To kick off our healthy food recipes, we decided to create some delicious smoothies. Perfect for when you’re on the go, or for relaxing on a hot summer day, smoothies are a quick and tasty way to get a serving of fruits or veggies. The fun thing about smoothies is that you can play around with the amount of each ingredient, so it comes out a little different every time; keep in mind that when we tell you how much fruit or yogurt we added, it’s just a suggestion. Feel free to add your own twist!
First, we decided to make a classic green smoothie. Although mixing fruit and vegetables into a smoothie may seem daunting at first, when done right it can be so delicious! Green smoothies are a great way to eat a bundle of raw spinach or kale while masking the bitter taste.
To start, we added about half a cup of plain greek yogurt. The yogurt added both a serving of protein and a yummy, creamy taste. We used plain, but feel free to add vanilla or fruit greek yogurt for a punch of extra flavor.
Next, we tossed in a few chunks of frozen pineapple. The pineapple adds a tropical flavor to the smoothie, and after tasting our creation, we noted to add more next time for that extra tang. We then added about half a banana to increase both the sweetness and the potassium content. For a thicker smoothie or smoothie bowl, we recommend using frozen bananas.
Next--and here comes the green--we threw in a big handful of spinach. The spinach provides iron, which helps our bodies produce red blood cells, and fiber, which aids our digestive system. To thin out the smoothie, we added a dash of coconut water and almond milk. Coconut water is packed with electrolytes and minerals that hydrate our bodies. Although almond milk doesn’t provide sufficient protein like milk does, it’s a less caloric option that’s free of cholesterol and saturated fats. These healthier options are a great substitute for milk or sugary juices.
Lastly, we tossed in a pinch of chia seeds. These seeds are high in omega 3 fatty acids (a.k.a the “good fat” you would find in salmon). After blending well, and tasting our creation, we were so impressed! Our first impression was the creaminess. The greek yogurt and sweet banana made it almost taste like a dessert. We then realized that we couldn’t even taste the spinach, which is always a plus! Lastly, we imagined that adding ice on a summer day would be a nice touch. All in all, we’d describe this smoothie as light and fresh, and most importantly, healthy.
First, we decided to make a classic green smoothie. Although mixing fruit and vegetables into a smoothie may seem daunting at first, when done right it can be so delicious! Green smoothies are a great way to eat a bundle of raw spinach or kale while masking the bitter taste.
To start, we added about half a cup of plain greek yogurt. The yogurt added both a serving of protein and a yummy, creamy taste. We used plain, but feel free to add vanilla or fruit greek yogurt for a punch of extra flavor.
Next, we tossed in a few chunks of frozen pineapple. The pineapple adds a tropical flavor to the smoothie, and after tasting our creation, we noted to add more next time for that extra tang. We then added about half a banana to increase both the sweetness and the potassium content. For a thicker smoothie or smoothie bowl, we recommend using frozen bananas.
Next--and here comes the green--we threw in a big handful of spinach. The spinach provides iron, which helps our bodies produce red blood cells, and fiber, which aids our digestive system. To thin out the smoothie, we added a dash of coconut water and almond milk. Coconut water is packed with electrolytes and minerals that hydrate our bodies. Although almond milk doesn’t provide sufficient protein like milk does, it’s a less caloric option that’s free of cholesterol and saturated fats. These healthier options are a great substitute for milk or sugary juices.
Lastly, we tossed in a pinch of chia seeds. These seeds are high in omega 3 fatty acids (a.k.a the “good fat” you would find in salmon). After blending well, and tasting our creation, we were so impressed! Our first impression was the creaminess. The greek yogurt and sweet banana made it almost taste like a dessert. We then realized that we couldn’t even taste the spinach, which is always a plus! Lastly, we imagined that adding ice on a summer day would be a nice touch. All in all, we’d describe this smoothie as light and fresh, and most importantly, healthy.
For our next creation, we made a tropical-inspired fruit smoothie. First, we threw in half a banana and a handful of raspberries. Raspberries are high in Vitamin C and are said to help fight heart and respiratory disease. Next, we used half a cup of frozen mango. Among many other benefits, mango can lower cholesterol, and improve sight and digestion. Plus, the taste is super sweet, and delicious in smoothies. We then added our favorite smoothie liquids: coconut water and almond milk. Once again, to top it off, we sprinkled in some chia seeds.
After putting our blender to use, we sipped our homemade drink and were delightfully surprised. Very flavorful and tangy, our smoothie was an energizing refreshment. We noted that this smoothie was slightly thicker than our green smoothie, and we thought it would be equally yummy if made into a smoothie bowl. We also noticed that our drink had a strong mango flavor; if you love mango, half a cup of frozen chunks may work for you, but if you prefer the taste of raspberries or bananas, perhaps a quarter of a cup would be enough. Sweet and light, our fruit smoothie proved to be a healthy snack that was easy to prepare.
All in all, both smoothies turned out even better than we expected. They are delicious, easy to make, and you can customize them however you like. Bon appetit!