Milkshakes for breakfast. Not quite what you might expect from food to glow. Kale shakes, like my kale berry smoothie  perhaps. But not a milkshake. And most certainly not one for breakfast.

I have previously had a rant about terrible breakfasts, but not a word did I write about milkshakes. Who in their right mind would have a milkshake for breakfast? All that sugar and saturated fat? Surely this is something only children might crave. Well… despite my predilection for savoury, kale-infested packed breakfasts (my recipe index tells all…), the idea of a milkshake – a healthy one – on a hot summer’s day actually sounds kinda nice. So, if I think it sounds nice,  99% of the population probably thinks so too. And, this bad boy is adults only. Unless you like your children wired and tearing around the house like Superman.

This healthy frozen froth gets its wakeup call from coffee, frozen bananas, and a surprise ingredient…oats. You read me right. Oats. Toasted or straight from the packet – doesn’t matter. I know it sounds completely bonkers but trust me, it works. Being an adopted Scots, oats are a big part of breakfast equations: as porridge, in granola, as rough and ready muesli, in muffins, breakfast-ish bars, pancakes. And now it joins forces with frozen bananas (which also make a dreamy one-step ice cream), cold coffee and a smidge of almond butter to make an incredible breakfast shake. No added sugar, but plenty of energy-boosting protein.

If you want to smooth out the screechy caffeine edges, go decaf. Or even leave out the coffee altogether and use all milk (dairy or non-dairy, as you like) with perhaps a dash of coffee extract (Nielsen-Massey will sort you out). See the other options below – mocha anyone?

So, if your usual porridge and hot coffee (or danish and coffee?) have you all hot and bothered, whiz your way to a summer wakeup shake. I won’t tell, if you won’t.

PS If you want to know what I got up to last weekend, see this post by the wonderful and talented Sally at My Custard Pie. Warning: this post might make you hungry!

Frozen Banana and Almond Wakeup Shake

Now, what are you waiting for? Get those bananas in the freezer!

4-6 tbsp porridge oats (amount, your preference)

Lay the banana slices on a parchment-paper lined tray and whack in the freezer for 1 hour, or overnight.

When you are ready for your amazing breakfast, pop everything in to a blender or use a stick/immersion blender and blend until ultra-smooth and creamy. You can also pop this into a freezable container and use as an ice cream too. If you do this, perhaps top with flaked, toasted almonds.

Nutrition Notes: Oats and bananas are the star turns here, but even coffee gets some plus points. As for the oats, well what can I say that you don’t already know? Loads of fibre (obvs), including cholesterol-lowering and gut-cleansing beta-glucan, but also quite a bit of plant protein in the form of avenalin. Add to this some manganese, selenium, phosphorus, iron and magnesium and you have a great way to start the day. Bananas are  also a decent source of fibre, and have good amounts of Vitamin B 6, lutein and Vitamin A (betacarotene). This popular fruit is perhaps most ‘famous’ for being a very rich source of the workout-recovery nutrient, potassium. 

I am sending this to Mark over at Javelin Warrior’s Cookin’ W/ Luv Made With Love Mondays. I don’t think I have ever sent him a drink so I hope he doesn’t think I am an imposter 😀