Every time "Good Morning America" does one of their unhealthy food segments, they villainize a poor, defenseless fruit smoothie as being loaded with fat, calories, and sugar (hey, at least it's not as bad as a buffalo chicken salad, right?). While it's true that a giant Styrofoam cup of blended fruit and ice cream is pretty awful, not all smoothies fall into that camp. In fact, there are plenty of smoothie recipes out there that are truly healthy.
Want proof? We talked to nutrition and wellness experts and rounded up their favorite recipes for smoothies that go above and beyond. With ingredients like blueberries (antioxidants!), chia seeds (omega-3 fatty acids!), and kale (a superfood!), you can pack a ton of good-for-you components into one delicious drink.
So stock your fridge and dust off your blender. These smoothies are healthier than you ever imagined.
The name says it all: This smoothie is sweet and vaguely tropical in the best way. Created by nutrition expert and founder of Nutritiouslife.com, Keri Glassman (@kerriglassman), it's the ideal combination of tasty fruit, creamy (and omega-rich) avocado, and grapeseed oil -- a healthy oil that's high in antioxidants and has been shown to make you feel full longer.
Blend:
1 medium ripe peach, sliced
2 tablespoons chopped Hass avocado
1/3 cup unsweetened frozen strawberries
� cut fat-free plain yogurt
3 tablespoons pomegranate juice
1 teaspoon grapeseed oil
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
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Whey to go smoothie
Glassman recommends this smoothie for anyone who's looking to incorporate more protein into her diet or boost weight-loss through exercise. Because whey is high in Leucine, it helps preserve lean muscle mass while suppressing your appetite. The blueberries and pomegranate are an antioxidant bonus.
Blend:
� cup orange juice
� cup pomegranate juice
1 cup frozen blueberries
1 tablespoon vanilla whey
2 tablespoons chopped avocado
� cups fat-free plain yogurt
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
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Antioxidant smoothie
If you're looking to load up on cancer-preventing antioxidants, try Glassman's Antioxidant smoothie. Between the pomegranate (or acai), blueberries, and green tea, it's a powerhouse of free-radical-fighting ingredients. Plus, with the addition of spinach and protein powder, it will keep you full for hours.
Blend:
1 cup organic plain soy milk
� cup orange juice
� cup pomegranate or acai juice
1 cup frozen blueberries
1 tablespoon protein powder
1 teaspoon organic matcha green tea powder
1 handful of fresh spinach
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Kale, mint coconut smoothie
Frank Lipman, MD, founder of Eleven Eleven Wellness Center in New York City, (@drfranklipman) suggests starting every day with a green smoothie. His favorite ingredient is organic kale, a superfood that's low in calories and extremely high in vitamins and minerals. "Kale's health benefits are primarily linked to the high concentration of antioxidant vitamins A, C, and K, and sulfur-containing phytonutrients," says Lipman. He also incorporates mint for digestion, lime for vitamin C, coconut water for hydration, and chia seeds for omega-3 fatty acids.
Blend:
1 serving protein powder (preferably non-dairy and non-soy)
1 cup shredded lacinato kale
� cup fresh mint
juice of one small lime
1 small box of coconut water (11 oz)
1 tablespoon chia seeds
4 ice cubes
Every time "Good Morning America" does one of their unhealthy food segments, they villainize a poor, defenseless fruit smoothie as being loaded with fat, calories, and sugar (hey, at least it's not as bad as a buffalo chicken salad, right?). While it's true that a giant Styrofoam cup of blended fruit and ice cream is pretty awful, not all smoothies fall into that camp. In fact, there are plenty of smoothie recipes out there that are truly healthy.
Want proof? We talked to nutrition and wellness experts and rounded up their favorite recipes for smoothies that go above and beyond. With ingredients like blueberries (antioxidants!), chia seeds (omega-3 fatty acids!), and kale (a superfood!), you can pack a ton of good-for-you components into one delicious drink.
So stock your fridge and dust off your blender. These smoothies are healthier than you ever imagined.
