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.
Acai berries
Acai berries have been gaining major traction for their high antioxidant content. Itโs 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. โAcai 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. โYou want to make sure itโs the pure form.โ Hop on the spoon-fed smoothie trend with this Quick and Easy Acai Bowl from Dinner at the Zoo.
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 doesnโt hurt either. โIt 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 youโre worried about your weight. Try this Healthy Orange Dreamsicle Smoothie from Live Eat Learn.
Avocado
Craving an even creamier smoothie? Avocado is a surprising, vegan-friendly way to get the smooth texture. โItโs so mild in flavor that itโs only providing a nice mouthfeel,โ says Haas. You probably wonโt notice the taste, but your body will be raking in health benefits. Avocados are chock-full of โgoodโ 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.
Spinach
If youโve avoided the green smoothie trend, itโs time to get on the bandwagonโjust take a hint from these healthy breakfast smoothies. Even the biggest green smoothie skeptics will be believers after adding the mild taste of spinach. โAdding 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. โA handful or two really doesnโt impact the taste very much. You just need to get past the color change.โ And itโs worth itโspinach is a great source of vitamins A, C, and K. Beginners can start with this Healthy Green Piรฑa Colada Smoothie from My Nourished Home.
Kale
Eating a diversity of produce promotes healthy gut bacteria, so mix up your usual spinach for lacinato kale. โIt 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.
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, donโt toss beets in with a heavy hand. โTheyโre starchy, so you want to watch how many you put in,โ says Passerrello. โIf youโre using beet juice, it could be a lot of extra calories.โ Whip up Nutritional Foodieโs Beet the Cold Power Smoothie.
Quinoa flakes
Thatโs rightโquinoa 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.
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. โThat 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.
Goji berries
As if the pretty red color werenโt enough of a reason to add goji berries to your smoothie, theyโre filled with the same antioxidants youโll find in other berries. But goji berries have an added bonus: Three grams of protein per ounce. โNot all fruits have protein,โ says Rumsey. Test them out with Half Baked Harvestโs recipe for Island Mango Goji Berry Sunrise Smoothie.
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 bodyโs disease-fighting system strong. Theyโre also a great source of fiber, but donโt have as much sugar as other fruits, so you get more bang for your buck, says Rumsey. โRipe, fresh strawberries taste naturally sweet, so theyโre 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.
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 youโre 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. โAll 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.
Chia seeds
For an interesting twist, throw in some chia seeds. โThey add a nice texture to keep your smoothie interesting,โ says Haas. โIt 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 youโve got a smoothie that will keep you full for hours. Start with this Mango Chia Seed Smoothie recipe from Beaming Baker.
Pumpkin
Skip the sugary latte and whip up a healthy pumpkin spice smoothie you can feel good about. Pumpkin puree isnโt just smooth and deliciousโit 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 nutritiousโas long as youโre careful. โSome people think they should buy canned pumpkin pie filling, but that has the sugar in it,โ says Haas. โBuy the one thatโs 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.
- 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