HANDS-ON: 5 MIN. // TOTAL: 5 MIN. // SERVES 2
Choosing a ripe banana adds just the right amount of sweetness; opting for frozen cherries makes the smoothie thick and icy. My kids love this for breakfast or a snack, and I love it sprinkled with a touch of dark chocolate shavings for a more decadent treat.
1 small ripe banana
11/2 cups frozen pitted dark sweet cherries
1/2 cup plain 2% Greek yogurt or drained soft tofu
1/3 cup 2% milk or unsweetened nondairy milk
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons ground flaxseed
2 teaspoons honey, or 1/2 teaspoon liquid stevia
Place the banana, cherries, yogurt, milk, lemon juice, flaxseed, and honey in a blender; blend until smooth, about 30 seconds. Serve immediately.
(SERVING SIZE: 1 CUP): CALORIES 207; FAT 3G (SAT 1G, UNSAT 1G); PROTEIN 6G; CARB 41G; FIBER 4G; SUGARS 32G (ADDED SUGARS 6G); SODIUM 63MG; CALC 17% DV; POTASSIUM 13% DV
cherries
Both sweet and tart varieties lower inflammatory blood proteins, and cherries may even offer pain relief comparable to ibuprofen. When cherries aren’t in season, try tart cherry juice in smoothies and salad dressings.