I like to think of random holidays as a fun way to celebrate life and all the things that make you smile.  What we're celebrating today, March 6, 2013?  National Frozen Food Day!  Scratch that, we're celebrating the month and 30 years with the National Frozen and Refrigerated Foods Association (NFRA).

While consumer preferences have shifted to fresh produce recently (mine too, hello clean food!), the frozen aisle still has a lot of gems for both the health conscious and the devilishly delicious.  Tonight, I'm craving some Ben and Jerry's strawberry cheesecake ice cream, but on the regular, I'm really healthy.  

In honor of National Frozen Foods Month, here's my morning and afternoon frozen smoothie recipe.  It's a great meal replacement, is super healthy, tastes yummy as a guilt-free snack and is really easy on the wallet, too.

I shop at Trader Joe's for most of my fixings, but you can grab these items at any local grocery you like to shop:

1 Bag Very Cherry Berry Blend*
Frozen Strawberries
1 Banana
1 Scoop pea protein of your choice (or whichever protein you love)
1 Scoop Very Green dietary supplement

1 Scoop Maca
1 Tbsp Fish Oil
1/2 Frozen Acai smoohie packet
Coconut milk
Greek yogurt

Toppings Ideas

Chocolate chips

Panda Puffs cereal or gluten-free granola

* The key is to have berries due to the low glycemic load.  Other fruits are great for additional vitamins, but use sparingly and not all the time.

Toss all of the main ingredients and your blender with filtered water.  I like my smoothies a little thicker, so I put water just barely to the top of my berries.  You can always add more, right?  Any of the optional add-ins help to make it a little healthier or a little creamier and richer.  Play around, depending on your taste.  For a little more substance, put this smoothie in one of our compostable bowls, top with a gluten-free granola or low sugar cereal and ENJOY! 

I'm not a nutritionist, but I like to pay attention to what I eat.  Make this your breakfast and lunch (go nuts, eat as much as you want) and you'll be feeling and looking better in a snap!

Also check out NFRA’s Easy Home Meals Facebook page and become a fan for a chance to win the Freezer Giveaway courtesy of Hussmann.  A Hussmann 6.73-cu. ft. glass top freezer will be awarded each week during March.  The giveaway ends March 29.

xo

Christianna