Create The Perfect Summer Smoothie
Smoothies are a delicious treat on a hot summer day! You can enjoy fruit & yogurt breakfast smoothies, protein smoothies as a post workout recovery treat, or enjoy seasonal fresh fruit smoothies as a delicious snack anytime of day. But not all smoothie recipes are alike. Many of the smoothies you get at fairs and at coffee shops are really nothing more than sugary drinks with artificial food coloring and flavor. But no worries, with a few good healthy smoothie recipes, you can easily enjoy smoothies that are a nutritious addition to your diet.
When searching for smoothie recipes, remember that smoothies are only as nutritious as the ingredients you add to them. Whether it’s green smoothie recipes or kids’ smoothie recipes, choose recipes that use fresh wholesome ingredients without a lot of added sugar. A quick Internet search will provide you with lots of quick recipes ranging from smoothie recipes with spinach to tropical smoothies. But the basis of any good-for-you smoothie recipe is blending together a nutritious liquid such as 100% juice, milk, kefir or coconut water with some fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables, with no added sugar. Sometimes, though, adding a little sweetener such as honey or stevia can make a smoothie a bit more enjoyable.
Adding frozen fruit to a smoothie recipe without ice provides dense nutrition and a product that is less watered down. Try searching Pinterest.com for some summer smoothie recipes that use watermelon, strawberries, pineapple or fresh mint for fun seasonal flavors. There are some refreshing smoothie ideas out there but remember that some are healthy, low calorie smoothie recipes that can help with maintaining a healthy weight, and some are dessert smoothies that are not healthy at all.
Timesaving Tips and Recipes for Quick Smoothies
Freeze small bags of fruit blend that you can easily throw in the blender for quick smoothie recipes on the run. Try different mixtures such strawberries with kiwi slices, mango and pineapple chunks, or peach slices with raspberries. Once you’re ready to blend your smoothie, pour the bag of fruit into the blender and add some fruit juice, milk or milk substitute and blend away. Adding a little protein powder can help keep your muscles strong and provide satiety. Choosing fruits and vegetables in season keeps your smoothie on a budget.
So now that you know a little about making healthy smoothies, here are a couple of good recipes to get you started:
Tootie-Fruity Healthy Smoothie
½ cup orange juice
½ cup vanilla kefir or yogurt
½ cup frozen strawberries
½ cup frozen raspberries
1 overripe banana (overripe bananas are at their sweetest)
1 Tbsp. protein powder, if desired
Combine all ingredients in a blender and pulse until smooth. Additional liquid can be added if needed.
Basic Green Smoothie Recipe
1-cup fresh leafy greens such as spinach, kale, or romaine lettuce
1-cup cold liquid like juice, milk or milk substitute, or coconut water
1½ cups ripe fresh fruit, cut into chunks
Combine greens and liquid in a blender and pulse until smooth. Add fruit and continue blended until desired consistency.
For more great tasting smoothie ideas, check our previous smoothie posts on Healthy Smoothie Recipes and Best Tasting Smoothie Recipes.
