What makes a smoothie healthy? Well let’s be clear: all smoothies are not created equal. Some smoothies are high in calories and fattening ingredients, like whipped cream, ice cream, and sweet syrup. Instead, fill your blender with healthy ingredients, such as vegetables, fruit, healthy fats, and lean protein. When packed full of healthy ingredients, smoothies can be a great source of nutrients and antioxidants that you need to live your healthiest life.
How to Make the Healthiest Smoothie
To make the healthiest smoothie possible, it’s important to take a good look at your ingredients. Make sure your smoothie contains plenty of fruits and vegetables for optimal nutrition. You might also want to add protein to give your smoothie some staying power. Ingredients like whey protein, Greek yogurt, peanut butter, hemp seeds, or unsweetened plant milk are great sources of healthy protein. Your smoothie should also contain a little healthy fat so it satiates you until your next meal. Look for ingredients like chia seeds, avocado, or peanut butter.
Making a healthy smoothie is also just as much about what you don’t put in it. Don’t add any high-calorie sweeteners or syrups. Avoid fat traps like whipped cream, heavy cream, or ice cream. Instead, stick to fresh or dried fruit to give your smoothie the sweet flavor you crave. Lastly, a healthy smoothie needs more than healthy ingredients – it should taste delicious, too! So, give your smoothie a taste test and adjust as necessary.
10 of the Healthiest Smoothies Around
If you’re looking for some healthy smoothies you can whip up at home or pick up on the go, we’ve got you covered. Here are 10 of the healthiest smoothies you can find (and they all taste amazing):
1. Edible® $5 Delights – Pineapple Orange
You don’t have to head to the store for ingredients and then create your own smoothie. Instead, just visit your local Edible Arrangements® location and choose a pineapple orange smoothie. It tastes delicious and is packed with vitamin C-rich pineapples and oranges.
2. Edible® Create-Your-Own – Strawberry + Non-Fat Vanilla Yogurt
If you’re looking for a smoothie that’s high in protein and satisfies your sweet tooth, look no further than a create-your-own smoothie from Edible Arrangements® with strawberries and non-fat vanilla yogurt. Even better, it’s made with fresh, never frozen fruit and all-natural ingredients.
3. Healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie
This smoothie smoothie tastes like a milkshake, but it’s a delicious blend of unsweetened almond milk, banana, peanut butter, and dark cocoa powder. It’s sweetened with a teaspoon of honey, but feel free to substitute this with a dried date to cut out the added sugar and add nutrients from the fruit.
This smoothie is perfect, even if you aren’t a fan of regular green smoothies. It’s packed with two large handfuls of baby spinach, but the flavor is completely overpowered with 100% cranberry and orange juice.
5. Kiwi and Pear Green Smoothie
This smoothie is simple, with just one pear, one kiwi, one banana, and a half a cup of coconut water. It’s extremely refreshing thanks to the electrolyte-balancing power of coconut water and contains plenty of vitamins and nutrients from three full servings of fruit.
6. Berry Chocolate Beet Smoothie
Beets are packed with nutrition, and this smoothie combines the superfood power of beets with cacao powder, almond butter, and fresh berries. Delish!
Raspberries are packed with fiber and vitamin C. This smoothie adds light vanilla almond milk, frozen banana, almond butter, and ground flax that tastes so good, you won’t believe it’s really healthy.
Everyone knows you should eat carrots, but what if you’re not a fan? This smoothie combines the nutrient-rich vegetable with mangoes, bananas, and orange juice for vibrant smoothie high in vitamins and minerals that tastes sweet and delicious.
Kale is protein and fiber-rich and contains a plethora of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, C, K, and B6, manganese, calcium, potassium, and magnesium. In this knock-out smoothie, banana, pineapple, and strawberries hide any hint of bitterness and add extra nutrients.
10. Strawberry Banana Oat Smoothie
This smoothie is creamy, filling, and packed with natural sweetness. It’s a balanced and filling smoothie with some whole grain from oats and protein from Greek yogurt.
To make a healthy smoothie, all you need are fruits, vegetables, and a little creativity. Just be sure to omit unhealthy and calorie-laden add-ins, like whipped cream, ice cream, and syrup.
