Healthiest Smoothies To Make At Home

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Is Having A Smoothie For Breakfast Healthy

3 Healthy Detox Smoothies You Can Make At Home!

Yes! But as we discussed earlier in this post, not all smoothies are created equal. I highly recommend a green smoothie in the morning, with minimal fruit. This is my favorite morning green smoothie recipe.

If youre going to use fruit, stick to berries like blueberries, raspberries, or strawberries and banana. Try measuring your fruit and using 1/2 cup or less in total. This will help to prevent a blood sugar spike.

Fruit smoothies like the ones Ill share below are best enjoyed as an afternoon treat. I love to share one with my daughter after school. Either way, making your own smoothies at home are way more healthy than the store-bought versions!

How To Make Smoothies Sweeter

Now, I know you’re probably wondering how the heck you make your smoothies sweeter then!

We all have varying levels of taste when it comes to sweetness. For me personally, as I’ve incorporated less sugar into my diet over time, I’ve gotten used to things tasting less sweet.

Bananas are great natural sweeteners and they are often more than enough when you’re making a smoothie.

Here are some other sweetener ideas below:

  • applesauce
  • dates
  • Avocado

Best And Worst Smoothies

Theyâre refreshingly cool, come in fun, fruity flavors, and are served with a straw. Whatâs not to like about smoothies? Theyâre so popular that you can now find them at fast food restaurants, grocery stores — even coffee shops. But while smoothies may sound like a healthy treat, sometimes theyâre anything but.

Smoothies are usually made with healthy ingredients like soy milk, fresh or frozen fruit, skim milk, or yogurt. But some also feature plenty of high-fat and/or high-sugar items like ice cream, peanut butter, sweetened syrups, or chocolate. What you can end up with is a drink that has upwards of 600 calories, enough saturated fat to rival a double cheeseburger, and carbohydrate grams in the triple digits — and thatâs just for the small size.

Consider: A 20-ounce serving of Smoothie Kingâs The Hulk-Strawberry has more calories than a Burger King Double Cheeseburger with a medium order of French fries . Dairy Queenâs Tropical Blizzard has more total fat and saturated fat than the same fast-food meal.

If youâre looking for a healthy smoothie, your best bet is usually to keep it simple. The label on Emerald Cityâs Fruity Supreme Smoothie, for example, shows just four ingredients: banana, strawberry, nonfat milk, and protein. Any smoothie that includes nonfat milk, soy milk, or yogurt will likely contribute a nice dose of protein, along with other goodies like vitamin D, B-12, and/or calcium.

Also Check: Smoothie King Center Seat Map

Dont Add Extra Sweeteners

Fruit is naturally very sweet and contains plenty of sugar. This means that generally if you fruit is ripe, there should be no need to add extra sugar that means adding extra calories.

Avoid using sweetened products such as yogurt and remember that even more natural sugars such as honey contain just as many calories.

Can I Freeze Smoothies

Pineapple Spinach Green Smoothie recipe with Chia seeds is ...

If you prefer to store your blended green smoothies in the freezer, you can portion them out into ice cubes until frozen. Then pop the smoothie cubes out and store in a clear resealable bag or Stasher bag for up to 3 months.

Then when youre drink your breakfast smoothie, simply thaw in the fridge about an hour beforehand in a glass cup.

You can also freeze the smoothies in a mason jar for up to 3 months. Be sure not fill the mason jar all the way to the top, otherwise, the jar can shatter. When youre ready to drink your healthy smoothie, thaw the mason jar in the fridge the night before or a few hours beforehand.

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Lemon Kale Protein Detox

Putting lemon in your blender is like taking out a nutrition insurance policy for your smoothie. That’s because a significant percentage of the antioxidant polyphenols in any food or drink break down before they reach your bloodstream. But researchers at Purdue University discovered that adding lemon juice to the equation helped preserve the polyphenols.

  • ½ lemon, peeled and seeded
  • ½ frozen banana
  • ½ cup unsweetened almond milk
  • 1 scoop plain plant-based protein powder
  • 3 ice cubes
  • Water to blend

NUTRITION: 254 calories / 7 g fat / 20 g carbs / 5 g fiber / 10 g sugar / 30 g protein

What Are The Health Benefits Of Green Smoothies

Kale – Insanely low in calories. Powerful anti-oxidant with anti-inflammatory properties. Helpful for arthritis and autoimmune diseases. Helps to create that youthful glow.

Spinach – The beauty of spinach lies in how easy it is to disguise the taste. It’s mild tasting yet packed with an abundance of vitamins, has anti-cancerous properties and is one of the healthiest foods on the planet.

Cucumber – Since it’s 95% water, its an incredible detoxifier. Helps with liver and kidney function.

Lemon – The “happy fruit” – one of the most important items to stock in your kitchen. It’s a highly effective cleansing agent and cuts through the bitterness of greens.

Banana – An essential in smoothies as it adds creaminess, a touch of sweetness, and helps you feel full longer. Plus, it’s rich in potassium and fiber and gives you natural energy.

Pure Apple Juice – Since it’s packed with Vitamin C, it’s a friend to your immune system. The sweet juice counteracts the bitterness of the greens and leaves a refreshing taste.

If you want to up the ante on the health benefits, swap your apple juice with water and add a whole apple instead. You will be increasing your fiber as whole fruits are always preferable to juice. My kids definitely prefer the apple juice but we do both in our home.

This isn’t your overly sweet smoothie that you will be sipping for hours. It’s best consumed right away and use a straw because you will want to stir around all of the amazing blended whole foods.

Recommended Reading: Chia Banana Boost Tropical Smoothie

How To Meal Prep Smoothies

Believe it or not, you can meal prep smoothies in a variety of ways!

I love to make Smoothie Freezer Packs that you can either freeze in Ziploc bags or in mason jars for zero waste.

The basic premise is that you add all your fillings, then add the milk/Greek yogurt fresh the day you go to make them. You can make a ton of different combos in advance and then you have your smoothies meal prepped and waiting for you without the hassle of getting everything out.

This method is great for when you have to get out the door fast but you still want a freshly blended smoothie.

How Long Will Healthy Smoothies Last in the Fridge?

You can also blend a few smoothies up to 3 days in advance I find that just like cold-pressed juices, smoothies will last a few days in the fridge. They won’t quite be as good as fresh, but nothing in the smoothie is necessarily going to go bad so you can make a few at a time to enjoy later.

I wouldn’t recommend leaving them past 3 days because the bananas or other leafy greens can go bad but you do have a couple days to enjoy.

Lean Mean Green Machine

how to make healthy smoothies at home to lose weight. #smoothies, #healthysmoothies

If youre looking for a post-workout recovery drink, this smoothie is it. Protein powder helps replenish the energy you burned, sweet banana and kiwi provide potassium and vitamin C, while coconut water helps you rehydrate.

In a blender, add 1 medium banana , 1 kiwi , 1 cup unsweetened almond milk, 1 cup spinach, 1 scoop vanilla whey protein powder, 1/2 cup coconut water. Pulse until creamy and smooth.

Nutrition : 304 calories, 5 g fat, 22 g protein, 47 g carb

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Healthy Superfood Smoothie Recipes

Did you know that many store-bought smoothies are very high in sugar and calories? I used to grab one for a healthy boost all the time when I was in my twenties not knowing that they were doing the opposite. Most store-bought smoothies use juice, way too much fruit and flavored yogurt. These ingredients can add up to your daily recommended sugar intake in just one drink! But the truth is that its much healthier and cheaper to make your smoothies at home.

Theres actually a simple trick that you can use to make healthier smoothies: Use less fruit, no fruit juices, and no flavored yogurt. Fruit juice are high in sugar and totally unnecessary for a smoothie. The same goes for yogurt if youre going to use it, which I do in the raspberry yogurt recipe below, then you only want to use plain yogurt with no added sugar or flavorings.

The Best And Worst Smoothies

And now for my list of the best and worst smoothies, from a nutritional standpoint. To be considered for the list, the item had to be called a âsmoothieâ or something very similar. The serving sizes range from 10 ounces to 24 ounces, so I ranked them by calories per ounce.

All of the smoothies in the âbestâ list are free of saturated fat, contain no more than 61 grams of carbohydrate and at least 4 grams of fiber, and have 17 calories or less per ounce.

Read Also: Healthy Smoothies You Can Buy

Whats The Best Blender For Making Smoothies

Blenders have gotten so advanced in the past few years, that its hard to pick one that wont blend up a great smoothie! If youre blender shopping, here are the three blenders we recommend for daily smoothie-making:

  • MOST AFFORDABLE: Cuisinart Immersion/Stick BlenderDont let its small size fool you, this tiny handheld blender is packed full of power, and will easily make a smoothie for you every day! Its perfect if youre limited on counter space.
  • MEDIUM: Ninja Professional BlenderFor under $100, you get an incredibly powerful blender that makes a dreamy, creamy smoothie. This was the blender we used in the Wholefully test kitchen for years, and its a great starter-level, but still high-powered, blender.
  • SPLURGE: Vitamix Professional BlenderA Vitamix is the top of the line when it comes to blenders, and its what we use every day in the Wholefully test kitchen. It comes with a hefty price tag , so if youre just blending a smoothie every now and again, there is no need to make the splurge. But if you do a lot of cooking or make a lot of smoothies or blended drinks, you might want to start saving your pennies for a Vitamix. Its a lifetime appliance that is a dream to use!

What Are The Health Benefits Of Juicing

How to Make a Healthy Smoothie at Home

According to the Mayo Clinic, by drinking freshly made juices, your body can absorb the nutrients better than eating whole fruits and vegetables and it gives your digestive system a rest from working on fiber. They say that juicing can reduce your risk of cancer, boost your immune system, help remove toxins from your body, aid digestion and help you lose weight. Fresh juices can give you a burst of energy and a clear mind.

Read Also: Healthy Smoothies For Cancer Patients

How To Make A Fruit Smoothie

Making a fruit smoothie is as simple as tossing ingredients in a blender and letting it rip, but we want to make sure you succeed every time, so heres our exact process:

  • Add liquid to your blender. I typically use unsweetened almond milk, but you could use any other kind of milk, fruit juice, or even just water.
  • Add in any fibrous foods. If you are adding in spinach or other greens, this is the time to toss them in.
  • Add in your frozen fruits and vegetables. I like to keep at least frozen bananas and frozen strawberries on hand for smoothie making. Any frozen fruit works!
  • Add any fresh fruits or veggies youd like to use. Here is where youll toss in fresh strawberries or an avocado half.
  • Top it off with your favorite nutrition mix-ins. Add protein powder, collagen, chia seeds, turmericwhatever youd like to boost the nutrition of the smoothie.
  • Blend away! I like to start my blender on low and then slowly ramp up to full speed. This makes sure everything is mixed well and the blades dont get stuck. I blend until the smoothie looks silky, and then I pour and enjoy.
  • Read Also: Large Strawberry Banana Smoothie Mcdonalds Price

    How To Make The Smoothies:

  • Put all of the fruit together in a blender with 1 cup of water.
  • Blend on medium for 30 seconds.
  • Check consistency everything should be well blended with no big fruit chunks remaining. If there are still big chunks of fruit, add another 1/2 cup water and blend for 15 seconds longer.
  • Stop again and check consistency, and if everything is smooth add the milk and any flavorings or powders. Blend again for 15-30 seconds. If the smoothie is too thick, add more milk until it reaches a consistency that you like .
  • Pour into a cup and enjoy! Pro trip put water in the blender as soon as youre done using it, otherwise its a massive pain to clean later. Also, the smoothies feel way more fancy if you put them in a glass cup and use plastic or metal reusable straws Ive linked my favorites above with the equipment.
  • Also Check: Fat Burning Smoothies For Weight Loss

    Green Tea Blueberry And Banana Smoothie

    To prepare this smoothie featuring antioxidant-rich green tea, simply heat 3 Tbsp. of water in a bowl in the microwave until its steaming hot. Then, add 1 green tea bag and allow it to brew for 3 minutes. Remove the tea bag and stir in 2 tsp. honey until it dissolves. Combine 1 1/2 cups frozen blueberries, 1/2 medium banana, and 3/4 cup calcium-fortified light vanilla soy milk into a blender. Add the tea and process all ingredients until smooth.

    Nutrition :269 calories, 2.5 g fat, 3.5 g protein, 63 g carbs , 38.5 g sugars

    The Best Carbohydrate For Sweet Breakfast Smoothies

    HOW to make HEALTHY Smoothies at Home to Lose Weight/ What TV

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

    Its essential that you use a frozen banana to achieve that delicious creamy smoothie consistency.

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

    If you dont like banana replace by 1/2 cup frozen mango. Thats the next best thing.

    Also Check: How Do You Make A Smoothie In A Blender

    How To Build A Better Smoothie According To A Nutritionist

    If youre turning to smoothies as part of your strategy to lose weight or take your healthy eating up a notch, your menu may need a little attention. Done right, smoothies can make nutritious sense, packing satisfying ingredients along with fiber, vitamins, minerals and other health-protecting substances. But even some of the most healthful smoothie ingredients can add up to a lot of calories and therefore, interfere with your weight loss goals or worse, lead to unintentional weight gain. Read on to find out if youre making some common smoothie mistakes, discover how to build the best smoothie and find nutritionist-approved recipes to get your smoothie-making up to speed.

    Easy Healthy Smoothie Recipes:

    Today I am sharing FIVE easy smoothies that are perfect as part of a healthy breakfast, pre or post workout snack or a quick pick me up to help keep you full until your next meal.

    These delicious smoothie recipes are all naturally vegetarian, vegan friendly, dairy free and Whole30 compliant but feel free to adjust the ingredients according to your dietary preferences.

  • Green Smoothie with Avocado click the link OR scroll to the bottom for the full recipe
  • Orange Smoothie OR Lemon Smoothie for low carb scroll to the bottom for the full recipe
  • Blackberry Kale Smoothie click the link OR scroll to the bottom for the full recipe
  • Strawberry Smoothie click link the link OR scroll to the bottom for the full recipe
  • Spinach Smoothie scroll to the bottom for the full recipe
  • Most of these healthy fruit smoothie recipes are made with only 5 Ingredients or less. They are full of fiber, protein, and healthy fats and are also completely SUGAR FREE, banana-free, vegan/dairy-free.

    And theyre also perfect if you are looking for recipes that are WHOLE 30 or paleo-friendly.

    Ive even included options and substitutions to make all of these easy smoothies low carb and keto-friendly if youre following a keto diet

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    Choose The Right Base Ingredient

    The base ingredient of a smoothie can vary from milk, milk alternatives, yogurt or fruit juice, so it is important to choose the healthiest alternative. If you are going for a dairy based smoothie, choose the lowest fat versions of milk or yogurt in order to get the valuable calcium and protein, but limit fat and calories. If you prefer a dairy free approach the same applies to drinks such as soy milk.

    When choosing dairy alternatives, try to find those without added sugar or with sugar further down the ingredient list and be aware that soy, almond and rice milk generally do not contain as much calcium as normal milk, so look for fortified versions.

    The ideal level for calcium is 120mg per 100ml of the product, which is common in soy milk, but not always present in almond and rice versions.

    If you are basing your smoothie on fruit juice, choose a 100% juice product with no added sugar, but be aware that juice is a naturally concentrated form of fruit sugar and has a fair few calories.

    A smoothie made with half juice, half water may be a viable low calorie alternative as the other fruit will provide plenty of flavour anyway.

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