Healthy Smoothies You Can Make At Home

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Equipment For Healthy Smoothies

How to Make the Perfect Smoothie at Home | Consumer Reports

Having the right equipment is key to making healthy smoothies.

  • The Vitamix personal series is great for making just one or two smoothies at a time
  • So is the Magic Bullet or Nutri Bullet the only hang up here is that I find I have to replace these models once every couple years or so because the motor eventually burns out
  • The Vitamix Ascent series is my fave though it’s self-cleaning so you aren’t left with a ton of mess and it’s perfect for if you’re prepping 3-4 smoothies at a time. It can tear through anything to make the smoothest smoothie, even ice!

You can of course get a mid-range blender too, really any blender will work. But if it takes 3 or more tries to get that smooth texture without all the lumps, it can be a frustrating experience.

See how often you’re going to be making smoothies and if it’s going to be a consistent thing for you, your best bet is to invest in a high-powered blender that can minimize the time you spend making healthy smoothies.

Tropical Papaya Perfection Smoothie

This coconut-infused breakfast smoothie tastes just as decadent as a milkshake. One sip will immediately transport you to a tropical island.

Cut 1 papaya into chunks and blend it with 1 cup of fat-free, plain yogurt, 1/2 cup fresh pineapple chunks, 1/2 cup crushed ice, 1 tsp. coconut extract, and 1 tsp. ground flaxseed. Process the mixture for about 30 seconds, or until its smooth and frosty.

Nutrition :299 calories, 1.5 g fat, 13 g protein, 64 g carbs , 44 g sugars

How Can I Make My Smoothie Healthier

The smoothie recipes below are plain, but if you want to expand your smoothie horizons, go for it! Toss in chia seeds or protein powder or hemp seeds or flax or whatever else makes your heart happy. If you have a standard set of mix-ins you like, you can even freeze them into booster packsgreat for really quick and easy smoothies!

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Best Fruits For High Protein Fruit Smoothies

The great thing about protein fruit smoothie recipes is that just about any fruit works. I like using frozen fruit in my smoothies because you can skip the step of adding ice. Try these fruits in your next smoothie:

  • Bananas
  • Pineapple
  • Melon

Veggies and other non fruits add a nutritional punch to shakes, too. Consider spinach, avocado, kale, and cucumber.

Theyre Not Great For Your Teeth

Strawberry Banana Smoothie Recipe

Most of us are fully aware sugar is not good for our teeth. Its known to linger on their surface, contributing to the development of bacteria which can potentially lead to enamel damage. It doesnt matter whether it comes from a natural source or not as far as your teeth are concerned, sugar is sugar. Plus the acid content of fruit particularly pineapple, mangoes and grapes can potentially soften the enamel and lead to enamel erosion, especially if you drink smoothies regularly.

If you want to know why the sugars in a smoothie are potentially more damaging to teeth than those in your average whole apple or orange, it’s because the sugars in whole fruit and vegetables are more safely contained within the structure of the fruit. Choosing fruits that are lower in sugar and acidity such as berries, peaches and apples and bulking the smoothie up with greens like kale can also help preserve your teeth.

To help minimise damage to your teeth, try drinking your smoothie through an straw.

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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 new book from Preventions Healing Kitchen series. Give these recipes a try, and feel free to tweak and experiment to create your own perfect blend.

The Best Blender For Smoothies

You do NOT need a fancy schmancy blender to make a good smoothie! I used something similar to THIS $37 blender for years before finally upgrading to my Vitamix. I believe that the best blender for smoothies is the one that you have.

All of that being said, if you find yourself making a lot of smoothies and using your blender on a regular basis then I definitely recommend an upgrade. I have used THIS Vitamix for the past 6 years and absolutely love it. I anticipate it lasting me for a very long time which makes the investment totally worth it!

Here are my blender recommendations from amazon based on your budget:

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They Are A Good Source Of Fibre

The slightly thick and pulpy texture of smoothies can help to make you feel fuller than, say, if you drank a glass of pure fruit juice and the reason for this is the fibre content. By blending fruit and vegetables, as opposed to juicing, you retain their fibre. In turn, increasing your fibre intake can help to improve digestion and gut health. Consuming the fibrous parts of the fruit and vegetables should also help to keep your hunger in check. Indeed, some people use smoothies as a meal replacement and a way of trying to keep their weight down. Research on grapefruit has also shown that there is a much higher concentration of phytochemicals and antioxidants contained in fruit pulp than in fruit juice alone.

Chocolate And Peanut Butter Shakes

12 Healthy Smoothies

Peanut Butter Cup Shake – 53 g of protein

Don’t sacrifice your gains! With milk and egg whites for texture, this shake tastes as good as the real thing.

Peanut Butter Banana Shake – 65 g of protein

Peanut butter and banana is a classic combo and is great for fuel and muscle recovery.

View Recipe Here

Peanut Butter Chocolate Shake – 72 g of protein

This sinless treat allows you to enjoy your chocolate and peanut butter with the benefits of muscle-building protein.

Want to make your protein shake thicker, more decadent, and slower digesting? Use casein instead of whey.

Peanut Brittle Shake – 58 g of protein

This shake is just as tasty as any crunchy brittle. The secret is pudding mix!

Chocolate-Lover’s Shake – 51 g of protein

Chocoholics unite for this super chocolatey shake featuring both cocoa powder and sour cream!

View Recipe Here

Chocolate Almond Shake – 40 g of protein

A nutty candy bar in a glass, this shake proves protein doesn’t have to be bland. You will make it again!

Caramel Hazelnut Shake – 70 g of protein

Hazelnut creamer makes this into a Nutella-y dream of a shake. Yes, please!

View Recipe Here

Bad Girl Shake – 67 g of protein

This caloric beast is for the aspiring weight-gainers out there! Ground up girl scout cookies in a shake? Go ahead, be bad.

Tropical Punch Protein Shake – 30 g of protein

All the fruit! Tantalize your senses with this vitamin-packed tropical shake.

View Recipe Here

View Recipe Here

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Whats The Best Liquid For Making Smoothies

We like to use milk of choice. If youre a fan of coconut milk, use it. Like cows milk? Go for it. A fan of almond milk? Cool. Use whatever milk you like in your smoothiesyou cant go wrong. I just recommend you stick to unsweetened and unflavored versions. That gives you the most control over the smoothie.

Creamy Mint Chocolate Chip Smoothie

Part of the struggle with trying to lose weight and create healthier habits is the struggle of having to give up some of your favorite foods, like chocolate. Say no more. This chocolate mint smoothie is the perfect blend of protein and chocolate to satisfy your cravings for good! Why avoid what you love when you can indulge the healthy way?

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Blend The Night Before

It’s not ideal for the best smoothie texture, but sometimes you can’t crank up the blender at 6 a.m. If you do need to make your smoothie in advance, store it in a jar in your fridge and shake it up the next morning before you sip. It may have separated a little and be a little thinner but these are sacrifices I’m willing to make to sleep in for 5 extra minutes on some mornings. If you’re making your smoothie in advance use frozen fruit and a little less liquid to help it hold up and stay as frosting as possible.

List Of Healthy Superfoods:

Five Popular Detox Drinks You Can Easily Make At Home ...
  • Kale insanely low in calories, powerful anti-oxidant with anti-inflammatory properties, and helpful for arthritis and autoimmune diseases
  • Spinach the beauty of spinach lies in how easy it is to disguise the taste. Its mild tasting yet packed with vitamins, has anti-cancerous properties, and is one of the healthiest foods on the planet
  • Blueberries – one of the highest antioxidant capacities of all fruit which helps to combat free radicals in your body
  • Strawberries – just one serving provides more vitamin c than an orange while being low in natural sugars
  • Greek Yogurt – double the protein and half the carbs as regular yogurt
  • Cucumber since its 95% water, its an incredible detoxifier and helps with liver and kidney function
  • Lemon one of the most important items to stock in your kitchen as its 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, its rich in potassium and fiber and gives you natural energy
  • Turmeric – anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties
  • Ginger – aids in digestion and supports the immune system
  • Chia + Flaxseeds – rich is Omega-3 and fiber benefits

If you are looking to add fruit and vegetable JUICE recipes to your diet as well, .

For extra detoxification benefits, a lemon turmeric flush first thing in the morning will do the trick. This isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s super simple.

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Is Having A Smoothie For Breakfast Healthy

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!

Here Are Some Of My Favorite Things To Add To Smoothies For An Energy Boost:

GREENS Spinach, kale, and lettuce can all be used in a smoothie. Ive tried them all spinach is the easiest to use so if youre new to smoothies, start with this. Next, try kale! Make sure to remove the stem of kale before adding it to the blender. Try lettuce last you can definitely taste the lettuce in a smoothie, but I actually quite like it! I tend to alternate between these three to give my body more variety.

AVOCADO Add 1/4 or 1/2 of a ripe avocado to your smoothie and it will create the most beautiful creamy consistency. Avocados are a great source of healthy fats which provide our bodies with longer lasting energy.

SEEDS You can add hemp seeds, chia seeds, flax seeds. Theyre all high in protein and healthy fats. I tend to buy all three from Costco to use in my smoothies. I store each bag in my freezer to preserve freshness.

PROTEIN POWDER Im a big fan of Iron Vegan Sprouted Protein Powder. It contains 17 grams of plant protein from brown rice, amaranth, quinoa, millet and pumpkin seeds. Other protein powders have left me feeling bloated before, which is why I prefer a sprouted plant-based protein powder. Im sure there are other brands available, but this is the one that I personally love and use every day.

NUT BUTTER Adding 1 Tbsp of nut butter or seed butter to your smoothies will add more healthy fats. Choose a nut butter with little additives and no added sugar.

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And Check Out Some Of Our Favorite Smoothie Hacks Too:

  • How to Freeze Strawberries. There are lots of ways to use frozen strawberries, but smoothies are definitely one of my favorites!
  • Smoothie Booster Packs. Never let spinach go bad again! Drop these frozen smoothie packs into your smoothies to boost the nutrition.
  • 3 Ways to Meal Prep Smoothies. Yes, you can make ahead smoothies! And we have three ways to show you how.

Is It Healthy To Have A Smoothie For Breakfast

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Smoothies can make a healthy breakfast if you have a good balance of ingredients and nutrientsincluding protein, carbs, and healthy fats. Smoothies that heavily rely on veggies over fruit instantly cut down on sugar and increase the fiber content. You also want to avoid adding a lot of fruit juice and sweeteners, like syrups and honey, to limit the sweet stuff. Adding yogurt and protein powder helps make smoothies more filling, so youll stay satisfied longer. Just be sure to choose powders that have little to no added sugar and have zero artificial ingredients.

The liquid bases you use in your smoothie also play a big role. Skip fruit juices, which are packed with sugar and lack protein and fat, and go for low-fat milk or an unsweetened, non-dairy milk alternative, like almond, coconut, or cashew. Some non-dairy milks have less protein than cows milk, but they offer healthy fats to keep you satiated.

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Is A Whole Food Diet Boring

Absolutely not! The beauty of this way of eating is that there are barely any recipes that are off-limits. If you can make it yourself using natural ingredients, then it counts. So, dig out your recipe books and get familiar with your spice cupboard.

Heres my advice if youre just starting: stock up on coconut milk and canned tomatoes. Youll use them all the time in sauces.

Recommended Tools For Making Smoothies

  • Blender. I more recently purchased this high-powered blender, and it makes everything very smooth and creamy. This more economical blender optionis also great, though you may need to add more liquid or add the frozen fruit more slowly.
  • Stainless Steel Straws. These stainless steel strawsmake everything you drink through them taste so refreshing. I try to keep some in my purse, so I dont need to ask for a plastic or paper straw when Im out. Theyre great for taking smoothies to go as well.
  • Opaque Cup. A great way to make green-colored breakfast smoothies for kids.

Now, lets get to those healthy breakfast smoothies!

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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 calories, 1 g fat, 2 g protein, 41.5 g carbs , 32 g sugars

Detox Green Smoothie With Chia Seeds

12 Healthy Smoothies You Can Make At Home (With Recipes)

If you havent tried chia seeds yet, heres a great opportunity. These tiny but mighty seeds are packed with omega-3 fatty acids that are great for your heart. They also help you stay fuller longer, thanks to its plant protein power. Combined with spinach, unsweetened almond milk, frozen pineapple, and naturally sweet banana, this tasty mixture is the ultimate breakfast treat.

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What If I Dont Like Bananas

Bananas are the backbone of my simple smoothie recipes to me, they add so much creaminess and natural sweetness for an affordable price. But, if theyre not your thing, you can add some Greek yogurt with a sweetener and ice, OR do half an avocado with a sweetener and ice. Those two combos will replace a banana nicely in a smoothie and still give you a rich, creamy texture.

Make any of these 8 Simple Smoothie Recipes today for you or your family and enjoy the balance of vegetables and fruits in these creamy, refreshing drinks!

Now you are a smoothie making expert and I hope that you have found some great smoothie inspiration to get you comfortable with making smoothies at home.

This is just a starting point though, feel free to play around with these base recipes and come up with your own favorite smoothie recipes to meet your needs and preferences!

Take the hassle out of meal planning with: Dinner Made Easy, a FREE 1 week meal plan with full shopping list, easy dinners, nutrition information, serving suggestions for each meal, and more!

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