Top 10 Healthy Smoothie Recipes

Although smoothies can be an easy way to get more vitamins and minerals in your diet, some have extra calories, lack basic nutrients and contain little fiber, making them far less wholesome than they appear. If you’re looking for the best options, this list of the top 10 healthy smoothie recipes are easy, delicious and nutritious ways to eat right.

Strawberry Banana Protein with Oats

A Signos.com article cites several studies that show morning protein shakes can boost metabolism and cut cravings, two important factors in promoting weight loss. If you’re looking for quick and easy healthy smoothie recipes, this strawberry banana protein version is perfect because it also has oats, a good source of fiber that’ll help keep you full until lunch:

• 1 cup strawberries


• 1 banana


• 1 scoop vanilla protein powder


• 1/2 cup milk (dairy or plant-based)


• 1/2 Greek yogurt (strawberry, banana, vanilla or plain)


• 1/4 cup quick-cooking oatmeal (raw)


• A few ice cubes (if needed)

Peanut Butter and Banana

From healthy fats that lower your risk of heart disease to antioxidants that repair cell damage, the health benefits of peanut butter are well-documented. For those who want to go beyond eating it straight from the jar, this peanut butter and banana smoothie could be a great snack or breakfast–just make sure to use natural peanut butter in order to avoid trans fats:

• 1 banana


• 1/4 cup peanut butter (creamy or crunchy)


• 1 cup milk (dairy or plant-based)


• 1 tablespoon honey


• A few ice cubes (if needed)

Blueberry Chia Seed

Blueberries and chia seeds are common in healthy smoothie recipes because they both contain essential antioxidants that help prevent disease. Additionally, chia seeds are a fantastic source of omega-3 fatty acids, which reduce inflammation and cholesterol, making them an especially good addition to a healthy smoothie recipe:

• 1 cup blueberries


• 1 banana


• 1 cup milk (dairy or plant-based)


• 2 tablespoons chia seeds


• 1 tablespoon honey


• A few ice cubes (if needed)

Green Smoothie

If you want more vegetables in your diet, green smoothies can help. Made by blending leafy greens such as spinach or kale with fruits, these drinks make unappealing vegetables much more palatable. Although dairy milk can work in this recipe, consider using non-dairy milk options like oat, almond or cashew to stay consistent with the plant-based flavor:

• 2 cups leafy greens (spinach, kale, swiss chard or other vegetable)


• 1 cup plant-based milk


• 1 banana


• 1/2 cup tropical fruit chunks (orange, pineapple or mango)


• A few ice cubes (if needed)

Mango Lassi

Originating from the Punjab region of northern India and Pakistan, mango lassis are a mango and yogurt drink that’s a great way to beat summer heat. Since it’s hard to get high-quality mangos outside of the tropics, food content creator Izzah of TeaForTumeric.com suggests adding a bit of canned mango pulp to your smoothie to maximize the flavor:

• 1 cup mango chunks


• 1/2 cup plain yogurt (Greek for a thicker consistency, regular for a thinner drink)


• 1/2 cup milk (dairy or plant-based)


• 1/4 cup canned mango pulp


• A few ice cubes (if needed)

Licuado de Plátano

A common street food in Mexico, licuado de plátano is a banana smoothie with a touch of cinnamon that’s perfect as a breakfast drink, post-workout shake or healthy snack. The traditional version has a thinner consistency than most smoothies, but you can make it thicker by adding 1/2 cup of yogurt, a few ice cubes or some frozen banana:

• 1 banana (frozen for a thicker consistency)


• 1 cup milk (dairy or plant-based)


• 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon


• 1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract


• A few ice cubes (if needed)

Chocolate Avocado Smoothie

Even though using avocado in healthy smoothie recipes might seem unusual, chocolate avocado shakes are extremely delicious and nutritious. With avocado chunks and unsweetened cocoa as the main ingredients, this pudding-like treat is full of monounsaturated fats, vitamin E and other nutrients:

• 1/2 cup avocado chunks


• 1 banana


• 1 cup milk (dairy or plant-based)


• 2 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder


• 3 tablespoons honey


• A few ice cubes (if needed)

Apple Cinnamon

Apples aren’t normally used in smoothies, but their sweet and tart flavor combines well with Greek yogurt. While the best apples for smoothies are ones that break down easily, such as Fuji and Honeycrisp, almost any apple will work. This smoothie would be especially nice in the fall when apples are at their best, the bit of spice really bringing out the flavor:

• 1 apple, peeled and cored


• 1/2 cup milk (dairy or plant-based)


• 1/2 cup Greek yogurt (vanilla or plain)


• 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon or apple pie spice


• A few ice cubes (if needed)

Cherry Almond

For a healthy smoothie recipe with elegant flavor and fantastic texture, cherry almond is an excellent choice. Although almond extract isn’t absolutely required, it’ll help bring out both the almond and cherry flavors, making this shake irresistibly delicious:

• 1 cup pitted sweet cherries


• 1/2 cup almond milk (unsweetened or vanilla)


• 1/2 cup Greek yogurt (plain, vanilla or cherry)


• 1 tablespoon almond butter


• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract

Açai Smoothie Bowl

If you’re craving a naughty, high-calorie dessert, a smoothie bowl with extra toppings like fruit, nuts or granola will help satisfy you without ruining your diet. While any fresh or frozen fruit puree would be a great base, taking inspiration from Brazil and making an açai berry bowl is both colorful and tasty:

Bowl:

• 1 cup frozen açai pulp


• 1/4 cup coconut water

Toppings:

• 1 banana, sliced


• 1 cup sliced/chunked fruit (strawberries, blueberries and kiwi are good options)


• 1/4 cup nuts or granola

Healthy Smoothie Tips

Even though most healthy smoothie recipes are fairly straightforward, there are still a few best practices to keep in mind. So, be sure to remember the following tips when making your shakes:

Order of Ingredients

The order in which you put ingredients into the blender jar matters. By pouring in liquids such as milk first, the blades will be able to turn more freely, making it easier for the machine to cut through the solid ingredients. If you want to make smoothies efficiently, follow these steps:

• Step 1. Liquids – Milk, Coconut Water


• Step 2. Powders and Sweeteners – Protein Powder, Cocoa Powder, Honey, Fruit Pulp


• Step 3. Greens – Chopped Spinach, Kale


• Step 4. Fruit – Fresh or Frozen Chunks


• Step 5. Mix-Ins – Chia Seeds, Oatmeal


• Step 6. Creams – Yogurt, Peanut Butter, Avocado

Choose Your Protein

When it comes to protein powders for smoothies, there are a ton of options. Soy or pea powders are perfect for vegans while casein and whey are excellent dairy-based choices. Protein supplements come in a range of flavors, so you can mix and match to see which one you prefer: a strawberry-flavored powdered in a berry smoothie might be especially tasty.

Fresh vs Frozen Fruit

While you can almost always use fresh fruit in a healthy smoothie recipe, frozen fruit is often the superior choice. Smoothies made with frozen fruit are colder, thicker and creamier, giving the shake the smooth consistency that most people want. And since frozen fruit requires almost no prep work and is more cost-effective, the shakes are even quicker to make.

Watch the Calories

Although smoothies can be good for you and promote weight loss, they’re not always as healthy as they appear. In fact, the Mayo Clinic warns that smoothie meal replacements are often higher in calories than people realize, especially if they contain fruit juice or added sugar. So, always be aware of portion sizes and remember to add good proteins and healthy fats to keep your shake balanced.

Maintain Your Blender

If you want to make smoothies quickly and efficiently, keeping your equipment well-maintained is essential. That’s why Parts Town carries a wide selection of real OEM blender parts so you can make sure your unit’s always working properly. From new blades to replacement gaskets, we’ve got what you need to keep blending, chopping and mixing all day long.

Instructions

• Step 1. Prep the fruit – Wash, dry and cut the fruit of your choice into 1-inch chunks. If using frozen fruit, no prep is necessary.


• Step 2. Pour in the liquids – Start the recipe by adding the milk or any other liquid ingredients into the blender jar.


• Step 3. Add any powders or sweeteners – Then, put in any fine ingredients or additional sweeteners, such as protein powder or honey.


• Step 4. Sprinkle in the greens (if using) – If the recipe calls for chopped leafy greens, add them next.


• Step 5. Add the fruit – Dump in any fruit chunks. 


• Step 6. Add any mix-ins – Toss in any mix-ins, such as chia seeds or oats.


• Step 7. Top with creamy ingredients – Finish by adding yogurt, peanut butter or any other creamy elements.


• Step 8. Mix the ingredients – Process everything together until it forms a drink with a smooth, creamy texture.


• Step 9. Adjust the consistency – If the shake is too thick, add a little bit of milk or water to thin it out; if it’s too thin, add a few ice cubes and continue blending.


• Step 10. Serve the smoothie – Pour your shake into a glass or other container and serve immediately.