Lemon Date Breakfast Blend

A little lemon makes banana, date, and oats taste brighter, almost like the citrus note in a simple oat biscuit. It should be a small accent rather than an aggressively sour smoothie. Soften a firm date in warm water and drain it before blending, then blend long enough to smooth out the oats. The result is creamy with a gentle caramel sweetness. Drink it soon after making it, since the oats will continue to thicken the glass.

Ingredients

• 6 oz Unsweetened oat milk
• 1/4 oz Lemon juice
• 1 fruit Soft pitted date
• 1/2 fruit Ripe banana
• 1 tbsp Rolled oats

Make it

1. Prepare all fruit as listed. Use cooked, cooled ingredients where specified; remove every stone, core or hard stem.
2. If the date is firm, soak it in warm water for 10 minutes, then drain.
3. Add the milk and all remaining ingredients to a blender. Blend for 45–60 seconds, scraping down as needed, until smooth.
4. Add a small splash of milk if needed to make it pourable. Serve immediately.

Benefits

Dates · a potassium contribution

Dates brings some potassium to the mix—a nutrient involved in normal muscle and nerve function, alongside a mellow, creamy base from oat milk. In this version, 6 oz oat milk, 1/4 oz lemon, 1/2 fruit banana, and 1 tbsp oats completes the pairing.

Oats · texture as well as taste

Blending oats with oat milk, lemon, and dates gives you a thicker, oat-softened texture throughout the drink, with the whole blended ingredients staying in the glass.