just do it!
The smoothie sounds delicious, but I love your positive plans for the year. I’m struggling with Dry January, so I’m going to adopt your more balanced approach – one drinking day allowed a week. I think I’m more likely to stick it out that way. I’ve also just downloaded the Couch 2 5 app, but I haven’t yet put on the trainers. I NEVER run, so, to be honest, I”m a bit scared! Good luck with going veggie 🙂
Happy New Year Katie! Lovely to pop into your refreshed blog. I have tons of leftover Christmas dates to use up – time to get blending!
Ooh love this flavour combination, reminds me a bit of sticky toffee pudding but with coffee:-) Thank you for a great #CreditCrunchMunch entry:-)
Ooh I am loving the sound of this with the shot of espresso!
I love the espresso in this Katie. Perfect for a wake up the morning after the night before.
We are cutting down on alcohol, wine twice a week and no spirits for Jan. We are not going veggie, but I am not buying any animal products for the month, and we are eating through the freezer.
Sounds like a good balanced approach Helen!