Five Waist-Friendly Smoothie Recipes That Are Super Easy To Make At Home

There are 3 things in life that make me happy, and they all happen to start with the letter ‘S’— Sale, Shawn Mendes and Smoothies. Smoothies are a lifesaver—and quite literally so. Jam- packed with digestible nutrients and vitamins, you’re one blend away from a healthier you. For moms of picky-eaters or if you’re like me, someone looking for a lazy-girl solution to clean eating, smoothies are a fast, idiot-proof way to pack in all the nutrients you or your kid needs.

These 5 tried-and-tested smoothie recipes are not only super easy to make (yes, that means you can sleep in for an extra 5-mins), they are filled with nutritious ingredients that your body—and skin—will thank you for.

How to make a smoothie:

Step 1. Choose your liquid base (1-2 cups): Water, milk, organic fruit juices. I usually opt for dairy-free milk such as unsweetened almond milk or soy milk.

Step 2. Choose your fruit and vegetables: The key to making it really healthy is to follow a 2 to 1 ratio of fruits and veg—2 fruits to 1 veg. Otherwise, a 1:1 ratio is good too. It’s a good idea to cut the greens into smaller pieces so as not to wear out the blades of your blenders!

Step 3. Choose your thickener (optional): Thickeners are what give your smoothies a creamy texture, which is why many smoothie recipes feature bananas and avocados, which are great thickeners. Other options include fruits like mango, pear and apples (i.e non water-rich fruits), nut butters, and yoghurt. Adding ice is also a quick alternative for a thickener.

Step 4. Add-ons: Build on your smoothie with flavourful spices like cinnamon, vanilla, ginger and nutmeg. For a post-workout smoothie, protein powders are a great topping to get more protein into your system!

Step 5. Blend it: Blend until the liquid is creamy and fluid. In about 30-60 seconds (depending on the ingredients and the power of your blades), your smoothie will be ready to-go. Yes, it’s really that simple.

Grab your blender and try these recipes out!

Banana and Spinach Smoothie

A classic, this three ingredient smoothie only takes minutes to make and is incredibly healthy. While blended spinach doesn’t exactly conjure the prettiest picture, there’s a reason why Popeye loved it so much—it’s low in calories, highly nutritious, anti-inflammatory and an excellent source of vitamin K, but most importantly, the taste is easy to mask, making it to go-to veg for smoothie

All you need is:

1 large banana, sliced

1 cup of raw spinach

1 cup of unsweetened almond milk (or any preferred liquid base)

3-6 ice cubes (the final step)

Optional Add-Ons:

Vanilla flavoured protein powder

A pinch of cinnamon

A tsp of chia seeds

2. Apples, Berry and Spinach Detox Smoothie:

They may be small in size, but blueberries, blackberries and raspberries contain high

amounts of antioxidants (which are needed to help neutralize free radicals in your body).

All you need is:

1 cup mixed berries (berries of your preference)

½ large apples (cubed)

1 cup spinach/ kale

½ cup unsweetened almond milk

3-6 ice cubes

3. Banana Matcha Smoothie

Adding matcha powder is a simple and effective way to pack in powerful health benefits to

your diet. Compared to brewed green tea, matcha powdered green tea contains 137 times

more antioxidants! Over the years, matcha has grown in popularity as more studies begin to

unearth its unparalleled benefits, showing that it can help prevents cancer, promote heart

health, and yes, aid in weight loss.

All you need is:

1 large banana, sliced

1 tsp matcha powder

1 cup baby spinach

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

¾ cup of unsweetened almond milk

3-6 ice cubes

4. Blueberry Cinnamon Smoothie

If you’re looking to pack as much health into one gulp, cinnamon is definitely one spice you can’t miss out on. Like matcha, cinnamon is loaded with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, helping your body fight infections and repair tissue damage.

All you need is:

1 large banana, sliced

1 cup of blueberries

1 cup of unsweetened almond milk

½ cup vanilla flavored Greek yoghurt

2 tsp of ground cinnamon

½ tsp vanilla extract

2 dried dates, pitted

3-6 ice cubes

Dates, a healthy natural alternative to other sweeteners, goes really well with vanilla and at the same time adds body to the smoothie, making them extra lush.

5. Carrot Cake Smoothie

We all love a good, decadent slice of carrot cake, but we also know that it’s loaded with calories. Well, what if I told you that this smoothie recipe, which tastes just like the cake version, is sugar-free, vegan and paleo. With nothing but a few natural ingredients, indulge in this guilty free version of your favorite cake.

All you need is:

1 cup carrots, shredded

1 large banana, sliced (alternatively, you can replace bananas with a scoop of vanilla protein powder)

1 tsp cinnamon

2 dates, pitted or 2 teaspoons of maple syrup

A pinch of nutmeg

1 cup of unsweetened almond milk

3-6 ice cubes

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