Smoothie Recipes for an Instant Boost

Smoothies are a great way to keep in shape. Whether you want something to complement your current diet, or something to help with weight loss, smoothies are an easy way to eat healthily.

Check out our top 3 simple, healthy smoothie recipes below:

Rise & Shine – The Breakfast Smoothie

Ingredients:

• Oats (half a cup)
• Almonds (10g approx.)
• Strawberries (10-12)
• 1 Banana
• Yoghurt (1/2 cup)
• Milk (1 cup)

Breakfast is commonly the most skipped meal of the day, but it’s easily the most important. You’ve not eaten for couple of hours so your body is ready to refuel. Listen to it and give yourself the best start to the day.

This delicious breakfast smoothie is packed full of fruit, which is a natural source of vitamins and minerals, while the almonds provide you with health-promoting fats (like those found in olive oil). Such health-promoting fats have been associated with reduced risk of heart disease.

Don’t forget your dose of dairy. Not only are milk and yoghurt packed with protein, but the latter is an excellent way to aid digestion, thanks to its ‘friendly’ bacteria or probiotics.

Top tip: Lactose intolerant? Substitute milk for soy or almond milk for equally delicious results.

Let’s Do Lunch - The Lunch Munch Smoothie

Ingredients:

• Chia seeds (1/2 a cup)
• Protein powder (1/2 cup)
• 1 Banana
• Mixed berries (half a cup)
• Milk (1 cup)
• Ice (1 cup)

Lunch can often be where people come undone in their weight-loss routine. Either you don’t have time to stop for it, or you only have time to grab today’s calorific special from the canteen.

Don’t let a busy schedule get in the way of your healthy eating! Prepare this smoothie the night before and keep it refrigerated in work. Bananas are a rich source of potassium, vitamins and nutrients. They’re filling, sweet and go with pretty much everything! Plus their consistency helps bind ingredients together, making it a smoothie super food!

Speaking of super ingredients, chia seeds are awesome for a healthy smoothie. Loaded with nutrients, anti-oxidants, fibre and protein, the seeds are great at absorbing water which expands in the stomach and gives you the feeling of being full. Perfect for responsible weight-loss programmes and diets.

Top tip: Use iced fruit for a thicker smoothie. It keeps its nutritional value just as well as non-frozen fruit, and it’s ready when you are!

A Little Pick-Me-Up – The Energy Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 1 Lime
• Honey (1tsp of honey)
• 1 Pear
• 1 Apple
• Spinach (2-3 cups)
• Ginger tea (1 cup)

Sometimes the day just gets the better of us and we need something to wake us up. This smoothie recipe is the perfect energizer!

Apple, pear and spinach helps give this smoothie its consistency, while lime cuts through the drink to give you a sharp, citrus taste.

But the ginger tea is what will give you the timely boost, just when you need it most. It’s known to improve blood circulation and improve respiratory function. But best of all it helps relieve muscle tiredness, allowing your muscles to recover more quickly after exercise. A handy pick-me-up after your gruelling gym work out!

Top tip: Add your liquid base (milk, yoghurt, fruit juice) to the blender first. This will prevent the blade being damaged by solids like frozen fruit and nuts.

Got a top smoothie recipe of your own? Let us know! Send us a photo of your favourite healthy smoothie on Instagram. Or share your top simple smoothie tip on our Facebook page for other B&M fans.