Dairy-Free Cherry Berry Vanilla Smoothie

The cherry trees have come and gone, but that does not mean the inspiration from these tree have passed. Cherry blossom season is my favorite time of year. An early spring tree signifies that life is in bloom. I am posting this blog late, but nevertheless, it's an easy recipe that will be of much use once cherry season arrives in a few weeks. 

I decided to use frozen dark cherries so that the smoothie matches the deep red leaves. 

As a health coach, the smoothie industry has adulterated the image of smoothies. Massive, twenty-four ounce smoothies, touched by your favorite "fat-blasting" tablet, sell faster than hotcakes. 

Today people replace meals with smoothies. I am going to write a separate blog about the anatomy of a smoothie, but many people do not realize that anything chopped, blended, pureed or liquified from its whole food state, is easier to digest. The food is already pre-digested so that the digestive system doesn't have to work as hard. 

When people gulp down super-sized smoothies, they may feel hungry in an hour. It's because there is no bulk that forces the digestive tract to "work" harder. 

Any smoothie I make on Mind Body Soul Food serves either one or two people. When gulping down a giant smoothie, you have to ask yourself, "Can I eat all of this food in its whole food state in one sitting?"

​I do not think smoothies should replace meals. I find smoothies work best as a snack or for breakfast to satiate the body short term before consuming heavier foods. More on that later. For now, enjoy this sweet "treat," inspired by nature. 

Dairy-Free Cherry Berry Vanilla Smoothie
Prep Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:
1/2 cup almond milk 
1/2 banana
1/2 cup cherries
4 strawberries 
vanilla extract to taste

Directions: Place all the ingredients into a blender and mix until smooth. I recommend adding the vanilla 1/4 tsp. at a time until your desired flavor. 

Love smoothies? Check out other Mind Body Soul Food smoothie recipes
Vegan Tropical Peach Smoothie
Banana Spinach Smoothie

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