It has been awhile since I have posted a smoothie recipe!  I swear this Strawberry Mango Orange Smoothie was well worth the wait!

Hey, before we talk fresh smoothies, I want to know how your month is going?  Am I the only one that thinks this month has been cattywampus so far?  I know a lot of it has to do with it being January….dark, dreary days and nights DO NOT make for a happy Shaunna.  =)

In fact, I am going to be so bold to say that I have Seasonal Affective Disorder…..SAD for short.  Yes, I have this condition.  Yes I do!

Is it self diagnosed?  Yep!

Do I care?  Nope!

I have SAD, and I am sticking to it!  =)

You can do these kinds of things when it is your blog!   {Yep, shaking my head up and down like a bobble head……}

According to Wikipedia—–> Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is also known as winter depression, winter blues, or seasonal depression, and is considered a mood disorder in which people who have normal mental health throughout most of the year experience depressive symptoms in the winter.   Sound kind of familiar to any of you??

According to specialists, SAD affects around 14 million Americans with the majority being female!  Seriously????  We not only have to deal with PMS, child-birth, Menopause, and now we get to add SAD to the list as well?   What is up with that?   LOL!  

If I had to guess, I would say the majority of SAD victims reside in the North and Midwest.  Those of us dealing with Daylight Savings Time 6 months out of the year!  Most of us aren’t depressed……we just want to hibernate over the long winter waiting for that glorious sunshine to boost our moods and fill our bodies with the energy we so desperately crave!

Dang Hormones!!

Please don’t get me wrong, if it seems like I am making light of SAD…..I am not!  This is a very serious condition for some, and although I am self diagnosed, I can promise you that I suffer numerous winter symptoms:  zero energy, fatigue, need for sleep, wanting to be left alone (hibernation), and feel like I have ADD all the time!

Although I dream of living in the South (Black-Eyed Pea Salad) and cannot wait to get there, I am a realist and know that I have many, many years  ahead in this Northern climate!  How do I try to combat the unending blues?   With lots and lots of Vitamin A & D, with yummy smoothies thrown in for good measure.  Not only do they give me the specific vitamins my body craves, but they remind me of warmer weather to come! 

This Strawberry Mango and Orange Smoothie is the result of needing to use up a lot of citrus that is sitting in my house, thank you FFA fruit sale!!  I am loving this fruity beverage!

This recipe makes enough for 2 people to enjoy, but if you want to be stingy…..just store the remainder in the fridge until you need a ‘pick me up’ in the afternoon.  You know you will need something around 3-4pm….

                          Shaunna

Do any of you feel like you suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)???

What do you do, if anything, to fight off the symptoms??

Strawberry Mango and Orange Smoothie

 

Print

This is a light, refreshing drink that will kick-start your mornings, or enjoyed on a lazy afternoon!

Author: Shaunna

Serves: 1-2

Ingredients:

• 1 cup strawberries
• 1 cup mango, skin peeled, pitted and cut into chunks
• 1 orange, juiced (or ½ cup)
• 1 small banana, peeled
• 8 oz unsweetened Almond Milk

Directions:

1. In blender, blend all ingredients until desired consistency is reached.

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Layered Tropical Smoothie {Mango,Strawberry, Kiwi and Banana} Strawberry Mango Salad Blueberry Pineapple Smoothie {Healthy Inspiration Tuesday #6}