3 Amazing (Completely Different) Smoothie Recipes

For the last couple of months, I have been consuming smoothies like there's no tomorrow.  I've been eating healthier in general, and being much more mindful of finding ways to enjoy whole, nutritious meals everyday.  But it is the smoothie that is the reigning queen of my healthy food regimen.  Robbie calls them 'liquid salads,' which, to a degree, is a somewhat accurate description.  But smoothies can be so much more than just the standard 'one part greens, one part fruit, one part liquid' cocktail.  I've been experimenting with all sorts of ingredient combinations, and have discovered ways to make all types of smoothies, from refreshing to more savory to dessert-inspired.  The three recipes I'm sharing today - each of which is a completely different style and flavor than the next - are my favorites so far.  

A few things before you make the best smoothies of your life:

1. If one of these recipes sounds especially good to you and you want to make it right-this-very-second but don't have all of the ingredients, just improvise.  That's how I ended up coming up with each of these - by throwing together things I already had.

2. I use a Nutribullet, but any type of blender with a powerful enough motor to blend greens will work.  No fancy machine is required to make these happen. 

3. You'll notice that quantities of most of the ingredients aren't exact.  Since fruit can be sweeter or more tart depending on its ripeness, etc., I suggest playing around and tasting as you go. 

4. Each of these will yield two 6-8 ounce smoothies, or a big ol' 12-16 ouncer if you're in the mood for more.

5. Because different blenders work differently, please follow the manufacturer's instructions in terms of how to 'layer' your ingredients.  For the Nutribullet, where you turn the cup over to blend, I add greens first, then fruit, then seeds, then liquid.  In a regular old blender, I add frozen ingredients first, then fresh ingredients, the liquid, then seeds.  As for how long to blend, I recommend 30 second to several minutes, depending on the consistency you're going for.  My rule of thumb is to taste as you go.

And now, the recipes.

• 1-2 handfuls of organic kale
• 2 handfuls of organic spinach
• 1/4 cup of frozen organic pineapple
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup of frozen organic mangoes
• A few chunks of avocado
• 2 to 3 tablespoons of organic Chia seeds
• 1/2 cup of coconut water (or plain water)

This smoothie is slightly sweet, but focuses more on greens than fruit. Depending on how much pineapple you add (less pineapple = less sweet), it's also somewhat savory and makes for a good meal.  Instead of blending until liquified, I only blend for 30-60 seconds in order to keep it the consistency of a frozen slushie or soft sorbet.  The avocado makes this one creamy, so feel free to add more if you're in the mood for an especially velvety treat. I finish by topping with organic granola (my favorites are Pumpkin Flax and Coconut Chia by Nature's Valley, although homemade is best!), and I eat it with a spoon.

• 1 handful of organic kale
• 1 handful of organic spinach
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup of frozen organic blueberries
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup of frozen organic strawberries
• 1/4 cup of frozen organic pineapple
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup of frozen organic mangoes
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup of plain Greek yogurt
• 2 to 3 tablespoons of organic Chia seeds
• 1/2 cup of coconut water (or plain water)
• Pure maple syrup to taste

I call this one the 'Kitchen Sink' because the first time I made it, I blended pretty much every ingredient I had on hand that could possibly go into a smoothie and still taste good.  And it worked. This is a sweet, refreshing treat that's packed with protein.  If you're vegan, just omit the Greek yogurt.  I like to add a little pure maple syrup to cut down on the tartness of the fruits.  Just blend everything together for a couple of minutes until liquified. 

• 1 small handful of organic spinach
• 2 organic bananas, sliced and frozen
• 2-3 tablespoons of almond butter
• 1/2 cup of plain Greek yogurt
• 1/2 cup of almond milk
• Raw honey to taste
• Sprinkle of cinnamon to taste

If you're craving a milkshake but want a healthier option, this smoothie will do the trick and then some. I make this one for dessert (and sometimes for breakfast too).  If you don't have almond butter, peanut butter works just fine.  And if you're vegan, just replace the yogurt with more banana, and use pure maple syrup in place of the honey. Robbie loves this one after he gets back from a long run.  It's filling and satisfies your sweet tooth without being overly sugary.  Sometimes, if I'm feeling a little crazy, I like to add a tiny splash of pure vanilla extract to this one (watch out!).  It's also good with a few pieces of frozen mango thrown in, if you happen to have some on hand. I usually blend this one for a couple of minutes, until the consistency is similar to a milkshake.


If you make any of these, let me know what you think!  And if you have any favorites of your own, please share them in the comments.  Thanks to my recent smoothie obsession, I am down with trying out pretty much any combination of ingredients.