At this time of year, I am on-the-go all the time. You know, the proverbial…so much to do, so little time. As I’m rushing to get things done, the last thing I want to worry about is being hungry. There is not anything worse than being hungry and being tempted by all the smells coming from the food court while you are out shopping. One of my easiest defenses is a smoothie…I can make it really fast and it fills me up.
Cranberries are just around for a little while longer and while they are here I am enjoying them as much as I can. A great way to use up those little gems is in a smoothie…a Cranberry Apple Smoothie.
Hello, delicious and healthy. 😀 This smoothie is loaded with fiber! I use whole cranberries and unpeeled apple slices. One cup of whole cranberries provides four grams of fiber and one medium apple gives you 5 grams of fiber. Their fiber is in the form of pectin, a cholesterol-lowering soluble fiber. Along with fiber, this combination is loaded with antioxidants!
Smoothies are an excellent way to add cinnamon into your diet. Cinnamon not only adds flavor and fragrance, it has lots of health benefits. Cinnamon can slow the rate at which the stomach empties, which can reduce a rise in blood sugar levels. Cinnamon also has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. It can help lower your bad LDL cholesterol and increase the good HDL cholesterol. One of my favorite benefit is it can help stimulate brain function!
- 1 cup ice
- 1 medium apple (such as jazz, red delicious, gala), sliced
- 1 cup fresh cranberries, rinsed and picked through
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup 0% plain greek yogurt
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 packet stevia or to taste
- Add the ingredients into blender in the order listed.
- Blend until smooth.
- Enjoy!
I love this combination! It is slightly tart yet sweet from the cranberries and apples, and is made thick and creamy with greek yogurt. Best of all this Cranberry Apple Smoothie is refreshing and satisfying. Now, I’m ready to get shopping!
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