Banana Cream Pie Breakfast Smoothie

Smoothies are one of my go-to, fast healthy breakfasts. You can put so much good healthy extras in there like spinach, quick oats, nuts, or ground flax seed meal (with its heart-healthy omega 3s). I went with ground flax seed meal today to emulate a graham cracker crust flavor.  I was inspired by both the two too-ripe bananas on my counter and the AMAZING Banana cream pie I had at Emerils restaurant this week! (It is necessary to splurge sometimes!) With smoothies, I like to make several servings and keep in the fridge in individual plastic cups, making for a quick breakfast on the go!

Banana Cream Pie Smoothie (350 calories, 6g fat, 25g protein)

2 servings

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups nonfat Greek yogurt 

1 cup skim milk

2 bananas

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 tablespoon honey

4 tablespoons ground flax seed meal 

5-10 ice cubes (use fewer or none if you plan to refrigerate them, the ice will melt and make the smoothie thinner)

Put ingredients in blender and blend till smooth. Done! (To lighten the calories, make 3 servings rather than two-230 calories each).

Summertime Salads: Asian Beef Salad with Cucumbers and Peanuts

Asian Beef Salad with Cucumbers and Peanuts

Back on my salad kick--I feel so much healthier eating salads every day for lunch. It's nice and light, low carbs, you get your greens in and your lean protein. This is one of my favorite salads. Let's face it, you have to keep it interesting and flavorful to be excited about a salad for lunch. I always try to make all my lunches on Sunday and bring it in to work so I'm prepared for the week with healthy meals.

Serves 3

Ingredients:

1 lb London broil (top round) beef

1 container baby spinach

Roasted and salted peanuts

2 cucumbers, sliced

1/4 cup chopped cilantro

1 shallot, sliced

3 green onions, sliced (only green part)

1 lime, juiced

2 tablespoons soy sauce

1 teaspoon sugar

Hot sauce to taste

Salt and pepper the London broil, both sides. Broil on high, both sides until medium rare, about 3-5 min per side depending on thickness. Let rest for a few minutes. 

Mix last 4 ingredients, then mix with cucumbers, cilantro, shallot and green onions. Slice London broil against the grain into thin slices. Chill if desired.

Assemble:

Pile the spinach onto a plate, top with cucumber mixture, beef, and garnish with peanuts.

About 300 calories.