Why You Should Make This Banana Smoothie
Ive made a version of this easy banana smoothie recipe more times than I can count. Its perfect on its own and is the best base recipe for adding more ingredients like fruit, nut butter, and veggies.
Here are a few more reasons we love it:
- You need less than 5 minutes to make it.
- You can use fresh or frozen bananas.
- Its easy to adapt to what you have in the kitchen.
- This smoothie is perfect for breakfast or a snack.
- You can even make the smoothie ahead of time, freeze it, and save it for later.
How To Make A Smoothie + 27 Simple Smoothie Recipes To Try
Im a believer that smoothies are the perfect meal or snack no matter what the weather. It is never too cold to have an awesome smoothie! Since smoothies are such a tasty way to pack in a meal on the go, I put on a big sweater and happily drink them even when the temps are frigid.
We originally published our first guide on smoothie making way back in 2015, and since then, millions of folks have visited this post and used our recipes to make the best ever smoothies! I consider these smoothies simple classics because they have great flavor, all the ingredients are easy to source , and they pack a nutritional punch that can nourish you nicely. These are the kinds of smoothies that I think everyone should know how to make, and chances are, youll find a favorite combo among these recipes. There really is no wrong way to make a smoothie, but I think these recipes are a great jumping-off point if the blender intimidates you.
How To Freeze Spinach For Smoothies
Friends, whatever you do, dont buy frozen spinach and put it into your smoothies. The flavor will be ruined youve been warned. BUT, if you want to make sure you always have spinach in the freezer and handy for smoothies, there is another way.
Get fresh baby spinach from the produce section and then transfer the container it comes in into the freezer. It will keep for about 1 month and is as easy as grabbing a handful whenever youre making a smoothie. As long as you dont use too much, youll add lots of nutrients without impacting the flavor. This technique also works for kale, chard, and mixed greens, but its best to avoid using bitter or strongly flavored greens.
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The Basic Smoothie Recipe
Smoothies are fairly straightforward to make, says Sarah Adler, nutrition coach, founder of Simply Real Health and author of the Simply Real Health Cookbook. The key is getting the proportions for the base right and then choosing your favorite ingredients to add to it. Heres the perfect recipe for the base of a smoothie, according to Adler:
- ½ to 1 whole banana
- 1 to 2 cups greens
- ½ to 1 cup water or liquid
Err on the side of more banana if you like it sweeter and creamier, more greens if you want to boost the health factor, and more liquid if you want to easily sip it through a straw.
In addition the base, youll want to add more of your favorite ingredients for flavor, texture, and nutritive benefits. This can include:
- Frozen or fresh fruit:¼ to ½ cup of your favorite varieties
- Protein and/or healthy fat: 1 scoop of protein powder, 1 tablespoon of nut or seed butter, and/or ¼ avocado
- Crunch or texture: chia seeds or nuts
- Herbs and spices: 1/8 to ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg, cinnamon, turmeric, or whatever else you like to spice things up with
- Sweetener: Honey, maple syrup, or agave nectar
This is totally up to you! says Adler. Just remember that more ingredients doesnt necessarily mean a better smoothie. Choose flavors that will work togetherexperiment if you dont already have a preferenceand when in doubt, go simple. For example, banana, strawberry, yogurt, almond milk and ice isnt fussy but sure is tasty.
Here are seven simple steps to making a perfect smoothie:
Banana And Avocado Smoothie
One banana , half an avocado, ¼ teaspoon cinnamon, two tablespoons honey, and ½ cup low-fat milk or almond milk.
Avocados are another great source of potassium plus they contain plenty of Vitamin E that helps skin stay healthy which is always nice to see since this can help prevent wrinkles too! This diabetic-friendly smoothie is also full of fiber thanks to those bananas so be sure to drink it slowly if you want the best results for your digestive system just dont forget about all that calcium coming from dairy products working together with magnesium found in avocados to keep migraines away as well as reduce inflammation the body helping anyone who has arthritis.
Also Check: Fruit And Vegetable Combinations For Smoothies
How Do You Make A Good Consistency Smoothie
A good consistency smoothie can be made by adding all of the desired ingredients into a blender and blending until smooth. If the smoothie is too thick, add more liquid until it reaches the desired consistency. If the smoothie is too thin, add more ice or frozen fruit until it reaches the desired consistency.
How To Make A Smoothie Without A Blender
If you want to make a smoothie without a blender, there are a couple of other options. In a pinch, you can make a smoothie a food processor, but be ready for some more clean up. Your food processor might not be made to lock in liquids, so there could be some leaks. Plus, its got several pieces, including a removable blade, which will need individual cleaning.
For making an individual smoothie, you can use an immersion blendera handheld version of a blender, which can come at a lower price. Simply dip the immersion blender into an unbreakable cup or bowl containing your ingredients and turn it on to mix. A good quality one will break up your ice just as well as a standard blender will. Plus, immersion blenders dont take up much space and tend to be easy to clean.
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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.
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 cal, 13 g pro, 64 g carb, 7 g fiber, 44 g sugars, 1.5 g fat
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Peaches And Cream Oatmeal Smoothie
No time for a leisurely meal? Try this grab-and-go, probiotic-rich take on morning oatmeal. Whole-grain oats contain prebiotic fiber that promotes gut health.
This recipe from Preventions Smoothies & Juicesmakes two smoothies: Blend 1/2 cup whole milk, 1/2 cup Greek yogurt, 1/2 cup rolled oats, 1 cup frozen peaches, 1/2 frozen banana, and 1/2 cup ice until smooth.
Nutrition: 283 cal, 13 g pro, 53.5 g carb, 2 g fiber, 48 g sugars, 3.5 g fat
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!
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Choosing The Right Ingredients
Our standard fruit smoothie recipe starts with a banana or apple and yogurt,but anything you can imagine can work. We’ve made delicious treats with peanutbutter, pineapple, carrots, spinach and kale, and more. We’ve even added celeryto the spinach peargrape smoothie. If you’re going for complete nutrition, adding protein powder tosmoothies puts power in your day without changing the flavor.
You don’t have to break the bank by paying out the nose for little bags ofwashed, chopped, and frozen fruit at the store. Freezingyour own fresh fruit takes less time than you think, and you can make yourown mixture of ingredientsready to dump a little baggie in yourblender!
The amount of ice affects how smooth or chunky your smoothie is .The more ice, generally the chunkier the end result given the same amount ofblending time. Too much ice or too much frozen fruit and you’ll end up with asorbetdelicious, but harder to drink through a straw.
For a very healthy, low-calorie smoothie load up with flavorful fruits and cut down on high calorie ingredients. Punchup your drink with spices, herbs, and other low-calorie flavors. Remember thata smoothie packed full of leafy greens will keep you full too without blowingyour calorie budget.
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!
Recommended Reading: How To Make A Smoothie With Frozen Fruit And Milk
Peanut Butter Smoothie Recipe
Heres the tastiest drink that happens to be healthy, too: a peanut butter smoothie recipe! You can swear off milkshakes for good, because this easy smoothie is just as satisfying. Its got the best pure peanut buttery flavor, and the silkiest, creamiest texture. Even better: all you need is 3 ingredients! Its easy to make vegan or plant-based, and its the perfect breakfast or snack.
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How Do You Make A Smoothie From Scratch
In short, making a smoothie is as simple as tossing ingredients into the blender and letting it do the work. The harder part is deciding what, and how much, goes into the pitcher.
A homemade smoothie can be as simple or complex as you choose to make it.
You can make an easy 2-ingredient strawberry smoothie by blending together frozen strawberries and a bit of milk. Or you could get really complicated and make a 12 ingredient mega smoothie with enough calories to last the day.
Also Check: Keto Fruit Smoothie With Almond Milk
A Complete List Of Smoothie Ingredients
We all love our smoothies, but do you know which ingredients make the best smoothies? Choose the wrong ingredients and your lovingly prepared thirst quencher can quickly turn into a sugar-laden bomb.
We give you the low down on the best smoothie ingredients. What are the best fruits and vegetables? How do you choose the healthiest liquid base? What about sweeteners and other extras? All these and other questions will all be answered.
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Benefits Of A Whole Food Diet
In a 2014 analysis by Yale University, they concluded that a diet of minimally processed foods close to nature, predominantly plants, is decisively associated with health promotion and disease prevention.
A diet rich in fruit and vegetables or other high-fiber foods like whole grains and nuts is really important in maintaining good long-term health and preventing health problems like diabetes and cancers. These kinds of foods also help our bodies to cope and control the effects of inflammation.
In fact, one review from 2019 stated that diets high in plant foods could potentially prevent several million premature deaths each year if adopted globally. This is a big endorsement for a whole food diet.
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Add Yogurt Or A Yogurt Substitute
Yogurt is the secret ingredient to make your smoothie super smooth instead of chunky. Adding yogurt can help give it a creamier texture and make the smoothie more filling. It also helps balance out any bitterness from fruit or vegetables you might be using in your recipe. So if theres something that tastes too tart for some reason then adding yogurt or dairy-free yogurt will do solve the problem.
What Should I Put In My Smoothie
The great thing about a fruit smoothie recipe is that the customization opportunities are virtually endless. Heres a quick run through of what I usually put in my smoothies:
- Milk or Juice: you can use dairy milk, non-dairy milk, juice, or even coconut water really any liquid goes! You can even use cold tea.
- Greek Yogurt: yogurt is a great way to kick the protein up a notch and to make a deliciously thick and creamy texture. Dairy-free, plant-based yogurt works well, too, and you can skip it if you need .
- Banana: I love to keep frozen, sliced banana on-hand. The frozen banana makes it extra creamy and acts as a natural sweetener.
- Berries/Other Fruit: any frozen fruit work great in smoothies! Pineapple, mango, and berries are our favorites. You can even use watermelon like in this refreshing Watermelon Smoothie!
- Add-Ins: you can customize it with so many different add-ins. Protein powders, nuts or seeds, oats, extracts, sweeteners, even avocado!
Read Also: Diabetic Smoothies To Lower Blood Sugar
How To Make A Smoothie + 35 Smoothie Recipes
Smoothies are delicious and a quick way to get nutrients into your diet. Try my easy smoothie formula, plus 35 amazing smoothie recipes.
Having a daily smoothie has become part of my routine and I love it because smoothies are convenient, healthy and super quick to whip up and take with you on the go.
Plus, its easy to pack in nutritional elements like fruit, vegetables and protein ! Not to mention, they taste awesome. Many of my favorites actually taste like dessert, but I get to eat/drink them for breakfast, lunch or as a post-workout or afternoon snack. Love that!
Banana And Blueberry Smoothie
One banana , one cup blueberries, ½ teaspoon lemon juice, two tablespoons of honey, and three cups of low-fat milk or almond milk.
Blueberries are another fantastic source of Vitamin C plus they help reduce inflammation in the body which can be helpful for anyone suffering from arthritis this tasty treat is also full of antioxidants thanks to those berries so itll fight free radical damage in cells too. You might be surprised at how well bananas go together with blueberries especially when combined with plenty of calcium coming from dairy products plus provides some extra magnesium which helps keep migraines away and prevent heart disease. This smoothie will taste great while helping your whole body stay healthy and strong.
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How To Make An Acai Bowl
Smoothie bowls make a delicious and nutritious breakfast, lunch or snack. Theyre essentially a thicker-consistency smoothie, served in a bowl and topped with vibrantly colored ingredients such as nuts, grains, and fruits. To turn your go-to smoothie into a bowl, sub out all fresh fruits and veggies for frozen ones.
Acai bowls, one of the most popular versions of a smoothie bowl, can sometimes seem inaccessible at home, but the truth is that they start simply with frozen acai purée, which you can find in most supermarkets. Break up two 4-ounce packets of unsweetened frozen acai purée with a meat mallet or by slapping the packets on the counter. Then add the purée to the blender along with 1/4 cup blueberries, half a banana and 1 tablespoon honey. Blend it up, and youre ready to serve! Add the mixture to a cereal bowl and top with slices of the other half of the banana and more blueberries. Finish it off with your favorite textured toppings, like granola, pomegranate seeds and unsweetened coconut flakes. Get our Acai Bowl recipe and more smoothie bowl ideas below.
CC ACAI BREAKFAST BOWL Cooking Channel Unsweetened Frozen Acai Puree, Banana, Blueberries, Honey, Granola, Pomegranate Seeds, Unsweetened Coconut Flakes
Matt Armendariz, 2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved
The perfect breakfast treat, right at home! Give the original recipe a try, and then get creative with your favorite nuts and toppings.