This fruity protein-rich smoothie is packed with ingredients that fight inflammation.\u00a0It\u2019s filled with mangoes, passion fruit, dates and leafy greens and protein-rich yogurt.Plus, it takes just 5 minutes to prep and is easy to take on the go.<\/p>\n
As someone who doesn\u2019t always have a big appetite in the morning, I find that a drinkable option is much easier to stomach. That\u2019s why I love smoothies. They\u2019re the perfect way for me to start my day with a well-rounded meal that doesn\u2019t require chewing. Even in the dead of the Western New York winter, you can still find me sipping on a smoothie for breakfast.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
I know that lots of people who don\u2019t have an a.m. appetite often end up skipping breakfast. But studies show that doesn\u2019t bode well for long-term health. Skipping breakfast is linked with all kinds of health issues like diabetes, heart disease, weak bones, inflammation and poor gut health\u2014things I\u2019d like to avoid if I can. Inflammation also happens to be a trigger for many of these diseases, especially diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. So, an anti-inflammatory breakfast may do double duty when it comes to staving off chronic disease.\n<\/p>\n
Breakfast is also an opportunity to give my body energy to kick off my day. Even without much of an appetite, I find that when I don\u2019t eat something in the morning, my mood and energy suffer. I always make sure that protein is part of my breakfast because without protein, I probably won\u2019t be satisfied for very long. Plus, some studies suggest that a high-protein breakfast<\/a> helps increase muscle mass\u2014another reason to add it to my morning.\n<\/p>\n This Anti-Inflammatory Breakfast Smoothie<\/a> is one of my favorite high-protein breakfasts for keeping inflammation at bay. As a registered dietitian, I\u2019ve had clients do a happy dance when I recommend smoothies like this one. Who knows, maybe you\u2019re doing one right now? Some people forget that smoothies can be a healthy breakfast option. But the truth is, they\u2019re an easy vehicle for boosting your nutrient intake<\/a>.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n So, if you\u2019re out of breakfast ideas or you frequently rush out the door without a bite to eat, one of my first suggestions is a smoothie! This one takes just 5 minutes to whip up. Seriously, prepping a nutrient-dense meal doesn\u2019t get much easier. All you have to do is blend kale, frozen mango and passion fruit, yogurt, water, dates and some cilantro (if you like it), and voila, you have a portable, protein-packed, anti-inflammatory breakfast<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n Each serving boasts 17 grams of high-quality protein<\/a> thanks to plain, unsweetened yogurt. That\u2019s right\u2014no protein powders necessary. I find that yogurt helps me achieve the creamy texture I love in a smoothie much more than protein powder does. Plus, people who eat yogurt tend to have lower levels of inflammatory markers. Researchers believe this is because of yogurt\u2019s probiotics<\/a>. These beneficial live bacteria do great things for the gut microbiome, which has a domino effect on other aspects of health, including reducing inflammation.\n<\/p>\n Other ingredients also get in on the anti-inflammatory action\u2013like fruit, which is central to any anti-inflammatory eating plan<\/a>. Mango and passion fruit add a tropical twist, while the natural sugars from dates<\/a> provide just the right amount of sweetness. That tart, sweet, tropical combo makes my taste buds jump for joy. It takes me back to childhood trips to the Dominican Republic\u2014my grandparents\u2019 home country\u2014where passion fruit and mango were breakfast staples. Although it\u2019s hard to find fresh passion fruit where I live, I can sometimes find frozen slabs of passion fruit pulp in my local grocery store. I use it to make this smoothie since it\u2019s harder for me to find frozen passion fruit cubes. I just double check to make sure it\u2019s free of added sugars since the smoothie already has plenty of natural sugars from the other fruit, especially the dates. While this recipe calls for 3 dates to make 2 servings, I sometimes forgo the dates or use 1 or 2, instead of all 3, since I tend to love tart foods.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n Veggies are also key for reducing inflammation, especially antioxidant-heavy leafy greens<\/a>. And if you don\u2019t like greens, a smoothie is an ideal way to sneak them into your day. With all the flavorful fruits in this smoothie, I can\u2019t even taste the greens. This recipe calls for kale, but I often use frozen spinach instead since it\u2019s always in my freezer. Either way, I\u2019m getting plenty of dark, leafy greens that are full of inflammation-taming antioxidants<\/a>. I make sure to keep these ingredients in my freezer so I can whip up this smoothie whenever I want.\n<\/p>\n It\u2019s wintertime as I write this. I\u2019m looking outside at the snow-covered ground and gray skies while waxing poetic about a tropical smoothie. Some may say it\u2019s not the season for this cold, refreshing beverage. But I say, what better way to channel warmer weather? Wrap yourself up under a warm blanket and join me, won\u2019t you?\n<\/p>\n