I Make Daily Smoothies For My Family and the Reason(s) May Surprise You

I started making daily smoothies last summer and never looked back. As you will soon see, my motivation for making them transcends taste & nutritional value.

My intentions were originally to create cold & refreshing summer drinks to fuel outdoor play, but, as the leaves began to fall and my family's enjoyment remained, I knew this was becoming more than a seasonal snack.

As a nutritionist-mama, I know that smoothies are a strategic way to improve health in a fun, tasty & easy way. For busy families, this is a huge opportunity.

Every cup, every recipe is a fresh start and a chance to try something new.

Here are the reasons I make smoothies (almost) every day of the year:

It’s fun & creative

Smoothie building is a particularly enjoyable time for me in the kitchen. I get to experiment, try new things and play around with colourful foods! I invite my kids to participate on weekends and they love to choose the "colour of the day" and to select the ingredients. Yes, smoothies can be delicious & beneficial, but the process of making them can be almost therapeutic.

It brings us together

Making this beverage, this snack, slows us down and unites us as a family. Sometimes we drink it at different times but we always discuss it after-the-fact. Our daily drink sparks conversation, piques curiosity and puts us on the same page (even just for a minute) no matter what else is happening.

For a busy family like mine, smoothie time has become truly cherished.

It’s a great way to learn about food & to appreciate nature

Making smoothies has become a great way to teach my kids about the function & benefits of food. They don’t taste the vegetables or protein sources but I tell them about all the ingredients and why I've included each one. I like to think that this is increasing their awareness of food and will encourage them to make empowered choices when they’re older.

This hands-on experience has also helped me to gain a deeper understanding of food, both from the perspective of a nutritionist & just a curious human being. Nature is amazing and I'm reminded of this every day as I work with exquisite, vibrant produce.

It supports intuitive eating habits

Listening to your body and eating what works for you is one of the healthiest choices you can make for yourself.

Experimentation with food is the only way to figure out what works for you and what doesn't. We all have unique preferences and I strongly believe that realizing these truths & respecting them helps to make us healthier versions of ourselves.

When it comes to making smoothies, there are a million combinations out there just waiting to be enjoyed - I like to think there is something for everyone if you're open to the process.

It has short & long-term benefits

There is no doubt that smoothies can be filled with lots of good stuff, especially if you put some thought into your recipes.

I work very hard to create balanced concoctions that include fruit, veg, fibre & plant-based protein.

The careful process of building balanced smoothies provides powerful nutrients to fuel our present day & to strengthen our future.

It's an easy way to eat a wider variety of foods

Smoothies are a great way to fill nutrient gaps, but also to expose us (especially little people) to a wider array of beneficial nutrients. Not every fruit & veggie offers the same benefits so it’s good to mix them up to ensure we get a variety of helpful antioxidants, vitamins & minerals in our diet.

In my opinion, smoothies are a short-cut for busy people to eat more of the nutrients that their body craves in order to be healthy.

Smoothies - More to Come!

I love smoothies and I'm sure that is abundantly clear to those around me.

A smoothie is a healthy beverage but it's also a huge opportunity for exploration, growth & increased joy in our busy lives.

I've got plenty more to share on the topic of smoothies, so stay tuned.

In the mean time, I invite you to explore the tips & recipes on my smoothie page for inspiration.

Ciara Morin, R.H.N