Smoothies may be one of the recent health crazes that are actually worth getting behind. Creamy and often delicious, if made right, smoothies are an easy and portable way to get a healthy dose of fruit, vegetables and other nutritious ingredients.
This time of year, eating healthy goes into overdrive and exercising becomes even more of a necessity as soon it will be time to step out of the shade onto sun-kissed sand. Get a quick on-the-go breakfast, power up for that workout or satisfy that snack hankering with one these five delicious smoothies, perfect for getting ready for a summer in the sun.
Green Ginger Detox Smoothie, Serves 2
Image: Green Blender
The cucumber, mint and lemon in this smoothie come together in a light and refreshing way. Green Blender, an organic, locally sourced smoothie delivery service, recommends the blend of baby spinach, apple, cucumber, sprigs mint, ginger, lemon and hemp seed for a pre-summer detox. Plus, mint is full of rosmarinic acid, which helps reduce spring allergy symptoms.
Ingredients:
2 cups baby spinach
1 apple, chopped
1 Persian cucumber, chopped
3 sprigs mint, stemmed
1/2 inch ginger
1/2 lemon, juiced
1 tbsp hemp seed
Directions: Add ingredients to blender and blend until smooth.
Green Giant, Serves 1
Image: Certified Health Coach Courtney Berlin
Popeye’s favorite superfood is the main ingredient in this very green drink. Certified Health Coach Courtney Berlin was skeptical of juicing at first, feeling more satisfied chewing whole food than drinking it, but she loves this smoothie as an addition to a meal or quick snack. Using only one fruit keeps the sugar count low while still cutting through some of the bitterness. This entire drink is under 140 calories
Ingredients:
One handful of kale center stalks removed
One handful of spinach
1 gala apple
1 tsp. of freshly grated ginger
Directions:
Add all ingredients to your juicer, drop in some ice and serve.
Strawberry Quinoa and Chia Smoothie, 1 Serving
Ingredients:
4 strawberries
2 tablespoon cooked and cooled quinoa flakes
1 teaspoon chia seeds
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon honey
2 tablespoon low-fat plain or Greek yogurt
3/4 cup no-fat milk
Instructions:
Place all ingredients into the blender and blend until smooth.
Nectarine-Yogurt Smoothie, Serves 1
A sweet and satisfying breakfast, packed with nutrients and blended with probiotics, the Nectarine-Yogurt Smoothie is a great way to start the day off right. Brooke Alpert, author of The Sugar Detox: Lose Weight, Feel Great and Look Years Young, created the tasty smoothie recipe with Cutlurelle Probiotic as an easy option for families on the move. This smoothie is jam-packed with nutrients and the Culturelle Probiotic Kids Packet gives the drink a secret probiotic punch.
Ingredients
2 medium nectarines (pitted and quartered)
1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
1/3 cup Greek yogurt
1/2 cup ice
1 Culturelle Probiotic Kids Packet
Instructions:
Place all ingredients into the blender and blend until smooth.
Weekend Summer Smoothie
Image: Sophie Jaffe
Sip this smoothie slowly and it’s almost like you’re drinking a summer salad. Watermelon, Swiss chard, celery and cucumber are just a few of the ingredients in this refreshing drink from raw food chef and nutritionist Sophie Jaffe. She curates menus as a private chef for celebrities including George Clooney, Billy Corgan and Lea Michele and this Weekend Smoothie recipe is one of her favorites. She describes it as being able to elevate your mood, spirit and body. Hey, if it works for George!
Ingredients
2 C of watermelon & 3-4 oz of watermelon juice
2 Swiss chard leaves
2 stalks of celery
1 Persian cucumber
1 banana
1 T of Philosophie Green Dream
1 T bee pollen
1/2 C frozen pineapple
Instructions:
Blend ingredients together until smooth texture
Top with goji berries, mulberries, cacao nibs