Have you only ever had cranberries in cranberry sauce at Thanksgiving? Or maybe you’ve chugged a glass or two of cranberry juice if you feel a UTI coming on? Well, it’s time to broaden your horizons! Fresh cranberries are a revelation! Sweet and juicy, they add a burst of tartness to anything you add them to.

I was pretty excited that one of the Hannaford Markets I work at in Maine had local cranberries from Sugar Hill Cranberry Co. on sale last week for the same price as the Ocean Spray ones (well, technically, Ocean Spray is local to me, too, since they’re in Massachusetts), but I like to support our small local farms!

I popped the whole bag into the freezer, so I can just grab a few whenever I need—a little goes a long way!

I’m a big fan of smoothies for breakfast (or “second breakfast,” if I’ve already had eggs at home). They’re a convenient (and hand-held) way to get in at least 2 servings of fruit and/or veggies, protein, and healthy fats. And, let’s be honest…I’m usually drinking them in the car on my way to work or wherever else I’m headed. Ain’t nobody got time (or dexterity) for a salad on the go!

I stuck with a red theme for this smoothie and combined a handful of the cranberries with some fresh raspberries that were about to go bad in my fridge and some frozen strawberries for good measure.

I’ve been trying to increase my healthy fat consumption, so my smoothie base these days consists of canned coconut milk and unsweetened (cold) coconut milk—I like So Delicious brand (in the green box). To this I usually add a splash of liquid coconut oil, which doesn’t get clumpy in a cold smoothie like regular coconut oil does.

Add protein powder for a protein boost, since none of the ingredients listed above are a significant source of protein. I used pumpkin seed powder and ground flaxseeds for hormone balancing. In general, I recommend that all my clients include a source of protein in every meal and snack for blood sugar balance and so that it keeps you full for longer than an hour or two.

The collagen powder I use also provides 11 grams of protein, but I use that more for the gut health benefits. Nice bonus—it’s also done wonders for my nails! I use marine collagen, because I don’t eat meat, but you could use any good quality grass-fed collagen powder, or just leave it out.

I hope you enjoy this Thanksgiving-themed smoothie…it would make a great breakfast before a day of feasting. You’d get a jump on the cranberries and pumpkin and start your day off with lots of protein and fiber for steady blood sugar!

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