If you want to eat healthy, it can take much work. But smoothies can make it easier. Smoothies are a delicious way to get in a variety of fruits and vegetables, plus they're easy to make ahead of time and take with you on the go. Smoothies also help you avoid sugar overload because most contain no added sugar! If you want new smoothie ideas, check out these seven recipes below.
Strawberry Banana Protein Shake
Ingredients:
- 1 cup frozen strawberries (you can use fresh, but frozen will keep the shake from getting too watery)
- One banana, peeled and sliced into chunks (you can also use frozen bananas if you don't have any fresh on hand)
- 1 cup nonfat Greek yogurt or cottage cheese (cottage cheese will make this recipe even healthier!)
Directions:
- Add all ingredients to a high-powered blender in the above order and blend until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes total blending time. If needed, add more liquid to get the consistency right for your taste--you want it thick enough to drink it through a straw without choking on pulverized fruit bits! Alternatively, if your blender isn't quite powerful enough yet still manages to break down and liquefy most everything inside its chamber within 30 seconds flat, congratulations on having such an awesome piece of equipment!
Matcha Green Tea Smoothie
- Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup almond milk
- 1/2 cup frozen mango chunks
- 1/2 cup frozen pineapple chunks
- 1/4 cup spinach leaves or kale (you can also use both!)
- 1 teaspoon matcha powder, to taste
Directions: Mix all ingredients in a blender and enjoy!
Healthy Strawberry Smoothie
- 1 cup fresh strawberries, chopped
- 1 banana, peeled and sliced
- 6 ounces almond milk (or any milk)
- 2 cups spinach leaves, packed tight into a measuring cup or mug before adding them to your blender
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds (optional)
- 1 scoop protein powder of your choice (optional) * Ice cubes to taste; the more you add here, the thicker this smoothie will be!
Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Smoothie
- Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup organic peanut butter
- 1 frozen banana, peeled and cut into chunks
- 3/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk or other non-dairy milk of choice (or to taste)
- 1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats (gluten-free if needed)
Raspberry and Coconut Chia Pudding Smoothies
You can make this smoothie with coconut milk, yogurt, and chia seeds. The coconut milk will make it creamy, and chia seeds add protein and fiber. Yogurt also provides protein, so this is a great option if you're looking for a healthy breakfast on the go!
You'll need the following:
- 1 cup frozen raspberries (or fresh)
- 1 frozen banana (peel before freezing)
- 1/2 cup vanilla yogurt or a vegan alternative like soy or almond milk
- 1/4 cup full-fat canned coconut milk
Acai Berry and Tropical Fruit Smoothie Bowls
- Combine the mango, pineapple, and raspberries in a blender or food processor. Process until smooth.
- Add yogurt and milk, then blend again until well combined.
- Drizzle honey over your bowl (if you want), and enjoy!
If you can't find fresh or frozen mango, substitute it for any other fruit you choose (strawberries, pineapple, or blueberries work well). This smoothie is also great with a spoonful of peanut butter stirred in!
Vanilla Peach, Mango, and Jicama Smoothie Bowls
Peaches, mangoes, and jicamas are great fruits for smoothie bowls. They're also super healthy for you!
This recipe calls for vanilla bean powder which gives it a nice flavor. You can make your own by grinding up some whole vanilla beans, or if you don't want to go through the trouble of doing this, use regular vanilla extract instead. If using a regular section, add some extra maple syrup to compensate for its lack of depth compared with freshly ground beans (maple syrup is naturally sweeter than plain sugar).
The other ingredients shouldn't be too difficult to find either: coconut milk, chia seeds (or flaxseed meal), cinnamon sticks, and ginger root should all be available at any grocery store or health food store near where you live; ask someone working there if they have any questions about finding them! Coconut flakes would probably be easiest purchased online since most places don't carry them, but if there's something similar such as shredded coconut, then feel free to use that instead since both will work equally well here, depending on what kind of texture/flavor profile you're going after with each bowl."
Takeaway:
Healthy smoothies are a great way to get more fruits and vegetables into your diet. Smoothies are made by blending ingredients, so they're easy to make at home or on the go. Here are a few tips:
- Use fresh ingredients whenever possible (frozen is okay too).
- Experiment with different combinations of fruit, vegetables, protein powder, and milk/yogurt until you find what works best for you!
Conclusion
We hope these seven smoothie recipes have given you some ideas for what to make next time you're in the mood for something healthy and delicious. What are your favorite ingredients to add to a smoothie? Let us know in the comments below!
