There’s nothing quite like a blueberry muffin in the morning. Then you think about the enriched flour, high sugar content, and simple carbohydrates that are in that muffin. It may fill you up, but it also makes you craves similar foods shortly after because you digest it quickly. Not to mention, your average blueberry muffin has almost no nutritional value. The health benefits of the blueberries get lost in a baked mound of sugar and simple carbs.

The combination of blueberries, cinnamon, and dates gives this smoothie that signature flavor that’s reminiscent of blueberry muffins. What may surprise you about this smoothie is that it does not contain bananas. Typically, bananas are added to smoothies because they make it creamier and impart natural sugars. The sugar comes from the dates and blueberries in this recipe, and the homemade almond milk contributes to a creamier consistency. Not to mention, blending the chia seeds into the smoothie helps to thicken it.

So why the absence of banana? We thought you could use a break from bananas. Additionally, some people are allergic to bananas, most likely attributed to a latex-fruit allergy or pollen-allergy syndrome. If you have one or both of those, you may not be able to eat certain fruits or nuts in their raw state without experiencing some sort of reaction. Fortunately, you don’t need the banana in this smoothie to make it taste great. We encourage you to let us know how this smoothie is in the comments below.