Smoothies

To thicken smoothies, try the following ideas:

cut up bananas into ½ inch pieces and freeze – add these to thicken
add avocado
add yogurt. You can substitute ½ banana with 2-3 oz yogurt

Frozen fruit can work just as well as fresh, although if you use frozen fruit, you do not need ice & its best to add the juice first, then the banana (if using), and then the frozen fruit.

matcha If you use fresh fruit, you will need to lower the juice by 1-2oz and add approx 2-4oz ice to taste. Ice will dilute the flavor a bit, but will add some coldness and thickness. Its best to add the juice, then the fresh fruit and finally the ice.

Matcha Smoothie

From http://food52.com

1/4 cup almonds
1 cup water + more for soaking
1 medjool date
1/2 cup frozen pineapple
1/2 ripe banana
1 teaspoon matcha green tea powder
1/2 teaspoon fresh grated ginger

Blend all together.

Fuzzy Navel Smoothie

From www.aniphyo.com

smooth3 2 oranges, peel and seed
1 cup pecans
1/2 cup pitted dates
1 vanilla bean
2 cups filtered water

Just blend with vanilla, and add pecans for maple-flavored creaminess. Just use the whole vanilla bean in your high speed blender, or de-seed and use only the seeds in a lower-speed blender. You can always use a Tablespoon of vanilla extract instead.

Almond-Banana Smoothie

From: Bon Appetit

2 large ripe bananas, peeled, sliced
2 cups almond milk or whole milk
2 cups ice cubes
2 tablespoons (packed) golden brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Ground nutmeg

Blend first 5 ingredients in blender until smooth. Divide smoothies among 4 small glasses. Sprinkle lightly with nutmeg.

Almond-Banana Flaxseed Smoothie

This smoothie packs a dose of protein from the flaxseed, probiotics from the yogurt and a load of potassium from the bananas. From: http://theblenderdiaries.com/

2 large bananas
2 cups almond milk
2 cups ice cubes
1/4 cup Greek yogurt, plain
2 Tbsp. honey
1/8 tsp. cinnamon
2 Tbsp. ground flaxseed (hempseed works as well)

Blend together all ingredients in a blender until smooth. Divide among glasses; serve cold.

Açaí Antioxidant Smoothie

From: http://theblenderdiaries.com/

8-10oz Zola Açaí Juice
1 Cup Frozen Blueberries or Strawberries
½ Cup Frozen Banana Chunks

Pear-Ginger Delight

This smoothie uses carrot juice, which gives the drink its orange color and lots of vitamin A.
From: http://theblenderdiaries.com/

Combine & blend until smooth:

1 ripe pear-peeled, cored and chopped,
¼ fresh carrot juice,
¼ cup skim milk,
½ teaspoon finely grated fresh ginger and
½ cup crushed ice
optional: wheat germ or flaxseed for a little added fiber or omega-3 fatty acid

Orange Cherry Smoothie

This smoothie is great when you’re in the mood for something with a little tang to it.
From: http://theblenderdiaries.com/

Blend until smooth:

8-10oz Orange Juice
1 Cup Frozen Cherries
½ Cup Frozen Banana Chunks

Green Smoothie

Blend together (amounts to personal taste):

Apple
Spinach
Cucumber
Avocado
sprouted seeds
probiotic powder

Hangover Smoothie

Blend together peach, carrot, orange juice & ginger

Blue Maple Shake

1 cup frozen blueberries (let them thaw a bit before use)
3/4 cup plain nonfat yogurt
1/4 cup blackberry spreadable fruit
3/4 cup nonfat milk
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Place all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth.
Add more cinnamon and a pinch of sugar, blend again.
Serve.

Guacamole Smoothie

Chop spring onions, blend with chili pepper, avocado coriander, ice, and a good splash of tomato juice

Celery, Fennel and Pineapple Juice

Blend equal amounts of each

Pretty in Pink

Beetroot, Apple & carrot juices

Fairtrade Banana Smoothie

By Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall. Serves one.
"I have one of these for breakfast almost every day - and I never get bored of it."

1 large or two small Fairtrade bananas
200ml ice cold milk (skimmed if you prefer)
1 tablespoon rolled oats (porridge oats)
2 ice cubes

Place all the ingredients in a blender and whiz for approximately one minute until smooth. Pour into a tall glass and enjoy.

Kale-Green Apple Smoothie

A tart green apple, a sweet banana, and nutrition-packed kale join forces in this delicious, nutritious, and beautiful green smoothie. From http://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/article/no-time-for-breakfast-nonsense-take-it-to-work-with-one-of-these-quick-ideas

Chop 1 peeled, cored green apple and toss with 1 tsp. fresh lemon juice. Combine apple with 1/2 cup chopped, stemmed kale leaves, 1 peeled ripe banana, and 1 cup crushed ice in a blender; puree until smooth. Transfer to a thermos to keep smoothie cold.

Buttermilk-Cherry Smoothie

Buttermilk is actually a low-fat product. When blended with cherries and bananas, the result is a thick, tasty breakfast. The use of frozen cherries eliminates the need to add ice. From http://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/article/no-time-for-breakfast-nonsense-take-it-to-work-with-one-of-these-quick-ideas

Combine 1/2 cup buttermilk, 1 cup frozen pitted cherries, and 1 peeled ripe banana in a blender. Puree until smooth. Transfer to a thermos to keep cold.

Runners World Back To Basics Nutritious Smoothies

The BaSics

Skimmed Milk - A post run drink boosts fat-burn and helps build muscle mass
Almond Milk - The low cal alternative
Soy Milk - for muscle repair, has 6 times the protein of almond milk

BULK IT OUT

Almond nut butter - high in anti-inflammatory vitamin E
Flaxseed - natures least fishy source of omega 3 essential fat
Full fat Greek yogurt - around 20-30% protein to help repair muscle

GET FRUITY

Frozen berries - more convenient than fresh, and just as nutritious
Kiwi - one fruit provides a full RDA of Vitamin C
Banana - full of electrolytes such as potassium, which may be lost through sweat
Cherries - may soothe soreness and help aid muscle recover post run

optional Energy boosters

Honey - takes longer to digest than sugar for a more stable energy supply
Cocoa powder - Flavanois help to regulate blood pressure fluctuations
Coffee - improves endurance and lowers perceived exertion

optional nutrient kick

Oats - rich in bad cholesterol lowering beta-glucan
Leafy green veg - full of iron, best when eaten with Vitamin C
Matcha green tea powder - more anti-oxidants than green tea - 100 fold
Ground ginger - a daily dose helps reduce post exercise pain

Mix and match ingredients, blending for 30-60 seconds. Nut butter mixes should be blended before and after te addition of the sticky ingredients.

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Coconut-Blueberry Smoothie

Raspberries or blackberries can be swapped in for the blueberries.
From: bonappetit.com

1½ cups fresh (or frozen, thawed) blueberries
½ cup unsweetened coconut milk
1 tablespoon fresh mint leaves
1 teaspoon (or more) fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon (or more) honey

Purée blueberries, coconut milk, mint, lime juice, honey, and 1 cup ice in a blender until smooth. Add more lime juice and honey, if desired.

smoothie

The Greenest Smoothie

From bonappetit.com
MAKES 2

1 banana, frozen, cut into 1” pieces
1 cup frozen pineapple pieces
1 cup fresh parsley, spinach, or kale leaves
1 cup unsweetened almond milk
2 tablespoons almond butter
2 tablespoons flaxseed oil
1 teaspoon agave syrup (nectar)
1 teaspoon matcha (green tea powder)
½ teaspoon finely grated peeled ginger

Purée banana, pineapple, parsley, almond milk, almond butter, flaxseed oil, agave, matcha, and ginger in a blender. Sweeten with more agave, if desired.

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