We all know that young athletes need at least 8-9 hours of good quality sleep a night. We also know that adolescents often go to sleep later, due to hormone changes in these growing years, and as a result sleep later in the morning. This can mean Chaos with a capital C trying to get out the door on time the following morning let alone trying to munch through a bowl of muesli, banana, milk and yoghurt or cooking the perfect eggs on toast. Enter the humble smoothie to save the day like the grand entrance of a superhero ninja….pow pow!!!
The advent of high speed blenders with a cup and lid attachment has turned the simple smoothie into a nutritious breakfast that literally can be eaten while you are walking out the door. You don’t have to pinch Mum’s best cups or glasses anymore! Nor leave them sloshing around the car or school bag 😉. You can literally chuck all your favourite super ingredients in, whizz, put a lid on and wait for that quiet moment on the bus to taste your smoothie creation.
How do you know if you have the ultimate speedy breakfast though? As young athletes with the busy 3 S’s…School…Sport…and the all-important Social life, you need to make sure you are ticking three nutritional boxes. Wholesome carbs…fuel for your brain and your muscles. Tick! Lean protein…so you can grow and develop and recover from your sport. Tick! And fat…not only does it makes the smoothie taste great, but it can give a much-needed energy boost to see your body through to morning tea.
