Start With A Liquid Protein Base
The main protein source in smoothies is often a liquid, which is also your base. The amount of liquid you use will help determine how thick your smoothie will be. It also provides protein to help keep you full and satisfied.
A good rule of thumb for the list below is the thicker the ingredient, the higher the protein. For example, 1 cup of unsweetened almond milk contains 1 gram of protein while 1 cup of low-fat cow’s milk has 8 grams of protein, according to the USDA. If you’re using a plant-based milk as your base, you may want to choose additional boosters to up the total protein in your smoothie.
“You’ll have a lot of natural sugars with the fruit, consider what liquid base you’re using,” Feller says. If you’re going heavy on the fruits, balance it out with lower-sugar bases like plain Greek yogurt or an unsweetened milk alternative, she says.
Choose one of the liquid bases below:
- Unflavored plant-based milk
- Low-fat cow’s milk
- Low-fat or fat-free plain kefir
- Low-fat fat-free plain yogurt
- Low-fat or fat-free plain Greek yogurt
Tip
To avoid splashes every time you plop a solid ingredient into your blender, pour your liquid in last.
Additional Ingredients Are Optional
Many people add ingredients to their smoothies for increased nutrition, but they arent essential.
One popular ingredient featured prominently on the menu at stores that specialize in making smoothies is protein powder. If youre trying to build muscle, protein powder thats marketed toward bodybuilders may sound appealing, but it isnt necessary. Im not a big believer of adding protein powder, Kramer says. No one is protein deficient in the United States … and a lot of these protein powders are actually often sweetened.
Additionally, you may choose to add other healthful ingredients to your smoothie like flaxseeds, chia seeds, hemp seeds, or wheat germall of which contain omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and fiber. But, says Kramer, the reality is that there isnt enough data available to know how blending affects the nutritional value of these ingredients. Id rather people sprinkle it in their cereal.
Another popular additioncollagen peptidesalso isnt needed in your smoothie. While you may use this in the hopes of maintaining a youthful glow to your skincollagen provides elasticity to your skinadding collagen peptide powder to smoothies isnt research-proven to be effective.
Yellow Fruit And Turmeric Smoothie
Turmeric is a time-honored superfood with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Powered by curcumin, one of its primary substances, the spice may help boost memory, ease joint pain, lower the risk of certain cancers, and lessen the symptoms of depression. What are you waiting for? Make this smoothie thats bursting with the stuff.
Don’t Miss: Post Workout Smoothie For Muscle Gain
Add Extras To Your Liking
There are so many amazing things that you can add to a smoothie to increase it’s nutritional bang for your sip, though you don’t have to add anything at all. I keep all kinds of “superfoods” around and throw in what sounds good. I’ll normally add 2 or 3 “extras” to my smoothie each morning. Different things that I like to add include: hemp seed hearts, flax seeds, chia seeds, spirulina, organic brown rice protein powder, pea protein, and/or cacao nibs. Other people also add things like goji berries, matcha powder, and bee pollen, but I haven’t dabbled in those yet.
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.
Read Also: Fruit And Veggie Smoothie Packs
What Is A Smoothie
A smoothie is a cold, blended drink made up of frozen fruit, liquid such as juice or milk, and other nutritional add-ins such as nut butter, protein powder, and protein powder.
Smoothies are a great way to pack in the nutrition without a lot of effort. There are many varieties of smoothies such as green smoothies, fruit smoothies, smoothies bowls, and more.
Three
Creamy Oatmeal Cookie Smoothie
This creamy banana oatmeal smoothie tastes just like an oatmeal cookie. It is a wonderful smoothie to make if you feel like you need more fiber in your diet. This is also a wonderful break from other fruity smoothies because the only fruit in it is bananas.
It’s an excellent post-workout drink because the almond milk and almond butter are filled with protein for your sore muscles.
Also Check: Healthy Strawberry Banana Smoothie Recipes For Weight Loss
The Best Blenders To Use When Making Smoothies
The type of blender you use all depends on how often you will be using it and how many servings you will be making at once. Do you need a heavy-duty blender that makes your entire family smoothies all day? Or, do you just need a cute mini blender to make yourself one every once in a while?
Here are my top picks for the best types of blenders for healthy smoothies based on how you will use them:
Smoothie Recipes To Try
Use these recipes or build from them to create your own.
Banana-kale wake-up smoothie
The sweetness of the bananas balances kales slight bitterness in this recipe. Use just a tiny pinch of cloves theyre potent!
Get the banana-kale wake-up smoothie recipe.
Ruby-red raspberry smoothie
Its nutty. Its sweet. And its good for you. Blast off your day with healthy fats, antioxidants and phytonutrients from this creamy creation.
Get the ruby-red raspberry smoothie recipe.
Creamy kiwi-lime smoothie
You would never guess this creamy, high-protein smoothie gets its texture from tofu and cashew butter. Hey, dont knock it till you try it!
Go green smoothie bowl
Ready to trade in the smoothie glass for a bowl and spoon? In this bowl, the leafy green goodness of spinach meets the sweetness of grapes, mango, apple and banana.
Get the go green smoothie bowl recipe.
Cool tropical smoothie
Youll feel like youre on the beach with this zesty blend of mango, coconut, lime and strawberries. This vegan smoothie is high in potassium and features beneficial phytonutrients.
Get the cool tropical smoothie recipe.
Creamy strawberry and greens smoothie
This satisfying smoothie is sweetened with strawberries, creamified with avocado and then exalted to green goddess status with arugula.
Get the creamy strawberry and greens smoothie recipe.
Peach-vanilla yogurt smoothie
Get the peach-vanilla yogurt smoothie recipe.
Berry vanilla banana smoothie
Get the berry vanilla banana smoothie recipe.
Recommended Reading: Smoothies You Can Make With Bananas
How To Freeze Fruit For Smoothies
To make smoothies even easier, freeze fresh fruit into portions. You can even prepare smoothie packs and freeze them for a grab-and-blend smoothie option.
To freeze fruit for smoothies, rinse and chop fresh fruit into small pieces. Pat them dry then arrange, in one layer, on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Slide the baking sheet into the freezer and freeze until hard .
When the fruit is hard, divide it between freezer-safe bags and keep it in the freezer for your next smoothie.
How To Make A Smoothie
Im a BIG fan of smoothie recipes that are EASY and simple. To me, half the point of a smoothie is to have a delicious and nutritious meal/ snack that can be made in 5 minutes TOPS.
So making a healthy smoothie is easy around here. Step 1: gather your ingredients. Step 2: add those ingredients to your blender. Step 3: BLEND until creamy, adding a little extra liquid if needed to get your blender going. Step 4: Pour and ENJOY!
Its absolutely that easy to make a smoothie which is why I LOVE having them on a daily basis.
If youre brand new to smoothies: I suggest following a few recipes first. Once youve made a good handful of them, you can start really experimenting with new flavor combos and ratios of ingredients. Have fun with it!
Looking to add more greens to your smoothies?? Try freezing the greens using THIS TUTORIAL!
Recommended Reading: Can A Green Smoothie Be A Meal Replacement
Peanut Butter Cup Smoothie
The peanut butter cup smoothie is a rich concoction that tastes like a decadent dessert. Good news for you – it’s healthy for you! Mixed in with the oatmeal, bananas, and chia seeds is a hidden superfood – cauliflower! You won’t even be able to taste it, but you’ll still benefit from its nutrients and antioxidants.
Liquid: Milk Coconut Water Juice Or Water
Almost all smoothies include some type of liquid, but for creamy smoothies, I prefer milk. I like to make my smoothies non-dairy, so I always use unsweetened almond milk.
Pay close attention to the type of milk you use.
If you are using non-dairy milk, always use the unsweetened varieties. This will keep the amount of sugar lower in your smoothies. You don’t need sweetened milk in smoothies because it is sweet enough already from the fruit.
If you don’t like almond milk, you can use coconut milk or even oat milk. Just make sure it’s the unsweetened variety, and you’re good to go.
When I am making a smoothie thats more icy than creamy, I almost always use coconut water. This makes it hydrating and the coconut flavor is subtle and doesnt overwhelm the other flavors in the smoothie. You can also use fruit juice, like orange juice or apple juice, or even water.
Read Also: Tropical Smoothie Cafe Virginia Beach
Tropical Raspberry Avocado Smoothie
Like soft tofu, avocado blends really well into smoothies, adding a lot of creaminess but not an overwhelming taste. Avocados are also a natural source of fiber and healthy fats, which may help reduce cardiovascular disease risk in some people.
Raspberries are another source of anthocyanins, and coconut water provides a slightly tropical flavor without a lot of sugar.
Adding yogurt to smoothies is a great way to boost their protein content and creaminess.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup raspberries
- 1/2 cup regular or nondairy yogurt
Blend together until smooth. If youre looking for a thicker consistency, add a few ice cubes before blending.
Lemon Turmeric Flush Drink:
- 1 teaspoon Stevia or 1 Tablespoon Honey or Real Maple Syrup
Mix together, water, lemon juice, turmeric, ginger, cayenne pepper and cinnamon. Add stevia, honey or maple syrup to taste. The cayenne pepper adds a kick to it so not everyone can handle it.
If you are looking for MORE JUICE CLEANSE RECIPES, CLICK HERE.
If I am suffering from anything – from allergies to autoimmune issues to overeating the night before, this helps to clean out my liver and belly. I woke up this morning with swollen eyes caused by allergies and this drink helped the swelling go down quickly. You can drink it heated up or drink it cold straight out of the refrigerator. We make a large pitcher and keep in the refrigerator to last a week. We give it a good stir and guzzle it down.
Pin on Pinterest:
Read Also: Banana Peanut Butter Smoothie Protein
A Good Blender Is Worth It
I got a Blendtec just over 2 years ago, and I can never go back to a “normal” blender again. Mine tells me how many times I’ve used it and I’m a few smoothies away from 800 blends! That’s amazing, and it also shows how much I have used it. A good blender will whip you up a thick delicious smoothie with no chunks in about 45 seconds. If you are going to go “green” on any of your smoothies, a good blender is the key to getting all those healthy leafy greens to blend and have a great texture. I love my high power blender and highly recommend one.
How To Make A Smoothie + 20 Healthy Smoothies Recipes
The most delicious smoothie recipes including a complete guide for making fruit and vegetable smoothies that are nutritious, tasty, and come together in no time. Jump to Recipe
Welcome to your ultimate smoothie guide! In today’s post, you will learn how to make a healthy smoothie PLUS all about the best protein powders, yummy add-ins, nutrition boosts, and the all-time best smoothie recipes. Let’s get started!
It’s no secret that smoothies are a healthy breakfast on the go. Smoothies provide you with an easy way to get your daily servings of fruits and vegetables, and they can be prepared in minutes! They are portable, delicious, and perfect for almost any time of the day.
But, how do you make a healthy smoothie? In this post, we will explore how to make all the best fruit smoothies, green smoothies, veggie smoothies, protein smoothies, smoothie bowls, and more – from the different types of ingredients needed, what type of blender is best for making them, to our favorite recipes.
Let’s do it!
Read Also: Men’s Health Smoothie Recipes
Breakfast Smoothie Recipes To Start Your Day The Healthy Way
Corey Williams is a food writer covering food news, step-by-step cooking, baking, and storage guides for MyRecipes and Allrecipes. She has a decade of journalism experience, and her work has been featured in Southern Living, Cooking Light, Travel + Leisure, Food & Wine, and Better Homes & Gardens.
Wake up on the right side of the bed with a healthy breakfast smoothie that’s full of vitamins and nutrients. Whether you’re in the mood for a bright and fruity blend to make with just a few ingredients, a protein-packed green powerhouse that’ll keep you going all day, or a photo-worthy smoothie bowl with all your favorite toppings, you’ll find a nutritious and delicious new favorite in this collection of our very best breakfast smoothies.
More than 1,000 satisfied members of the Allrecipes community have given this smoothie recipe glowing reviews. “I LOVE this smoothie,” says reviewer Christine. “I’ve made it literally hundreds of times since I first found it two years ago.”
This on-the-go smoothie is “great if you are trying to figure out what to do with those blueberries in the fridge or freezer,” according to recipe creator Lisa Marie.
Frozen mango chunks give this smoothie vibrant color and fruity flavor. The recipe calls for orange juice, but recipe creator maggiemai says you can use milk for creamier results.
Avocado adds richness to this smoothie, which recipe creator fordmarie says is almost as creamy as a milkshake.
Are Green Smoothies Healthy
If you have trouble eating enough vegetables, smoothies are a great way to incorporate more greens into your diet with the flavors you love. Tossing in dark, leafy greens ensures you’re getting a hefty dose of vitamins A and K, as well as fiber, but frozen cauliflower, sweet potato, and zucchini are also great options. For an additional nutrition boost, consider popping in some turmeric, matcha powder, or adaptogens, and warming spices like cinnamon and cardamom for flavor.
“Some people who are vegetable averse will find it easier to sip on a green smoothie if it tastes like strawberry banana. And then, there are some people who like to load up on greens and blend it with fresh herbs instead of fruit. It all depends on your taste preference,” Taub-Dix says.
But you also want to be mindful of portions: Groppo recommends keeping snack smoothies under 150 calories and any that you drink as a meal under 350 calories, if you’re trying to lose weight. People who are trying to maintain their weight can go up to 500 to 600 calories for a filling meal replacement shake.
Now that you know how to turn a smoothie into a healthy meal, here are some other ways your smoothie can be sabotaging your weight lossand how to fix it.
How to fix it: Keep an eye out for smoothies with added nut or seed butter, coconut oil, or avocado, as these all add significant amounts of calories. If you grab a smoothie for a snack, don’t forget to include it in your total calories for the day.
Recommended Reading: Plastic Cups With Lids For Smoothies
What Blender Should I Use For A Smoothie
I truly believe a good blender is worth it. I got a Blendtec a few years ago, and Ill never go back to a normal blender again. A good blender will whip you up a thick and delicious smoothie with no chunks in about 45 seconds.
And, if youre adding leafy greens, a good blender will make sure theyre blended up nicely and have a great texture! Mine gives me a count for how many times Ive used it, and its well past the 800 mark. So, its definitely worth the investment, in my opinion, especially if you have a family full of smoothie lovers!
How To Make Detox Smoothies
This section shows how to make a detox smoothie recipe, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize how to make them. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
VARIATION: Freeze into popsicles!
Instead of serving in a glass, pour the smoothie for detox into a popsicle mold and freeze for a healthy treat.
Read Also: Good Mixed Berry Smoothie Recipes
+ Healthy Smoothie Recipes
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This roundup includes over 25 Healthy Smoothie recipes including fruit smoothie recipes, weightloss smoothie recipes, breakfast smoothie recipes and SO many more! Im sure youll find a smoothie here to love.
Hopefully you know by now that I LOVE a good smoothie recipe. I have SO many good ones here on my blog so I wanted to round them all up in one place for you. I split this list up into 3 common smoothie categories: healthy smoothies, green smoothies, and smoothie bowls.
Theres something here for everyone and Im sure that youll find more than one new smoothie to love 🙂
I love creating new smoothie flavor combos so please let me know if you ever have a suggestions or recipe recommendation! Im also always experimenting on so follow along there for even more recipes!