You relocated to Costa Rica to enjoy a relaxing and peaceful lifestyle, the weather, to allow your money to go further, or some combination of that, plus other factors. Yet, you brought your old eating habits along with you. The fact is that eating processed meats, cheeses, and packaged goods costs a lot more in Costa Rica, as many of the brands you are used to are imported.

Well, do yourself a favour, and consider the breakfast smoothie recipe below. You will save your time AND money each morning, while increasing the likelihood that you will reach the century club. Eating well doesn’t have to be hard, or time consuming, nature makes food taste great, you just have to allow your body to enjoy it.

Next Saturday morning head over to the Escazu Farmers Market or Bodega Verde at Avenida Escazu, if you live in another area of the country, ask your Tico neighbours where they buy their fruits and vegetables. You will most likely only need 10,000 Colones to fill your fridge with the fruit and vegetable ingredients for this breakfast smoothie every day of the week for 7 days.

Pickup a few Pineapples, heads of Broccoli, Tomatoes, Bananas, and Oranges. You will also have to make a trip to the grocery store to get Oatmeal.

This breakfast smoothie recipe is designed to be easy and fast. Once you get the hang of it, you won’t even think while preparing it every morning.

Step 1
-use a hand juicer to squeeze the juice from 4 or 5 Oranges, add this to the blender

Step 2
-chop up the Pineapple, using a quarter of a “normal” sized pineapple, add this to the blender

Step 3
-chop up a head of Broccoli, using a quarter of a “normal” sized head, add this to the blender

Step 4
-slice up an entire tomato and a banana, add this to the blender

Step 5
-this step is important, add 1/2 cup of raw Oatmeal to the blender

Step 6
-add 1 litre (or 33 oz) of water to the blender to dilute the orange juice and allow the ingredients to blend better better

Step 7
-put the lid on the blender, turn it on, and allow enough time for the ingredients to work together very well so the juice is smooth

Step 8
-after blending, fill a large cup with your breakfast smoothie and enjoy, it’s best to drink it fast so the ingredients do not settle at the bottom of the cup

*Tip, put the left over ingredients in a bowl in the fridge for breakfast the following day, saving even more time

The Oatmeal from the smoothie will give you slow burning energy for most of the day, plus it is good for your digestion. This may seem like a large breakfast to many of our readers, but if you eat heartily in the morning, the rest of the day you will feel better and this will allow you to focus on work, family, or whatever you are doing in Costa Rica.

It may take awhile to get used to the taste of the raw ingredients, but after a few days your body will start craving all of the vitamins and minerals. Your skin, hair, teeth, and general well being will improve, and you can get the most out of your time here in Costa Rica. Pura Vida!