Best Smoothie To Drink In The Morning

What Are The Healthiest Things To Put In A Smoothie

While fruit is healthy for you, it does contain a large amount of natural sugar. For this reason, I recommend adding a good source of protein, healthy fats, and fiber to your smoothies in order to make them more satisfying and nutrient-dense. This will help you to stay fuller longer and prevent any blood sugar spikes. Some of my favorite additions include chia seeds, hemp hearts, flaxseeds, avocado, nut butter, kale/greens.

Is It Healthy To Have A Smoothie Every Day

If youre looking to put your own blender to use and start making smoothies at home, youre already one step ahead with saving yourself money and ensuring you have full control over what goes into your drink. Enjoying a smoothie every day is totally fine if you make sure it has a good balance of nutrients.

That said, dietitians say its actually better to chew and swallow food rather than drinking it for fullness, so its probably best to limit your intake to one smoothie a day and enjoy proper meals and snacks throughout the day. And if youre aiming to make your smoothie a meal, try to include at least 25 grams of protein if its a snack, go for at least 10 grams of protein.

These delicious, healthy smoothies make it easier to eat right with nutrient-rich fruit and veggies, creamy milk, protein, probiotic-rich yogurt, and other nutritious ingredients. Just a note: Some of these recipes contain fruit juice or honey to up the sweetness, but if youre looking to cut added sugar from your diet, you can nix those ingredients.

Some of these recipes are from Smoothies & Juices, the book from Preventions Healing Kitchen series. Give these recipes a try, and feel free to tweak and experiment to create your own perfect blend.

Creating A Healthy Breakfast Smoothie

A breakfast protein smoothie can provide sustainable energy without the crash through simple, whole food carbs. They also contain necessary fiber to break down those carbs, along with healthy fats.

These natural fats help the body feel full, minimizing cravings throughout the day. Breakfast smoothies for weight loss are super easy to create, taste incredible, and are for real healthy. Kale yeah!

The 4 recipes highlighted below are delicious, yet don’t be afraid to create your own breakfast smoothies too! Here are a few tips to becoming a smoothie creating machine.

• Follow the 1.5-1-1 rule: this means 1.5 cups of fruit, 1 cup leafy greens, 1 cup liquid

• To stay full longer + have sustainable energy boost that smoothie with a healthy fat + protein

• Use seasonal fruits as well as veggies to get the most bang for your buck when it comes to nutrients

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Expert Breakfast Smoothie Tips

• Use frozen banana or frozen mango, or both for this smoothie. Having at least one type of frozen fruit will help the smoothie blend up into a thick and creamy smoothie. If you use all fresh fruit, the smoothie will have a thin texture.
• If you prefer a sweeter smoothie, use a riper banana. If you prefer a less sweet smoothie, use a less ripe banana.
• Always add liquids to your blender first, followed by seeds, then greens, then the fruit on top. This will allow the blender to blend more easily.

A Healthy Protein Shake

The biggest advantage of a protein shake is in the name. This type of shake acts as a source of protein, which helps you to feel satisfied and full of energy.

Many people use protein shakes instead of breakfast, perhaps because they hope to lose weight or perhaps because they dont have time for a full meal. Whatever the reason, protein shakes can be a good choice. Some even contain a decent amount of nutrients.

But, a protein shake is only a good morning choice if it is well made.

Some protein shake recipes use large amounts of fruit and even fruit juice, while missing out many powerful smoothie add-ins. Such drinks often end up being high in sugar and low in nutrients.

Choosing the right protein powder is an important place to begin. You can also think about the type of milk and whether you want extra ingredients or not. The main goal is to create a filling nutritional shake that will keep you going.

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Caramel Apple Overnight Oatmeal Smoothie

This vegan, gluten-free breakfast smoothie is perfect for cold mornings when youre craving a fall treat. Dont worry: Theres no caramel in this recipe. Instead, this blogger subs in dates to add natural sweetness, along with antioxidants, fiber, and minerals. Rolled oats also pack fiber and protein, while apples and cinnamon give that undeniably heartwarming taste. This dreamy mixture sits in the fridge overnight, saving you so much time in the mornings.

Odwalla’s Original Superfood Fruit Smoothie

Think twice before you pick up this tempting bottle. “One that I find particularly misleading is Odwalla’s Original Superfood Fruit Smoothie, which is green and covered in imagery of whole fruits and vegetables,” says Moon. “The first ingredient is a filler juice filler juices refer to juices like clarified apple and grape juice. They dilute the more expensive ingredients, and they don’t offer much positive nutrition. Plus, anything that makes it green, when all combined, makes up less than 1% of the smoothie. It’s fat-free, and has minimal protein or fiberso it’s not going to be very satisfying. For all these reasons, I’d avoid this smoothie brand’s bottle, even though it’s high in potassium, vitamin A, and vitamin C .”

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How To Make Smoothies //

I like to make a batch of 3 or 4 almond milk smoothies at a time. If I make 5, it is too much for the blender.

Keep your make ahead almond milk smoothies in the freezer until you need a quick breakfast on the go. The consistency is best if you allow them to thaw at room temperature. I dont recommend thawing them in the refrigerator unless you prefer very loose smoothies.

The 7 Best Bottled Smoothie Brands You Can Buy

Of course, you can’t beat the ease of picking up a bottled smoothie, since it can save you precious time in the kitchen whipping a smoothie up . “Convenience is a major plus when it comes to these smoothies. With many of us battling on-the-go schedules, it can be hard to get in a truly balanced meal or snack. These convenient smoothies make for reliable options on the busiest of days,” adds Fine.

Below, nutritionists share their favorite healthy bottled smoothie picks and some of the worst offenders in Smoothieville. Read on and gulp up.

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Berry Good Workout Smoothie

Get the energy you need to power through your workout in minutes with this easy-to-make smoothie recipe. For an extra dose of calcium, try adding a teaspoon of Organic Kale Powder.

What youll need: 1 1/2 cups chopped strawberries, 1 cup blueberries, 1/2 cup raspberries, 2 Tbsp. honey, 1 tsp. fresh lemon juice, and 1/2 cup ice cubes. Blend until smooth.

Nutrition: 162 cal, 2 g pro, 41.5 g carb, 6 g fiber, 32 g sugars, 1 g fat

Banana Clementine & Mango Smoothie

Kick-start your day with this deliciously refreshing drink, made with fresh fruit and yogurt. It’s rich in vitamin C and counts as one of your 5-a-day

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Banana Almond Protein Smoothie

Creamy almond butter offers healthy fats, while coconut water helps restore electrolytes after a tough workout. Greek yogurt and a scoop of whey keep the protein content high.

In a blender, add 1/2 cup coconut water, 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt, 3 Tbsp. almond butter, 1 scoop whey protein powder, 1 Tbsp. hemp seeds, 1 frozen banana, and 1 cup ice. Process until smooth The recipe serves 2.

Nutrition: 329 cal, g pro, 26 g carb, 5 g fiber, 15 g sugars, 17 g fat

Autoimmune Disease Healthy Journey:

Here is where I am going to get a little personal. I was a healthy and active girl when I got hit with an autoimmune disease that rocked my world. I visited the doctor and he performed an insane amount of blood tests to figure out what was going on with my body.

I was dealing with the debilitating effects of several autoimmune diseases — rheumatoid arthritis and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis diseases, among others.

I didn’t think I would be dealing with arthritis in my 30’s! My weight had even skyrocketed for no apparent reason .

After many blood tests confirmed I was dealing with several autoimmune issues, I was referred to both a rheumatologist and endocrinologist to deal with the effects of my immune system going haywire. The specialists wanted to put me on a host of medications to help with the swelling and inflammation, all with a list of negative side effects. I felt as if I was ALWAYS at the doctor. I didn’t want to just put on a band-aid.

I went home and my husband and I just sobbed together on the couch , afraid of what the future might hold. After a good cry, I felt determined to figure out what the ROOT cause of my health issues was. I started studying like crazy. I began driving around to every library in town, picking up stacks of health books, and researching everything I could about my disease. I became a full-on nerd!

Here are some of the healing vitamins, herbs and supplements that have helped me with my autoimmune diseases:

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How To Make A Smoothie

Smoothies are perfect for quick breakfasts and healthy snacks because they are so quick and easy to make! You just add all of the smoothie ingredients to your blender and blend until smooth. A high-powered blender, such as a Vitamix, isnt necessary, but if you plan to make smoothies often I think its a worthwhile investment.

Looking for more smoothie recipes? Check out my collection of the Best Smoothie Recipes.

Naked Fruit And Veggie Smoothie Kale Blazer

“Naked Kale Blazer is more of a green juice, but without any added sugar, is a great way to pack in a punch of nutrition especially when on-the-go,” offers Fine. “I like that it gets in juices from both veggies and fruit, which helps to reduce the overall sugar content as compared to other competitive options.”

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Matcha Green Tea Latte

If youre not interested in a conventional cup of tea, a matcha green tea latte could be a good alternative. This drink doesnt contain any coffee. Instead, milk and matcha powder are the main ingredients.

Because youre using matcha powder rather than tea leaves, creating the drink is simple indeed. The most important thing is to first mix the matcha powder with some water until you get a smooth paste. This prevents any lumps in your finished drink.

A matcha latte can be made hot or cold, simply by choosing whether you use hot or cold milk. You can also add in a little sugar to offset the bitterness of the green tea.

You dont need to stick to dairy milk either. Many recipes use plant-based milk instead, such as coconut milk or perhaps almond milk.

What Makes Some Smoothie Options Unhealthy

Even Moon admits it is no easy feat to pick the best store-bought smoothies: “Honestly, most of what you find on grocery shelves includes a lot of filler juices, and it’s challenging to find smart options.”

Sugar, in particular, can be a big concern when selecting a bottled smoothie.

“While smoothies can usually be a great way to get in nutritious micronutrients like vitamins and minerals, the main distinguisher here is sugar content,” states Rachel Fine, MS, RD, CSSD, registered dietitian, and owner of To The Pointe Nutrition.

“Many bottled smoothies contain a heaping dose of sugar . While we definitely want to reduce the overall consumption of added sugar throughout our day, a large dose of sugar can lead to blood glucose spikes soon after consumption.”

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Green Weight Loss Smoothies

Popping into a juice bar for a cold cup of extruded kale juice may be all the rage, but when it comes to both nutritional impact and weight-loss power, juices can’t hold a candle to smoothies.

• First, most commercial juices use apple juice, which is a high-sugar, low-nutrient base.
• Second, juicing strips all the natural fiber out of produce: the rough stuff is what makes it good.
• And third, juices lack fat and protein without these crucial elements, you’re getting no fat-burning, metabolism-boosting benefits.

Next time you want to drink your veggies, blend up one of these seriously nutritious recipes from the book Zero Belly Smoothies.

All recipes make one serving.

Healthy Smoothies That Taste Good

I love coming up with different smoothies each morning and combining different fruits and vegetables. This is my favorite Wellness Smoothie Recipe. It is loaded with amazing nutrients like fiber, manganese, potassium, antioxidants and more that help lower blood pressure, improve heart health, reduce inflammation, reduce stomach issues, increase energy, and boost brain health.

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Did You Make This Recipe

Tag @HealthyHelper on Instagram and hashtag it #healthyhelper

Notes for all recipes:

• If youre not using frozen fruit youll need to add ice.
• All milks can be subbed for water, but the smoothies will not be as thick and creamy.
• You may need to add more liquid depending on the strength of your blender.

All of these also make GREAT smoothie bowl bases if you feel like eating your smoothie instead of drinking it!

The Best Carbohydrate For Sweet Breakfast Smoothies

Hands down the best carbohydrate for sweet and creamy breakfast smoothies is one half frozen banana.

It is essential that you use a frozen banana to achieve that delicious creamy consistency.

It is also the most natural sugar you can add to your smoothie.

If you dont like bananas, replace them with ½ cup of frozen mango. Thats the next best thing.

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Nutty & Chocolatey Weight Loss Smoothies

Have you ever heard of the “health halo”? It’s a term nutrition experts use to describe foods that use a healthy-sounding word like natural on their labels, or add ingredients that people think of as good for you , but which are really junk at heart.

These smoothies are the reverse of that theory. These drinks are tremendously nutritiousâpacked with as much, or more, fiber, protein, and healthy fats as any other drinks in the whole book. But they seem like they’re bad for you. How can drinks that seem like they came right from the ice cream shop flatten your belly so effectively?

These are the drinks you’ll whip up on a night when you want something to satisfy your ice cream jones. They’re the recipes you’ll lean on when your kids are complaining that they want something sweet for dessert. And they’re the drinks you’ll use to reward yourself after a hard day at work or in the gym. Deep, comforting, and delicious, these filling smoothies taste more like dessert than what they really areâpowerful weight-loss weapons, compliments of the new book, Zero Belly Smoothies.

All recipes make one serving.

Can You Make Fruit Smoothies The Night Before And Keep Them In The Fridge//

Yes, you can. If you make your smoothies the night before, and keep them in the fridge overnight, they will be perfectly good to drink the next day. You can keep them for up to 48 hours but we recommend drinking them before 24 hours if you want to keep maximum nutrition and taste!

My husband became hooked on almond milk make ahead smoothies last year, after we bought a high-speed blender. He drinks one every single morning. I am thrilled about this because there was a time not so long ago when he would never dream of eating fruits or vegetables. He has graduated from straight fruit to fruits and vegetables. Now, I can even get him to drink chia seed in his smoothies. We have come a long way.

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Kickstart Healthy Habits Through Food

Another way to kick-start healthy eating habits is by utilizing whole foods to help the body reset. Check out my Seasonal Cleanse for a week-long cleanse that will get you on your way to whole body health. I don’t believe in weight loss through deprivation, instead I want to fuel my body the right way through energy-filled food.

Blueberry And Spinach Superfood Green Smoothie

The Spruce

All-natural, vegan, low-calorie, and raw, this superfood smoothie is nutritious and delicious. Antioxidant-rich blueberries and iron-rich spinach will start your day off right. This drink doesn’t contain any sweeteners, but you can add a touch of honey or use fruit juice as the liquid if you like. Using a very ripe banana will naturally sweeten things up, too.

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How To Make A Green Smoothie Taste Good

The question everyone asks when it comes to green smoothiesCan you taste the greens?

When youre making a green smoothie, you want to be careful with how much veggies you add to it. If you add in too much spinach or kale, you may end up with a smoothie that tastes likewell, spinach or kale!

I generally add about a handful of spinach or kale to my green smoothies, which I find is the perfect amount. Another trick to making a green smoothie taste good is to use tropical fruits like mango or pineapple!