Banana, Apple, Oatmeal Smoothie

Have you ever thought of putting oats in a smoothie?  Well, it's delicious...not to mention nutritious! Oats add protein and fiber to the smoothie.  Oats have been shown to help lower cholesterol and promote cardiovascular health.  The oats also add thickness to the smoothie which makes it taste more like a meal.  You can add oats to any smoothie recipe (starting with ~1/4 to 1/2 cup).  Here is a recipe that I used this week.

Ingredients:

1 cup dairy-free milk or water

4 oz container of soy yogurt (I used Stoneyfield Farms O'Soy peach flavored)

1/2 banana

1/4 cup quick, uncooked oats

1/2 apple, seeded

1/4 cup dried cranberries

1/8 tsp cinnamon (optional)

1 tsp flax meal (to add a little extra fiber and omega 3)

Directions:

Blend on high until smooth.  

This is more of a milky consistency, but I am sure you could opt for a frozen banana or ice cubes to make it a bit icy-like.  I liked it just how it was, though.  

My toddler loves smoothies and this is a great way to get good calories, protein, fiber, and fruits/veggies into his diet!

Recipe adapted from: http://www.vitamix.com/recipes/