Summer Smoothie Recipes
Over the past few years there has been an increase in popularity of smoothies makers, juicers and Nutribullets; where you can make your own juices and smoothies, instead of buying shop bought versions, which may add a few extra sneaky sugars into the mix.
Homemade smoothies and juices are a great way to pack more fruit and vegetables into your diet. If you are someone who is maybe slightly 'picky' when it comes to certain vegetables, you can easily disguise the taste of certain foods by combining them with more 'favourable' or sweeter tastes from fruits.
And in the summer months with the slightly warmer weather, a fresh smoothie can be a delicious breakfast or an afternoon pick-me-up that will keep you cool and pack some of nature's goodness!
Below are 5 of my favourite smoothies to make. I used my trusty Nutribullet for all of these and used the large container to make a bigger portion (3-4 small glasses). Make sure you fill between 1/2-3/4 of the container with liquid (water, milk, juice etc) and for some hard foods, such as carrots, cut them as finely possible so they blend easier.
Let me know if you try them, or use them as inspiration and get creative with your own ingredients!
1. Green as Green can be
Large handful of spinach
1/2 avocado
1 Apple
1/4 Cucumber
Frozen Peas
2 tbsp pumpkin seeds
2 tbsp Greek Yoghurt
Water
2. Melon Refresher
1/2 Honeydew melon
90g Strawberries
1/2 Apple
2 tbsp Chia seeds
2 tbsp Greek Yoghurt
2 tbsp Pumpkin seeds
Water
3. Orange Glow
2 grated carrots
1 Orange
80g Pomengranate seeds
Small handful of spinach
Ginger (as much as you can handle)
200ml Orange juice
Water
4. Berry Berry Smooth
Handful of spinach
100g Blueberries
100g Frozen blackcurrants and blackberries
1/2 Banana
1 Small beetroot
1/2 Scoop of Vanilla and Raspberry whey protein (optional)
1 tbsp Chia seeds
200ml Milk
5. Must be Mango
2 Mangoes
1 Frozen banana
300ml Orange juice
1/2 Apple
1 tbsp Pumpkin seeds
1 tbsp Chia seeds
2 tbsp Greek Yoghurt
Water
Eilidh Brown
Simply Moving Personal Training
Note: Yes, these smoothies may have a high sugar content due to the naturally occurring sugars in fruit, if you are worried about this try adding more leafy greens (eg. spinach, kale) to alter the balance of fruit:veg. Also, while these smoothies do taste delicious and are a convenient way of consuming more fruit and vegetables, I don't endorse any form of 'juice diet'. Eating foods in their physical form is more beneficial in terms of your satiety levels and getting the most out of the nutrients in your fruit and veg! :)