When’s the last time you really considered what a culinary marvel the smoothie is? Think about it — you can literally put a head of kale, an entire banana, half a box of strawberries, and a cup of yogurt into a blender, and get something you can slurp down in no time at all. And unlike with fruit juices, you don’t lose any fiber from the fruits and vegetables — it’s just in a more “sippable” form. (Plus, it’s nice to know you could be lowering your risk of premature death as you enjoy your concoction.)
To celebrate the smoothie, we asked nutrition and fitness experts to share their favorite recipes (and just in time for spring!). Check out five of them below.
Editor’s note: We added a few ice cubes to each of these recipes to make them thicker, but feel free to add or omit ice cubes per your taste preference!
Green Smoothie
1 cup spinach
1 cup kale
1/2 banana
A small handful of almonds
3 to 5 raw brazil nuts
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1-2 tablespoons cacao or carob powder
1/2 can of full-fat coconut milk
— Ben Greenfield, fitness and triathlon expert, Get-Fit Guy podcast host
Carrot Mango Smoothie
1 medium mango, peeled and cubed
1/2 cup shredded carrots
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup coconut water
1/4 cup water
— Dawn Jackson Blatner, RD, CSSD, LDN, certified specialist in sports dietetics
Kale Banana Smoothie
1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1 ripe banana
1 cup loosely packed chopped kale
1/4 cup water
— Dawn Jackson Blatner, RD, CSSD, LDN, certified specialist in sports dietetics
Chocolate Beet Berry Smoothie
1/2 cup peeled chopped
raw beet
1 banana
1 cup strawberries
(may sub blueberries
or raspberries)
1/2 cup coconut water
1/4 cup water
1 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder
— Dawn Jackson Blatner, RD, CSSD, LDN, certified specialist in sports dietetics
Raspberry Almond Smoothie
1/2 cup almond milk
1/2 cup low-fat plain greek yogurt
1/2 medium banana
1/2 cup fresh (or frozen) raspberries
1/8 teaspoon almond extract
1 tablespoon honey
— Keri Gans, RD, author of “The Small Change Diet”
Bon appetit!
