A nutritious green pear smoothie recipe for breakfast

Being stuck in the dead of winter doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a dose of fresh fruits and veggies. And what better way is there to do it than with a delicious smoothie?

Smoothies are refreshing and energizing first thing in the morning – or any other time of day, for that matter – and should be packed full of raw organic fruits, vegetables, and superfoods!

Drinking a smoothie is the easiest way to absorb a whole bunch of nutrients all at once. They are full of fibre and vitamins and, depending on what you put into it, you can also get your daily dose of protein, antioxidants, and healthy fats.

So, why not drink your next meal? A smoothie can fill you up and give your body the nutrition and vitality it requires to thrive.

Here are five reasons why you should make more smoothies.

Smoothies are:

1. Time savers Smoothies take all of five to 10 minutes to make (depending on how prepared you are), can be taken on the go, and will last all day in a stainless steel bottle.

2. Easy to absorb Liquids are easier to digest and allow nutrients to absorb into your cells for immediate uptake.

3. All-in-one You can get a whole lot of goodness into one blender – nutrients, protein, carbohydrates, and fat. Also be sure to add a handful of greens into your daily blend – it's the easiest way to eat a veggie.

4. Super fun Enjoy the process by getting creative with colourful ingredients and textures. For example, try adding granola and eat it with a spoon!

5. Liquid energy Use superfoods to give you a boost (no, not Booster juice!). Make your own blend and enjoy in the morning, afternoon, or before or after a workout.

Here are five simple steps for making the perfect smoothie everyday, as well as a recipe to get you started. This can be made in any blender, but a Vitamix or BlendTec is highly recommended.

1. Start with two cups of liquid – water, rice milk, almond milk, hemp milk, coconut water, or milk 2. Choose your protein (2 tbsp or more) – raw brown rice protein (I like Sun Warrior), hemp protein, hemp hearts, or almonds 3. Choose your fruit (1/2 to 1 cup of either) – blueberries, raspberries, banana, pear, pineapple, mango, avocado, or dates 4. Choose your green (one handful) – spinach, kale, chard, sprouts, cucumber, or 1 tsp greens powder, spirulina, or chlorella 5. Choose your superfoods – (1 tbsp of one or more) goji berries, cacao nibs, maca, mesquite, hemp seeds, raw honey, chia seeds, or matcha green tea

Try this green pear smoothie recipe (pictured above)

Ingredients 2 cups coconut milk 1 banana 2 ripe pears 1 tbsp lime juice 1 handful of spinach 1 tbsp raw honey ½ cup ice cubes

Directions Place all the ingredients into a high-powered blender and blend until smooth. Serves two lucky people.

Marni Wasserman is a culinary nutritionist in Toronto whose philosophy is stemmed around whole foods. She is dedicated to providing balanced lifestyle choices through natural foods. Using passion and experience, she strives to educate individuals on how everyday eating can be simple and delicious.