Easy Smoothie Recipes
It can be difficult to get a healthy breakfast in on busy mornings (and really, aren’t they all busy!?!)! It is especially difficult to find something that is full of healthy ingredients & is also delicious! Although I do have some great ideas (here), one of the tried & true breakfast of champions is a smoothie! If you just don’t have time to worry with making things ahead & freezing them, or you want to start hiding a few healthy ingredients in your kids’ meals (or yours!), then a these easy smoothie recipes will definitely supercharge your healthy breakfast routine!
Easy Smoothie Recipes
Smoothies are a great, versatile, & nutritious meal that adults & kids alike will LOVE! You can either stick to one of the recipes that I’ve given you below or you can start experiment with ingredients! Just try it out & find a healthy combo that you love!
Try Something New
If you aren’t too adventurous with your healthy food choices, a smoothie is a good place to start adding new things & you probably won’t even notice! People are usually hesitant to try spinach in their smoothies for the first time, but I usually can get them to sample a little… and admit that they don’t really even notice it! Don’t let the green turn you off either, that bright beautiful green (that you won’t even taste) will give you a nutritious bonus!
Stick With What You Like
If you love strawberries, then a smoothie with strawberries should probably be your first one to try! However, don’t be afraid to branch out and try new recipes, or even include new ingredients in your favorite recipe! My husband will put everything but the kitchen sink in his (man-sized) smoothies! And although the flavor combos he goes with aren’t usually my first choice, they usually turn out pretty good!
Hide Some Extra Nutrients
Like I mentioned earlier about spinach, most ingredients that you add to your smoothies won’t taste over powering, so add A LITTLE extra if you want. I say “a little” because if you add 4 cups of spinach to half a frozen banana and a cup of milk, you might taste the spinach!! The same goes with flax meal, add a little (less than a teaspoon per serving) and increase it if you can’t taste it. Flax meal can add a little bit of an odd texture if too much is used. This is why I would rather have it in my baked goods than my smoothies, but that is just my preference!
Flavor It Up
A fun way to make your smoothies extra tasty is to experiment with spices and other ingredients! A little cinnamon & vanilla in a banana smoothie is divine! Also, if you love peanut butter, then you will love peanut butter with banana & even some cocoa for a Reeces flavored drink! However, just a note….a little peanut butter goes a long way in a smoothie!
Tips On Making Great Smoothies
When I talk to people about making smoothies, my #1 tip is to start with frozen bananas! Have you seen those recipes on Pinterest for ice cream made only with bananas? There is a reason for those recipes, frozen bananas blend up with a consistency very similar to ice cream! And when you use frozen bananas for your base, your smoothie will have a similar consistency to a milkshake! Win-win! Nutritious & delicious!
Ok, so let’s say you aren’t a banana fan, cottage cheese is actually a great base for your smoothie! I know that it may not sound like that great, but you will be surprised! Just be sure that you include enough sweet ingredients to offset the slightly salt taste of the cottage cheese. One of the best reasons to go with cottage cheese is that it is SO HIGH IN PROTEIN!
If you are using mostly frozen ingredients in your smoothie, then you may have to add a little extra liquid! Be careful, because if you don’t have enough liquid you could burn the motor out on your blender. You don’t have to have a high end blender to make great smoothies, but if you are looking for a new blender & you want one that is a real workhorse, check out the blender that I use here. (This blender is a good choice if you have been thinking about a Blendtec or Vitamix but don’t want to drop $500).
If you decide to use mostly fresh ingredients, know that your smoothie may come out a little water-y. If you don’t like that consistency, you can add some ice to the mixture to help make your smoothie thicker.
Easy Smoothie Recipes: Building Blocks
Check out this awesome infograph that I made to help you make your own favorite smoothie! You have several different options, but you don’t have to include them all! I would just be sure that you include a base, fruit & liquid! The sweetener, flavorings & bonus nutrients are all optional!
Easy Smoothie Recipes
Here are a few of my favorite recipes. Feel free to try them as is, tweak them, or make your own with my guide above!
Easy Smoothie Recipes
Equipment
- Blender
Ingredients
Green PB Banana Smoothie
- 1 handful spinach, fresh
- 1 banana, frozen
- 1 tbsp peanut butter
- 1/2-1 cup milk of your choice start with less milk & increase if needed
Strawberry Banana Smoothie
- 1 banana, frozen
- 1 cup strawberries, fresh or frozen
- 1 cup milk of your choice
- your choice of sweetener (if/as needed)
You're Gonna Love It Green Smoothie
- 1/2 banana, frozen
- 1/2 pear frozen or fresh
- 1 cup fresh spinach
- 1 cup almond milk, original flavor (if you use another kind of milk, you may need to add a sweetener.)
- 1 tbsp almond butter
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in your blender (if using spinach, place it on the bottom with bananas/fruit on top of it. It your blender appears to be hung up, you may need to add more liquid.
Notes
Make It A Memory
I have this thing about making a memory or creating a tradition out of ordinary things (I blame my mom! ;). So, last school year I decided that I was going to make my boys smoothies everyday after school when they came home super hungry & I didn’t want them to ruin their supper with junk! However, I may have just been a little too zealous with the smoothies!
But whenever you decide to get your smoothie on, maybe you can add it to your fun daily or weekly routine & create a great (and healthy) memory that your children will enjoy & maybe even carry on with their own children one day!
Happy Blending!!!
If you have favorite smoothie combinations, please take a minute to share them in the comments!
And please take a minute to follow me on Pinterest, and….
