30+ Healthy Smoothie Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the healthiest thing to put in a smoothie? ›

Protein, such as a commercial protein powder, Greek yogurt (which is higher in protein than regular yogurt) or nut butters. Fruit, including berries, mango, bananas and avocado. Greens, such as spinach or kale. A liquid base such as dairy or plant-based milk, water or fruit juice.

Avocado and nut butters are popular ingredients to add some protein and healthy fats. You may also wish to include chia or hemp seeds. For a bit of sweetness and some extra nutrients, you can add some blueberries, banana, pineapple, orange, or mango.

Adding protein helps make your smoothie more satisfying. Protein helps fill you up, and there are plenty of ways to add it to your smoothie without using protein powder. If you do want to add protein powder, choose one without a lot of extra ingredients and no added sugars or sweeteners.

If you're looking to cut calories and sugar from your diet, water is the perfect choice for liquid for smoothies.

"I would never add sugar: white sugar, table sugar, honey, agave nectar—you're already getting enough sweetness from the fruit," says Torey Armul, MS, RDN, CSSD, LD, and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. And while fruit is a good way to sweeten your smoothie, keep an eye on the portion size.

This can be milk, or a dairy-free alternative such as soya or almond milk, natural or flavoured yogurt, fruit juice, or for a tropical flavoured smoothie, low-fat coconut milk or coconut water. It's important to add the liquid to your blender before adding the fruit, as this will prevent the blade from getting damaged.

For those who want to consume smoothies with bananas, or other high PPO activity fruits and vegetables such as beet greens, the suggestion is to not combine them with flavanol-rich fruits such as berries, grapes and cocoa.

If you're making creamy smoothies, opt for whole milk (of the cow or goat variety). The greater fat content will make your smoothie much more creamy. If you're plant-based, then I recommend oat milk as the #1 milk to maximize creaminess. Coconut milk is a close second, especially if you opt for the canned version.

When you include leafy greens, berries, vegetables, fruits, and nuts in your smoothie, you will be able to easily add a lot of nutrients to your daily healthy diet. They not only contribute to weight loss but also boosts your immunity and gut health.

Healthy fats to add to your fat-burning smoothies include nuts, nut butters, chia seeds, hemp seeds, flax seeds, avocado, coconut oil, and MCT oil. For more information on chia seeds, flax seeds and hemp seeds, check out: The 3 Best Super Seeds for Smoothies.

What is the 21 day smoothie diet for weight loss? ›

The 21-Day Smoothie Diet is a 3-week diet plan that involves replacing two meals per day with smoothies. The program claims to enhance immunity, boost energy levels, improve skin and gut health, and increase weight loss quickly.

Milk vs.

Both have protein that helps keep you feeling full and energized. It's like having two awesome friends – each with their own strengths! So, whether you go for milk or yogurt in your smoothie, you're making a tasty and nutritious choice.

Smoothies rich in fiber and protein keep you full longer, while those made with fruits and vegetables increase your daily vegetable servings. As long as you are drinking smoothies made from a variety of fruits and vegetables and low in refined sugar, there would be no problem with consuming smoothies every day.

Superfood powders like hemp, spirulina, and collagen peptides add filling protein to smoothies. This makes them more satisfying meal replacements. Rotate different protein-rich superfoods instead of using just one daily to prevent building up intolerances.

For example, you can use ripe fruits that are naturally sweet, such as bananas, mangoes, or berries, to sweeten your smoothie. Additionally, options like stevia, a calorie-free natural sweetener extracted from the stevia plant, offer a zero-calorie way to add sweetness to your smoothie.