This Mixed Berry Smoothie with Kefir is toddler approved, husband approved, and guaranteed to be loved by all.
Made with frozen mixed berries and banana, almond milk, chia seeds and kefir. All of these ingredients blend together to make a deliciously sweet smoothie filled with fiber, omega 3 fatty acids, protein, calcium and probiotics.
While I feel like I typically opt for just strawberries in my smoothies, using the mixed berries gives this smoothie a super vibrant color and a wonderful flavor.
What is Kefir?
Kefir is a fermented dairy product, similar to yogurt but with a thinner consistency. You can purchase lactose-free kefir if you are sensitive to lactose in dairy products, however; the fermentation process that kefir undergoes significantly reduces the amount of lactose making it easier for many individuals to tolerate. You can also find kefir made from goat’s milk (in addition to traditional cow’s milk).
Because this is a fermented food, it contains lots of probiotics or bacteria that are good for our gut health. Kefir is actually a more potent source of probiotics than yogurt and contains many different strains of good-for-you bacteria. Some of these probiotics may also contain antibacterial properties, aiding in overall health.
Kefir is also a calcium-rich food, making it helpful for bone health.
Because of all the amazing health benefits in kefir, I love adding it to smoothies whenever I can!
Mixed Berry Smoothie with Kefir Ingredients
Frozen banana – Bananas contain many nutrients such as fiber, Potassium, Vitamin B6 and Vitamin C. Adding frozen banana to this smoothie make it sweet and super creamy.
Frozen mixed berries – Each berry contains their own key nutrients, but as a whole berries contain fiber that aids in digestive health and many antioxidants which can help reduce inflammation in the body. You can use any combination of berries you like! We love blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, blueberries and strawberries (all the berries!).
Almond milk – I chose to use unsweetened almond milk for this smoothie because that is what I had on hand at the time I tested this recipe, but you can use any kind of milk you love, just make sure it’s unsweetened so that it doesn’t alter the flavor and increase the sugar content of the smoothie.
Kefir – As I shared above, Kefir contains lots of good probiotics and calcium making it an easy and nutritious smoothie addition.
Chia seeds – Chia seeds are like nutrition sprinkles in our house! They are loaded with fiber, protein, omega 3 fatty acids and so many other nutrients.
Maple syrup – This ingredient is totally optional. I typically do not add maple syrup to my smoothies, but my husband likes things a little sweeter and finds that a hint of maple syrup does the trick.
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