With recent overindulgences and Christmas around the corner I decided it was time to kick the alcohol for a few months. Along with that it seemed like the ideal time to start a health kick due to running on takeaways and the fact I was starting to forget what fruit or veg tasted like.

Kenwood Smoothie 2Go Review

It was my birthday last week (yes 21 again) so I stuck a Kenwood Smoothie 2GO on my wish list. I settled on the Kenwood Smoothie 2GO as it had a number of positive reviews (some mentioned the control knob being rather fragile although I’m not sure what they were doing with it as it seems perfectly sturdy to me) along with the unique feature of having two 0.5 litre jugs, which is perfect for making a breakfast and evening smoothie at the same time, whipping up different breakfast smoothie’s for you and your partner in the evening to store in the fridge overnight or of course sticking the (spill-proof) lid on the jug to take with you to work or somewhere more exciting.

Having used it non-stop over the last week I can honestly say that so far it’s a fantastic piece of kit. As mentioned it comes with two jugs both with lids and the actual blade itself is built into a third “lid”. So you fill the jug with your ingredients, stick the blade lid on, pop it upside down onto the base unit and whiz. Once it’s suitably smoothed just pop the blade lid off and your good to go, drink there and then or pop one of the lids on and stick it in the fridge. I have to admit I really hate cleaning kitchen appliances but this is a breeze, a quick rinse under hot water for the blade unit and wash out the jug and you’re done. So if you are on the lookout for a quality smoothie maker for a reasonable price (£27.56 at time of writing on Amazon.co.uk) then I would recommend one of these.

Banana & Blueberry Granola Breakfast Smoothie

After messing about with various ingredients over the last week I think this is my particular favourite for first thing in the morning. This fills the 0.5 litre jug so adjust as needed:

1 Banana chopped

1 Handful of frozen blueberries (obviously you can use fresh, I just find frozen easier to keep and it saves you having to add ice cubes to your smoothie)

2 Handfuls of spinach leaves or kale (any greens will do really)

½ Cup of Granola (can swap with oats for a slightly smoother texture)

3 Tablespoons of yoghurt (I use vanilla but any will do really)

1 Teaspoon of clear honey (optional, but sweetens it up nicely)

Fill with Almond milk (again I prefer almond milk but any kind will do)

The granola gives it quite a nutty texture which to me is ideal for a breakfast smoothie but feel free to swap for oats for a smoother taste. For me this gives me a great kick in the morning. Being someone who has lived on strong coffee for breakfast for years this is a great way of getting lots of goodness packed into your breakfast without having to set aside time in the morning (simply whizz up the smoothie the night before and stick in the fridge). A new experience and I have to say I’m feeling far better for it.

If you are new to smoothie making it seems the best idea is just to experiment with what you like, throw anything in there and tweak it until you find what’s best for you. There are tons of recipes kicking about online, so take some inspiration and then create your own.

I’m planning on sharing new favourite recipes as I discover them so stay tuned for more!

Cheers, him.