Healthy Smoothie Recipes

There’s nothing more refreshing after a workout—or a crazy morning commute—than a healthy smoothie. Easy to make, easy to carry, and easy to gulp down on the go, these delicious smoothie recipes can even be prepared ahead of time by cutting and freezing the produce. Best of all, these recipes are all vegetarian!

For all the recipes below, simply place your smoothie ingredients into a high-powered blender, and let it run for 30 seconds to a minute until smooth.

• How to Customize Your Smoothies
• Healthy Smoothie Recipes
  • Strawberry and Banana Delight
  • Ginger Orange and Carrot Palooza
  • Pineapple Mango Paradise
  • Avocado Cucumber Kale Super Smoothie
  • Blueberry Lemon Desire
  • Delicious Cherry Beet Surprise
  • Banana Pineapple Strawberry Haven
  • Sweet Almond Cherry
  • Tasty Greens Medley
  • Chocolate and Spinach Blueberry Twist
  • Green Youth Super Smoothie
  • Mango and Peach Tropical Delight

How to Customize Your Smoothies

Whenever you find a recipe you love, consider tinkering with its ingredients a bit so it can deliver exactly the nutrients and boosts you’re after.

Some great smoothie additions include:

• Matcha. High in EGCG, which is believed to promote brain health, heart health, and weight loss, matcha also has a calming effect on the mind and body.
• Chia Seeds. These are high in protein, antioxidants, omega-3, fiber, magnesium, and potassium. With the right blender, you can’t even tell they’re in your smoothie.
• Oats. High in fiber, iron, antioxidants, low in fat, and great for lowering cholesterol, oats are a simple addition that bulk up smoothie recipes without too many calories.
• Hemp Hearts. These are high in protein, as well as omega-3 and 6.
• Ginger. This aids with nausea and upset stomach, and contains many anti-inflammatory properties. You can use it fresh, or in powder form, for a zesty kick to any smoothie.
• Spirulina Powder. Packed with vitamin A, spirulina is also a great natural source of chlorophyll.
• Almonds. With antioxidants and vitamin E, almonds provide a protein and flavor boost that pairs beautifully with most fruits. Additionally, they can lower harmful cholesterol.
• Turmeric. Not only does turmeric boast anti-inflammatory properties, but it also increases the body’s ability to absorb antioxidants—which means it can boost all the other “boosts” you add to your favorite smoothie recipes! Turmeric can be used fresh, or in powder form for convenience.
• Flax Meal. This smoothie additive is chock full of fiber, omega-3, and lignans (a type of antioxidant).

Healthy Smoothie Recipes

Strawberry and Banana Delight

Perhaps the most classic fruit combo out there, strawberry and banana give that perfect blend of sweetness, without being overwhelming.

While you can certainly use fresh fruit (just add some ice), frozen fruit really shines in this recipe: consider slicing and freezing your bananas and strawberries in a baggie, shortly after purchasing the produce.

Then, when a hectic morning strikes, all you have to do is dump the bag into your blender, toss in some chia seed and a little almond milk, and hit Puree.

• 1 tablespoon chia seeds
• 1 1/2 cups frozen strawberries
• 3/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1 banana

Ginger Orange and Carrot Palooza

Zesty and sweet, this smoothie will wake you up and energize in no time. The banana acts as a base, more than anything: you’ll mostly taste orange and ginger.

Even the carrot isn’t that noticeable, which makes this recipe perfect for veggie-haters looking to diversify their diet.

• 1/3 cup grated carrot
• 1 cup fresh orange slices
• One banana (frozen or not)
• 1 tablespoon hemp hearts
• 1/2 teaspoon of freshly grated ginger
• handful of ice cubes
• 1/2 cup almond milk

Pineapple Mango Paradise

Escape to waterfront views and sunny shores…at least, for a few minutes. This simple smoothie delivers tropical flavor with a punch of protein.

• 1 cup frozen pineapple slices
• 1 tablespoon chia seeds
• Whole banana
• 1 cup frozen mango slices
• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk

Avocado Cucumber Kale Super Smoothie

This green smoothie is ideal for go-getters. Despite the high vegetable content, you’ll mostly just taste banana, and a smooth undertone of avocado.

If lack of sweetness is a concern, consider adding a little low-fat vanilla yogurt.

• 1 tablespoon hemp hearts
• 1/2 cup kale
• about a quarter to half of a medium-sized avocado, or to taste
• 1/2 cup peeled cucumber
• Banana
• Handful of ice cubes

Blueberry Lemon Desire

Those blueberry lemon squares you loved as a kid are back—and this time, they’re actually good for you! Some classic oats bulk up this recipe with iron and fiber, but don’t dare take the spotlight off the real stars.

A generous serving of blueberries and just a little lemon keep this smoothie on the sweeter side, but feel free to juice things up: adjust the lemon additions to your personal preference.

• 1/4 cup old fashioned oats
• 1 1/2 cup frozen blueberries
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice
• 3/4 cups unsweetened almond milk
• Banana
• 1 tablespoon sliced almonds

Delicious Cherry Beet Surprise

Beets are a tough ingredient to work with: not many people like their earthy flavor. It’s a shame, since beets are loaded with folate and vitamin C, as well as betalains. These give beets their red color, but also protect your cells against oxidative damage.

Thankfully, the cherries in this recipe mask that earthiness of the beets, ensuring you get all the good stuff without having to hold your nose as you drink.

• 1/2 cup cooked beets
• 1 cup frozen cherries
• 3/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1/4 cup old fashioned oats
• Banana

Banana Pineapple Strawberry Haven

Greek yogurt and banana make up the base of this classic-turned-powerhouse. With flax and spinach in the mix, you can enjoy the simply sweet flavors and know your post-workout treat is actually good for you.

• 1 Tablespoon Chia or Flax Seeds
• 1/2 cup Pineapple
• 2 cups fresh Orange Juice
• Banana
• 1 cup Spinach (for an extra health boost)
• 1 cup Strawberries
• 1/2 cup Greek Yogurt
• Handful of ice (optional)

Sweet Almond Cherry

This simple smoothie is low in calories, but high in protein—a go-to blend for anyone hitting the gym.

• Scoop of protein powder, vanilla or unflavored
• 1 cup Soy or Almond Milk
• 1 1/2 cups Cherries frozen
• Banana
• Handful of ice

Tasty Greens Medley

Don’t let the sweetness in this one fool you: with a pretty generous serving of spinach, the tropical taste is actually a clever vehicle for vegetables.

• 1 1/2 cups Orange Juice
• 2 cups Baby Spinach
• Banana
• 1 cup Pineapple
• 1/2 cup Grapes
• Handful of ice

Chocolate and Spinach Blueberry Twist

The really beautiful thing about spinach? Once it’s blended into a smoothie, you can’t even taste it. In fact, you might even get away with doubling the greens in this one, and no one would be the wiser.

For a bit of decadence, blend in a small handful of semisweet chocolate chips.

• 1 cup Spinach
• Scoop of protein powder (dark chocolate or regular)
• Banana
• 1/2 cup Blueberries
• 1 Tablespoon fresh Almond Butter
• 1 cup Coconut Milk
• Handful of ice

Green Youth Super Smoothie

This is one recipe you might be happy to share with your kids. While it’s absolutely loaded with green veggies, the apple juice, lemon, and banana make it far more palatable than picky eaters might expect.

• 1/2 Cucumber
• 2 handfuls of Baby Spinach
• 2 cups pure and unprocessed apple juice
• Approximately 2 cups of kale or power greens mix
• Banana
• 1/2 lemon, squeezed
• Handful of ice

Mango and Peach Tropical Delight

This smoothie is heavy on the fruit, but doesn’t cross that line into “too sweet.” Instead, it’s got a great blend of smooth, mellow flavors you can’t help but devour.

Additionally, turmeric and ginger deliver just the slightest kick, to keep things interesting.

• 1 cup cubed mango
• 1/4 teaspoon turmeric
• 1 cup fresh orange juice
• 1/4 teaspoon ginger
• Banana
• 1 cup peaches

Get Blending

The best smoothie recipes balance health and taste. After all, it’s no fun chugging a bitter concoction, no matter how good it is for you.

With some creativity and testing, however, any veggie, fruit, and additive can become a star ingredient in your next blend…whether or not you can actually taste it.

In short, the smoothie has got to be one of the most overlooked snacks or meal replacements. Their versatility allows them to become almost whatever you’re looking for. Whether that be a breakfast smoothie, something to keep you going while you’re camping or hiking, or even when you’re out on the road to pick up your favorite healthy takeout option.

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Cory

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