Cultured dairy foods, like Lifeway Kefir, are a dream come true for your health, and we’ve got a delicious Blueberry Lavender Dream Smoothie to prove it! This gut-healthy, protein-packed recipe is more than pretty to look at; it’s also filled with goodness from top to bottom.
This smoothie’s magic comes from Lowfat Blueberry Kefir that’s high in protein, abundant in live and active probiotics with billions of cultures per serving, and it’s an excellent source of calcium and vitamin D for bone health. To that, we add antioxidant-rich wild blueberries (a great source of fiber!), calming lavender, magnesium-rich bananas, and a light drizzle of honey for an extra boost of sweetness and immune system support.
We swirled light coconut cream in the bottom and sides of the glasses for a cloud-like effect, but you can always mix it into the main smoothie recipe if you prefer (or leave it out). Feel free to add extra blueberries on top for a garnish, and other toppings you love such as coconut flakes, granola, sliced almonds, or anything else. Want it a little less sweet? Feel free to use plain Lifeway Kefir instead. Any flavor of Lifeway Kefir is always a great choice!
The Benefits of Cultured Dairy for Better Health:
Research continues to show the importance of eating healthy foods, including cultured dairy such as kefir, for better gut health, a strong immune system, and to support the microbiome. Fermented foods like kefir hold important value in this line of research due to the link between the gut-brain axis and overall health. Specifically, kefir has been shown to help diversify the microbiome, improve digestion, reduce inflammation, support healthier blood sugar levels, and improve satiety since the bioavailable protein it triggers the release of GLP-1.
Lifeway Kefir also contains a variety of nutrients that are vital for healthy bones and overall health: vitamin D3, K, calcium, and vitamin B12. Along with our kefir, we also offer our artisan-made Farmer Cheese, a creamy high-protein cheese made with live and active cultures to support a healthy microbiome that’s easy to spread and contains no added salt for optimal heart-health benefits.
Prep Time: 2-3 mins Servings: 2Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups Lowfat Blueberry Kefir
- 1 cup frozen wild blueberries
- 2 frozen bananas
- 1-2 tsp. honey
- 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp. dried lavender buds (culinary grade)
- optional: 1/2 cup whipped coconut cream (for the glasses)
- Garnish: lavender buds, fresh blueberries, and anything else you like
Directions
- Add a few dollops of coconut cream to the bottom of each glass. Set aside.
- Blend together Lifeway Kefir, frozen wild blueberries, the bananas, honey, vanilla, and lavender.
- Pour the smoothie mixture into each prepared glass, then add another dollop of coconut cream on top of the glasses. Garnish with lavender buds and fresh blueberries if desired.
- Boost This Recipe: Add more protein with a scoop of vanilla protein powder, add some collagen for skin support, or raw almond butter for healthy fats.
- For less sweetness: Use Lifeway Plain Kefir instead of blueberry in either our lowfat or whole milk varieties, or leave out the honey and use our blueberry kefir.
