There’s nothing like a cold treat to cool you down after a hot summer day outdoors. Instead of taking a drive up to your local fast food restaurant to get a vanilla cone, head to your kitchen and use a blender to make a healthy smoothie instead. Smoothies are easy to make, they cool you down, and they don’t have to taste as healthy as they really are! You can make a perfectly healthy smoothie that still tastes like a sweet treat, and it only takes a few minutes.
Smoothies are quick and easy snacks, or they can act as a convenient meal replacement, especially with a scoop of protein powder mixed in. It can be helpful to keep peeled and chopped bananas in the freezer to add to smoothies at any time.
If you don’t like bananas, just use ice cubes instead, and add a little agave or maple syrup to replace the sweetness of the banana. You can also use one ripe avocado with ice cubes in place of a banana.
If you’re in the mood for something chocolatey, it’s easy to feed your sweet tooth with a smoothie. All you need are about two frozen bananas, broken into smaller pieces, one tablespoon of cocoa powder, one tablespoon of peanut or almond butter, two cups of unsweetened almond or coconut milk, and you’re done!
If you prefer it to be sweeter, feel free to add about a tablespoon of raw agave syrup or maple syrup. If you don’t like bananas or don’t have any frozen bananas on hand, just use one ripe avocado instead, and add a handful of ice cubes.
Similarly, you can make a vanilla smoothie with the same ingredients, but without the cocoa powder. Add about a teaspoon of vanilla extract and a scoop of vanilla protein powder. An avocado won’t work as well to replace the bananas, however, since the cocoa powder in the chocolate version helps to mask the green hue of an avocado.
If you’re looking for a fruit smoothie, all you need is about a cup of frozen mixed berries of your choice, one to two cups of almond or coconut milk, 1/4 cup of raw almonds, and about a tablespoon of agave or maple syrup. If you like your smoothies thicker, just add a scoop of protein powder.
If you prefer cherries, nectarines, or peaches, then you’ll want to use about a cup of fresh or frozen cherries, one sliced peach or nectarine, 3/4 cup of almond or coconut milk, 1/4 cup of lime juice, and a handful of ice.
Turn these smoothies into superfood smoothies when you add in a scoop of chia seeds, flax seeds, or hemp seeds. If you have other superfoods lying around that you’d like to mix in, go ahead and add them as well. Great smoothie add-ins are cocoa nibs, spinach, ginger, turmeric, and gluten free oats.
If you’d like to learn more about healthy eating or healthy lifestyle tips for you and your family, Premier Health Chiropractors can help. Contact us today!