Okay, I’m going to admit something here and I do not want any of your judgement. I do not fuck with breakfast. Sure, breakfast for dinner is my favourite meal but actually eating breakfast in the morning? Who has the time?  However, as literally everybody who has ever been near me when I whisper the words ‘I don’t eat breakfast’ has screamed, breakfast is the most important meal of the day and you should eat it, even if that means waking up a little earlier than what’s reasonable to get down your gob.

I have one friend who is particularly passionate about breakfast. When we lived together she made me breakfast every dang day and I noticed the difference. I had WAY more energy, my metabolism was so much better (you know what I mean) and I wasn’t a hangry nuisance reaching for the office Nutella jar at 11am. Thus I became a breakfast convert. But I’m strict breakfast on-the-go kind of gal. If I can’t eat it one-handed while running for the bus, count me TF out.

Breakfast on-to-go is a tricky niche of food. Everyone associates with an Up & Go and yoghurt pouches, both which look and smell like baby vomit. Sorry, that’s not a nice image but it’s true. For that reason alone, there is one king and one king only of the breakfast-on.-the-go food group, smoothies. Not the annoying kind you eat with a spoon thus defeating the whole point. Whack it in a blender, pour it in bottle (or a mason jar if you’re a VSCO girl) and away you go.

Pumpkin Spice Smoothie

Mango is the best fruit to ever exist. Period. It goes in sweet dishes as well as it goes in savoury dishes which is why it’s the perfect base for this spiced smoothie.

• 1 ½ cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1 cup frozen mango, chopped
• 3/4 of a frozen banana,
• 1 Tsp. of equal parts ground cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves. TIP – make a large batch of this spice blend and put it in everything.
• 1 Tbs. honey or golden syrup

Smoothies so fast to make. Just pop all of this in your blender and whiz til smooth. Enjoy!

Chocolate For Breakfast Smoothie

I wasn’t joking when I was talking about reaching for the Nutella at 11am. I have a serious problem with chocolate. If I haven’t had anything chocolately or sweet by 3pm, I turn into a difference person. Craving is not enough to describe. So with this smoothie, I get my cocoa fix out of the way first thing in the morning.

All you need is:

• ¾ Cup of unsweetened almond milk
• 2 Tbs. natural peanut butter (PB powder works too)
• 1 banana
• 1 Tbs. oats
• 2 Tbs. cacao powder
• 1 Tbs. chocolate protein powder
• Ice
• 1 Tbs. LSA mix

Once again, it all goes in the blender til it’s nice and smoothie and voila. Reese Peanut Butter cups for breakfast.

PB&J

I have to apologise to the dear people at Barry’s Bootcamp because this is a direct riff of their PB&J smoothie. It’s the best thing I’ve ever tasted by the price point makes my wallet cry. This is my hack for getting the same smoothie without selling a vital organ.

• 2 Tsp. peanut butter powder (not spread, this is v. important)
• 1 cup of unsweetened almond milk
• 1 frozen banana
• 1 cup frozen mixed berries
• 1 Tbs. vanilla whey protein powder

Blend. Pour. Smile.

A Green Smoothie That Doesn’t Taste Like Plants

I’m a vegetarian which means everybody and their uncle is worried about my protein intake. It’s fine, thanks for asking. How’s your Vitamin C and Magnesium? But for real, if you need a protein boost in the morning and don’t want to rely on protein powder alone, you need to get a green smoothie in you. The problem is, most of them taste like blended grass. Freshly cut, but grass nonetheless. So, try this one instead.

• 1 cup of unsweetened almond milk
• 1/2 cup of frozen mango
• 1/2 granny smith apple, skin on, cubed
• 3/4 cup baby spinach leaves
• 5 cm length of cucumber, skin on
• 2 Tsp. chia seeds
• 1 Tsp. ground flax seed or chia seeds
• 1 Tsp. grated fresh ginger
• Juice of one small lemon
• Ice
• Passionfruit pulp to serve

Whiz all the ingredients together, leaving the passionfruit to one side. Once it’s the consistency you prefer, pour into a cup and top with the passionfruit pulp. Delish!

Morning Coffee Smoothie

If the thought of going without a morning coffee rocks you to your core, let me introduce you to the only smoothie you need. There’s coffee, there’s chocolate. It’s basically a good morning in a glass.

• 1 cup of unsweetened almond milk
• A good splash of cold brewed coffee (this really depends on your taste and your batch)
• 1 1/2 frozen banana
• 2 Tbs. chocolate whey protein
• 1 Tbs. cacao powder
• Cacao nibs to serve

Throw everything except the cacao nibs in the blender and blend til smooth. Pour it in your glass and sprinkle with the cacao nibs – it’s the crunchy surprise you didn’t know you needed.

Banana Caramel Smoothie

If you’ve ever tried a banoffee pie, this is it but in liquid form. It’s so delicious and such a lush way to start the day.

• 1 cup of unsweetened almond milk
• 1 banana
• 3 dates, pits removed and soaked for 5 minutes in hot water
• 1 Tbs. caramel whey powder (or vanilla if you don’t have caramel)
• 1 Tbs. honey

You’ve heard it before. Blend, pour, drink, repeat.

Superfood Smoothie

If you’re one of those crazy cats who doesn’t want a milky, creamy smoothie in the morning. Meet your match. This smoothie is packed with superfoods which will keep you full right til lunchtime.

• 1 cup of coconut water
• A sachet of frozen acai
• 1 frozen banana
• 1 Tbs. almond butter
• 2 Tsp. maca powder
• A pinch of cinnamon
• 1 Tsp. chia seeds
• 1 Tbs. vanilla whey protein

Blend, drink. Who would have guessed it?

All of these recipes use almond milk because frankly, it’s my favourite. Oat milk is another strong contender but of course you can use whatever milk you fancy.