Smoothies! I Need Healthy Recipes!

we call those not so great combinations, sloggies. Try fresh, frozen or canned pineapple as a dominate flavor (it mixes well with most anything). You need a sweat and acidic fruit to dominate the flavor, or the whole thing falls flat. This is often why I add whole oranges or tangerines as well. But pineapple does the trick just great. Also in the fall and winter, pear and pomegranate (I mix in oranges and frozen berries as well.) But I totally hear you on the flat flavor combos.

I also learned that I do not need a diary, milk, or milk alternative at all. Water works just great if you have good flavorful fruit to work with or sweeten with dates.

Cooked oatmeal adds a nice creamy texture and long lasting carbs.

For a creamy one, try Almond milk, banana, coconut (or coconut water) a few fresh almonds, vanilla bean or real vanilla extract, ice and blend.. If you desire, cacao powder... even the peanut butter or other nut butters would go well in this.. I'd even add fresh berries if I had them.. but when I do, I omit the Cacao powder because I don't like choc with the berries..

For the green ones, I like spinach, chilled water, fresh lemon, green apple, flax seeds, frozen blueberries and or raspberries.. and blend..

This morning, I made a smoothie that contained the following:

Almond milk (vanilla unsweetened)
Fresh blueberries (a handful)
Frozen Bing cherries (about 10)
Frozen mango (maybe half a cup)
Kale (a few leaves)
Lemon juice (from half a lemon)
Fresh ginger (diced, about a teaspoon)

Delicious!

1. We do fresh strawberries, vanilla almond milk, Greek yogurt, and ice cubes. Sometimes we add a banana.

2. frozen cherries, honey, almond milk and a 1/4 c orange juice.

So no real "recipes," but we like those two.

These are some of my favorites.
(Where ever it says oats, I substitute oat bran.)

Banana-Oat Smoothie
1/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats (or 2 tablespoons oat bran)
1/2 cup plain low-fat yogurt
1 banana, cut into thirds
1/2 cup fat-free milk
2 teaspoons honey
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
In a blender, combine oats, yogurt, banana, fat-free milk, honey, and cinnamon; puree until smooth. Serve immediately.
Spiced Oatmeal Smoothie
1/4 cup rolled oats
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup milk
1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt (I used non fat)
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, plus more for dusting
Pinch of turmeric
1 apple, cored and roughly chopped
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon pure maple syrup
A small squeeze of fresh lemon juice
1 fresh date, pitted and chopped (optional)
Ice cubes
1. Combine oats and water in a microwave-safe bowl. Cook for 2 minutes. Set aside.
2. To a blender add milk, yogurt, cinnamon, turmeric, apple, vanilla, maple syrup, lemon juice, date (if using), ice cubes (7 – 8 if you like it thicker) and cooked oats. Blend on high until smooth. 

Banana Bread Smoothie
Ingredients
2 Extra Ripe Bananas (peeled)
1/2 Cup Silken Tofu
1 Cup Almond Milk
1/8 tsp Ground Cinnamon
Tiny Sprinkle of Nutmeg
2 Tb Maple Syrup
1 tsp Vanilla Paste or Extract
1/4 Cup Rolled Oats (optional)
1½ Cups Ice
Instructions
1. Place all ingredients into your Smoothie Smart Blender and process on the Auto Smoothie setting twice. (I processed twice to be sure the oatmeal was fully blended)
2. If you are using a standard blender, process until the smoothie is smooth and fully blended.
3. Pour into glasses and serve.
4. Optional: Top with Non-Dairy Whipped Topping and an extra drizzle of Maple Syrup.

Pineapple Peach Banana Smoothie
Ingredients

1 cup ice
½ can pineapple with liquid (crushed, Chunk or slices)
½ can peaches with liquid
½ banana

Instructions
Place all ingredients into blender and blend till smooth.

http://www.amazon.com/Recommended-Popular-Smoothie-Cookbo...

we enjoy -
ABC juice (apple beet and carrot).
Green Juice- grape, apple, spinach, celery and cuccumber
watermelon strawberry banana is good too.

If you've got to choke it down water it down with some milk or water, whatever seems appropriate given what you've already put in.

Best,
F. B.

I don't eat dairy and limit my fruit intake so here's what I have, which are recipes from the Dr. Mark Hyman 10 Day Detox:

Kiwi-Chia shake:
1 kiwi, peeled and halved
1/4 of an avocado, peeled
4 TBS chia seeds, soaked
1/4 cup mint leaves
1-2 TBS lime juice
1 cup, packed, spinach leaves
1 cup water
2 ice cubes

I like it because it's so fresh and light tasting - the chia seeds are a great source of protein, the avo provides a good fat, and the kiwi, mint and lime flavors really work well together

Whole Food Shake:
1/2 cup frozen cranberries
1/2 cup frozen blueberries
1/4 avocado, peeled
1/4 of a lemon, peel and all
1 TBS chia seeds
1 TBS pumpkin seeds
1 TBS hemp seeds
2 Walnuts, 2 Brazil nuts (I just use walnuts because I don't have Brazil)
1 TBS almond butter
1/2 TBS coconut oil
1/2 cup almond milk
1/2 cup water

Soak the seeds and nuts for about 30 minutes before making the shake, then blend it all together. To me, it tastes like a refreshing (but thick) cranberry lemonade. It's very filling and give a lot of energy. Some people on the detox find this one hard to drink but I really, really love it.

I actually prefer to have breakfast after my morning workout, unless the workout is a 20+ mile bike ride and then obviously I need fuel before hand. But for a simple spin class, 3 mile jog or an hour at the gym, I start with water (with lemon), my supplements, and a handful of almonds and then have a smoothie for breakfast afterward.

I keep berries (blueberries, strawberries, raspberries - doesn't matter - clean them, let dry, freeze on baking trays - you want individual berries, not a big clump, then empty into freezer bags) and peeled bananas in the freezer. I can then toss several cups of frozen berries, a frozen banana and whatever fresh fruit I have on hand (mangoes, peaches, nectarines) into the blender and then add milk a little at a time until it will blend. It comes out like super creamy ice cream (I think the texture is largely the banana). Taste for sugar - it might need a little honey if your fruit is not particularly ripe or sweet. Sometimes if there is a lot of mango, a pinch of cardamom is good. I have never tried adding nut butters although I imagine a bit of almond might not be bad with peaches. Definitely could substitute yogurt for the milk. I have never had issues with fruits not tasting good together.

When I make a smoothie at home I make sure to put in whey protein. I like to do a berry one with frozen berries a banana some orange juice (fresh is best) and a little yogurt I like vanilla as it's not as tart and a handful of baby spinach also beets are good as well.make sure everything is frozen or super cold so you don't need to add ice to jt

normally i put milk, orange juice or a other fruit juice, frozen fruit, fresh fruit, and maybe a little bit of peanut butter. If your kids dont like veggies u can also sneak some of those in. I have put spinache, pumpkin, and other stuff. Most of the time my kids dont notice as log as u put other stuff in it

approx 1/4 coconut milk, 1/2 banana, 1 cup kale, 3/4 c pineapple, blend with handful ice. I like to use frozen bananas - makes it creamier.

And if making a smoothie with berries I like to freeze them too.

Enjoy!