One of our favorite ways to start the morning is with a smoothie whether we are on the go or sitting at the kitchen table and enjoying the morning. I have compiled a list of the smoothies that have been on a rotation in our house for the past month, or so. Below you will find the ingredients and their health benefits as well as tips and tricks to make smoothie making a breeze.

I try to pack each one with a substantial amount of protein and lots and lots of superfoods! Also, I have learned to not be scared of healthy fats ... it helps the body assimilate all those super packed nutrients, boost cognitive function and support satiety (among so many other benefits). I hope you enjoy these smoothies as much as we do!

Before I get to the recipes, I wanted to share some of the ingredients that we always have on hand to whip up a smoothie in no time. I am also including some helpful tips as you find some of your own ingredients you'd like to keep on hand:

1. Frozen bananas: We always have a gallon bag of frozen bananas broken into ~3 inch chunks in the freezer. I usually put the date they were frozen; although I reuse the bag all the time and have realized that we go through the bananas well within the suggested time to keep frozen (6-9 months).

2. Frozen avocados: I love avocados but sometimes I buy the bag of five at the grocery store and they all ripen within the same day, so we are never able to eat before they turn. (I have a feeling we are not alone in this!) My solution, to freeze them for smoothies when we don't feel like bananas. I usually cut them in half and remove the pit and skin, so they can be easily popped in the blender. * Tip: You need to leave out while you prep the ingredients for your smoothie, so you can break the avocado half from it's friends .. they tend to freeze more than the banana ** Tip: Also, want to know how to tell if an avocado is going to be good? Remove the nub at the top of the avocado; if it is bright green, it is perfect ... if it is brown, move on!

3. Collagen Protein Powder / Peptides: I love collagen for a myriad of reasons: it boosts hair, skin and nail health, improves gastrointestinal health, may reduce joint inflammation, boosts muscle mass and metabolism and reduces bone loss. Our favorite brands are Primal Harvest and Vital Proteins.

4. Vegan Protein Powder: Right now, I have been hooked on Whole Earth & Sea products - my favorite being the fermented greens protein powder (Chocolate, of course) for smoothies. I have trouble absorbing nutrients, so I like to find products that have taken the time to research the correct proportions and variety of nutrients and minerals the body needs as well as in the correct forms the body can absorb the supplements, otherwise, why eat it? Not only do I get protein that I need, but I get nutrients and minerals to help with immunity, skin health, heart health and overall good body functioning.

5. Nut Milk: I enjoy making nut milks (stay tuned for a post on a recipe and a link to follow) but sometimes I don't always have the time, so I try to have at most, two types of nut milks in our fridge. My favorites: Califia and Silk .. When buying a nut milks, look out for the following ingredients .. Must or OK to Contain: filtered water, almonds or cashews, unsweetened, sunflower lecithin (thickner) Avoid: sugar, the gums as they alter your gut's microbiome (xantham gum, locust gum, etc.), soy lecithin, carrageenan (indigestible and considered a carcinogen)

6. Frozen Fruit: My favorites: ORGANIC wild blue berries (improves memory and slows aging), blackberries (more antioxidants than other fruits - can prevent cancer, memory loss and heart disease), cherries (contains melatonin to help insomnia), strawberries (packs more Vitamin C than an orange), mango (good for your eyes), raspberries (proven to fight type-2 diabetes and obesity) and aqai (full of antioxidants, good for heart health, skin and digestion)

7. Natural Sweeteners: Medjool Dates, Honey

8. Water: Want to cut the amount of frozen fruit or nut milk? Add filtered water to cut the milk or ice to keep it lighter and still smoothie-like!

And bonus ingredients: You do not need these ingredients to make a healthy and nutrient packed smoothie, but if you want to add extra boosters, here is what we usually have on hand. *Tip: Slowly add a tincture or powder that best supports what you need first and then add the others later .. our smoothie cabinet has grown overtime .. nothing was purchased all in one go. Take your time.

1. Supplement Powders / Tinctures: Cat's Claw, Adaptogen Complex, Anima Mundi Cerebrum Brain Tonic, Sun Potion Anandamide, Elderberry Crystals, Tocotrienols, Sun Potion Ashitaba, Anima Mundi Curam

2. Superfood Powders: Matcha, Maca, Maqui, Kelp, Dulsi, Barley Grass, Blue-Green Algae

Our Top 10 Favorite Smoothies Recipes

(right now, of course)

*Tip: To note before you whip up a smoothie. For all the smoothies below, the 1/2 cup liquid amount will yield about a 16 oz. smoothie and 1 cup will yield 24 oz. because I also top with a little water (~1/4 cup) to thin out our smoothies

Photo: No Greens in the Fridge Smoothie

Vegan Silky Chocolate Smoothie / Double Chocolate Smoothie:

Ingredients:

• 1/2 - 1 cup nut milk

• 1/2 avocado

• 2 tsp cacao powder

• 2 tsp coconut oil

• 1 tsp Sun Potion Anandamide

• 1 tsp maca powder

• 1 date, pit removed

• 1 - 2 scoops collagen protein powder or vegan chocolate protein powder

• optional: 1 TSP organic cleanse greens, 1/8 tsp kelp powder, 1 shot adaptogens

Spicy Chai (Warm Your Soul) Smoothie:

Ingredients:

• 1/2 - 1 cup nut milk

• 1 banana

• 2 tsp coconut oil

• 1 tsp chai spice mix

• 1 date, pitted (or honey, if you prefer)

• 1 - 2 scoops protein powder

• optional: 1 tsp maca powder

Extra Very Berry Smoothie:

Ingredients:

• 1/2 - 1 cup nut milk

• 1/3 cup wild blue berries, raspberries and blackberries

• 2 tsp coconut oil

• 1 tsp elderberry

• 1 tsp maqui berry powder

• 1 - 2 scoops collagen protein powder

• optional: 1 tsp organic cleanse greens, 1 shot adaptogens

Matcha Pick Me Up Smoothie:

Ingredients:

• 1/2 - 1 cup nut milk

• 1/2 avocado

• 1/4 cup pineapple

• 1 small handful of greens

• 1/2 tsp matcha

• optional: 1 TSP organic cleanse greens

Coffee, Coffee, Coffee Smoothie:

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup water + instant coffee packet or brewed coffee

• 1/4 cup nut milk or coconut cream

• 1/2 - 1 banana

• 1 tsp cinnamon

• 1 tbs honey

• 1 - 2 scoops protein powder

• optional: 1 small handful of greens or 1 tsp organic cleanse greens

Not Your Average PB&J Smoothie:

Ingredients:

• 1/2 - 1 cup nut milk

• 1/2 banana

• 1/3 cup wild blue berries, raspberries and blackberries

• 1 tbs nut butter of choice

• 1 tsp elderberry

• 1 tsp maqui berry powder

• optional: 1 TSP organic cleanse greens, 1 shot adaptogens

All the Nut Butters Extreme Smoothie:

Ingredients:

• 1/2 - 1 cup nut milk

• 1 banana

• 1 tsp maca powder

• 2 tsp cashew butter

• 2 tsp almond butter

• 1 tsp peanut butter

• 1 tbs honey

• 1 scoop protein powder

• optional: 1 small handful of greens or 1 tsp organic cleanse greens

Pretty in Pink Smoothie:

Ingredients:

• 1/2 - 1 cup nut milk

• 1/3 cup cherries

• 1/2 beet (roasted, peeled and chilled)

• 2 tsp coconut oil

• 1 handful of greens

Under the Sea Smoothie:

Ingredients:

• 1/2 - 1 cup nut milk

• 1/2 banana

• 2 tsp coconut oil

• 1 - 2 tsp blue-green algae

• optional: pineapple

No Greens in the Fridge Smoothie:

For when you don't have any fresh greens in the fridge to add to your smoothie but you are craving the alkalizing benefits of greens to supercharge you.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 - 1 cup nut milk

• 1/2 banana or avocado

• 1 tsp coconut oil

• 1/8 tsp kelp powder

• 1/2 tsp barley grass

• 1 serving super greens powder

• optional: if you have fresh greens, add a small handful

Photo: Bonus Smoothie - Golden Rays Smoothie (with banana)

Bonus Smoothie

Golden Rays Smoothie:

This is my favorite smoothie the day after a supercharged workout and I am feeling tried, heavy and sore. This smoothie is bright and happy, full of Vitamin C, but it also reduces inflammation and helps oxygenate the blood.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 - 1 cup orange juice

• 1/3 cup mango and/or pineapple

• 1/4 banana (optional)

• 1/2 small lemon, peeled

• 2 tsp coconut oil

• 1 tsp turmeric powder

• 1 pinch black pepper (Fun Fact: black pepper helps the body better absorb curcumin and allows you to reap all the benefits of this smoothie!)

• 1/4 - 1/2 inch ginger (use less if you are sensitive to the heat in ginger)

• 1 tbs honey (optional)

• 1 tsp cinnamon (optional)

• 1 - 2 scoops collagen protein

• optional: 1 tsp Anima Mundi Curam