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The 13 Best Superfood Smoothies to Jumpstart Your Mornings

Your healthy breakfast just got healthier with these ingredients and recipes.

Switch up your basic smoothie

Smoothies are great ways to start your morning with delicious and nutritious fruits and vegetables. But if you’re guilty of only following your go-to recipe, you’ll want to try one of these nutritionist-approved ones instead.

superfoods-smoothie-acai-Dinner at the ZooCourtesy Dinner at the Zoo

Acai berries

Acai berries have been gaining major traction for their high antioxidant content. Itโ€™s tough to find the fresh berries in stores, but you can usually find powdered or frozen versions. Read the label before putting it in your cart though. โ€œAcai is very bitter, so a lot of times they have sugar added,โ€ says Alissa Rumsey, a registered dietitian and a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. โ€œYou want to make sure itโ€™s the pure form.โ€ Hop on the spoon-fed smoothie trend with this Quick and Easy Acai Bowl from Dinner at the Zoo.

superfoods-smoothie-orange-Live-Eat-LearnCourtesy Live Eat Learn

Greek yogurt

Upgrade your typical yogurt-based smoothie with Greek yogurt. Not only does it pack in a filling 15 grams of protein per six-ounce portion, but it also contains probiotics that promote a healthy gut. And its texture doesnโ€™t hurt either. โ€œIt makes a great base for a lot of smoothies because its natural thickness from the straining process makes a nice creaminess,โ€ says registered dietitian nutritionist and culinary specialist Sara Haas, a spokesperson for the American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. She likes the mouthfeel of a small portion of full-fat Greek yogurt, but recommends using nonfat or low-fat if youโ€™re worried about your weight. Try this Healthy Orange Dreamsicle Smoothie from Live Eat Learn.

Superfoods-smoothie-avocado-As-easy-as-apple-pieCourtesy As Easy as Apple Pie

Avocado

Craving an even creamier smoothie? Avocado is a surprising, vegan-friendly way to get the smooth texture. โ€œItโ€™s so mild in flavor that itโ€™s only providing a nice mouthfeel,โ€ says Haas. You probably wonโ€™t notice the taste, but your body will be raking in health benefits. Avocados are chock-full of โ€œgoodโ€ unsaturated fats that raise good cholesterol and lower bad cholesterol to keep your heart healthy, says Haas. Start with this Avocado Strawberry Layered Smoothie from As Easy as Apple Pie.

Superfoods-smoothie-Pina-Colada-My-Nourished-HomeCourtesy My Nourished Home

Spinach

If youโ€™ve avoided the green smoothie trend, itโ€™s time to get on the bandwagonโ€”just take a hint from these healthy breakfast smoothies. Even the biggest green smoothie skeptics will be believers after adding the mild taste of spinach. โ€œAdding spinach is a great way for folks who are having a hard time meeting their vegetable intake in a day,โ€ says registered dietitian nutritionist Caroline Passerrello, a registered dietitian and a spokesperson for the American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. โ€œA handful or two really doesnโ€™t impact the taste very much. You just need to get past the color change.โ€ And itโ€™s worth itโ€”spinach is a great source of vitamins A, C, and K. Beginners can start with this Healthy Green Piรฑa Colada Smoothie from My Nourished Home.

superfoods-smoothie-green-smoothie-Kristine's-KitchenCourtesy Kristine's Kitchen

Kale

Eating a diversity of produce promotes healthy gut bacteria, so mix up your usual spinach for lacinato kale. โ€œIt tends to be milder, and I would almost say less bitter, than the curly kale,โ€ says Haas. Lacinato kale still packs in tons of vitamin A, a protective antioxidant that promotes healthy vision. Be sure to include a fat source, like low- or full-fat yogurt, or a nut butter to help your body absorb the vitamin and reap all the benefits, says Haas. Head to Kristine’s Kitchen for her recipe for Our Favorite Green Smoothie.

superfoods-smoothie-beet-nutritional-foodieCourtesy Nutritional Foodie

Beets

You can still pack a smoothie with veggies if the green from a kale or spinach smoothie scares you off. Beets are full of B-vitamins, potassium, and folate, and turns your drink a pretty shade of purple. Plus, the nitrates in beets turn to nitric oxide in the body, improving blood flow and boosting endurance during a workout, says Passerrello. Unlike leafy greens, though, donโ€™t toss beets in with a heavy hand. โ€œTheyโ€™re starchy, so you want to watch how many you put in,โ€ says Passerrello. โ€œIf youโ€™re using beet juice, it could be a lot of extra calories.โ€ Whip up Nutritional Foodieโ€™s Beet the Cold Power Smoothie.

Superfoods-smoothie-quinoa-Lauren-KellyCourtesy Lauren Kelly

Quinoa flakes

Thatโ€™s rightโ€”quinoa can make an appearance even before your healthy lunch bowl. Like oatmeal, add fiber to your smoothie, plus even more protein per half-cup, says Passerrello. Just be sure to buy quinoa flakes, which have been pressed flat, instead of the crunchy raw seeds. The flakes will give your smoothie a thick texture. Give them a try with this Coconut Quinoa Smoothie from Lauren Kelly Nutrition.

superfoods-smoothie-Blueberry-Kristin-Porter,-Iowa-Girl-EatsCourtesy Kristin Porter, Iowa Girl Eats

Blueberries

For a twist on your usual strawberry banana smoothie, add some blueberries into the mix. Blueberries are small but mighty when it comes to nutrients. โ€œThat bright blue color is from the antioxidants,โ€ says Haas. The different antioxidants in blueberries can keep your immune system strong and guard against serious conditions like heart disease and cancer. Plus, the little fruits are a tasty way to up your fiber for the day. Give this Blueberry Muffin Smoothie from Iowa Girl Eats a try.

superfoods-smoothie-Goji-Berry-Tieghan-Gerard-of-Half-Baked-HarvestCourtesy Tieghan Gerard of Half Baked Harvest

Goji berries

As if the pretty red color werenโ€™t enough of a reason to add goji berries to your smoothie, theyโ€™re filled with the same antioxidants youโ€™ll find in other berries. But goji berries have an added bonus: Three grams of protein per ounce. โ€œNot all fruits have protein,โ€ says Rumsey. Test them out with Half Baked Harvestโ€™s recipe for Island Mango Goji Berry Sunrise Smoothie.

Superfoods-smoothie-strawberry-Cooking-classyCourtesy cooking classy

Strawberries

Strawberry banana smoothies are classic because of their crowd-pleasing taste, but those berries pack in quite the health punch too. Vitamin C and other antioxidants will keep your bodyโ€™s disease-fighting system strong. Theyโ€™re also a great source of fiber, but donโ€™t have as much sugar as other fruits, so you get more bang for your buck, says Rumsey. โ€œRipe, fresh strawberries taste naturally sweet, so theyโ€™re a good way to sweeten a smoothie without adding sugar or fruit-flavored yogurt with sugar,โ€ she says. This Strawberry Colada Smoothie from Cooking Classy is a fun twist on your typical strawberry drink.

superfoods-smoothie-Peanut-Butter-The-Healthy-FoodieCourtesy the Healthy Foodie

Nuts

Whether you prefer almonds or peanuts, adding any nut butter to a smoothie will give you a protein punch, along with healthy fats and fiber. If youโ€™re looking to cut calories though, consider adding a couple of scoops of powdered peanut butter. The dehydrated version has about 45 calories in two tablespoons, compared to the 200 in the creamy stuff. โ€œAll the moisture is gone and most of the oil is gone, and all you have left is the protein,โ€ says Passerrello. Use your powdered peanut butter in this Peanut Butter Chocolate Protein Shake from The Healthy Foodie. Don’t miss these other vegetarian protein sources.

superfoods-smoothie-Mango-Chia-beaming-bakerCourtesy Beaming Baker

Chia seeds

For an interesting twist, throw in some chia seeds. โ€œThey add a nice texture to keep your smoothie interesting,โ€ says Haas. โ€œIt adds a pop.โ€ Chia seeds contain unsaturated fats, along with heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, which can be tough to find outside fish sources. Pair those fats with 10.6 grams of fiber per ounce of chia seeds, and youโ€™ve got a smoothie that will keep you full for hours. Start with this Mango Chia Seed Smoothie recipe from Beaming Baker.

superfoods-smoothie-Pumpkin-Beaming-bakercourtesy Beaming baker

Pumpkin

Skip the sugary latte and whip up a healthy pumpkin spice smoothie you can feel good about. Pumpkin puree isnโ€™t just smooth and deliciousโ€”it also pumps up your drink with vitamin A to boost your immune system and vision. You could roast and puree a whole squash, but cutting corners with canned pumpkin is just as nutritiousโ€”as long as youโ€™re careful. โ€œSome people think they should buy canned pumpkin pie filling, but that has the sugar in it,โ€ says Haas. โ€œBuy the one thatโ€™s just pureed pumpkin.โ€ Check out these other common healthy breakfast mistakes, then visit Beaming Baker for the recipe for a Vegan Pumpkin Pie Smoothie.

Sources
  • Alissa Rumsey, MS, RD, CDN, CSCS, spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Sara Haas, RDN, LDN, spokesperson for the American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Caroline Passerrello, MS, RDN, LDN, spokesperson for the American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

Marissa Laliberte
Marissa Laliberte-Simonian is a London-based associate editor with the global promotions team at WebMDโ€™s Medscape.com and was previously a staff writer for Reader's Digest. Her work has also appeared in Business Insider, Parents magazine, CreakyJoints, and the Baltimore Sun. You can find her on Instagram @marissasimonian.