Easy PB&J Smoothie

Soooo you may have seen that we’ve had a crazy January so far… we started out the year in the hospital with my oldest, not fun but there’s nothing like a weeklong hospital stay to make you count your blessings. My word of the year is now “healthy” – physically, mentally, emotionally, as a family. 

One of the easiest ways to get my kids (and my pregnant self, let’s be real) to eat nutritious food – and theoretically, to stay healthy – is to throw a bunch of the good stuff into a smoothie. One of my pregnancy cravings with all three kids has been peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, so I decided to combine the goodness that is a PB&J with super healthy smoothie ingredients to make an easy PB&J smoothie. Tastes like a treat but seriously superfood packed. 

After being away from home for a week, we needed *everything* so we hit my happy place, aka Target, for all the essentials. Reason #367 I love Target – the carts with side by side seating + full cart space. PRO TARGET TIP – get 1 popcorn and as many small, empty cups as you have kids and fill each cup with popcorn. Give them to your kids to keep them quiet and happy the entire trip, no more battles over who gets to hold the bag (and then spill/rip/drop the bag) again. Grab one of the cupholders from the cafe while you’re at it and never have an epic spill in the wine aisle again ;). Of course, my little guy was happier running the store so the PB&J got a VIP seat: 

Both Jif and Smucker’s are 5% off through 1/21/17 via the Cartwheel app – if you haven’t downloaded it, DO IT NOW!

Even if you don’t “clip coupons” with Cartwheel, there’s now a rewards program attached so you get points on every purchase you make. 

Jif and Smucker’s make this smoothie taste like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich but the add ins make it healthy:

How to Make a Super Easy PB&J Smoothie: 

1. Gather your ingredients + a blender  
   1. I love to use frozen berries because it’s easier (and cheaper) to keep them on-hand in the freezer without worrying about them spoiling. Plus, when they’re frozen, no need to add ice to your smoothie. If you use fresh berries, add a little crushed ice. This time I used strawberries and blueberries but raspberries and blackberries are also fab. 
   2. Aside from the fruit base, the add ins also pack the nutrition into the PB&J smoothie. I always toss in a handful of spinach (potassium + vitamin A + iron + vitamin C), a spoonful of ground flaxseed (fiber + omega 3s), and I use kefir (a protein/probiotic-packed yogurt/milk combo) as the main liquid in the smoothie. You can use milk and yogurt as well, but kefir is my go-to liquid for any smoothie.   
   3. A banana adds potassium and sweetness – toss in a really ripe one for a sweeter taste. 
   4. The peanut butter and jelly are what make this smoothie taste just like a PB&J sandwich… add a spoonful of creamy peanut butter and a squeeze/spoonful of jelly for added sweetness.   
2. Toss it all in, blend it up. I add a bit of milk if it’s too thick to blend. 
3. Garnish with a banana, some peanut butter, or berries and enjoy! Tastes JUST like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich but with more healthy stuff, like protein, antioxidants and probiotics. Total #momwin 

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What’s your favorite secret smoothie ingredient?