Berry smoothie

1. Place all ingredients into a blender and blend until well mixed.
2. Pour into a large glass and serve.

Alternative option:

• For a dairy free option replace the yogurt with ½ cup raw cashew nuts.

Tips:

• Can I use frozen bananas? Place any bananas that are going to go brown before you get a chance to eat them into the freezer to use in future for this recipe. Simply peel, break into bite sized chunks and place into a labeled plastic bag before placing into the freezer.
• What kind of berries can I use? Be sure to include lots of blueberries in this recipe, as they are the power fruit in terms of antioxidants, vitamin K, manganese, vitamin C, fibre & copper.
• How can I increase the nutrients in my berry smoothie? Adding 1 cup of finely chopped spinach or kale will boost your iron, fibre, folate, calcium, copper, manganese and vitamins A, C, K and B6 intake

FAQs

• Will my smoothie be thicker with cashews instead of yoghurt? Yes, the cashew is an alternative to yoghurt, but we do suggest soaking the cashews in hot water before blitzing them through. You may also need to add a splash of water or milk to make your smoothie less thick. 
• Can I use other nuts instead of cashews? You can substitute cashew for other nuts such as almonds, which have more fibre, vitamin E and calcium (great for nails and skin).
• What’s the difference between using milk or yoghurt? This will change the thickness of your smoothies. For a less thick smoothie, you can also add a splash of your milk of choice. Yoghurt will be thicker than milk and also taste tangier than milk due to the live cultures.
• Can I make this dairy-free? You can substitute regular yoghurt with dairy-free yoghurt such as coconut yoghurt. You can also use dairy-free milk, water or coconut water for a thinner consistency

Recipe Hacks (Sourcing and time-saving):

• Can I use fresh bananas instead of frozen? Frozen bananas in smoothies add a creamy and thick texture to your smoothies. Fresh bananas can be used, but the smoothie texture will be slightly less creamier and thicker. 
• Can I use other berries instead of mixed berries or blueberries? Yes, add the same amount of any other berry of your preference. Note that the health benefits will be slightly different. 
• Can I use frozen berries instead of fresh? We would recommend using fresh berries when they are in season. You can also freeze your fresh berries for the winter months when they are not in season. Buying frozen berries may be cheaper too, and they are frozen at their peak ripeness so nutrients are sealed in. 
• Can I add frozen spinach instead of fresh spinach or kale? Yes, this will change the texture compared to fresh, so add less liquid to start off and adjust after you add the frozen spinach. Frozen spinach is a great way to add nutrients to your smoothies and saves time from chopping spinach or kale. 
• Can I freeze my smoothie? You can make a big batch of smoothie mix and freeze it in portions so you can grab a smoothie on the go. Freeze in bottles or containers. For the best nutrition, we recommend making your smoothie and drinking it that day. 

Serving suggestions:

• How can I add more nutrients to my smoothies? Add a spoonful of your favourite health supplements, such as açai, spirulina, ground flaxseed or chia seeds, or collagen for a health boost.
• How can I increase the protein in my smoothies? Add a spoonful of peanut butter to your smoothie for a protein boost.
• What if I want a chocolate smoothie but still want it to be healthy? Add a spoonful of cacao nibs for a healthy chocolate taste and texture.
• Can I have smoothie for breakfast? You can make this an overnight oats smoothie breakfast, by soaking oats in your choice of milk and blending this into the smoothie the next day to increase your fibre intake. 
• Can I mix bananas with berries? Bananas are a great and affordable way to add sweetness, fibre and texture to your smoothies.
• What’s an alternative to adding bananas to smoothies? If you’re not a fan of bananas, try avocado, baked kūmara or pumpkin, silken tofu, frozen mango or even cooked quinoa in your smoothie.