It seems like everyone is drinking smoothies these days for the health benefits. But, to go out and buy a smoothie can cost a lot more than you might be willing to spend on a drink. So, you need to get the ingredients needed to make your own healthy and delicious basic smoothie recipe.

What goes into a smoothie? Well, you are pretty much only limited by your imagination. If you have never made your own smoothies, read on to learn more about the health benefits, the most popular ingredients, smoothies for kids and some other delicious recipes you can try right now.

5 Health Benefits of Smoothies

There are so many health benefits that come from drinking smoothies. They are loaded with fruits, vegetables, and other healthy ingredients that are loaded with nutrients, and they taste great. Here are five awesome benefits you can get from drinking smoothies.

• Get Nutrients – You can get most or even all of the daily recommended amount of vitamins and minerals just by drinking one healthy smoothie.
• Lose Weight – You can find all kinds of delicious smoothies that are diet-friendly, and many even help to promote weight loss.
• Better Digestion – Your fruits and veggies are in liquid form, so they are a lot easier for your system to digest.
• Look Better – When you are getting the proper nutrients in your diet, you will have gorgeous skin, hair, and nails.
• Healthy Immune System – Smoothies made with vitamin-rich fruits and vegetables will help to boost your immune system.

Most Popular Basic Smoothie Ingredients

Check out some of the most popular ingredients that people use in a basic smoothie recipe:

• Bananas – A great source of potassium
• Yogurt – Look for natural, organic yogurt
• Nuts and Seeds – Loaded with protein and healthy fats
• Protein Powder – Add more protein to your smoothies
• Berries – Loaded with anti-oxidants, berries are delicious in smoothies
• Flax Seeds – High in fiber and essential fatty acids, and full of flavor
• Raw Honey – A natural alternative to sugar
• Chia Seeds – Grind in a coffee grinder before adding to smoothies
• Leafy Greens – Try spinach and kale, which are high in vitamins and other nutrients

How to Make Your Own Healthy and Delicious Smoothies at Home

As long as you have a good quality blender, you can easily make your own smoothies right at home. You don’t need to go out and get any special juicers or smoothie machines. Simply combine all of the ingredients into the blender, and puree until the mixture is the consistency you like.

Kids and Veggies

A lot of kids don’t like many vegetables, and it can often be a battle to get them to eat their veggies. We know that they need the nutrients in vegetables in order to be healthy, but all they see is yucky looking vegetables.

You can disguise vegetables in a basic smoothie recipe, and they will never know the difference. The fruits you use in their smoothies will overpower the flavors of the vegetables, and all they will taste are the fruits. Here is a healthy smoothie mix that kids love.

Smoothie For Kids

Ingredients:

• ½ C Plain, Low-Fat Yogurt
• ½ C Green Grapes
• 1 Small Orange (peeled and sectioned)
• ½ C Chopped Pineapple
• ½ C Chopped Carrot
• ½ C Chopped Broccoli
• ½ C Chopped Spinach
• 1 C Chopped Frozen Peaches
• ½ Banana
• 1 C Ice Cubes

Smoothies for the Lactose Intolerant

A lot of people are unable to digest dairy products, and are not able to enjoy a regular smoothie made with yogurt. But, there are ways to get the nutrients and flavor of a smoothie. For instance, you can use juice and soy milk instead of yogurt.

Here is a delicious and healthy recipe for a dairy-free berry smoothie. This is also another smoothie that kids really love, and it is loaded with vitamin C. You don’t need ice for this smoothie, because the frozen berries do the job instead. When they thaw, they won’t water down the drink.

Dairy-Free Berry Smoothie

Ingredients:

• ½ C Orange Juice
• 1 C Soy Milk
• ½ C Frozen Strawberries
• ½ C Frozen Raspberries
• ¼ C Sliced Cucumber
• ¼ C Shredded Carrot
• 1 tbsp. Raw Honey (or to taste)

More Delicious Smoothie Recipes

Pumpkin Smoothie

Ingredients:

• ½ C Whole Milk
• 1/3 C Pumpkin Puree
• 1 tbsp. Raw Honey
• ½ tsp Ground Cinnamon
• ½ tsp Ground Nutmeg
• 1 C Ice

Berry, Oat, and Ginger Smoothie

Ingredients:

• ½ C Rolled Oats
• ½ C Frozen Berries
• ½ C Plain, Low-Fat Yogurt
• 2 tbsp. Raw Honey
• ½ tsp Grated Fresh Ginger
• ½ C Ice

Mango Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 1 C Chopped Mango
• ½ C Milk
• ¼ C Plain, Low-Fat Yogurt
• ¼ C Shredded Carrot
• 1 tbsp. Raw Honey
• ½ C Ice

Apple and Kale Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 1 C Chopped Kale (remove ribs and stems)
• ¼ C Chopped Celery
• ½ Banana
• ½ C Apple Juice
• ½ C Chopped Apple
• ¼ tsp Ground Cinnamon
• ½ C Ice

Carrot and Pineapple Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 1 C Chopped Fresh Pineapple
• ½ C Orange Juice
• 1/3 C Shredded Carrot
• ¼ C Chopped Cucumber
• ¼ C Chopped Celery
• 1 Banana
• ½ C Ice

Strawberry Smoothie with Flax Seeds

Ingredients:

• 1 C Frozen Strawberries
• 1 C Plain, Low-Fat Yogurt
• 3 tbsp. Sugar-Free Strawberry Jam or Preserves
• 1 tbsp. Raw Honey
• 1 tbsp. Ground Flax Seed

Orange/Blueberry Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 1C Plain, Low-Fat Yogurt
• 1 C Orange Juice
• 1 C Frozen Blueberries
• ½ C Chopped Spinach
• 1 tbsp. Lemon Juice
• 1 tbsp. Raw Honey
• 4-5 Ice Cubes

Green Tea and Blueberry Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 1 C Green Tea, Cooled
• ½ C Soy Milk
• 2/3 C Frozen Blueberries
• 1 tbsp. Raw Honey

Traditional Green Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 1 C Chopped Kale (stems removed)
• ½ C Chopped Granny Smith Apple
• 1 Banana
• ½ C Chopped Spinach Leaves
• 1 ½ C Water
• 1 C Ice

Conclusion

Now you have some ideas about which ingredients to use in your basic smoothie, and a few delicious and healthy recipes to get you started check out our latest blender recipes.

Once you get used to making smoothies, you will know the best ratios of fruits and vegetables, and you can start creating your own awesome smoothies.

It seems like there’s a new celebrity fad diet every time we go down a grocery store aisle.

Whether is Oprah declaring her love for counting points or Gwyneth Paltrow’s new $200 shake, there’s a lot to digest. Literally and metaphorically speaking.

However, there’s no denying the power weight loss smoothie recipes have on our waistlines.

Made properly and correctly, tasty blender recipes for weight loss can be either a complete meal or substitute for an otherwise fattening snack.  Use a quality blender to to blend up these filling and fat-burning weight loss smoothie recipes to catapult your weight loss goals.

(Even better, each blended recipe below can make two servings. One for you, and one to share or save for later.)

7 Weight Loss Smoothie Recipes

The Good Fat Smoothie For Weight Loss

It’s been proven that consuming “good fats” can help curb appetite and boost metabolism.

Looking to add some weight loss smoothie recipes that can satiate your hunger to your routine? Blend up this concoction to fill yourself up:

• 1 medium to large avocado, peeled and pitted
• 1 1/2 cups of washed and dried spinach
• 2 browned bananas
• 1 tablespoon of coconut oil
• 1 cup of skim milk
• 2/3 of a cup of ice cubes

After all the ingredients are prepared, blend on high until silky smooth.

Pro tip: To make this a completely vegan smoothie, swap out skim milk for either soy or almond milk.

The Green Power House Smoothie For Weight Loss

Greens are well known for their rich antioxidant, vitamin, and mineral levels.

All low calorie smoothies should include plenty of greens to help maintain your ideal weight. The following is a recipe that will load you up with all those good micronutrients:

• 2 large browned bananas
• 1 cup of washed and dried kale
• 1 cup of washed and dried spinach
• 2/3 cup of low-fat or nonfat yogurt
• 1 cup skim milk
• 1/3 of a cup of ice cubes

Because of the yogurt’s thickness, you may need to push it down toward the blade to mix thoroughly blend all the other ingredients.

Pro tip: Be sure to cut into small pieces before blending.

The Berry Blast Smoothie For Weight Loss

Berries are packed full of carotenoids, antioxidants, and other health benefits.

Berries have also been linked to supporting a healthy functioning thyroid. Which, in turn, supports a healthy metabolism. Blend up the following smoothie to help keep your metabolism going strong:

• 2 large browned bananas
• 1 cup of frozen strawberries
• 1 cup of frozen blueberries
• 1/2 cup of frozen raspberries
• 1 1/2 cups of almond milk
• 1/3 of a cup of ice cubes
• 1/4 cup of water

Before you start blending this diet smoothie recipe, be sure the liquids have made their way to the blade. That way, they can blend well with the other frozen ingredients.

Pro tip: For an extra boost of berry sweetness, add a tablespoon of your favorite jelly or jam.

The Mango Fat Burning Smoothie For Weight Loss

In past few years, mangos have grown in popularity as a weight loss aid.

And for good reason:

They’ve been proven, time and time again, to help support fat metabolization.

Looking to really put your fat-burning regimen into overdrive? Make one of the best weight loss smoothie recipes to enjoy after a hard workout:

• 2 cups of freshly sliced mango
• 1 browned banana
• A small pinch of cayenne pepper
• 1/2 cup of frozen pineapple
• 1 cup of unsweetened almond milk
• 1/3 of a cup of ice cubes

If you can’t get your hands on fresh mango, frozen will work. However, you may need to add either a 1/4 cup more of almond milk or water to help it blend well.

Pro tip: Capsaicin, the chemical that makes spicy food hot, has been proven to boost metabolism, as well.

The Birthday Cake Smoothie For Weight Loss

Let’s all just admit:

Sometimes we want a slice of birthday cake or a pint of our favorite ice cream. But dessert and weight loss don’t exactly go hand in hand.

Looking to treat yourself without tipping the scales? Follow the recipe below to have your cake and eat it too—without going up a pant or dress size:

• 2 frozen browned bananas
• 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
• 2 teaspoons of multi-colored sprinkles
• Four or five packets of a no-calorie sweetener
• 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon
• 1/3 cup of vanilla low-fat or non-fat yogurt
• 1/4 cup of fat-free Cool Whip
• 1 cup of unsweetened almond milk
• 1/3 of a cup of ice cubes

To ensure you haven’t over sweetened your birthday cake smoothie, start with four no-calorie packs of sweetener. Then, if you’d like to have it sweeter, add one pack. Possibly two.

Pro tip: If you want it extra light and airy, add a 1/2 cup of fat-free Cool Whip.

The Chia Seed and Chai Weight Loss Smoothie

Chai is renowned for its anti-inflammatory and other calming qualities.

Chia seeds help to aid digestion and reduce hunger, as well.

Marrying the two together might seem odd, but trust us when we say it’s a delicious pairing.

Follow this recipe bellow to, as Oprah once said, “Get your chai on!”

• 1 cup of brewed chai tea left to cool
• 1 tablespoon of chia seeds
• 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg
• Four or five packets of a no-calorie sweetener
• 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon
• 1/4 cup of fat-free Cool Whip of other
• 1 1/2 cup of unsweetened almond milk
• 3/4 of a cup of ice cubes

Depending on how thick you want your smoothie, the amount of ice you’ll add can vary. But to start with, use the amount recommended in the recipe.

Pro tip: For an extra bit of flair, garnish your chia seed and chai smoothie with a dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

The Protein Powerhouse Smoothie For Weight Loss

Protein, like fiber, is believed to help curb your appetite. It makes you feel fuller for longer. And what could be better for weight loss than that?

Also, if you’re hitting the gym regularly, this diet smoothie recipe will help your body recover quicker from a hard workout.

Blend up the following recipe to feel full and to feed your muscles:

• 2 frozen browned bananas
• 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
• 2 scoops of either low-fat vanilla or chocolate protein powder
• Two or three packets of a no-calorie sweetener
• 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon
• 1/2 cup of Greek yogurt
• 1 cup of unsweetened almond milk

If you’re counting sugar, it may be worth purchasing unsweetened protein powders. This way, you can regulate your sugar intake more effectively.

Pro tip: it’s believed the average man or woman can only assimilate (digest) about 30 or 40 grams of protein at once. So there’s no need to go overboard on the protein powder.

Have any weight loss smoothie recipes of your own to share with us below?

The vibrantly colored green smoothie recipes below are a great way to incorporate significant amounts of greens into your everyday diet. Believe it or not leafy green vegetables contain more beneficial nutrients than any other food group.

To receive the full benefits of eating these leafy green vegetables you would need to chew your food down to a creamy smooth texture, which regrettably most of us don’t do.

Fortunately, with the best blender for green smoothies we can recreate this process, allowing our body to absorb the highest amount of nutrition that it could possibly get from a green smoothie recipe.

High Fiber Green Smoothie Recipes

180 Calories per serving

Flaxseed are quickly becoming the new wonder food of today, packed full of Omega 3 and 6 oils these high fiber high protein seeds takes this healthy green smoothie way off the charts for heath benefits.

Flax seeds need to be bruised or ground to reap their benefits so unless you have a high speed blender like a Blentec or Vitamix you may prefer to substitute the seeds for oil.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup water
• 2 tablespoons flax seeds or 2 teaspoons of flaxseed oil
• 2 Clementine’s peeled and separated
• 2 cups spinach
• 1/2 cup Pineapple chunks

Instructions

Place all the ingredients into the blender in the order they have been listed and blend until smooth.

 

Green Melon Smoothie

200 Calories per serving

This flavorsome smoothie is a great way to boost your vitamin A and C intake, as this orange tasting smoothie contains 3 times the daily requirements.

Ingredients

• 2 cups Cantaloupe melon chunks
• 1 Oranges, peeled and quartered
• 2 cups Spinach
• 1 cup Ice cubes

Instructions

Place all the ingredients into the blender jug in the order they are listed and blend until smooth.

 

Peaches And Green Smoothie Recipes

140 calories per serving

This is one of my favorite tasting green smoothie recipes, it’s thick, sweet and creamy, plus it’s packed full of vitamin A and C.

Ingredients

• 1 cup Almond milk
• 1 Banana
• 2 cups Spinach

Instructions

1. Place all ingredients into the blender jar in the order to which they appear.
2. This is a pretty thick green smoothie, so if you have an ice crush program on your blender select that first, then blend as you would any smoothie. Otherwise, blend on hi until all ingredients are well blended scraping down the sides if needed.

Whether it’s a dairy intolerance, a health choice or if you simply ran out of milk, these naturally fruity dairy free smoothies are full of goodness, and they will taste absolutely wonderful.

One of the best ways to create really satisfying smoothie is to use frozen fruits rather than ice. This will give you a maximum fruity flavor with the texture of a slushie which is perfect on a hot summer day; when you are in the mood for a refreshing healthy drink.

Most fruits can be bought in bulk and frozen at home without the loss of any vitamins or minerals, giving you less waste and more control, for more advice on this subject see our notes on how to freeze fruit & vegetables.

Mango And Spinach Dairy Free Smoothie

This green colored dairy free smoothie makes a neat midday snack and with 2 servings of fruit and 1 veg its not one you will be feeling guilty about!

What you will need

Serves 1 at 220 calories

• 3/4 cup of water
• 1 medium orange quartered
• 1 ripe mango (peeled and cubed)
• 2 cups of spinach
• 1/2 cup of ice cubs

Method

Add water, orange, mango, spinach and ice cubes to a high quality blender and blend away

Easy Strawberry And Banana Smoothie

This is a very refreshing dairy free smoothie made with apple juice. If you prefer a workout smoothie just substitute the juice for almond or soy milk and add a spoonful of protein powder.

Frozen strawberries can sometimes be a little tart so I prefer to freeze my own when they are sweet and juicy. But if I do need to sweeten this a little I add a bit of honey (see freezing your own fruit and veg)

What you will need

Serves 2 at 160 calories per serving

• 1 cup of apple juice
• 1 banana
• 1cup of frozen strawberries

Method

Place all the ingredients into the blender in the order they are listed and blend until smooth

Orange And Carrot Smoothie Recipe

Beautifully sweet and packed full of vitamin C this colorful smoothie will give a great boost of Beta carotene that your body will convert to into vitamin A.

What you will need

Serves 2 at 120 calories

• 3/4 cup or carrot juice
• 1 orange peeled and quartered
• 3/4 cup of frozen mango
• 3/4 cup of frozen pineapple

Method

Place the entire ingredient into the blender in the order they are listed and blend until smooth

Many of the best smoothie recipes and frozen blender drinks require you to freeze fruit or vegetables, so it’s always a good idea to have plenty prepared and ready for use in the freezer.

Buying fresh fruits and vegetables in bulk when they are in season to freeze can save you a great deal of money. It’s also important not to waste any leftover fruits and vegetables to spoil, especially when they are so easy to freeze.

• Whole fruit – Cut the fruit into large chunks or slices.  Place the slices individually onto a backing tray that’s been lined with parchment paper. Then freeze before tipping them into a zip-lock bag to stop them from sticking together.
• Berries – Need to be individually placed onto a backing tray that’s been lined with parchment paper Then freeze before tipping them into a zip-lock bag to stop them from sticking together.
• Bananas – Peel and then quarter the banana and then place them into a zip-lock bag and lay them flat until they are completely frozen.
• Spinach – Divide the spinach into individual portion sizes and place each portion into sip lock bag ready for your next smoothie.

For this mixed fruit and nut smoothie I’ve used an economy bag of ready frozen mixed fruit containing apple, melon, strawberries, grapes and pineapple.

You can use almost any frozen fruits in this smoothie, so take a look though the freezer and use up any bits you have hanging around. Even better try freezing your own fruits and veggies.

Ingredients

• ½ cup almond milk
• ½ cup coconut yogurt
• 1 banana
• 1 heaped cup of frozen mixed fruit
• Honey to taste

Method

1. Place the almond milk in the blender first then the yogurt, banana , mixed fruit and honey if using.
2. Then simply blend until smooth.

Chrystal clear waters and a gentle breeze that ruffles the coconut palms comes to mind… Yes, a sweet tropical smoothie recipe actually takes you there for a minute or two, and that’s great in my book!

Summer just wouldn’t be the same without the sweet taste of tropical fruits. You can create simple, tasty smoothie mix using coconut, pineapple and mango easily with your blender.

Here’s how we mix them at home…

My Favorite Tropical Smoothie Recipe

Cool and tangy, this tropical smoothie is excellent on a hot day. It’s a thick and creamy drink that tastes of the exotic, a delicious smoothie that is perfect for satisfying those fruity cravings.

Coconut milk is nutritious but high in fat, so try to choose a low fat (light) Coconut milk to keep it healthy 🙂

You will need:

• 1 banana, peeled and chopped
• 1/4 pineapple, peeled, cored and chopped
• 1 mango, peeled and flesh cut from pit
• 1 cup (8 fl oz/250 ml) low fat coconut milk, chilled
• 1/2 cup (4 oz/125 g) mango or other tropical fruit yogurt
• 4 ice cubes

Method:

Place all the ingredients together in a blender, and blend until smooth and frothy. This makes approximately 3 cups (24 fl oz/750 ml) which will produce around 2 to 3 servings.

A Tasty Mango and Peach Frappe

Peaches and mangoes are a great source of beta-carotene and antioxidants. The ginger aids digestion, eases nausea, and also helps to eliminate motion sickness. So it’s a great smoothie to drink if you suffer with travel sickness and you are heading off on a long journey.

It is also all natural, and so can be used to treat morning sickness during the earlier stages of pregnancy.

You will need:

• 1/2 inch (12 mm) piece fresh ginger, peeled and chopped.
• 1 large mango, peeled and flesh cut from pit
• 2 peaches, peeled and pitted
• 8 ice cubes

Method:

Throw all the ingredients together in a blender and blend until the mixture is silky and smooth.

Pineapple Mint Lassi

Pineapple Mint Lassi is a traditional south Asian drink of yogurt, ice, mint and occasionally as in this case fruit. This is definitely one of the most unusual pineapple smoothie recipes you will ever try.
Authentic Indian inspired dessert drinks are usually very sweet this being the exception, in fact this recipe is quite tart even with the sugar added and won’t be to everyone’s taste.

For a slightly sweeter taste add honey instead of the sugar and substitute the plain yogurt for flavored one.

You will need:

• 1/2 pineapple, peeled , cored and chopped
• 1 cup (8 oz/250 g) of plain natural yogurt
• 1/2 cup (4 fl oz/125 ml) of water, chilled
• 4 mint leaves
• 8 ice cubes
• 2 teaspoons sugar, or to taste

Method:

Place all ingredients together in a blender and blend until the mixture smooth. This recipe make rough 3 cups (24 fl oz/750 ml), which is roughly 2 to 3 servings.

A Mango Smoothie Recipe

Mango is such a wonderful tasting fruit as a snack, but it’s even better in a smoothie. Here’s an easy mango smoothie recipe you can make in just minutes.

You will need:

• 1 ripe mango
• 8 oz (250ml) plain yoghurt
• 5 oz (150ml) milk
• Ice cubes

Method:

Cut the mango in half and score the flesh into rough pieces with your knife, being careful not to pierce the skin. Turn the skin inside out and the mango chunks should come away nicely, already cut, with no mess and no fuss. Tip the mango chunks into your blender and add the yoghurt and milk. Blend until they’re smooth and add some ice cubes. Blend until these are also smooth and pour into tall glasses.

A Tropical Fruit Delight

If you have a blender, fruit drinks like this one are simple to make and lovely to drink. It’s a nice refreshing drink using a few mixed fruits which when blended together will set your taste buds alight:

You will need:

• 1 banana peeled and cut into small slices
• 1/2 a cup of pineapple peeled and diced
• 1/2 a cup of mango peeled and diced
• 1/2 a cup of papaya peeled and diced
• 1 cup of freshly squeezed orange juice
• 3 ice cubes

Method:

Simply take the ingredients and pop in the blender. A tropical smoothie recipe taste better when you blend it until it is rich and smooth. Once you are satisfied with the consistency pour into a glass. Add a slice of pineapple, cut to fit over the rim of the glass as a garnish. Use a toothpick to secure a glazed cherry to the top of the pineapple and serve.

The Mixed Tropical Smoothie Recipe

Making great tasting tropical smoothie recipe is easy with a blender. Simply add your favorite fruits and blend to suit your needs

You will need:

• 1 orange, peeled and sliced
• 1/2 cup pineapple, sliced
• 1/2 cup mango, chopped
• 1/2 banana, chopped
• 1/2 cup pineapple juice
• 1/2 cup ice cubes

Method:

Place the banana, ice and juice into blender and blend until the mixture turns slushy. Add the orange and pineapple slices and blend on high for one minute until everything is smooth. Pour into tall glasses and enjoy!

A Coconut and Lime Smoothie Recipe

You will need:

• 1 can coconut milk
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 1 cup shredded coconut
• 1/2 teaspoon lime zest
• 1 cup ice cubes
• 1 dash allspice

Method:

Place ice cubes in the blender and pour other ingredients over the top. Blend until you have a slushy consistency. Pour into tall glasses and serve immediately.

A Tropical Health Drink Recipe

You will need:

• 1 orange (peeled and quartered)
• 2 slices pineapple
• 1 cup pineapple juice
• 1 cup chopped watermelon
• 1 cup strawberries
• Ice

Method:

Place fruit and pineapple juice into the blender and blend until they are the right consistency to suit you. Add a few ice cubes at a time and blend on a pulse setting until the ice is blended into the drink. Pour into glasses and serve.

Natural veggie juice is one of the healthiest blender beverages you can possibly make. It’s crammed with nutritional vitamins and is excellent for detoxing the body leaving you feeling on top of the world!

Making a vegetable smoothie recipe using your kitchen blender is usually cheaper, too, and better for the environment since you use your own glass and not a plastic one like they give you at a smoothie shop.

Here’s how we mix a vegetable smoothie at home.

A Basic Healthy Vegetable Smoothie Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 medium size carrot
• 2 celery sticks
• Half an orange
• Half an apple
• 1/2 inch (1 cm) ginger root
• Ice Cubes

Method

Combine the celery, carrot, apple and orange and blend until they’re liquid. Shave a little ginger directly into the veggie juice and then add ice cubes. Continue to blend until it’s all smooth.

Use additional ice if you would like a softer consistency.

Vegetable Crush Recipe

This vegetable smoothie recipe is full of great flavor and vital vitamins. Red bell peppers are an excellent source of vitamin C, and tomatoes are packed full of carotenoid lycopene, which can reduce the chances of developing prostate cancer.

Garlic contains powerful antibacterial and antiviral qualities. Celery is an excellent source of potassium and is a diuretic. You can also season to taste.

Ingredients:

• 1 large red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
• 1 large tomato, cored and chopped
• 2 stalks celery, trimmed and chopped
• 1 small clove garlic, peeled
• 6 ice cubes
• 6 fresh basil leaves
• Salt and pepper (optional)

Method:

Place all the ingredients into a blender (except the salt and pepper), and blend until smooth. Taste before and after seasoning, and then blend again.

 

Our strawberry and banana smoothie recipes not only taste good, they are packed full of goodness, they are literally the perfect smoothie mix to kick start your day!

Strawberries:

These sweet little berries have oodles of health benefits including, cholesterol lowering, immunity boosting and wrinkle prevention. Because of the high quantity of antioxidants and other phytonutrients found in strawberries, they also help to prevent and fight cancer along with many other disease and viruses.

In fact strawberries have been prescribed as a tonic for centuries and with only 45 calories and 2.8milligrams of fibre and a 100% of your recommended vitamin C intake in 1 cupful, strawberries are a justifiable super fruit.

Bananas:

Make an excellent smoothie ingredient; they thicken and sweeten the smoothie making it rich, smooth and creamy. The banana also keeps you fuller for longer, so it will stop you snacking in-between meals. So although a medium sized banana comes out at about 100 calories, it still makes an excellent dieter’s food.

Bananas are also well known for their high content of carbohydrates and potassium which make them great energy boosters, but what you may not know is that the potassium can help maintain a healthy blood and heart level which lowers the risk of having a stroke.

Ok, let’s take a look at some strawberry and banana smoothie recipes!

Basic Strawberry and Banana Smoothie Recipes

This easy strawberry banana smoothie recipe is packed full of natural goodness and makes 2 glasses.

Ingredients:

• 1 banana (chopped)
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup strawberry yogurt fresh or frozen
• 5 large fresh strawberries (Wash and chopped)
• 3 or 4 Ice cubes (not need with frozen yogurt)

 

Method:

Place all the ingredients into the blender and blend until smooth. Serve immediately.

 

Banana and Strawberry Breakfast Smoothie

This banana and strawberry smoothie is delicious, especially with the chocolate powder sprinkled on the top. The oats and banana should keep you fuller for longer so there’s no need for snacking before lunch.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon (2oz) Rolled Oats
• 1 banana
• 10 large strawberries (about 9oz)
• 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 1 tablespoon of Honey or Maple Syrup
• 3 or 4 Ice Cubes
• Sprinkling of chocolate powder (optional)

 

Method:

Place everything into the blender and blend away, then decorate with a little chocolate powder.

 

 

Want Thick and Creamy But Still Healthy?… Yes please!

The more yogurt you use the creamer this smoothie gets. If you are starting to feel a little guilty on the calories there are some pretty good fat free frozen yogurts about these days.

Don’t worry if you can’t get hold of the strawberry flavoured yogurt this smoothie tastes pretty good with almost any flavour.

Ingredients:

• 1 banana
• 4 large strawberries
• 1 cup frozen strawberry yogurt (about 3 good scoops)
• 1/2 cup milk

 

Method:

Throw all the ingredients into the blender and blend until smooth.

 

 

My strawberry smoothie recipe is very popular these days. It’s best made from fresh strawberries, but can also be mixed from frozen, making this a healthy smoothie recipe available all year long!

Several of our smoothie recipes call for frozen yogurt. There are some wonderful and tasty low fat varieties around that work incredibly well in a strawberry smoothie recipe. And for those of you looking for that touch of luxury, regular frozen yogurt can also be used… It’s still much healthier than ice cream!

As well as having a wonderful taste that reminds us of summer, Strawberries are high in vitamin c and manganese. Furthermore, they are a great source of dietary fibre. You can’t eat enough strawberries!

Below we have some easy strawberry smoothie recipes for you to try out, they are very quick to make and incredibly healthy!

Basic Strawberry Smoothie Recipes

You will need:

• 6 large fresh strawberries
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup vanilla or strawberry yoghurt
• 4 ice cubes

Method:

Add all of your ingredients into the blender and blend until they form a smooth consistency. Slice another strawberry so it fits over the rim of the glass as a garnish to serve.

Cherry and Strawberry Smoothie Recipe

This delightful smoothie tastes lovely and is a great source of potassium. Cherry is thought to help prevent nasty ailments such as gout. It is highly recommended you purchase a cherry pitter if you plan to make this smoothie in larger batches or frequently, as pitting the cherries with an ordinary knife can be laborious.

You will need:

• 1/2 cup (2 1/2 oz/75 g) sweet cherries, pitted
• 1 cup (4 oz/125 g) hulled fresh or thawed frozen strawberries
• 1 cup (8 fl oz/250 ml) milk
• 1/2 cup (4 oz/125 g) plain (natural) yogurt
• 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup or to taste

Method:

After the cherries have been pitted, this recipe becomes very easy. Just throw all the ingredients together into the blender, and process until smooth and frothy. This recipe makes about 2 ½ cups, which is around 2 servings.

A Strawberry Smoothie Shake

This recipe for strawberry smoothie is made with frozen yogurt instead of ice cream, which will produce just as wonderful a flavour with half the calories.

You will need:

• 1 cup (4 oz/125 g) hulled fresh or thawed frozen strawberries
• 1 cup (8 fl oz/250 ml) milk
• 1 cup (5 oz/150 g) mixed berry frozen yogurt
• Honey to taste.

Method:

This strawberry smoothie is quick and easy. Just throw all the ingredients into a blender and process until the mixture is smooth and frothy. This recipe makes about 2 cups, which is roughly 2 servings.

A Thick and Creamy Strawberry Smoothie Recipes

Although this strawberry smoothie recipe may not be quite as healthy as our original one and it may not be a smoothie you would want to make every day.

It is still packed with delicious and nourishing fresh strawberries and makes a perfect treat on a warm lazy afternoon.

You will need:

• 250g strawberries
• 1 tablespoon strawberry sauce or liqueur
• 3 scoops strawberry ice cream
• 100ml milk (or to taste)
• 1 small scoop of ice cream to balance on the edge of the glass

Method:

Place the strawberries ice cream, strawberry sauce and milk into the blender and whizz. Pour into a glass and serve with a small scoop of ice cream balanced on the edge of the glass.

Tip

For a thicker strawberry smoothie add a little more ice cream and a little less milk.

Need something with a bit of energy to get you going in the morning? The following easy peanut butter smoothie recipes maybe just what you’re looking for! And at around 240 calories for this recipe it gets the thumbs up all around, it’s one of my best smoothie recipes.

Peanut butter features highly on many lists of forbidden foods, but it’s not all bad news. Although peanut butter does contain a high level of sugar it also contains high levels of the good fats and proteins, which in turn helps to diminish that burning desire for something sweet throughout the day.

So in a nut shell (or in this case jar) it’s ok to eat peanut butter in moderation.

Simple Peanut Butter Smoothie Recipes

You will need:

• 1/2 cup skimmed milk
• 1 medium banana
• 1 tablespoon peanut butter
• 4 ice cubes

Method:

Place in the blender and blend until smooth.

Peanut Butter and Jelly Smoothie

This is probably the sweetest recipe for peanut butter smoothie that I’ve ever made. You’d expect this to be a thick and creamy smoothie due to the ice cream content and yes it does have a creamy taste but it’s actually quite thin and can easily be drunk through a straw.

You will need:

• 1 tablespoon smooth peanut butter
• 2 tablespoons jelly (jam)
• 1/2 cup milk
• About 3 scoops (1 cup) vanilla ice cream

Method:

Place in the blender and blend until smooth.

Peanut Butter and Protein Smoothie

This protein rich strawberry and peanut butter smoothie is lovely and thick and super cold.

You will need:

• 1/2 cup yogurt (vanilla, strawberry or natural)
• 1 cup 1% milk
• 1 tablespoon peanut butter
• 1 cup frozen strawberries
• 2 teaspoons whey protein powder
• 4 or 5 ice cubes

Method:

Place in the blender, liquids first and then blend until smooth

High protein smoothie recipes do not just allow you to have fruit drinks and healthy smoothies anytime, they also enable you to manage the amount glucose and other destructive ingredients in your beverages.

Creating your individual nutritious drinks at home with your high speed blender is often cheaper as well, plus much better for your environment because you use your own cup and not a plastic-type vessel from a shop.

There are numerous healthy blender recipes that you can make with a blender, the secret is to understand your individual preferences and make up a one of a kind formula that best suits you.

It’s possible to find protein powder in many varieties, including whey, soy and egg, as well as in numerous flavours, like banana, strawberry, vanilla, chocolate and plain. This is often a great supplement to generate your own personal meal replacement smoothies.

Lets take a look at some healthy protein smoothie recipes:

Creamy Banana and Chocolate Smoothie Recipe

This smoothie is an excellent source of calcium and protein, with a little vitamin E to go with it. This is due to the tofu, which is widely considered a health food. Be sure to buy the ‘silken’ type for this kind of recipe, as it’s the only tofu soft enough to blend.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup (8 fl oz/250 ml) milk
• 4 oz (125 g) silken tofu
• 1 ripe banana, peeled and chopped
• 1 table spoon protein whey powder
• 1 tablespoon healthy carob powder (tastes like a light nutty chocolate)
• 2 teaspoons brown sugar or palm sugar

Method:

This protein smoothie recipe is really simple. Just throw all the ingredients into the blender and process until silky and smooth. The smoothie may be a little frothy, that is to be expected.

This recipe makes a 2 and a half cups, which makes about 2 portions.

Strawberry and Banana Smoothie with Pineapple

Ingredients:

• 2 bananas, peeled (frozen or soft)
• 1 tbsp protein powder (vanilla or strawberry works well with this particular recipe)
• 1-2 cups natural yogurt
• 4-6 big strawberries
• 2 slices of pineapple
• Ice

Method:

Mix the bananas and protein powder along with one cup of natural yogurt in your blender first. Try to make sure that the protein powder is fully blended in and not just stuck to the blade or the sides of your blender, and ensure its not clumped within your natural yogurt.

Add the strawberries along with your pineapple and blend using a pulse setting til you have the ideal consistency to suit your taste.

At this stage, assess if you would like your beverage to become similar to a milkshake or a smoothie. If you would like a shake texture simply increase the natural yogurt. If you’d like it as a smoothy add some ice.

Blend all the ingredients to taste and then pour it out and serve.

Nut smoothie recipes are one of my favorite power blender recipes and a great source of energy. In fact just a hand full of nuts eaten daily will provide you with some invaluable minerals, vitamins and protein.

With so many varieties of nut to choose from the key is to experiment with your own tastes to create a formula that suits yourself and your own needs.

Below are some of the more successful concoctions that I made recently, I hope you enjoy them as much as we did!

Almond Nut Smoothie Recipes

This smoothie recipe is packed full of natural goodness and has been created mainly for its high protein and fibre quality’s which can result in it tasting a bit bland depending on the berries you use. This is easily overcome by adding a little honey or ground cinnamon to the finished smoothie.

What you will need:

• 1 cup almonds (peel and soak them over night in water)
• 1 tbsp flax seeds or flax seed meal
• 1 banana or 1/2 a mango
• 2 handfuls of berries (frozen mixed berries taste really good) but any berries that need using up will do
• 4 ice cubes (optional, if you are using frozen berries you may not need them)

 

Method:

After soaking, drain and rinse the almonds. Place the almonds in to the blender with a small amount of fresh water and then blend until you have a smooth paste.

Continue to add more water a little at a time until you have a rich creamy milk. The texture you are looking for should be similar to thin cream.

Add all the remaining ingredients to the almond milk and blend until smooth.

 

 

Spiced Pistachio Smoothie

This pistachio nut smoothie is packed with Middle Eastern flair. Pistachios are full of monounsaturated fats, as well as being a great source of dietary fibre, vitamin B6, thiamine, magnesium and potassium.

What you will need:

• 1/4 cup (1 oz/30 g) unsalted, shelled pistachios
• 1 cup (8 fl oz/250 ml) milk
• 1/2 cup (4 oz/125 g) vanilla yogurt
• Pinch ground cardamom
• Pinch ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon superfine (caster) sugar or to taste
• Few drops rose water to taste, optional
• 6 ice cubes

 

Method:

Throw all the ingredients together in a blender, and blend until smooth and frothy. This recipe makes approximately 2 cups (16 fl oz/500 ml), which will make around 2 servings.

 

 

Fruit and Butternut Smoothie

For this smoothie, it’s best to go for a yogurt that has natural fruit flavorings; it’s wonderfully sweet so there’s no need to add sugar.

You could also use a natural yogurt, and add your own fresh fruit. Golden raisins are also rich in vitamins and minerals, they are a great source of energy and packed with healthy anti-oxidants nutrients and fiber.

What you will need:

• 1/2 cup (3 oz/90 g) golden raisins (sultanas)
• 1 cup (8 fl oz/250 ml) milk
• 1/2 cup (4 oz/125 g) apricot yogurt or other fruit yogurt
• 2 tablespoons almond butter

 

Method:

Place the raisins into a heatproof bowl or jug, pour over boiling water (just enough to cover them). Let them stand for around 5 minutes or until they look plump and soft before draining.

Then simply throw the rest of the ingredients together with the softened raisins, and blend until frothy and smooth. This recipe makes around 2 cups (16 fl oz/500 ml) which makes roughly 2 servings.

 

Thick And Creamy Pear And Pecan Smoothie

Pecan nut smoothies are a great source of energy in fact just a hand full of pecan nuts eaten daily will provide you with the right amount of minerals, vitamins and protein needed.

And if consumed on a regular basics can lower so called bad cholesterol (LDL) whilst increasing good cholesterol (HDL)

A couple of ripe pears are needed here, just soft enough to process well in a blender. You could also use canned, unsweetened pears when they aren’t in season. Use roughly 1 cup (5 oz/150 g). If you toast the nuts first, it’ll help to envelop the flavor. However, fresh nuts can be used as well.

You will need:

• 1/4 cup (1 oz/30 g) pecans
• 2 ripe pears, peeled, quartered and cored
• 1 cup (8 fl oz/250 ml) milk
• 1/2 cup (4 oz/125 g) vanilla yogurt
• 2 teaspoons maple syrup, or to taste

 

Method:

Spread the pecans onto a baking sheet and bake in a preheated oven (350°F/180°C/ gas mark 4) until fragrant and toasted lightly. This usually takes around 5 minutes. Allow to cool, and then chop coarsely. Place all the ingredients together in a blender and blend until smooth and frothy. This recipe makes around 2 cups, which is enough for around 2 serving.

 

Below we will take a look at some healthy drink recipes for blenders that are high in fiber. But why choose a hi-fiber smoothie? Having a diet that contains plenty of soluble fiber will not only prevent constipation, it will help prevent the risk of various health problems such as cancer and heart disease.

Hi fibre smoothies are also good for weight control as fiber naturally slows down the digestive system, keeping you fuller for longer.

These healthy blender drinks are excellent natural laxatives and contain a high source of minerals such as iron and potassium that will balance the good bacteria in your gut, allowing your digestive system to run smoothly.

Very Berry Hi Fiber Smoothie

Using a cupful of frozen berries and ice cubes makes this smoothie particularly cold and thick, if you would prefer a thinner and slightly warmer smoothie, just add a little more milk and omit the ice cubes.

You will need:

• 1 cup frozen berries or 1/2 cup frozen berries and 1 banana
• 1/2 cup live yogurt (probiotic yogurt)
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon flax seed oil
• 1 tablespoon wheat meal or fine oat bran
• 4 ice cubes

Method:

Place all the ingredients into the blender and blend until you reaching the required thickness.

Apple And Prune High Fiber Smoothie

This is my favorite of all the healthy drink recipes for blenders, it tastes delicious and is pact with pectin, which is a great source of soluble fiber.

You will need:

• 6 pitted prunes, chopped
• 1 tart apple, peeled, cored and chopped
• 1/2 cup (4fl oz/125 ml) water
• 1 cup (8fl oz/250 ml) milk
• 1/2 cup (4 oz/125 g) plain (natural) acidophilus yogurt
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 2 teaspons psyllium husks

 

Method:

This healthy drink recipe makes two portions.

Combine the prunes, apple and water into a small to medium sized saucepan.

Bring the water and fruit to a boil and immediately reduce the heat to low, covering and allowing it to simmer until the fruit is soft. This should take approximately 10 minutes; the apple should still hold its shape.

After, set the apple aside to cool and then blend the prunes together with the apple and remaining ingredients, processing until the mixture is smooth and delightfully frothy.

Pear And Apple High Fiber Smoothie

This smoothie is wonderfully sweet even without the sugar so if you are counting the calories substitute the brown sugar for the oat bran and use low or fat free milk.

You will need:

• 2/3 cup milk
• 1 pear
• 1 banana
• 2 tbsp brown sugar or 2 tbsp fine oat bran
• 2 tsp flax seed oil
• 4 ice cubes
• Sprinkling of chocolate powder (optional)

Method:

Peel, core and chop the pear then add to the blender with the remaining ingredients and blend until smooth.

If you are making blender recipes from scratch you’ll want to learn out how to make a smoothie that’s both nutritious and healthy. I’ve been creating them for a long time now so I wanted to share some tips and tricks on how to get started with your smoothie making.

Basic Tips On How To Make A Smoothie Or Shake

There’s no set rules on how to make a smoothie, some people are happy with a hand full of berries and a glass of milk. But for a rich and creamy smoothie that’s really going to hit the spot there are a few basic steps.

First let’s look at making one of the most popular smoothie recipes and then we’ll break it down.

Basic Smoothie Or Shake:

• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup yogurt
• 1/2 cup fruit
• 1 banana
• 3 or 4 ice cubes
• 1 teaspoon honey

Place in the blender liquids first and blend until smooth, easy as that!

So, now you have one of the most basic fruit smoothie recipes to work with, we can now have a look at how to tweak it.

Liquids:

The first 2 ingredients in this nutritious smoothie are the milk and yogurt. These are both classed as liquids; all smoothies need a liquid base not just for taste but also for the blending process. Aim to use around 1 cup per smoothie choose 1 or a mix of 2 as I have above.

Regular milk (whole, semi or fat free), soy, almond milk, coconut milk, fruit juice, ice cream and yogurt (fresh or frozen).

These are the most popular liquids but you can also use; tea (green or fruit) coffee or water.

Fruit/Veg:

Once again aim for 1 cup of fruits (singular or mixed). Or use 1/2 cup fruit/veg and 1 good sized thickening fruit/veg.

Popular fruits, fresh or frozen; all types of berries ,mango ,orange, kiwi, apples, peach, pomegranate, pine apple, cherries, figs, dates, avocado, kale, spinach, beetroot and celery.

Thickening fruits; banana, pear, avocado.

Sweeteners and Flavorings:

You can pretty much add them at the end even after blending. Just have a quick taste add a little of what you think it may need and blitz again.

Honey, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla or almond extract, peanut or almond butter, nutella and chocolate powder.

Ice Cubes:

About 3 or 4, these will not only cool the smoothie but help to thicken it to, if you are using frozen fruit you won’t need to use them.

Adding Something Extra:

Protein powder; Whey or soy tends to be the most common but hemp or pea are also good.

Fiber and bulk; rolled oats, fine oat bran, wheat germ, soaked nuts, ground flax seeds

Oils; flax seed, hemp and nut

Now you have the basics, check out some of the most popular smoothie recipes here on blenderexpert.com

If you have a good quality blender then healthy smoothie recipes are something you should make on a regular basis and not just during the warmer months. Here’s an easy fruit smoothie recipe that can be enjoyed anytime!

Fruit smoothies are becoming more and more popular with people as they realize they can make all kinds of tasty blender fruit drinks. Any combination of fruit can be used to make an easy fruit smoothie recipe.

But remember, fruit drinks are at their best when you use fresh ingredients like fruit instead of frozen, you can tell the difference. All it takes is a little imagination sometimes to create well nourished, healthy blender fruit drinks straight from the blender.

Rhubarb and Orange Smoothie

This rhubarb and orange smoothie is sharp and refreshing, just the thing to wake you up in the morning.

Rhubarb is very tart and needs to be sweetened just to make it palatable but it does contain high levels of vitamin C and B along with calcium and potassium which helps to support a healthy immune system, whilst keeping bones and teeth strong and healthy.

What you will need:

Makes 2 glasses (20 fl oz)

• 2 stalks of rhubarb cut into 1 inch cubes or 1 stick of rhubarb and 1 large apple
• 2 tablespoons of water
• 1 tablespoon of sugar
• Cinnamon stick (about an inch long)
• 1 cup (8 fl oz) orange juice
• 1/2 cup (4oz) vanilla yogurt

Method:

Place rhubarb/apple, water, cinnamon stick and sugar into a sauce pan, cover and simmer until soft, set aside until completely cool.

Once cool remove the cinnamon stick and transfer the rhubarb mixture to the blender, add the orange and yogurt and blend until smooth

Apricot Smoothie Recipe

You will need:

• 1 cup apricot halves
• 1 cup yoghurt
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup natural yoghurt
• 1/2 cup ice

Method:

Place all ingredients for this easy fruit smoothie recipe into the blender and blend until everything is smooth and creamy. Pour into chilled glasses and serve immediately.

Apricot and Almond Fruit Smoothie Recipe

Almonds are an excellent source of vitamin E. Although high in fat, nuts like almonds are comprised of unsaturated fats, which are significantly better for you. The dried apricots are a good source of beta-carotene as well, which is an antioxidant.

You will need:

• 1/2 cup (3 ox/90g) dried apricots
• 3/4 cup (6 fl oz/180 ml) water
• 1/4 cup (1 oz/30 g) unbalanced raw almonds
• 1 1/2 cup (12 fl oz/375 ml) milk

Method:

Combine the apricots and water in a small saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil, and then reduce heat to low and allow it to simmer until the apricots are soft. This usually takes around 10 minutes. Set the apricots aside to cool.

Place the apricots and remaining ingredients into a blender and blend until the mixture is smooth and frothy.

This recipe 2 cups, which is around 16 fl oz/500 ml, which serves around 2 people.

Peach Raspberry Fruit Smoothie Recipe

You will need:

• 1 peach, halved with stone removed
• 5 oz (150g) raspberries
• 1/2 cup natural yoghurt
• 1/2cup milk
• 1/2 cup ice cubes

Method:

Place all of the ingredients into the blender and blend until everything is smooth and creamy. Pour into chilled glasses and serve immediately

Spiced Plum Smoothie Recipe

Generally plums, which have a delightful flavor and are a source of vitamins A and C, can vary in size. If the plums are large, 3 will do the trick. If they’re a bit smaller, use 4.

You will need:

• 3-4 red fleshed plums, peeled and pitted
• 1 cup (8 fl oz/250 ml) milk
• 1/2 cup (4 oz/125 g) plain natural yogurt
• Honey to taste
• Pinch of ground cinnamon (or to taste)
• Pinch of ground cardamom (or to taste)

Method:

Just throw the ingredients into a blender, and blend until the mixture is smooth and frothy. Taste and balance the cinnamon and cardamom when needed.

This recipe makes 2 cups or 16 fl oz/500 ml, which will serve 2 people.

Cranberry Heaven Smoothie

Cranberries make for a very easy fruit smoothie recipe and are good for the body. They contain high levels of anti-oxidants and can be a great way to detoxify. They also taste great especially when you add them to a smoothie.

You will need:

• 1 cup cranberries or cranberry juice
• 1 can ginger ale
• 4 ice cubes

Method:

Place all the ingredients into a blender. Blend everything until and serve.

Frothy Apricot Delight

Apricots also make an easy fruit smoothie recipe, and a firm favorite with many kids and adults alike, but nothing beats a cool, frothy apricot drink.

You will need:

• 1 can apricot halves with juice
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 1 pint lemon sherbet

Method:

Place apricot halves and juice, milk and orange juice into a blender and blend until smooth. Add lemon sherbet and use a pulse setting to combine into the drink until it’s smooth.

Pour into glasses and serve immediately.

Wheat germ is often described as the powerhouse of nutrients and it makes the following breakfast smoothie recipes excellent supplements or substitutes to your normal breakfast meal.

Oat bran is bursting with vitamins, minerals and fibre and as oat bran falls into the high protein and low GI carbohydrates category it’s particularly good for anyone wanting a weight loss smoothie.

Apricots are deliciously juicy, but not always available or to everyone’s tastes. So, if you’d prefer a different fruit which is in season, then go for it. However If this smoothie is going to be a substitute to your normal breakfast I don’t recommended you omit the banana.

Apricot and Maple Syrup Breakfast Smoothie Recipes

You will need:

• 1 banana, peeled and chopped
• 2 to 3 apricots, peeled and pitted
• 1 cup (8 fl oz/250 ml) milk
• 2 teaspoons wheat germ
• 2 teaspoons oat bran
• 1/2 cup (4 oz/125 g) plain (natural) acidophilus yogurt
• 2-3 teaspoons pure maple syrup (or honey) to taste

Method:

Throw all the ingredients together in a blender, and blend until smooth and frothy. This recipe makes approximately 2 cups (16 fl oz/500 ml), which will make around 2 servings.

Banana and Honey Breakfast Smoothie

Here’s another breakfast blender drink. It’s filling, delightfully tasty and packed with calcium and fiber.

Thus, this smoothie is really good for you! But if you don’t have much of a sweet tooth, you can always reduce the amount of honey.

You could also use seasonal fruits instead, if you’d prefer a more refreshing taste.

You will need:

• 250 ml low-fat milk
• 250 ml low-fat yogurt
• 2 tablespoons crushed ice
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 banana
• 1 tablespoon wheatgerm

Method:

Place all the ingredients in a blender and blend until frothy and smooth. Add extra fruit to taste. This quantity will serve anywhere from 2 to 4 servings.

Your average blueberry smoothie recipe is absolutely packed with vitamin C, in fact one handful thrown in to a tasty blender recipe will give you around 14 mg of vitamin C which is 25 percent of your recommended daily requirement.

This is great news as vitamin C promotes healthy gums, collagen construction and absorption of iron. And what you may not know is that a blue berry smoothie recipe will contain more antioxidant than almost any other fruit or vegetable drink.

These antioxidant help to stimulate the brain and memory as well as fighting the development of cancer and many other age related diseases such as cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer’s.

Healthy blueberries really are a super food, they are a low GI food, and practically fat free, hold only 80 calories a cup and they taste delicious. So can you afford to go without a blueberry smoothie?

Thick and Creamy Blueberry Smoothie

A personal favorite of mine this healthy blueberry smoothie recipe is a great way to kick start the day!

You can freeze the banana first if you prefer a particularly cold smoothie; however you will need to give it about 10 minutes to soften before adding it to the blender.

Ingredients

• 1 banana
• 1/2 cup vanilla soy milk
• 1 cup vanilla fat-free yogurt
• 1 1/2 tsp flax seed meal
• 1 1/2 tsp honey
• 3/4 cup frozen blueberries

Method:

Chop the banana and place in the blender with the rest of the ingredients then blend away. Top with a little yogurt for decoration.

NOTE … if using a frozen banana blend the banana, milk, yogurt, flax seed and honey on a low setting for about 10 seconds. Then add the blueberries and blend on high until desired consistency is reached.

 

Blueberry and Banana Smoothie Recipe

You will need:

• 1 cup blueberries
• 1 banana, peeled (frozen or soft)
• 1 cup yogurt
• 1 cup milk
• Ice

Method:

Blend together the banana, yogurt and milk. Add 1 cup of blueberries to the mixture and blend. Slowly add ice cubes and blend on a pulse setting until your drink is the texture you desire and serve.

Note that you can do something similar for almost any kind of fruit to make smoothie recipes. Simply add between 1 and 1 1/2 cups of fruit to your basic base and blend.

Orange Blueberry Smoothie Recipe

This is a nice thick blue smoothie recipe with a fresh orange kick. Makes 2 servings

You will need:

• 1/2 cup fresh blueberries
• 1 banana
• 1 fresh orange
• 1cup milk (250ml)
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• Ice cubes (about 4)

Method:

Peel and chop the banana and orange then pop them into the blender along with all the other ingredients and blend until smooth.

 

A blue Berry Smoothie That Thinks It’s A Muffin

This smoothie is practically fool proof all you need to do is throw everything into the blender and blend until smooth. It tastes just as good as a blueberry muffin and with half the calories!

You will need:

• 1 cup low or fat free Greek yogurt (you can use any natural yogurt but the Greek makes it nice creamy)
• 1 1/4 cups blueberries
• 1/2 cup fat free milk
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1/4 teaspoon ground mixed spices or cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp vanilla extract

Banana smoothie recipes are perhaps the most recognized type of smoothie mix available. Kids and adults alike love the smooth, creamy texture and sweet fruit taste.

Bananas are the taste of exotic that are also readily available across the globe in stores and supermarkets. Along with vitamin c and manganese, bananas are a great source of dietary fiber and potassium.

And making smoothies yourself is usually cheaper than buying them. Plus, lets not forget that this way you can also control all of the ingredients that go into your banana smoothie recipe.

The key is to experiment with your own tastes and create your recipe for a banana smoothie to suit yourself and your own needs. The sweet and creamy texture makes them a wonderful choice for smoothie recipes.

The Basic Banana Smoothie Recipe

 

You will need:

• 2 cups milk
• 2 bananas
• 1/2 cup natural yoghurt
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 2 ice cubes

Method:

Chop the bananas roughly and place them into the blender. Put all the other ingredients into the blender as well, and blend until everything is smooth. Serve in 2 tall glasses and enjoy!

 

Banana and Date Smoothie Recipe

Semi dried dates are used in this recipe, which are full of fibre and have a higher moisture content than their dried cousins.

If regular dates are all you can get your hands on, cook them in 3/4 cups (6 fl oz/180 ml) of water for around 10 minutes.

 

You will need:

• 4 semi dried dates, pitted and chopped
• 1/3 cup (3 fl oz/90 ml) water
• 1 banana, peeled and chopped
• 1 cup (8 fl oz/250g) milk
• 1/2 cup (4 ox/125 g) plain (natural) yogurt
• Pinch of nutmeg

Method:

Combine the dates and water in a small to medium sized saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil, and then reduce to a lower heater and cover, allowing it to simmer until the dates are lovely and soft (approximately 3 minutes).

Allow the dates to cool thoroughly. Throw the rest of the ingredients into a blender with the dates and process until smooth and frothy.

This recipe makes about 2 cups, which is around 2 servings.

 

Buttermilk and Banana Smoothie

Buttermilk is a low-fat milk produce that contains live cultures to help aid digestion and reduce various gut and abdomen problems such as bloating and inflammation. Surprisingly enough it’s also fairly low in lactose so it’s usually a good substitute for anyone who maybe lactose intolerance.

Buttermilk adds a delicious tang that’s very much like yogurt but as it is slightly thinner so I’ve added banana to give the drink more substance and when blended with a little the honey and cinnamon the result is a sweet and comforting drink.

You will need:

• 1/2 cup (4 fl oz/125 ml) buttermilk
• 1 cup (8 fl oz/250 ml) milk
• 2 small or 1 large banana, peeled, and chopped
• 1 tablespoon honey
• Pinch nutmeg or cinnamon

 

Method:

This is a simple recipe. Just throw all the ingredients together into a blender and blend until smooth and frothy.

This recipe makes around 2 cups (16 fl oz/500 ml), which serves roughly 2 servings.

 

There’s nothing more refreshing than the taste of fresh berries. And these healthy berry smoothie recipes are sure to become as much of a favorite blender recipe in your family as they are in ours!

Berries, which often grow wild in fields or even road sides, are a great source of vitamin C and fiber.

Remember that if you’re picking your own berries, be sure to pick those which haven’t been sprayed with herbicides.

Very Berry Smoothie Recipe

This is a fairly thin smoothie that’s very refreshing. If you do prefer a thicker smoothie try adding a scoop of ice cream to the blender. I’ve given the honey to taste depending on the sweetness of the orange and strawberries.

• 3/4 cup blueberry and cranberry juice or just blueberry juice (try ocean spray)
• 1 orange (peeled and chopped)
• 1 cup strawberries chopped and hulled
• 3 tablespoons natural low fat yogurt
• A few fresh blueberries for decoration
• Honey to taste

Method:

Place everything apart from the honey into the blender and blend until smooth. Taste and sweeten with the honey.

 

Sweet Berry Smoothie Recipes

You will need:

• 2 tablespoons strawberry ice-cream topping
• 2 scoops strawberry frozen yoghurt
• 2 oz (50g) blackberries
• 2 oz (50g) blueberries
• 3 oz (100ml) apple juice

Method:

Place all the ingredients into your blender and blend until they’re smooth. Pour into tall glasses over ice and serve immediately. Yum!

 

Triple Berry Smoothie Recipe

You will need:

• 3 oz (75g) strawberries, chopped
• 3 oz (75g) raspberries
• 3 oz (75g) blackberries
• 5 fl oz (150ml) apple juice
• Crushed ice to serve

Method:

Crush some ice and place a little into the bottom of each serving glass. Put all of the berries and the apple juice into your blender and blend until everything is smooth. Pour into serving glasses and serve immediately.

Blackberry Smoothie Recipe

You will need:

• 1 cup (4 oz/125 g) fresh or thawed blackberries
• 1 cup (8 fl oz/250 g) plain natural or mixed berry yogurt
• 1 teaspoon finely grated orange peel

Method:

Throw all the ingredients into the blender, and blend until the mixture is smooth and frothy. This recipe makes about 2 cups/16 fl oz/500 ml, which will serve 2 people. For a change, you can substitute the blackberries for raspberries instead.

The Creamy Berry Smoothie Recipe

You will need:

• 3 oz (75g) strawberries, chopped
• 3 oz (75g) raspberries
• 3 oz (75g) blackberries
• 1/4 cup blueberries
• 1 cup milk
• 2 teaspoons caster sugar
• 2 tablespoons natural yoghurt
• 2 scoops vanilla ice cream

Method:

Add all ingredients into the blender and blend until smooth. Pour into chilled glasses and serve immediately.

Avocado smoothie recipes are packed full of potassium which helps relive fatigue, depression and poor digestion. They are truly one of the healthiest smoothie recipes, bursting with vitamins A, B, C and E putting it high on the list of anti-cancer foods.

The monounsaturated oil contained in avocados stimulates production of collagen and circulation which in turn is good news for skin and fertility.

All in all avocados are nutritional powerhouses and any rumours that this fruit is fattening should be ignored.

Let’s take a look at some of the best avocado smoothie recipes.

Avocado Smoothie Recipes with Brazil Nut

The silky and thick smoothie below is an excellent for those wishing to build up their strength or after a period of illness.

You will need:

• 1 1/2 cups (12 fl oz/375 ml) milk
• 1/3 cup (3 oz/90 g) plain (natural) yogurt
• 1 small banana, peeled and chopped
• Flesh from 1/2 small avocado
• 5 brazil nuts
• 2 teaspoons honey
• 1/2 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest

Method:

This recipe is quick and easy. Just throw all the ingredients into a blender and process until silky and smooth. The smoothie may be a little frothy, which is to be expected. This serves 1 person, and makes around 1 ½ cups.

Avocado Smoothie Shots

Cucumber, lemon and cilantro are a wonderful offset to the creaminess of avocado. It also makes a fantastically fresh tasting drink.

You can serve them as aperitif, pouring the beautiful mixture into small glasses. The frappe should be wonderfully thick, a consistency close to a good yogurt. Add water where necessary to thin the mixture out. However, it is strongly advised not to dilute too much.

 

You will need:

• flesh from 1 small avocado
• 1 lemon, peeled and seeded
• 1 large cucumber, peeled, seeded and chopped
• 1/3 cup (1/3 oz/10 g) fresh cilantro
• (fresh coriander) leaves
• 10 ice cubes

Method:

Throw all the ingredients together in a blender and blend until the mixture is smooth.

You may be required to stop the blender and mix, making sure to scrape the mixture down from the sides of the container with a spatula.