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Cranberry Smoothie Quinoa Pudding made with almond milk, blackberries and cranberries paired with cinnamon laced quinoa for a warm winter smoothie pudding. A great way to use up leftover holiday cranberries and a healthy breakfast or snack on a winter day! Gluten Free + Low Calorie + Vegan
Fri-YAY! Yeah for the first week of January being nearly done. Only three more to go! I'm not a big January fan.
I must be one of those people who gets depressed after the holidays because I always wish I could be sleeping beauty and sleep through the month and wake up when it's February. There's just something about this month that I don't love.
After two holiday weeks in a row, this week felt like the longest week of my life. It was apparent I was getting a little too used to sleeping in too.
Cold and rainy winter dessert weather just makes you want to play hooky. More than one morning this week I had to kick myself out of bed to get to the gym every day which not surprisingly was the cool place to hang out at this week. It's always good to see new people in there getting after their goals.
Speaking of which, how are those January goals of yours coming along? I'm plugging away at my 2016 goals, but in a lot of ways I feel like I'm chiseling at a mountain. Not gonna lie. It feels huge. Like I will never make it to the top.
I'm sure that may be how you're feeling, but trust me. I didn't lose 80 pounds over night. It took a solid year of dedicating my life to eating right and working out every day for it to happen.
New bodies aren't made overnight or by eating healthy one day a week so whatever your goals are, stick with them. It takes six months of doing something consistently before it feels natural to us.
Our bodies need time to adjust. Remember it isn't about getting in shape.
It's about feeling better about your life. Give yourself a break and give yourself time to make lifestyle changes part of your norm. Be sure to check out my new book for more advice on goal setting and following through with your goals.
After writing my 2016 goals, I realized I missed one of my BIG goals this year which is to eat more plant-based, whole foods. I often get carried away with the muffins and treats I bake for the blog (a post for another day) and skimp on eating enough of the real food.
A smoothie is the perfect solution to getting more whole foods in my diet. The only problem? It's winter and sipping on a smoothie is the farther thing from my mind. First I had to find something warm and winter-y to pair a smoothie with before I could even conceive of eating one. Enter warm cinnamon laced quinoa pudding made with almond milk.
Remember the time I made that Mango Smoothie Chia Pudding? Well I did it again! I had so many cranberries leftover from the holidays and couldn't figure out what to do with them. The solution? Make a smoothie of course!
I also had blackberries in the freezer which I mixed in to sweeten the deal. The outcome? A deliciously warm and filling winter Cranberry Smoothie Quinoa Pudding. The winter cousin to my favorite summer smoothie. This smoothie is so good, you won't believe it's good for you. Now take that for motivation January!
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Cranberry Smoothie Quinoa Pudding
Ingredients
For the smoothie:
- 1/2 cup cranberries frozen
- 1/2 cup blackberries frozen
- 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1-2 drops stevia
- Handful of ice
For the Quinoa Pudding:
- 3/4 cup quinoa cooked
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Prepare the pudding by mixing the milk, vanilla extract, cinnamon and cooked quinoa together in a jar or bowl the night before. Refrigerate overnight for the pudding to thicken.
- The next day, blend all ingredients for the smoothie together. In a glass, layer the smoothie on top of the quinoa pudding, top with more fruit & enjoy!
Notes
- Top quinoa pudding with any smoothie you prefer.
Nutrition
What I Used For The Recipe
Joyce says
I love the idea of a cranberry smoothie! Cranberries are too good just to limit to cranberry bread and cranberry sauce.
Megan says
I agree!
Carmy says
This looks SO yum!
Megan says
Thank you!
Emma {Emma's Little Kitchen} says
YUM! I love the dichotomy of tart cranberries with a creamy quinoa pud. Lush! My birthday is in January, so I can usually deal... February though, UGH!
Megan says
Happy Birthday and thanks for the smoothie quinoa love! 🙂
Jody - Fit at 58 says
I think January is hard for a lot of people to get back to it after all the holidays at end of year - tough month!
Megan says
While everyone is trying to get fit, my fitness keeps me sane. Haha!
Sarah @ Making Thyme for Health says
I felt the same way this week! It was so hard getting back into a routine, especially waking up. But it's okay to extend ourselves a little grace. Like you said, we'll get there, little by little! 🙂
This pudding looks fabulous. That color makes me swoon! It's the perfect breakfast to get back on track with.
Megan says
Thanks Sarah! Pretty food is my motivation right now.
Sam @ PancakeWarriors says
I'm loving the idea of the quinoa at the bottom. I have a whole bag of cranberries to do something with, can't wait to try this 🙂 Yay for more whole foods - that's an amazing goal!!
Megan says
Great way to use those leftovers!
Hollie says
I think I'm in the majority too of feeling overwhelmed by everything going on this week. I will say I love the taste of cranberries and this definitely looks like a win. I'll have to try this smoothie when it gets a bit warmer perhaps!
Megan says
Overwhelmed is the word of the week. You're not alone girl!
Taylor @ Food Faith Fitness says
Okay. How GENIUS are you?! I have been trying to get my smoothie-obsessed hubby to like quinoa for, like, EVER. And then you posted this. UMMM, this is SO great girlfriend!
Megan says
Thanks Taylor! Hopefully the hubby can get down with this. 🙂
lindsay says
Oh my gosh, me too! we can have both our husbands try this! genius Megan!
Megan says
Thanks friend xoxo
rachel @ athleticavocado says
I like the addition of quinoa to this smoothie for an extra nutritional boost and nutty taste. Yum!
Megan says
I just realized the nutty flavor must be why I love quinoa so much!
Michele @ paleorunningmomma says
Yum! I'm struggling this week too and quickly feeling overwhelmed! Getting up has not been fun to say the least.
Megan says
Can we say social media overload too?
Susie @ SuzLyfe says
Now this I can get on board with. Chica pudding kind of freaks me out. But quinoa is always welcome to the party. This looks beautiful, and bet tastes vibrant and zingy, perfect for those dreary winter days!
Megan says
Zingy, yes! I can't do chia pudding either. It has to have other things mixed in otherwise it's just too gooey for me.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Well this is much better than "chia pudding"! This I would so eat! Fantastic!
And I am sooo a post-holiday January blues person....real!
Megan says
Boo for post holiday blues, but yay for good food!