Whether you’re looking for a filling breakfast, a mid-day snack, or a post-workout pick-me-up, there’s sure to be a smoothie recipe that works for you. To get started, it’s important to have the right ingredients on hand. The base of every smoothie recipe is usually a liquid, such as milk, fruit juice, or a non-dairy milk alternative.

Depending on the desired texture and thickness, some recipes call for yogurt, ice cream, avocado, nut butter, or silken tofu. To boost the nutritional content, frozen or fresh fruit, leafy greens, nuts, seeds, and plant-based protein powders can all be added in.

Once you’ve gathered all your ingredients, begin by adding the liquid of choice to your blender. Then, layer in any frozen fruits, nuts, and seeds that you may be using. This will help them blend more easily and evenly. Next, add any fresh fruits, leafy greens, and yogurt. Finally, add any protein powder, nut butter, or other flavorings you may be using. If desired, now is the time to provide some sweetness to your smoothie.

Natural sweeteners, such as honey, agave nectar, and dates, work great in smoothies and can be added to suit your own taste. If these are not available, you can always use a touch of granulated sugar, brown sugar, or even maple syrup.

Now everything is ready to blend! Start on a low setting and gradually turn up the power as the ingredients begin to incorporate. Blend until smooth, about a minute or two. Once blended, you can drink your smoothie immediately, pour it into a travel mug, or store it in the refrigerator for enjoyment throughout the day.

Some fun recipes to try:

• Tropical Breeze Smoothie: Blend together ½ cup of pineapple juice, 1 cup of frozen mango, ½ cup of coconut milk, 1 ripe banana, and 1 tablespoon of honey. For a bit of extra protein, add 1 scoop of vanilla whey protein powder.

• Chocolate Peanut Butter Dream: Start with ¾ cup of almond milk and add ½ frozen banana, 2 tablespoons of hemp seeds, 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder, 1 tablespoon of peanut butter, 1 teaspoon of honey, and a handful of ice cubes.

• Green Machine: Begin with 1 cup of unsweetened apple juice and then add ½ cup of spinach, ½ cup of frozen pineapple, ½ cup of plain yogurt, 1 tablespoon of chia seeds, and 1 tablespoon of honey.

• Piña Colada: Blend together 1 cup of unsweetened coconut milk, ½ cup of frozen pineapple, ½ cup of crushed ice, 1 tablespoon of honey, and 1 tablespoon of coconut flakes.

These smoothie recipes are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to delicious and nutritious beverages. By playing around with different ingredients and measurements, you can create a smoothie recipe that is tailored to your own tastes. Experimentation is key and the possibilities are truly endless!

Incredibly Versatile Smoothies

The post Incredibly Versatile Smoothies first appeared on Top Smoothie Recipe.

Ingredients:

1 banana
½ pear, cored
2 cups cold water (or 1 ½ cups water plus 1 cup ice)
1 tablespoon hemp protein
1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
1 tablespoon fresh ginger

Instructions:

Blend well. This is a refreshingly crisp smoothie, designed as an inflammation reducer. It’s not too sweet, although the riper the pear, the sweeter it will be. If you want it even sweeter, add one or two fresh or soaked, dried dates.

Contributed by:
Brendan Brazier (MyVega.com)

Ginger Pear Smoothie Recipe #2

Ingredients:

2 ripe pears, cored
1 cup water
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon dried mint (or 1 tablespoon fresh mint)
½ teaspoon fresh ginger

Instructions:

Blend all the ingredients until creamy. If you’re using a high-speed blender,
then you don’t have to worry about peeling the ginger. Just wash it and blend!
Contributed by:
Brenda Cobb (LivingFoodsInstitute.com)

Ginger Pear Smoothie Recipe

The post Ginger Pear Smoothie Recipe first appeared on Top Smoothie Recipe.

Ingredients:

1 cup apple juice
½ cup water
½ banana
½ cup blackberries
½ cup blueberries
1 teaspoon coconut butter
1 scoop berry Vega (or other whole food protein powder)
1 teaspoon Vega Antioxidant EFA Oil Blend (or other)

Instructions:

Blend all of the ingredients together to make a brow chakra (Anja) smoothie recipe.

Contributed by: Yasmin Gow (PracticeBliss.com)
Yasmin began teaching yoga in 2001 and has since trained professional athletes, given workshops in various parts of the world and founded PRACTICE BLISS. Yasmin is also the creator of the yoga CDs Yoga with Pilates (2004) and Core Strength Power Yoga (2005) and is the Mind–Body–Soul columnist for Jet-Set Montreal and www.Femmeaucube.ca.

WHAT IS THE BROW CHAKRA?

Also known as the “third eye chakra,” the brow chakra is blue and is situated at the forehead, between the eyes. It is the center for self-realization, intuition and sleep.

This smoothie aides the health of this chakra, as it is pure brain food. Not only do the berries provide a rich source of antioxidants, but so does the Vega Oil Blend, which lists pomegranate, green tea, black raspberry, and blueberry
seed extracts as ingredients. Moreover, this ultra-virgin, cold pressed oil is abundant in essential fats like Omega-3, 5, 6, and 9, which are crucial for optimum brain and nerve function. The Berry Vega® also adds a nice flavor and protein to the mixture.

Brain Smoothie Recipe

The post Brain Smoothie Recipe first appeared on Top Smoothie Recipe.

Ingredients:

1 apple, cored
4–8 strawberries
½ teaspoon vitamin C powder
1+ cup water
1 tablespoon bee pollen
1 teaspoon raw honey (optional)

Instructions:

First, blend the apple with half of the water. Then, add the remaining ingredients and enough water to achieve the desired consistency. Note: Bee products may be eliminated or replaced with agave nectar.

Contributed by:
Steve Meyerowitz (Sproutman.com)
Steve was christened “Sproutman” in the 1970s. After 20 years of disappointment with orthodox medicine, he became symptom-free of chronic allergies and asthma through his use of diet, juices, and fasting. In 1980, he founded “The Sprout House,” a ‘no-cooking’ school in New York City that teaches the benefits of a living-foods diet.

WHY IS BEE POLLEN GOOD FOR ME?

Bee pollen, the food of the young bee, is almost 40% protein (in the form of over 30 amino acids) and is considered by many to be one of nature’s most completely nourishing foods. The alkaline food is packed not only with proteins
but with many enzymes, trace minerals and vitamins, including B-complex and folic acid. Bee pollen has been said to increase energy and stamina, increase muscle growth and definition, strengthen the immune system, provide antioxidant activity, enhance sexuality, and smooth wrinkles.

Please note that bee pollen may cause gastrointestinal irritation and allergic reactions. If you’re new to pollen, begin with ingesting only a small amount of pollen (about ¼ teaspoon) before enjoying this nutritious food in larger doses.

Flavonoids for Kids Smoothie Recipe

The post Flavonoids for Kids Smoothie Recipe first appeared on Top Smoothie Recipe.

Smoothie Recipe Ingredients:

7–8 Turkish figs
3 tablespoons sesame seeds
Water

Directions:

Soak the figs overnight in just enough water to cover the fruits. The next day, blend the water, figs, and sesame seeds together. The very high calcium content of the two main ingredients makes this an ideal choice for those looking to support their bones, regenerate teeth, or breastfeed.

Contributed by:
Matt Monarch (RawSpirit.org)

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A FIG AND A DATE?

First of all, figs and dates are two completely different fruits. Also, figs, which range dramatically in color, grow on
Ficus trees while dates, light brown in hue, grow on palms. Figs take on a teardrop shape and contain many small
seeds. Their counterpart, dates, are oblong and have one large pit inside them. Figs aren’t just deliciously sweet with a complex texture, but they are a rich source of potassium, calcium, and fiber as well. Similarly, dates are ‘nuggets
of nutrition’ that supply a substantial amount of both soluble and insoluble fiber and potassium. Despite their few differences, both fruits are wonderful to use as natural, raw sweeteners–in place of syrups and refined sugars.

Calcium Concoction Smoothie Recipe

The post Calcium Concoction Smoothie Recipe first appeared on Top Smoothie Recipe.

Smoothie Recipe Ingredients:

1 banana
1 orange, peeled
1 tablespoon hemp protein
1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
¼ teaspoon cloves
2 tablespoons pumpkin seeds (soaked seeds are best)
2 cups cold water (or 1 ½ cups water plus 1 cup ice)

Directions:

Put all ingredients into the blender, blend well, and serve. The vitamin C-rich orange in this iron-rich smoothie will help the body absorb the iron of the pumpkin seeds.

Contributed by:
Brendan Brazier (MyVega.com)
Brendan Brazier is one of only a few professional athletes in the world whose diet is 100 percent plant based. Not only is he a professional Iron Man triathlete and a bestselling author of The Thrive Diet (Penguin, 2007), but he is also the creator of an award-winning line of whole food nutritional products called Vega. Brendan is also a two-time Canadian 50km Ultra Marathon Champion.

Blood Builder Smoothie Recipe

The post Blood Builder Smoothie Recipe first appeared on Top Smoothie Recipe.

Smoothie Recipe Ingredients:

½ cup blueberries, fresh or frozen
¼ cup cashews
3 dates, pitted
1 teaspoon alcohol-free vanilla extract
1 cup water

Directions:

All ingredients should be placed in blender and blended until smooth.

Contributed by:
Ani Phyo (AniPhyo.com)

USING VANILLA BEANS INSTEAD OF VANILLA EXTRACT

For smoothies calling for vanilla extract, you might also consider using fresh vanilla beans, readily available through many online shops (usually for around $1 to $2 per bean, depending on quality and quantity). For a smoothie as
described here, try using one whole vanilla bean (a method that works best if you’re using a powerful blender such as a Vita-Mix® or Blendtec®).

ARE FROZEN FOODS LESS NUTRITIOUS THAN FRESH FOODS?

Most of the available scientific research suggests similar nutritional values between fresh produce and their frozen counterparts. However, others believe that only those things that naturally survive freezing temperatures (i.e., low water) content items such as nuts and seeds) are appropriate for freezing. Some raw foodists point to the fact that most frozen foods are blanched (briefly boiled) prior to the flash freezing process, thus destroying some of the nutritional content.

While there is some truth to this, and to the argument that freezing high water content items causes some damage to produce, I believe frozen fruits are generally safe and nutritious, especially when there is no fresh alternative. It’s always best, of course, to use fresh when available and in season. But, don’t keep yourself from enjoying a great life-giving smoothie just because, for example, strawberries aren’t in season right now.

Berry Blueberry Smoothie Recipe

The post Berry Blueberry Smoothie Recipe first appeared on Top Smoothie Recipe.

Ingredients:

Ripe bananas
Celery or mangos or papayas
Filtered water

Directions:

(Amount to taste)
Blend bananas with either celery, mango, or papaya, in any ratio. Add water to achieve desired consistency—Add only a bit of water for a thicker drink, and add more for a thinner smoothie. The smoothie with celery is exceptionally
refreshing, especially after exercising on a hot day. There is, of course, no way to go wrong with the banana/mango combination. And, the banana/papaya mixture tastes just like a creamsicle. (You don’t need much papaya; put just
enough of the flavorful fruit in to change the color of the smoothie.) Have fun experimenting; mix ‘n match to create your favorite smoothie!

Bananas and…Celery, Mango, or Papaya Smoothie Recipe

The post Bananas and…Celery, Mango, or Papaya Smoothie first appeared on Top Smoothie Recipe.

Ingredients:

1 banana, frozen and broken into pieces
1 teaspoon lucuma powder
1 cup almond milk
2 tablespoons raw cacao powder
1 small piece of vanilla bean
½ cup cherries, pitted (fresh or frozen)

Directions:

Blend all of the ingredients together to make a special treat for special occasions! Garnish with some extra cherries, and some chopped walnuts!

Contributed by:
Annmarie Gianni (TheRenegadeHealthShow.com)

Banana Split Smoothie Recipe

The post Banana Split Smoothie first appeared on Top Smoothie Recipe.

Ingredients:

½ of a ripe pineapple
Cilantro (amount to taste)
1 cup water

Directions:

Slice down the entire pineapple and throw half of it into the blender. (If it’s organic, then use the skin too!) Be sure to include the core of the pineapple, as this part is especially rich in enzymes, such as bromelain, which helps dissolve
old protein deposits in the body. Add as much cilantro as you’d like and blend with water. Enjoy!

Contributed by:
Matt Monarch (RawSpirit.org)

Arthritis–Evaporating Pineapple Smoothie Recipe

The post Arthritis–Evaporating Pineapple Smoothie first appeared on Top Smoothie Recipe.