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It's really important to eat breakfast, but not everyone is hungry enough (or has time) to sit down to a nice meal in the morning. On mornings that are particularly rushed or if I'm just not really in the mood to eat too much, I find that healthy smoothies are often the perfect breakfast for me. I love how it's so easy to pack them with tons of nutrients!

On days when I don't have one in the morning, I usually enjoy one as an afternoon snack before I work out.

I make my smoothies based on what I'm in the mood for and what I happen to have around. I keep bags of frozen fruit on hand at all times and I make sure my pantry is stocked with the other ingredients I need, such as coconut oil and raw chocolate powder. I use a Blendtec high speed blender that I've had for years and I highly recommend it. Vita-mix also makes an excellent high speed blender.

Here are some of my favorites to get you started- remember to use organic and local ingredients (and fair-trade bananas) whenever possible.

For more info about creating a great smoothie, please visit my healthy smoothie hints page.