Recipes for Healthy, Yummy Smoothies

Ugh, it’s too hot, we need something that is both refreshing and flavorful… like a smoothie! Smoothies are excellent if you’re looking to pack sweetness and nourishment into one beverage. The traditional method of making a smoothie is to start with a blend of fruits and milk or yogurt. 

To make it more interesting and special, allow your creativity to chime in. Play around with vegetables, nuts, seeds, and spices to come up with a unique blend. I like to go in with bananas, spinach, blueberries, chia seeds, and almond milk to customize my smoothie.

Smoothies are easily available at stores, but the question is, “Are they really healthy?”

Sorry to disappoint you, but store-bought smoothies are packed with fruit purees and juices, which are cheap and processed. The worst part? It’s an unfair give-an-take! You’re giving money to buy a drink that can’t deliver what it claims. No, we don’t need that.

This is why, I’m here to share with you 5 recipes for smoothies that are refreshing as well as healthy. Wanna know the best part? They’re ridiculously easy to make. So, let’s grab our blenders and get into the kitchen!

1. Banana-Blueberry-Soy Smoothie

Nutrition: 125 cal, 3 g pro, 25 g carb, 2 g fiber, 11 g sugars, 5 g fat

To be honest, I’m a fan of blueberries, and if I’m able to grab tender, juicy and bursting-with-flavors blueberries, it’s a day made for me. To add to the deliciousness and sweetness of the smoothie, we also have potassium-rich banana and vanilla. 

Ingredients:

• 1 ¼ cups of light soy milk
• ½ cup of frozen blueberries
• ½ cup of frozen banana
• 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla

Method:

Combine all the ingredients and blend for about 20 to 30 seconds. You may want to blend more if the texture has not come out smooth. Feel free to go in with an extra ¼ cup of milk if you want a thinner consistency.

2. Peaches and Cream Oatmeal Smoothie

Nutrition: 283 cal, 13 g pro, 53.5 g carb, 2 g fiber, 48 g sugars, 3.5 g fat (2 g sat fat)

If you’re running low on time, you can still enjoy a healthy breakfast with this quick and easy probiotic-rich oatmeal recipe. Oats are a great source of prebiotic fiber which can help keep your gut healthy.

Ingredients:

• ½ cup of whole milk
• ½ cup of Greek yogurt
• ½ cup of rolled oats
• 1 cup of frozen peaches
• ½ cup of frozen banana
• ½ cup of ice

Method:

In a blender, add all the ingredients until smooth and well combined.

3. Green, Lean, Mean Machine

Nutrition: 304 cal, 22 g pro, 47 g carb, 7 g fiber, 5 g fat

Are you tired after a heavy workout? It’s a message that your body is asking for a healthy smoothie to restore its energy. Lean, Mean, Green Machine features protein powder that helps with the restoration of your lost energy, and sweet banana and kiwi to fuel your body with Potassium and Vitamin C. It also contains coconut water which helps your body with hydration.

Ingredients:

• 1 medium banana; cut into pieces
• 1 kiwi; peeled and cut into pieces
• 1 cup of almond milk; unsweetened
• 1 cup of spinach
• 1 scoop of vanilla whey protein powder
• ½ cup of coconut water

Method:

Grind all the ingredients well until smooth.

4. Caribbean Dream Smoothie

Nutrition: 156 cal, 6 g pro, 29 g carb, 2 g fiber, 21 g sugars ( 1.5 g added sugars), 3 g fat ( 2 g sat fat)

Feeling anxious before an important event? Having a nervous stomach? Worry not, because I’ve got you a smoothie that will not only satisfy your taste buds but also calm down your nervous levels. It contains banana which has magnesium that helps you relax, and yogurt which has probiotics that can also reduce anxiety.

Ingredients:

• ½ cup of pineapple chunks
• ¼ cup of 2% Greek yogurt
• ¼ cup of coconut milk; refrigerated and unsweetened
• ¼ cup of orange juice
• ¼ large banana
• A handful of ice cubes

Method:

Put together all the ingredients in a blender and mix them until you get a smooth texture. You may want to drink the smoothie 2 hours before an event to ease your anxiety.

5. Green tea, Blueberry, and Banana Smoothie

This smoothie takes a bit of time to prepare, but it is okay to spend time on something that feels too delicious to be true.

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons of water
• 1 bag of green tea
• 2 tablespoons of honey
• 1 ½ cups of frozen blueberries
• ½ medium banana
• ¾ cup of light vanilla soy milk

Method:

Microwave the 3 tablespoons of water until steaming hot. After that, drop the green tea bag into it and leave it to brew for 3 minutes. Discard the tea bag and pour in 2 tablespoons of honey. Stir until well dissolved. Finally, in a blender, add the blueberries, banana, light vanilla soy milk, and the tea we prepared earlier. Process until smooth and combined.

I hope these smoothies are exactly what you need. Try these recipes out and let me know how you liked them. Don’t hesitate to experiment by adding ingredients of your preference. Share pictures with me of how it turned out!