Orange "Creamsicle" Smoothie

This smoothie has the tangy sweetness of those creamsicle ice-cream bars I LOVED as a kid. It’s such a refreshing snack, dessert, or breakfast! If you want some extra “orange” flavor, you can always add the zest from an orange too!

Ingredients:

• One orange, peeled and seeds removed

• ½ banana

• ½ cup Plain Greek yogurt

• ½ tsp vanilla extract

• ¼ cup almond or coconut milk

• Handful of ice

Optional smoothie boosters: hemp, flax or chia seeds, frozen cauliflower, ginger, carrots

Directions:

• Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth
  

Sweet Potato "Pie" Smoothie

As I was roasting sweet potatoes for dinner last night, I realized there was no more room left on the baking sheet for my final sweet potato! I’ve thought about trying a sweet potato smoothie for awhile now and thought this is the perfect occasion! I already had a peeled a cubed sweet potato, so I steamed it and then let it cool. I threw that in the freezer along with a small banana in preparation for a smoothie in the morning. Let me tell you, this is an IDEAL way to start the morning! This smoothie is creamy, filling, and tastes just like fall! There is loads of protein, healthy fats, and fiber to keep you feeling satisfied all morning too :)

Ingredients:

• 1 small sweet potato, steamed, cooled, and frozen

• 1 small banana, frozen

• 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt

• 3/4 cup almond milk

• 1 tbsp ground flax seed

• 1/2 tsp cinnamon

• Pinch of all spice

Directions:

• Add all ingredients and blend until smooth. If necessary, add more almond milk. If you’re looking for more spice, add it in!

• OPTIONS: Add in peanut butter or almond butter or a pitted date for a little extra sweetness!

Turmeric Ginger Smoothie

A tropical and nutrient-rich anti-inflammatory smoothie! This smoothie not only looks vibrant and beautiful, it tastes delicious and is loaded with beneficial ingredients! Curcumin, a substance in turmeric, is high in antioxidants and is a powerful anti-inflammatory. A pinch of black pepper helps your body to absorb more of the curcumin (you won’t even taste it!). Ginger is also an excellent anti-inflammatory, plus it can help fight infection and aid in digestion. There’s fiber from the fruit and protein from the Greek yogurt which will help keep you full all morning long :)

Ingredients:

• ¾ cup frozen pineapple chunks (mango works too)

• 1 banana, frozen

• 1 tsp fresh ginger, minced

• 1 tsp ground turmeric 

• ½  cup plain Greek yogurt (I like 2%)

• ¾ cup dairy or non-dairy milk

• Pinch of black pepper

Directions:

• Blend together and enjoy!

Tart Cherry Sleep Smoothie

This smoothie is the perfect dessert or pre-bedtime snack! It’s full of healthy fats, protein, and complex carbs so it won’t spike your blood sugar before bed. Plus, the key ingredient is tart cherry juice!  Did you know tart cherry juice can improve the quality of your sleep and help you sleep longer? It has been shown to boost your body’s production of melatonin, the hormone that helps regulate the sleep-wake cycle. Read more about it here! Try about 4 tbsp of juice before bed or enjoy this sleepy time smoothie!

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup plain greek yogurt or coconut yogurt 

• ½  cup tart cherry juice

• ½ banana

• 1 tbsp almond butter

• Handful of ice cubes

Directions

• Blend until smooth and enjoy before bed

Pumpkin Smoothie

You can have this smoothie for breakfast, but if you’re like me, you’d rather have it for dessert! It tastes like a pumpkin milkshake, but you can fully enjoy it knowing there is no dairy or refined sugars. The banana adds a natural sweetness and the spices make this smoothie/milkshake taste festive and seasonal. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 1 banana

• 1 cup frozen cauliflower

• ½ cup pumpkin puree

• ½ cup and 2 tbsp unsweetened almond milk

• ½ tsp pumpkin pie spice

• ⅛ tsp cinnamon

• 1 tbsp almond butter

Directions:

• Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth

Tip! Make this into a smoothie bowl by topping with toasted pecans, coconut, and banana slices with a sprinkling of cinnamon.

Beet and Berry Smoothie

When I was at my older sister’s house a few months ago, she made her kids (ages 5 and 3) pink smoothies as a snack. I thought it was such a smart idea to entice her kids with colorful smoothies in order have them get some nutrient-dense fruits into their bodies! If you put a banana or a date into a smoothie, the natural sweetness will cover up any “veggie flavor.” I don’t remember exactly how my sister made her smoothie, but it inspired me to create my own version. I use beets to give this smoothie a rich pink color, plus they are anti-inflammatory and support detoxification in our livers. For the beets, no need to cook them. I just peel one, chop it up, and throw it into my blender.

Ingredients

(serves 1)

• 1 medium sized beet, peeled and roughly chopped (or 1 cup frozen beets)

• 1 cup frozen organic strawberries

• ½ cup unsweetened almond milk

• ½ banana

• 2 tsp ground flax seeds

Instructions

• Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth

• Top with sliced bananas and cinnamon (optional)

You can always improvise! You can add a scoop of almond butter or some protein powder to make it more filling! You can even add a few dashes of cinnamon to create a more warming flavor. To make this smoothie sweeter and more appealing to your children, try adding a full banana instead of just half. Enjoy!

Healthy Blueberry Smoothie

This summer, I was really into smoothies. I was starting to get sick of my green smoothies so decided to try out some new flavors. This one is loaded with nutrient-rich ingredients, like blueberries, cauliflower, and flax seed and I assure you, it is delicious and satisfying! Plus, there’s protein from the almond butter and healthy fats from the avocado and flax to keep you full and satiated. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

(serves 1- 2)

• 1 cup frozen organic cauliflower

• 1 cup frozen organic blueberries

• 1/2 avocado

• 1/2 banana

• 1 tbsp flax seeds

• 1 tbsp almond butter

• 1/2 tsp cinnamon

• 1 cup almond milk

Directions:

• Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth

Mint Chocolate Chip "Milkshake"

This is a perfect summer dessert or afternoon treat. An actual mint chocolate chip milkshake is loaded with sugar and most likely contains artificial coloring or ingredients, which can lead to unstable blood sugar levels and other negative effects on our bodies and overall health. This version is loaded with nutrients from the spinach, mint, banana, and avocado, but is creamy, decadent, sweet, and refreshing! I promise you’ll be super satisfied with this “milkshake,” and you’ll feel much better afterwards too!

Ingredients:

(serves 2)

• 4 cups spinach leaves

• ¾  cup of fresh mint leaves (or 4-5 drops peppermint extract)

• 1 banana (frozen if possible)

• 1 cup full fat coconut milk

• 1/2 cup water

• ½ an avocado 

• 2 tbsp dark chocolate (shavings from a chocolate bar or chocolate chips)

• Handful of ice cubes

Directions:

• Blend all ingredients (except the chocolate) until smooth. 

• Add chocolate to the blended smoothie and stir.

• Top with additional chocolate shavings

I am all about adding fresh herbs to dishes to enhance flavor, but also because they are packed with nutrients! Mint might just be my favorite one out there; I even have two varieties growing in my brand new urban garden. It has a clean and refreshing taste and can add a whole new layer of flavor to any dish. Read on for the health benefits of cooking with mint.

Health Benefits of Mint:

• Mint can improve digestion because menthol increases bile in the stomach, which helps us digest foods more easily

• Mint helps soothe an upset stomach because the menthol helps relax the stomach muscles.

• It can combat bad breath because the antimicrobial properties in mint can kill off bacteria in your mouth

• Studies show it can improve alertness and cognitive function; the scent of menthol stimulates the hippocampus area in the brain, which is responsible for controlling focus and clarity

• Mint can even help you overcome the common cold because of its antioxidants and antibacterial properties, but also because it contains menthol, which helps relax muscles, opening up airways and relieving congestion 

Spinach, Avocado, Almond Butter Smoothie

Try this smoothie to start your day! It incorporates greens, healthy fats, and protein, which will keep you satiated and full. I usually pair this with some scrambled or fried eggs because I personally like something warm to start my day. However, this smoothie on its own is plenty filling, it’s a huge nutritional boost, AND it take 5 minutes or less to make!

A note about the healthy fats (avocado and almond butter) used in this recipe:

We need fat for vitamin and mineral absorption and to protect our organs. High-quality fats can steady our metabolism, help keep our hormone levels balanced, and nourish our skin, hair, and nails. They also support cell growth and brain function!

Ingredients: (Makes 1 serving)

• 2 cups (or one large handful) fresh spinach leaves

• ½ avocado

• 1 tbsp almond butter

• ¾ cup unsweetened almond milk

• 1 scoop high-quality protein powder (I use Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides)

• Handful of ice

• (optional: 1/2 a banana for added sweetness)

Directions: 

• Blend ingredients until smooth. Sip and enjoy!

Notes: Feel free to substitute other ingredients, like coconut milk and/or cashew butter. Make it your own!