Wherever I go these days, be it in London, America, Paris or anywhere else, I seem to be bumping into a fair number of cafes dedicated solely to smoothies.
They’re in shopping malls, on high streets, kiosks in stations and just randomly situated on the road.
And I’m amazed by sheer varieties—a filling smoothie for breakfast, a smoothie on the go, a booster smoothie, a smoothie for digestion, a smoothie for immunity, an energy smoothie.
There really is every kind of combination and permutation of fruits you can think of, and every kind of additional supplement available.
Milkshakes have been around for years, but smoothies are a relatively new invention. When I was young, my mother would make avocado milkshake with vanilla ice cream, so I guess shakes can be healthy though the ice cream factor gives it that kick of fat.
Smoothies, now they’re the new and real thing. I’ve certainly fallen prey to them. A blend of fruits, juice and milk or yoghurt, these extra-thick drinks can be real fillers, are bursting with all sorts of goodness and can sometimes make for a whole meal (if you put the right stuff in).
All it takes to make a smoothie is grabbing some of your favorite fruits, a few spoonfuls of yogurt and some apple juice, orange juice or if you prefer then some milk, and then bunging all this into a blender. Hey presto: in no time, it’s done. While some prefer smoothies to be more liquidy, for me, a smoothie equals the thick substantial stuff that you literally have to suck up the straw and therefore, the thicker the better. I love the creamy, yogurty texture when they are thick.
With the whole smoothie craze going on, it’s also easy to pick up bottled smoothies at the supermarket. Now, these might be better than gulping down a can of Coke, but they’re definitely not a replacement for drinking fresh fruit blends. In fact, the longer the time between blending and drinking, the less the nutritional value.
One of my favorites is berries (any kind of berries, as they’re packed with antioxidants and full of Vitamin C), one banana (great for energy), some yogurt and half a glass of apple juice, plus just a few cubes of ice for adding that slight chill, all crushed juicily together. If I have a papaya lying around, I’ll pop some of that in too. And speaking of papaya, pineapple, papaya and banana, with a sprinkle of oats and two spoons of yoghurt is another absolutely delicious one. If you prefer fruit or soy yoghurt, that’s also fine.
And if you’re not a berry person and you’re more into mangoes, then go for banana, mangoes, milk or juice and some yogurts. So, you can pretty much blend yourself anything: any fruits and juices and yogurts and milks you like, however thick or thin you want. The variations are as limitless as your imagination. It’s all about being creative with your smoothie, having some fun, and who knows, you might just bump into that absolutely perfect smoothie made just for you. Don’t ever forget to wash your fruits first though.
There’s also nothing wrong with freezing your berries and fruits. This certainly does not mean your fruits’ nutrients will be annulled. Rather, it will give that pleasantly cold temperature without even adding ice. Just make sure you tie the bag of fruit securely before freezing it.
Why not also boost the smoothie and make it a super-smoothie by adding ground flaxseed, wheat germ, vitamin booster, nuts, dried fruit or Udos Oil. It’s tasteless, it might thicken the drink and will provide a bonus bout of nutrition. Another great addition is cinnamon, although it only tastes good with certain blends, such as banana and date smoothie.
If, when you taste it, your smoothie hasn’t got the right sweetness, don’t pick up the jar of sugar; instead, squeeze a bit of honey or add dates or even a ripened banana. In fact, adding just half a banana can make a smoothie much thicker, if you like that.
So dive in guys, and start concocting!
Some of my own favorite blends:
Strawberry Banana Smoothie Recipes with Yogurt
- 4 or 5 strawberries
- a handful of blueberries (or any berries)
- 1 ripe banana
- 1-3 tablespoons of plain or thick yogurt
- 1 glass apple juice
- If this is your breakfast (and even if it’s not) why not add a spoonful of oats
Pine Papaya Smoothie
- Half a small papaya
- 5 or 6 chunks of pineapple
- 1 lime
- 1 squeezed orange
- If you like a zing of ginger, it’s a great, healthy addition; grate it in
Classic Avocado Smoothie
- 1 large avocado
- 1 ripe banana
- 3-4 table spoons of yogurt
- 1 glass skimmed milk
- Add a dash of honey, agave, or yacon syrup, and a dash of cinnamon
Mango Mania Smoothie
- 1 ripe mango
- 1 ripe banana
- 3-4 table spoons of plain yogurt
- 1 glass skimmed milk
All Day Breakfast Smoothie
- 1 ripe banana
- 3-4 table spoons of plain yogurt
- 3-4 table spoons muesli mix
- 3 apples (juiced) or you can buy plain apple juice
- 1-2 ripe figs
- Add a dash or more of honey, agave, or yacon syrup
To balance the carbs and add additional nutrition to your healthy smoothie recipe you can boost your smoothies with superfoods, such as green superfoods, vitamin boosters, and whey protein powders. You can use a banana for those who are carb sensitive and add nuts for additional fats and protein, so start to add those superfoods to your smoothies.
