Start your day with this energizing and delicious Blueberry Bran Smoothie.Taking just a few minutes to blitz in a blender, you really don't have an excuse for skipping breakfast now.
My beautiful potted blueberry plant was bursting with these gorgeous little gems ready to be harvested. This was a really quick way to use a few of them and we absolutely loved it. I have used these berries in sooooo many other recipes as well ...coming soon to the blog. But I thought,let's start off with a healthy recipe and then....of course, way too tempting to resist, use it for baking a few cakes and muffins.?
If blueberries are not in season in your area, frozen berries will work just as perfectly. They are always in season in the freezer of your grocery store, so try it makes a great breakfast. These little fruit have amazing health benefits and are actually referred to as a superfood.
Here are a few health benefits of this amazing fruit.
Extremely high in antioxidants. Antioxidants actually function as a defense system in your body, helping to protect or prevent cells damage caused by harmful molecules. To me it means that it helps keep wrinkles away ...so I will be gulping down on these fruit all season long.....Hey,a girl's got to try?
Low in calories, it has just 80 calories per serving..a serving being one cup. So it is great as a snack for weight loss or just as part of a healthy eating plan.
Help improve brain function by providing essential nutrients to protect brain cells and help to restore the health of the central nervous system even healing damaged brain cells and neuron tissue.
These berries are excellent for your digestive tract, preventing constipation and improving digestion by stimulating the correct gastric and digestive juices to move properly through your gastrointestinal system.
And these are just the tip of the iceberg on what these superfood provides to your body. It is really hard to believe the extent of goodness packed into these little fruit. I for one am absolutely blown away on how good it actually is for you. So give it a try, you have nothing to lose, just good to gain.
To this recipe, I have also added bran cereal. You can the bran flakes or a high fibre bran cereal. This adds to the fibre content of this smoothie and is really important in our diet which so many of us lack.
So feel the benefits of this well balanced, nutritious smoothie for breakfast and seriously feel great for the day. I hope that you enjoy it as much as I do. I have been skipping out on breakfast for a while now, due to rushed mornings and have always been looking out for easy, healthy breakfasts....believe me when I say, I have found it ,this is really perfect.
Enjoy ♥
Blueberry Bran Smoothie
Ingredients
- 2 cups / 500ml low fat milk / soy milk
- 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
- 2 Tablespoons plain yoghurt
- ½ cup bran flakes or high fibre bran cereal
- sweetener or honey to taste optional
Instructions
- Put all the ingredients in a blender and blitz until smooth.
- Serve immediately
Notes
Kim | The Baking ChocolaTess says
Wow! I've never thought of adding bran flakes to a smoothie before. I love bran flakes. My family thinks I'm weird because I do, except for my dad. He loves it too. I'm totally going to try this, pinning for later! Take care my friend!
The Gardening Foodie says
Aww, thanks Kim. HA! my family thinks that I am crazy too, so I made this smoothie and added the bran ( they had no idea that it contained bran) they loved it and was shocked at how good it tasted. But this is the ONLY way that they will have it...well its a start!
Deepika|TheLoveOfCakes says
So quick!! Who doesn't love simple and yummy recipes for grumpy mornings :D. I am definitely trying this tomorrow morning 🙂
The Gardening Foodie says
Oh I am so happy that you like this smoothie and that you are going to try it. It tastes great and I hope that you love it too!
neil@neilshealthymeals.com says
Blueberries are a favourite of mine too. But I'm jealous that you have fresh ones to make this with as we've just finished our Scottish soft fruit season here. So I'll have to make do with frozen ones at the moment. Can't wait to make it with fresh ones next year though!
What a great idea to add bran flakes to a recipe too, to make it even more healthier and high fibre! 🙂
The Gardening Foodie says
Haha, I have to fight off the birds from stealing the blueberries from my plant. The neighbours probably think that I am crazy, waving my hands in the air and screaming and running around my garden, but hey these fruit are precious and need to be protected until they reach my kitchen.
Oh the frozen ones work just as well, yes adding the bran to it really makes it delicious too!
Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen says
I love the idea of using bran flakes in a smoothie! I've used oatmeal but I have yet to branch out to other cereals. Brilliant!
The Gardening Foodie says
Thanks Kelsie, It is great with bran, I hope that you try it. It tastes delicious:)
Dawn- Girl Heart Food says
I would never skip breakfast, especially if it looked this good! Blueberries are definitely a favourite of mine and love that you've added bran for extra nutrition. I bet this one tastes fantastic 🙂
The Gardening Foodie says
Thank you Dawn, I am crazy about blueberries as well, during spring I check my blueberry plant for signs new fruit every single day. And then I plan about 10 recipes a little too enthusiastically because I probably will have only just enough to use it in three recipes:)
Patrick says
I happen to love bran cereal! My sister calls it dog food but I love it! Looks looks great
The Gardening Foodie says
Hahaha...thats exactly what my sons call it too! I love it as well, how can you not, it is so good for you.
Have a great week Patrick.
stacey @ The Sugar Coated Cottage says
How cool you have your own blueberry bush! This smoothing looks so yummy and the perfect way to start the day. Blueberries are always a winner! Take care.
The Gardening Foodie says
Thank you Stacey, It is a really wonderful plant,extremely beautiful when it has berries. I am glad you like the smoothie recipe.
Have a lovely day:)
Alia | Everyday Easy Eats says
Oooo I love the idea of adding bran flakes to a smoothie!! I also appreciate that you discussed all the health benefits of blueberries! I always knew that they were an antioxidant, but I didn't know for sure what they did specifically for your body. Great info!! I should get a potted blueberry plant for myself!! 😉
The Gardening Foodie says
Awww Thank you Alia, I totally love blueberries, they are such powerful little fruit.
I hope that you do get a plant, it feels so great picking fruit from a tree,which you grow and take care of:)
Kelly @ Kelly Lynns Sweets and Treats says
That is so awesome that you have a blueberry plant!!! Totally jealous! This smoothie looks super yummy. Perfect way to start the day! Xoxo
The Gardening Foodie says
Haha, thank you Kelly,I got the plant a few years ago as a birthday gift from my dad. And I absolutely love it.
Cathleen @ A Taste of Madness says
What a simple smoothie idea! I have never thought of putting cereal in a smoothie before!
The Gardening Foodie says
Thanks Cathleen. Yes, besides adding fibre it actually tastes very good.
2pots2cook says
Love it and hardy waiting for other blueberry creations ! See you soon 🙂
The Gardening Foodie says
Thank you. I am glad that you like the recipe:)
heather (delicious not gorgeous) says
give me all the blueberries! love how easy but filling the addition of bran cereal sounds (:
The Gardening Foodie says
Thank you Heather...OH yes blueberries are the absolute best...I love them too.
Have a great weekend!
Maria @ kitchenathoskins says
Back yard blueberry sounds like the best thing ever!!!! I could have never thought of adding bran cereal in a smoothie, makes it totally healthy and nutritious. And, that's the way a morning smoothie should be. Awesome idea Ashika.
The Gardening Foodie says
Thank you so much Maria, it seriously tastes good as well.
Have a great weekend!
Rebecca | Becky Keeps House says
This not only looks so delicious, but it's easy and fast (my favorite combination as a busy mom). I am intrigued by this blueberry potted plant that you mentioned. What kind of care does it require and how long does it take to yield fruit? Would it be easy for a novice to care for? I'd love to be able to grow my own food, especially blueberries which are expensive to buy fresh here in Pakistan.
The Gardening Foodie says
Thank you Rebecca, I am also a fan of quick and easy foods...with rushed and busy days breakfasts like these are perfect. Yes they are quite expensive here in South Africa as well, that is why I decided to get my own plant. It bears fruit during spring and summer and is mostly dormant during winter, meaning it does not bear fruit or grow any new leaves during this time.
Potted blueberries make great plants, they are easy to take care of provided that you use a good mixture of acidic compost and potting soil which you can get at your local garden center or nursery. They also need a good layer of mulch like pine needles. Different types of blueberries grow in different climatic conditions so your garden center will advise you on which is best for your area. It is really rewarding growing your own food and I am working on a few posts on easy ways to grow your own vegetables, fruit and herbs.
I hope that you get a blueberry plant, let me know how it goes.
Have a great weekend.
Supriya Kuttty says
It's looking so delicious and tasty. Just wanted to ask can we replace the ingredient and put orange instead it will be Okie or any fruit as I don't like blueberry, so it will be Okie?
The Gardening Foodie says
Thank you Supriya. Yes you can replace the blueberries, I have tried it with strawberries, blackberries and bananas. It tastes just as good. I have not used oranges in it because I do not think it will go to well with the yoghurt. I hope that you try it and let me know how it turns out.
Have a great weekend!
Natasha Minocha says
Such a delicious recipe! I love starting my day with a healthy smoothie, but you've taken it a notch higher by adding bran cereal to it. Amazing!
The Gardening Foodie says
Aww,Thank you for your kind words Natasha, it really is a delicious way to start your morning.
Thanks for stopping by, have a great weekend!
Katherine | Love In My Oven says
What a great idea to use bran cereal in a smoothie! It's a good way to sneak in some nutrition 🙂 I love blueberries in anything and everything! You're so lucky that your blueberry season is just starting 🙂 Have a great weekend Ashika!
The Gardening Foodie says
Thank you Katherine, yes and tastes amazing too. Oh I absolutely love Spring and summer,everything looks just so beautiful...including my precious blueberry plant.
Have a great weekend as well Katherine!
Emma - Bake Then Eat says
Yummy what a great breakfast. I never thought of adding bran cereal to a smoothie before, what a great idea.
Sumit says
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