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How to Build a Smoothie + 33 Healthy Smoothie Recipes

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In the mood for a quick, easy and healthy meal or snack to enjoy? You can always count on a nice tasty smoothie to satisfy those cravings.

These blended bundles of nutritional goodness are worth every hype they get. Plus, they can easily be enjoyed on just about any diet out there.

If you’re looking for the best smoothie recipes to satisfy your cravings, then you’ve come to the right place.

In this post, you’ll discover lots of useful tips on how to build the perfect smoothie, as well as over 30 incredible smoothie recipes to enjoy.

These incredible smoothie recipes are super easy to make, healthy, delicious, and packed with loads of nutritional goodness.

They make for the perfect healthy breakfast or snack idea to enjoy without stress, and can easily be customized to suit your preferences.

Let’s get right into it.

Smoothies 101 

Incorporating smoothies into your diet is literally one of the best things you can do as far as healthy eating goes.

They’re more than just a bunch of fruits and/or veggies tossed into a blender. Depending on how they’re made, they can serve as a great healthy snack, meal replacement, or even a pre/post workout meal.

This guide will tell you everything you need to know about building the perfect smoothie to fit your needs and preferences.

Ingredients

The good thing about smoothie-making, is that there’s hardly a wrong way to do it. But if you’ve ever wondered exactly what foods you could toss in the blender, this guide will help you out.

Let’s start with the basics. In terms of smoothie ingredients, you could have; 

  • Fruits and veggies
  • Nuts, seeds, and their further derivatives 
  • Spices and herbs
  • Sweeteners
  • Dairy products
  • Dietary supplements
  • Grains
  • Legumes

Fruits and Veggies

When it comes to the most popular smoothie ingredients, fruits and veggies often seem to take the center stage, and for lots of very good reason too.

Fruits

Let’s start off with our absolute favorites. Fruits are nature’s sweet gifts to us. Their yummy taste and nutritional benefits make them a great addition to any smoothie.

Take strawberries for example. They’re a great source of antioxidants which can help reduce oxidative stress, and fight inflammation.

Not to mention they’re packed full of other important vitamins and minerals that can help improve heart health, reduce blood pressure, improve skin health, and more.

Bananas are another popular option. Apart from their yummy taste, they also serve a great natural thickener for your smoothies. They’re also rich in nutrients like Potassium, Vitamins A, C, B6, and others.

Other amazing fruits you can add to your smoothie include but are not limited to;

  • Apples
  • Oranges
  • Pineapples
  • Kiwis
  • Avocados (technically a fruit)
  • Cherries
  • Berries – blackberries, blueberries, acai berries, etc
  • Mangoes and so on.

Feel free to toss in your favorite fruits.

Veggies

While most veggies don’t exactly taste as sweet as fruits, they still deserve the accolades. Vegetables are a good source of fiber, and are also often lower in calories which can help promote satiety and aid weight loss.

Like fruits, vegetables are also nutritional powerhouses, and they offer a ton of interesting health benefits, from lowering cholesterol, to reducing blood sugar, boosting immune system, and much more.

Smoothies are an excellent way to eat (or in this case drink) your veggies, without necessarily having to deal with the taste. A great option for even the pickiest of eaters.

Some amazing veggies you can add to your smoothie include;

  • Leafy greens – spinach, kale, collard, arugula, and so on
  • Celery
  • Broccoli
  • Cucumber
  • Zucchini
  • Cauliflower
  • Carrots
  • Sweet potatoes and so on

Fresh vs Frozen

One common question people ask when it comes to smoothies, is if it’s better to go with fresh or frozen fruits/veggies. Personally, I think it all boils down to preference.

Most people love to enjoy their smoothies at a cold temperature. In that case frozen fruits are a great idea, because they’re already cold, so your smoothie doesn’t require any further cooling before you enjoy it.  Plus, they can give your smoothies a thicker texture.

But if the fruits/veggies you want to use are in season, you can take advantage of that and use the fresh ones.

All in all, both are fine. Like I said, it all comes down to personal preference.

Nuts, Seeds And Their Derivatives

Fruits and veggies aren’t the only things you can put in your smoothie. Nuts, and seeds are also very great options as well. They’re a great source of healthy fats, and fiber, and protein, as well as other important nutrients.

You could use the raw nuts/seeds, or also make use of their derivatives as well, such as nut milks, nut butters, and so on.

Almonds, peanuts, cashews, walnuts, macadamia nuts, etc. are all great nut options to enjoy in your smoothie. Same thing goes for seeds. Sesame, hemp, pumpkin, chia etc. are also excellent choices.

Spices and Herbs

If you’re looking to give your smoothies an extra nutritional boost or flavor, herbs and spices are the way to go. There are lots of incredible herbs and/or spices to add to your drink.

Basil for example can help reduce blood sugar, fight against inflammation, and also help reduce anxiety, among many other benefits.

Another great herb is mint. Not only will it leave you with a fresh breath, it can also help improve digestion, and supports brain health too, among other things.

Other incredible spices and herbs you can enjoy include;

  • Cinnamon
  • Rosemary
  • Garlic
  • Ginger
  • Turmeric, etc.

Sweeteners

Sometimes your smoothie might not end up tasting as great as you’d expected. In cases like that, you can easily boost its taste with the help of a sweetener.

Natural sweeteners like honey and maple syrup tend to be very popular options. If you’re trying to make it healthier, you can use opt in for sugar-free options like stevia, monk fruit and erythritol. This is especially great for people on low carb or keto diets.

Dairy products

Milk and yogurt are the main dairy-based products you’ll find in smoothies. They’re both great sources of probiotics, which aid proper digestion and promote gut health. Plus, they can also give your smoothies an extra protein boost too.

Dietary Supplements

If you’re looking to further boost the nutritional profile of your smoothie, dietary supplements can be a great idea.

Protein powders for example, can help you boost the protein content, which will help keep you satiated for longer, or help you fuel properly before/after your workout.

Other dietary supplements include collagen, matcha powder, spirulina, maca, cacao, and so on.

Grains

Grains, especially whole grains, are an excellent source of fiber, and also contain lots of important nutrients too.

Oats are by far, the most popular choice when it comes to smoothies, but there are still several other options to enjoy too. Quinoa, amaranth and millet are also honorable mentions.

Legumes

Legumes are probably one of the last things you’d have thought of tossing in the blender. But they can actually be pretty good.

Like grains, they can serve as a good source of fiber and other important nutrients. Plus, they can also help improve the texture of your drink. Beans, chickpeas, tofu, etc. are great options to try out.

33 Healthy Smoothie Recipes

1) 2-Minute 2-Ingredient Frozen Fruit Smoothie

2-Minute 2-Ingredient Frozen Fruit Smoothie
Via: Mom Spark

Get the recipe at – Mom Spark

2) Dairy-Free Orange Creamsicle Smoothie

Dairy-Free Orange Creamsicle Smoothie
Via: Happy Healthy Mama

Get the recipe at – Happy Healthy Mama

3) Easy Tropical Smoothie

Easy Tropical Smoothie
Via: Six Sister’s Stuff

Get the recipe at – Six Sister’s Stuff

4) Healthy Strawberry Smoothie

Healthy Strawberry Smoothie
Via: The Recipe Rebel

Get the recipe at – The Recipe Rebel

5) Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie
Via: Well Plated

Get the recipe at – Well Plated

Also See: 13 Delicious Keto Smoothie Recipes To Help You Lose Weight

6) Mango Smoothie

Mango Smoothie
Via: Dinner At The Zoo

Get the recipe at – Dinner At The Zoo

7) Morning Green Smoothie

Morning Green Smoothie
Via: Courtney’s Sweets

Get the recipe at – Courtney’s Sweets

8) Dragon Fruit Smoothie

Dragon Fruit Smoothie
Via: Jar Of Lemons

Get the recipe at – Jar Of Lemons

9) Go-To Smoothie Recipe for Kids

Go-To Smoothie Recipe for Kids
Via: Detoxinista

Get the recipe at – Detoxinista

10) Creamy Avocado Smoothie

Creamy Avocado Smoothie
Via: Love And Lemons

Get the recipe at – Love And Lemons

Also See: 20 Yummy Smoothie Bowl Recipes To Satisfy Your Cravings

11) Immunity Boosting Berry Orange Smoothie

Immunity Boosting Berry Orange Smoothie
Via: Cotter Crunch

Get the recipe at – Cotter Crunch

12) Watermelon Smoothie

Watermelon Smoothie
Via: Lil Luna

Get the recipe at – Lil Luna

13) Ginger Peach Detox Smoothie

Ginger Peach Detox Smoothie
Via: Build Your Bite

Get the recipe at – Build Your Bite

14) Kale Pineapple Smoothie

Kale Pineapple Smoothie
Via: Well Plated

Get the recipe at – Well Plated

15) Apple Carrot Beet Smoothie

Apple Carrot Beet Smoothie
Via: Downshiftology

Get the recipe at – Downshiftology

Also See: 23 Healthy Breakfast Recipes To Make In Under 30 Minutes

16) Grape Smoothie

Grape Smoothie
Via: A Couple Cooks

Get the recipe at – A Couple Cooks

17) Chocolate Banana Strawberry Smoothie

Chocolate Banana Strawberry Smoothie
Via: The Conscious Plant Kitchen

Get the recipe at – The Conscious Plant Kitchen

18) Berry Spinach Protein Smoothie

Berry Spinach Protein Smoothie
Via: The Lemon Bowl

Get the recipe at – The Lemon Bowl

19) Cinnamon Roll Smoothie

Cinnamon Roll Smoothie
Via: Food With Feeling

Get the recipe at – Food With Feeling

20) Fresh Lemon Ginger Detoxifying Smoothie

Fresh Lemon Ginger Detoxifying Smoothie
Via: Nutrition In The Kitch

Get the recipe at – Nutrition In The Kitch

Also See: 21 Healthy Detox Drinks To Help You Burn Fat

21) Acai Smoothie

Acai Smoothie
Via: Simple Veganista

Get the recipe at – Simple Veganista

22) Kombucha Smoothie

Kombucha Smoothie
Via: IFoodreal

Get the recipe at – IFoodreal

23) Healthy Carrot Cake Smoothie

Healthy Carrot Cake Smoothie
Via: Not Enough Cinnamon

Get the recipe at – Not Enough Cinnamon

24) Super Green Spirulina Smoothie

Super Green Spirulina Smoothie
Via: Minimalist Baker

Get the recipe at – Minimalist Baker

25) 5-Ingredient Turmeric ‘Wake Up’ Smoothie

5-Ingredient Turmeric ‘Wake Up’ Smoothie
Via: Orchids And Sweet Tea

Get the recipe at – Orchids And Sweet Tea

Also See: 20 Incredible Low Carb Breakfasts To Kick-Start Your Day

26) Cinnamon Oatmeal Cookie Smoothie

Cinnamon Oatmeal Cookie Smoothie
Via: Eating Bird Food

Get the recipe at – Eating Bird Food

27) Vegan Papaya Smoothie

Vegan Papaya Smoothie
Via: Running On Real Food

Get the recipe at – Running On Real Food

28) Maca Mocha Cold Brew Smoothie

Maca Mocha Cold Brew Smoothie
Via: Fit Mitten Kitchen

Get the recipe at – Fit Mitten Kitchen

29) Healthy Apple Pie Smoothie

Healthy Apple Pie Smoothie
Via: Mindful Avocado

Get the recipe at – Mindful Avocado

30) Power Breakfast Smoothie

Power Breakfast Smoothie
Via: Real And Vibrant

Get the recipe at – Real And Vibrant

31) Strawberry Grapefruit Smoothie

Strawberry Grapefruit Smoothie
Via: Oh So Delicioso

Get the recipe at – Oh So Delicioso

32) Sweet Potato Smoothie

Sweet Potato Smoothie
Via: Eat The Gains

Get the recipe at – Eat The Gains

33) Green Tea Matcha Smoothie

Green Tea Matcha Smoothie
Via: Jessica Gavin

Get the recipe at – Jessica Gavin

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