Dairy-Free Strawberry Oatmeal Smoothie

Oh, Spiriteds, remember that On-the-Go Strawberry Breakfast Smoothie I shared last year? You know, the one our family consumes more than any other recipe on this blog? Well, it has a predecessor. An inspirer. A muse? Once we gave up grains, I tucked it away and came up with last year’s recipe instead. But now that we’re eating grains in small quantities, Dairy-Free Strawberry Oatmeal Smoothie, in all its deliciousness, is BAAAACK. And I cannot even. Ooh, and which one wore it better? First off, I don’t like those contests, unless they are knowingly ridiculous and aren’t meant to constitute official news. Secondly, both smoothies are delicious and serve completely different purposes.

Okay, so what does it even taste like? Only the best GLUTEN-FREE strawberry cobbler ever. And then also it’s amazing. It was one of my favorite recipes when we gradually moved to a whole foods lifestyle, the first smoothie I concocted, I think. A vegan smoothie (I wasn’t even trying at the tine), it’s filling with just the right amount of sweet. This delectable drink takes just a matter of minutes to make, and as a busy mom on the go, that is paramount to me.

This last point is especially important since we just registered the girls for summer activities. As we were signing them up, I thought to myself, heh heh heh, this smoothie is going to be my wingman. Wingwoman? Anyway, strawberries and oatmeal are going to be with me as I drop off and pick up and whatever else the summer entails. I’ll be listening to the girls yammer about who did what and when. Also where. Spiriteds, I seriously cannot even. Two littles with evolving social lives, chitter-chattering in the backseat while I sip this? Cue Natalie Merchant and 10,000 Maniacs because these are days.

But you know what else is paramount? The ingredients. So, let’s talk fresh strawberries and gluten-free oats (I like Bob’s Red Mill). They are made for each other. No, really. This is love, Spiriteds. Don’t mess with fate. Fresh strawberries and gluten-free oats WANT to be together. They just do. And while I have a hard time letting go of my sweet tooth, I do think you can make this smoothie without a lot of added sweetener, or any at all. It will depend on the freshness of your strawberries, hence I have made the sweetener optional.

Let’s also talk almond milk, especially since you can add whatever milk strikes your fancy. I have used rice milk and almond milk in this recipe and enjoyed the final results. I typically select unsweetened vanilla-flavored milks. Again, they add the right amount of sweetness without being overkill and without feeling heavy. Dairy-Free Strawberry Oatmeal Smoothie is like a warm, comforting, familiar hug.

So when do I drink this new original smoothie with oatmeal, and when do I drink the other strawberry smoothie I have loved so much? The honest answer is, it depends on what I think I need at the moment. Do I need something full of healthy fats (think avocado) or do I want something with a few carbs and some fiber (think oatmeal)? Although my body does best when I limit grains, I will say that if I could drink Dairy-Free Strawberry Oatmeal Smoothie everyday for every meal, I would. I got giddy just putting this recipe together for you, so excited to pull this one out of the vault.

The word “vault” isn’t too far-fetched either. I made this recipe countless times years ago without ever writing it down. So this turned into an enjoyable stroll down memory lane as I threw ingredients into the blender and tinkered away to recreate my beloved smoothie.

The recipe, as shown below, will give you a thinner smoothie that is easy to drink through a straw. It will thicken as it stands, however. So, if you want it thicker, you can leave it in the fridge for a few hours, or overnight, and drink/eat it that way. Alternatively, reduce the amount of milk by 1/4-1/2 cup, adding additional only if absolutely necessary to encourage blending. Then drink your smoothie, or (and I do mean this seriously) eat it with a spoon as I have been wont to do.

Is it possible to have too many berry smoothies? Nope. Not when they taste like these. So whether you pick On-the-Go Strawberry Breakfast Smoothie or Dairy-Free Strawberry Oatmeal Smoothie, you can’t go wrong. But, Spiriteds, it was absolutely delightful introducing you to this new old recipe today. Thank you for reading. Now grab a straw (or a spoon), pull up a chair, and tell me about your day.

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