Smoothies are a great way to introduce healthy fruits (or even vegetables) into your meals and overall diet in an interesting way. Instead of eating them, you can enjoy them as a way to wash down your food. They’re perfect during any time of the day and are incredibly easy to prepare once you get the hang of it. With that being said, here are five of the best smoothie recipes you should learn before firing up your home blender.
Banana Smoothie
Ingredients:
- Banana
- Milk
- Greek Yogurt
- Oats
Bananas are a tropical favorite. They grow in large numbers and have that unique taste that’s immediately recognizable. While some banana-related meals and products may not be universally loved, banana smoothies certainly are. And thanks to how easy they are to blend, they’re great for novices looking to introduce fruit smoothies into their diet.
Because of their sweetness, all you really need is a banana or two and a healthy serving of milk (animal or plant-based) and you’ve got a great banana smoothie. If you want to add some texture and complexity to it, though, then Greek yogurt can really spice things up. Add some oats, too, if you feel like the smoothie is just a little too smooth for your tastes.
Strawberry Smoothie
Ingredients:
- Strawberries
- Yogurt
- Milk
- Strawberry Jam
- Sugar
Arguably the most popular kind of smoothie, the strawberry smoothie is a classic that anybody can appreciate. And because some of the ingredients of smoothies come in strawberry flavor, you might not even need real strawberries to make a smoothie yourself. Having full, ripe strawberries does make the difference, however, so if you can, toss a couple in.
A basic strawberry smoothie just needs milk and fruit. Yogurt can be added for more flavor, and you can get it strawberry-flavored to match. You could also add a teaspoon or two of strawberry jam to up the sweetness, or just throw a pinch of sugar if you prefer something simpler.
Mango Smoothie
Ingredients:
- Mango
- Yogurt
- Milk
- Other fruit, such as banana
Another popular tropical fruit is mango. They’re incredibly soft and juicy, making them the perfect fruit for a cold smoothie. Because of its smoothness, some people prefer to skip adding the milk altogether and use low-fat yogurt instead.
The other great thing about mangoes is that they can be mixed with other fruits for more complex flavors. Two popular combinations are banana and orange, as they complement the sweetness very well. Bananas have similar tenderness to them, whereas oranges add that extra tang to the smoothie. Depending on your mood, you can enjoy a different mango smoothie each time.
Matcha Smoothie
Ingredients:
- Matcha powder
- Milk
- Banana
- Vanilla bean or extract
If you’re one of the many people who’ve fallen in love with matcha, then here’s a great way to add some to your morning meals. Matcha is commonly seen in coffee or milk tea shops, but they can be great when made into smoothies, too. While they don’t taste like the original tea blend, they’re still a treat nonetheless when cold.
Bananas are your go-to fruit if you want to add some to your shake. Greens such as kale are also an option. If you’re on a specific diet, you can add protein powder and tone down a bit on the fruit to keep the smoothie smooth enough.
Chocolate Smoothie
Ingredients:
- Chocolate almond milk
- Banana
- Spinach
- Dates
Who says you need fruits to make a smoothie? Jokes aside, chocolate smoothies aren’t actually fruitless. Contrary to the name, many chocolate smoothie recipes use fruits (most commonly banana) to add thickness to the drink. After all, without any fruits or vegetables, then it’d just be plain old chocolate milk, now wouldn’t it?
Depending on the ingredients you use, you could actually make an incredibly healthy chocolate shake. The strong flavor of chocolate masks subtler flavors, allowing you to even throw in vegetables such as spinach into the mix. You wouldn’t be able to tell the difference unless you really searched for it. This makes them great for kids who would rather drink sweet smoothies than eat their greens.
Conclusion
Smoothies are loved by kids and adults alike, and they’re incredibly easy to prepare. These recipes will not only introduce healthy fruit and vegetables into your diet - they’ll also make every meal with one a treat.
