Besides the jaw dropping color, this paleo Wild Blueberry beet smoothie packs a healthy dose of vitamin C and antioxidants.

I think for the most part, people assume paleo and smoothies don’t mix. Whether it’s due to the dairy, the sweeteners or even the sometimes-used thickeners, smoothies don’t naturally fit into the paleo world. But I beg to differ, and there is no better way to start off a paleo smoothie than by using a wild fruit. Wild Blueberries are a special crop that has grown for over 10,000 years in one special corner of the world (Maine, Eastern Canada and Quebec). They are unchanged by man, and you can’t get more paleo than that.

Here’s a Wild Blueberry and beet smoothie that’s not only delicious but it’s beautiful too. Have a look at that color, naturally derived from the roasted beets and frozen fresh Wild Blueberries! And if the color alone doesn’t entice you into wanting to make this dairy-, gluten- and grain-free treat, the fact that it’s packed with antioxidants, Vitamin C, fiber and potassium will.

When I make my smoothies I like to choose my base first. Since we’re keeping things dairy free here, coconut milk is a great choice. Not only is it creamy and indulgent tasting, using the light canned variety brings a healthy balance of good-for-you fats to the smoothie and also helps curb some of that earthiness from the beets.

After choosing my smoothie base, I like to decide on my sweetener. Since this smoothie contains both fruit and vegetables, a powerful natural sweetener is in order. Bananas are always a good choice since they have a strong sweet flavor and they work much better than maple syrup or honey when trying to counteract something like a beet. They’re also a great complement to the intense Wild Blueberry flavor. These smaller Wild Blueberries pack an unrivaled intensity of sweet and tangy flavors.

I want this smoothie to be more of a meal (rather than a snack), so the next step is to choose my protein. Since we’re not using dairy, adding protein powder or, in this case, collagen peptides is a great way to give the smoothie some staying power. Collagen peptides (my new favorite way to add protein without altering taste or consistency) are creating quite the buzz in the paleo community lately and rightfully so. Derived from grass-fed, pasture raised cows, collagen is vital to our overall wellness and one of the basic building blocks of healthy skin, hair, nails, bones and joints. Collagen dissolves in cold liquids (unlike gelatin) and with no taste of its own, it makes an excellent addition to things like smoothies, drinks, soups and stews when you want a boost of protein but don’t want to alter the flavor or consistency of the dish.

And to finish off your smoothie, don’t forget the toppings! Arguably the best part of any smoothie is the sprinkling of toppings. Toasted coconut flakes and a few frozen Wild Blueberries help highlight the flavors already in this smoothie but the world is your oyster with this step. For paleo options, think nuts, seeds, fruit or even a drizzle of nut butters. Coconut butter would be fabulous on top of this one!

All of these ingredients combined with tiny, flavorful frozen fresh Wild Blueberries make this Wild Blueberry & beet smoothie one heck of a start to the day!