She ate, at Blend Superfood Café and Coffee

I turned 40 last June and just had my cholesterol checked. I’m tickled to share that the number went down, and I attribute that to a lot of good, clean living supported by my favorite breakfast, oatmeal. Although I wouldn’t touch the stuff as a kid, I’ve loved it for my entire adulthood and am always eager to try oats when they’re on a restaurant’s menu. When I heard that Blend was offering a variety of oatmeal, it became a priority for me to make a trip to the west side to get my fix. 

Blend is tricky to locate if you don’t know what you’re looking for. It’s nestled in the corner of a strip mall with a Mexican restaurant at one end and a barbecue restaurant at the other, very close to Zaytoon Mediterranean near the Lansing Mall. For full disclosure, although I love oatmeal, smoothies and healthy food, it took all of my willpower to resist the aroma of smoking meat and order a Green Power smoothie. Smoke N’ Pig, I’m coming back for you.

The lighting inside Blend can appear dim, so keep an eye on its Facebook page to see updated hours and try the door, even if you think the interior lights aren’t on.

As a longtime oatmeal connoisseur, I can tell you Blend’s oats are above average. The base is creamy, not at all sticky or clumpy, and the toppings are all fresh and made to order. On my most recent visit, I tried mine with chocolate chunks, sliced banana, chia seeds, pecans and a drizzle of peanut butter. Healthy, yes, but with just the right amount of decadence.  

The Date Nut Oatmeal Bowl ($7.50) starts with Blend’s traditional oatmeal base, which includes amaranth, super seeds and cinnamon, and is topped with chopped dates, freshly sliced banana, vanilla-almond granola and drizzled peanut butter. I liked it a lot, but I loved the Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Bowl ($7), which was a perfect breakfast with the addition of a scoop of protein powder. 

I also tried the beetroot steamer ($7.50) after seeing a fair amount of chatter about it on social media. A steamer is kind of like a latte, minus the espresso. It’s warm and comforting and just what I needed on a wintry day. The beetroot version is mildly spicy and can be made with any type of milk you like. (I chose oat milk.) I also tried the turmeric steamer during another visit and enjoyed the similar flavor profile but feared that I would splash the brightly colored drink onto my camel-colored overcoat and look a mess. 

Blend doesn’t offer sandwiches or salads, but the acai bowls, smoothies and oatmeal make for a perfectly light meal that packs a nutritional wallop. On my way to argue a motion in Ionia County one afternoon (I’m an attorney by day), I stopped and picked up a Green Power smoothie ($9.75), which includes coconut water, strawberries, green grapes, banana, spinach, spirulina, collagen and ginger — the ginger can be omitted if you don’t like the taste. Coconut water is incredibly hydrating, and during winter in particular, my skin needs all the hydration it can get. I was thrilled to see coconut water as the base of this smoothie, just to add a little additional nutrition to my already health-packed snack.

I frequently make smoothies at home but had never considered the addition of grapes to my mix. It makes sense — grapes freeze well and can add a customizable amount of sweetness. That is, if I can pry them out of the hands of my children, who are like tiny fruit bats. 

Blend isn’t particularly close to my everyday activities, nor is the location easily identifiable. But if you’re looking for an easy way to support a small, local business and do something good for your body, check it out. If you’re anything like me, you’ll fondly remember the beautifully topped oatmeal creations the next time you tear open an envelope of the instant stuff on a chaotic morning.