I’ve never been much into smoothies, and have always preferred eating food whole. However, having a fresh smoothie for breakfast in the morning can be an easy and refreshing way to give your body a boost of nutrients. And so, I went on a morning smoothie journey, trying all kinds of mixes. What fun! After some experimenting, here are 6 of my favourite easy smoothie recipes. Try one or more out and let me know which you like most!
Notes on Smoothies
6 Easy Smoothie Recipes to Kickstart your Day
— 1. Green Algae Boost
— 2. Garden Detox
— 3. Purple Chocolate
— 4. Green Power
— 5. Golden Immunity
— 6. Pure Nostalgia
I am by no means a smoothie expert. However, there are some points to keep in mind if you’re planning on adding smoothies to your diet.
Smoothies and sugar.
Just remember that smoothies can contain a lot of sugar. This is because often a lot of fruit is added to the mix, which generally contains quite a bit of sugar. (Especially readymade smoothies in the store, which often have added sugar too, making them very high in sugar).
When you make smoothies, try to not over-do the fruit. Instead, try and find a balance between adding in other ingredients like veggies, nuts, seeds, oats, water or milk.
Some people drink smoothies every morning. That is something I wouldn’t personally do myself, as I prefer to give my body whole foods that keep my digestion functioning well. However, every now and again, perhaps once a month, I’ll give my body a break and enjoy a big tasty smoothie for breakfast.
When I do have a smoothie, I always have it in the morning in place of my breakfast.
Reason 1 being that, because they can contain some sugar from the fruit, I prefer to have it in the morning. This is when I’m most active, and more likely to burn it off.
Reason 2 being that, smoothies are blended and pass through the body a lot quicker that regular food. So, even though they still contain good fibre (unlike juices), the body doesn’t have to work hard at breaking done the ingredients. So, every now and again I enjoy having a smoothie for breakfast, as it just gives my body a break and makes digestion super easy. So I still get some nutrients, but my body can chill and not have to digest much.
That said remember, we are all unique.
So do what works for you.
If you’re someone who doesn’t eat a lot of vegetables, smoothies can be a great way to get more of them into your diet. Vegetables are lower in sugar compared to fruit and contain a wonderful variety of essential nutrients your body needs. Particularly antioxidants that promote healthy ageing. Yes, please!
Have some fun trying out different smoothie mixes, and adding in different kinds of veggies. I love how I can get in about 2 cups of fresh spinach in one glass, and it feels so good for me!
In my personal experience, bananas are the foundation of most smoothies I make. By adding even just a small banana, my smoothie becomes creamy and delicious. On top of that, there are many health benefits of bananas to enjoy.
I love the way banana flavour blends so well with so many flavours too. It ‘s great in pretty much any smoothie (in my humble opinion) 🙂
Liquids of choice.
In smoothies, my preferred liquids include plain filtered water and/or coconut milk. Sometimes, when I don’t have coconut milk, I’ll use plain water and add a few tablespoons of coconut cream, which has a similar effect.
Play around and use a liquid of your choice.
You may want to keep it very light, and simply just use plain water. Or, you may want to make it a lot thicker and could use plain yoghurt. Or, you could use dairy-free milk alternatives like almond or oat milk. The options are endless, so make it something you’ll enjoy.
Without further ado, here are 6 of my favourite easy smoothie recipes. Most of them are quite different, so I look forward to seeing which you try, and which is your favourite.
Blending: I simply just add all my ingredients into a deep bowl, and use my handheld Defy 700W Blender. It works like a treat!
Quantities: The ingredients I use for the smoothies below make a BIG smoothie. I wanted a big glass to kickstart my day. If you like, you can split it between two people, or you can decrease the ingredients if you prefer a smaller glass for one. Either way, smoothies are best enjoyed fresh, so make an amount you feel you can finish.
Your perfect mix: Don’t get caught up on the ingredients and measurements. Smoothies are relaxed and fun, so, as you mix, taste and adjust to your liking. For example, if you want it less thick, add more liquid. Or, if you feel like you want some crunch, add some nuts or seeds. Or, if you need a little extra sweetness, add a little honey. Make it work for you!
This is number 1 for a reason, yes please!
Ingredients: 1 medium banana, 1 tsp Spirulina powder, half a cup of fresh spinach, 1 cup coconut milk (or half water, half coco milk, OR another liquid of your choice)
Spirulina is the star of this smoothie. There are many health benefits of spirulina, so, if you haven’t ever had it, this could be a great way to try it out. Start with 1 tsp spirulina, and slowly increase – too much can make your smoothie taste seriously seaweedy 🙂
This is an interesting mix. It’s actually quite fun, as it tastes a little bit like you’re drinking a garden, something I could imagine a rabbit would enjoy – That’s where the name ‘Garden Detox’ comes from 🙂 So, while it’s not for everyone, it’s filled with wonderful nutrients and is a uniquely refreshing smoothie to try.
Ingredients: 2 big peeled and chopped carrots, 1 red apple, 3 big stalks of celery, a BIG squeeze of lemon, 2 cups water.
Lemon is the star of this smoothie. There are so many health benefits of lemons, so don’t be shy when squeezing it into your smoothie. Squeeze and then taste until it’s perfect for you. Because this smoothie isn’t creamy like most other smoothies, the lemon adds a nice zing to the earthy mix. Great for detoxing!
This smoothie was SO good, I mmmmm and ahhhhhh the whole time while drinking it. I just can’t help myself! I’d love to know if you find this smoothie as delicious as I do. It’s like a healthy chocolate-berry milkshake!
Ingredients: 1 cup frozen mixed berries (can replace with fresh berries), 1 med-big banana, 1 heaped tablespoon raw cacao powder, 1 big tablespoon of pre-soaked chia seeds, 1 cup coconut milk (or another liquid of choice, like almond or oat milk, water or yoghurt)
Berries AND Raw Cacao Powder are both the stars of this smoothie. Berries are highly nutritious, and arguably one of the healthiest foods on earth. I keep a bag of frozen berries in the freezer, making them super easy to add to smoothies. You can also get fresh if you prefer. Raw Cacao Powder is a superfood with many incredible benefits too. The berries and the raw cacao powder mix so beautifully, and create the ultimate heavenly healthy shake! It’s mmmmm, ahhhhh, mmmmm all the way for me with this one 🙂
This smoothie us a fantastic way to get in some extra nutritious veggies into your diet. It’s highly nutritious and sure to give your body an extra health boost to keep it strong.
Ingredients: half a cup of raw broccoli, 1.5 cups of fresh spinach, 1 med-large banana, 1 heaped tablespoon of raw cacao powder, 1 teaspoon of spirulina powder, 2 tablespoons of pre-soaked chia seeds, 1 cup of coconut milk (can replace with a cup of your preferred liquid e.g. water, milk, almond milk or oat milk)
Broccoli is the start of this smoothie. There are so many health benefits of broccoli, it’s just a must for anyone’s diet. That said, many people don’t like it. So, here’s a great way to sneak some of this highly nutritious vegetable into your body 🙂
Note: If this smoothie tastes a bit bitter for you, try adding some pineapple or a little honey to the mix.
Oh my, this smoothie is good!
Ingredients: 1 x med-large banana, half a cup of fresh pineapple, 1 med carrot peeled and chopped, 1 teaspoon grated ginger (can add more if you like), a quarter teaspoon of turmeric, half a lemon squeezed, 1 cup coconut milk (or your choice of liquid, water or milk).
Turmeric is the star of this smoothie. There are many health benefits of turmeric, and I love it! That said, we are all bio-individual, so try a little to start and see how it makes you feel. Some people get reactions like an upset stomach if they have too much. Starting with a quarter of a teaspoon is a good place to start.
Note: Chill your ingredients in the fridge/freezer before making your smoothie. This will make your smoothie a lot more refreshing.
When I was little, my mother was very strict about me and my sister eating a very healthy breakfast in the morning. It consisted of a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice, half a banana with plain yoghurt, and a bowl of oats. I’m so grateful that my mom took the time to make such a wonderfully nutritious breakfast, and thought I’d create a nostalgic breakfast smoothie inspired by it 🙂
Ingredients: 1 medium banana, half a cup of plain full-fat yoghurt, 1 cup water, 2 tablespoons coconut cream (can leave out if preferred, but a hint of coconut is yum), 30g rolled oats, 2 tablespoons of raw walnuts, 2 tablespoons pre-soaked Chia seeds
Oats is the star of this smoothie. There are many health benefits of oats, and this is a great way to add some to your diet if you don’t like the porridge.
I hope that this post has inspired you to try out some new smoothie mixes. If you do try any of them, be sure to let me know – share in the comments, or take a pic and tag @livethewonderful.life – I’d love to see!