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Breakfast. It’s arguably the busiest meal of the day. I haven’t been shy in sharing about my struggle to get a daily breakfast in, and while I’ve found some solutions to keep me going, I like to shake up the breakfast routine sometimes. I’ve been loving smoothies, but I have to admit that sometimes I drink them so fast, that I feel like I missed breakfast altogether, and I don’t always feel satisfied. Then, when I started hearing a little bit about Smoothie Bowls on Instagram, I started to wonder what the big deal was… I mean, it was just a smoothie poured into a bowl, right? Well, kind of. It’s a smoothie in a bowl, sure, but it’s topped with delicious things– like nuts, fruits, seeds, and more– that are totally spoonable, elevating your morning smoothie to something of beauty, but also of great flavor.

For me, mornings often start with hitting the snooze button. I was blessed with a child who loves to sleep in, too, which means a lot of mornings, we’re running a little behind for everything we have to do in a day. To help with our mornings, I’ve tried to start giving myself a little more time in the mornings by moving my shower to night time, so I am not as rushed, and by laying out our clothes the night before (so I’m not scrambling for pants 5 minutes before school). While I’ve always worked to make sure my son has a good breakfast to start his day, I usually neglect my own breakfast and set to work instead. But I’ve made a commitment to have a nutritious breakfast every day for 7 days, rather than trying it occasionally, and start making a big change in my life.

A good smoothie starts with a good base, so I like finding a powder that will add flavor, nutrients, and act as a thickener to add a great texture to my smoothie. That’s why I really love Carnation Breakfast Essentials®— it comes in great flavors so I don’t get in a rut, so I can enjoy vanilla one day and strawberry the next. Plus, since it comes in ready-to-drink bottles, as well, on those days when I don’t have time to make a smoothie bowl or other smoothie, I have a delicious beverage I can just pull out of the fridge and enjoy on-the-go. I found the Carnation Breakfast Essentials® in two places in my local Walmart– in the drink mix aisle, near other ready-to-drink items, and in the breakfast aisle, near the mixes.

To make my favorite smoothie bowl, a chocolate banana smoothie bowl with less than 375 calories, you’ll want to put half a cup of ice in a blender. Then, add half of a banana, for flavor and as a thickener. 

Next, add one packet of Chocolate Carnation Breakfast Essentials® powder with No Sugar Added (look for the blue box to find the no sugar added varieties; the regular variety is in a yellow box nearby).

Add one cup of skim milk, then blend.

After you pour your smoothie into your favorite breakfast bowl, top with 1 teaspoon of chia seeds, 1 teaspoon of shredded coconut, and 1 teaspoon of almonds.

Then, give it a stir and enjoy with a spoon. I love this because it’s rich and chocolatey, while still meeting my goals, which is exactly what I need in a breakfast. Plus, it’s really quick and easy to make, meaning I’m not spending a lot of time on breakfast prep, but also getting a lot of protein and vitamins.

Between the ready-to-drink Carnation Breakfast Essentials®, and the powders that can be enjoyed in a glass of milk or as a part of a smoothie bowl, I knew I’d have a variety of breakfast options available during my 7 day challenge to have breakfast every day, and because I loved the chocolate banana smoothie bowl, I knew it wouldn’t be a huge struggle to swap out my morning cup of coffee for a breakfast that would really keep me going.

For most of the challenge so far, I’ve alternated smoothie bowls on my days at home, and ready-to-drink options for the days I’m on the go, adding in a handful of nuts and fruit on the side before I head out the door. On the first day, I had my chocolate banana smoothie bowl. On the next day, when I had a few appointments and meetings, I decided to have the Strawberry ready-to-drink Carnation Breakfast Essentials® with some sliced kiwi and a handful of nuts. The next morning, when I failed to hear my alarm and woke up late for the day, I almost skipped breakfast– I knew I didn’t have the time to make breakfast. But when I opened the fridge, I spied the bottle of Chocolate Carnation Breakfast Essentials®, ready to drink after a quick shake. I grabbed a handful of dried cranberries and almonds for a mid-morning treat, too. Finally, the next day I actually woke up on time, and managed to make one of my favorite smoothie bowls yet– a pineapple banana smoothie using a handful of fresh pineapple, half a banana, and a packet of vanilla Carnation Breakfast Essentials® powder, along with some skim milk.

To make your own smoothie bowls, you’ll want to be sure to start with ice or frozen fruit, about half a cup. Add in half a banana, a packet of Carnation Breakfast Essentials® in Chocolate, Vanilla, or Strawberry, any additional fruit (or veggies!) you’d like, and of course, your favorite milk or milk substitute. Once blended, pour into a bowl and top with grains, seeds, nuts, fresh or dried fruit, or anything else your heart desires.

I still have 3 days to go on my 7 day breakfast challenge, but I definitely plan to keep it up past the 7 days I had planned. I notice that I feel a lot better on the days I have breakfast, and I know that it’s easy enough to squeeze a breakfast in, whether it’s a smoothie bowl made with Carnation Breakfast Essentials® powder, or if it just means grabbing the ready-to-drink bottle on my way to run errands or head to meetings.

I want you to embrace a 7 day challenge, too… and the best part is that doing it right now could score you some really awesome prizes! Carnation wants everyone to get into a better breakfast routine, so they’re offering up simple breakfast missions that you can complete to possibly win prizes.

Ready to get started? Follow these easy steps:
1. Sign up at CarnationBreakfastChallenge.com.
2. Complete a simple, yet fun, breakfast mission for a chance to win. New prizes will be revealed every day!
3. Come back any day in February to complete missions and see new prizes. The prizes range from a Fitbit to a GoPro and other awesome stuff!
4. Head to your favorite store to purchase a Carnation Breakfast Essentials® Nutritional Product and upload your receipt for five extra entries per day.

With a little bit of planning, you can get a great breakfast, for 7 days and beyond, even if your schedule is busy. I’d love to hear your favorite way to make a little more time in the morning, so let me know your tips in the comments below! Don’t forget to also visit the Carnation Breakfast Essentials® Sweepstakes Sign-up Page to get started, and check out the Carnation Breakfast Essentials® Facebook page for more about getting in a great breakfast every single day!