Many of us have grown accustomed to eating something sweet at the end of our meals and I will very much confess that I am guilty of this.

Processed sugar is in so many of our foods and offers us no positive health benefits and many negative ones. I’ve started drinking more fruit smoothies and find they can be an amazing substitute for a processed sugary treat.

The benefits of eating real fruit are that we get more vitamins, nutrients, antioxidants and fiber. Real fruit also has a lower glycemic index in general than processed sweets.

It should still be noted that too much of any kind of sugar, whether processed or fruit, can be harmful to our bodies however, so all things in moderation once again.

The recipe below includes hemp hearts, which are a healthy fat, a complete protein, and also a good source of B vitamins, magnesium, iron, zinc and phosphorus. They’re a super easy addition to smoothies, yogurt, baked goods, etc.

Ingredients:

1 cup of mixed berry frozen fruit
1/2 banana
1 cup water
1 TBSP hemp hearts

Directions:

1. Put all ingredients into a blender, cover and blend well.

2. Pour into a glass and enjoy your healthier, delicious treat.

You can also adds greens to any smoothie if you so desire. Spinach is the easiest for those new to smoothies as it has a very mild flavor but any greens can be added to a smoothie.

Additional protein can also be added by including any form of milk, yogurt, nut butters or protein powder.

The addition of greens and protein can turn you “dessert” smoothie into a meal replacement smoothie when you’re in a rush and want a fast “meal” that’s still packed with nutrients.

The bottom line is you can really put anything you want into a smoothie. Have fun with them and enjoy a much healthy snack, meal or dessert when you’re in a rush or just looking for a healthier form of sugar.