Make Ahead Smoothie Bags

I have a confession to make, and in this day and age of highly prepared over-achievers it might not go over well: I'm just not a meal prep girl. Oh, I've gone through a few phases where my fridge is well stocked with pre-prepped meals or simple grab and go ingredients. But sometimes meal prep feels like more work than it's worth to me, and takes some of the joy out of cooking.

But one item in the category of meal prep that I actually love, and that I think will benefit any busy family with a packed back-to-school schedule, is make-ahead smoothie bags. Smoothies can make a great start to your day or afternoon snack. Homemade smoothies cost a fraction of what you pay at the local smoothie bar, and can be packed with more filling and healthier ingredients. But the hassle of hauling 10 ingredients out of the freezer, fridge and pantry and measuring them all individually every time I want to make a smoothie prevented these delicious frozen concoctions from being a regular part of my life.

Enter, the make-ahead smoothie bag. This is really more of a formula than a recipe, so you can customize your smoothie bags to your individual preferences and dietary needs. Once filled with your fresh fruits and add-ins, these pre-frozen bags can be popped in the blender with your favorite milk for a quick and healthy breakfast or snack. Here's how it goes:

1. Gather your fruit: for 8 smoothie bags, you'll need three one-pound bags of frozen fruit of your choice,  and 4 bananas. Divide the fruit between eight reusable bags, and place half a peeled banana in each bag.
2. Add any suggested add-ins you like. Some popular add ins:
1. 1-2 tablespoons chia or flax seeds
2. 1/4 to 1/2 cup whole rolled oats
3. 1 to 2 scoops protein powder of your choice (I like chocolate!)
4. Handful of spinach or kale
5. 1 madjhool date for added sweetness
3. Freeze bags.
4. Ready for a smoothie? Grab your smoothie bag, milk of choice and/or yogurt, and pop it all in the blender together. You're ready to go! Start with one cup of milk (less if also using yogurt) and add more to achieve your desired texture.

Some tips:

• Smoothies that are high in sugar but low in protein and fiber can leave you feeling unsatisfied. The suggested add-ins will make your smoothie more filling and nutritious.
• Stasher Sandwich Bags are the perfect size for your smoothies, and reusable!
• Add ingredients like milk, yogurt, and peanut butter right before blending for the best texture.
• Not all blenders are created equal. If you like lots of berries in your smoothies, you need a high powered blender that can pulverize the seeds.