Good For Your Belly Banana Chai Smoothie

Do you have belly troubles? You know what I'm talking about ... I'm not going to spell out all the digestive woes one could be confronting!

Over the past few years, I have hardly had to think about my belly's workings, thanks in large part to probiotics. What's a probiotic? Helpful bacteria that help your digestive system work its best. Since I started taking a probiotic supplement every morning, I haven't really had to give my tummy a second thought. And that's just how I like it.

The folks at GoodBelly sent me coupons so I could try their 12 Day Challenge. I was very excited to give their probiotic juices and shots a try. They are vegan, though not all of their varieties are gluten-free (some use non-gluten-free oat flour). Look for the green cap if you need it to be gluten-free.

Why a 12 Day Challenge? The folks behind GoodBelly believe that you need a little while (12 days) to give these helpful bacteria a chance to do their thing, so you can reap the positive results. Like I said, I have been taking a probiotic every morning for a few years, so I already had the good effects.

I really enjoyed trying different products and seeing how my family (particularly my sometimes fussy kids) would enjoy the flavors of the GoodBelly products. We really liked them.

Of course, just trying the juices straight wasn't enough for me. I had to mix them up into a recipe. This smoothie combines the probiotic goodness of GoodBelly with fiber- and potassium-rich bananas, protein-loaded hemp seeds, and one of fall favorites -- chai. To make this a quick breakfast, break ripe bananas into chunks and freeze them so they will be ready when you need them.

For gluten-free, use the fermented coconut water, if you don't need it to be gluten-free, you can use the Vanilla Chamomile shot.

Banana Chai Smoothie (vegan, gluten-free, allergen-free)
Makes 1 serving

Ingredients:

• 1 serving of GoodBelly probiotic drink (fermented coconut water for gluten-free, vanilla chamomile shot if you don't need it to be gluten-free)
• 1 banana, sliced and frozen
• 1 cup brewed chai (I used a caffeine-free roobois version.)
• 2 tablespoons shelled hemp seeds or hemp hearts (I used Bob's Red Mill.)
• sprinkling of cinnamon

Preparation:

1. Blend all ingredients, but cinnamon, until well combined.
2. Sprinkle on cinnamon before serving.

Happy Cooking!
Kim

My new book,  Super Seeds, is available now! You can also find tasty recipes in Welcoming Kitchen: 200 Delicious Allergen & Gluten-Free Vegan Recipes.