6 Smoothies That Pack A Punch

Smoothies are an easy and effective way to get fruits and vegetables into your diet. Adding a smoothie to your meal or having one as a midday snack can give you the extra energy you need to tackle the rest of the day!

Updated: June 19, 2015 10:46 PM IST

By Shima Begum

smoothie

smoothie

Smoothies are an easy and effective way to get fruits and vegetables into your diet. Adding a smoothie to your meal or having one as a midday snack can give you the extra energy you need to tackle the rest of the day!

Bananas or apples make for a great base in a smoothie, and green leafy vegetables such as kale or baby spinach provide energy boosting nutrients. Adding nuts or Greek yogurt are great ways to boost protein in your smoothies. Here are some great smoothie recipes that pack a punch in their nutritional value as well flavor.

1. Tropical Kale Smoothie:

smoothie

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups baby kale
  • 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1/2 cup frozen or fresh diced pineapple
  • 1/2 cup frozen or fresh strawberries
  • 1 cup ice cubes or crushed ice
  • 1/3 cup of coconut water

Directions: Combine baby kale, greek yogurt, coconut water and honey. Blend in food processor until smooth. Add in strawberries, pineapple, and crushed ice and blend until smooth. Can be served immediately or refrigerated.

2. Spinach Berry Mango Smoothie:

smoothie

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups baby spinach
  • 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1/2 cup of frozen or fresh diced mango
  • 1/2 cup of frozen or fresh mixed berries
  • 1/3 cup almond milk
  • 1 cup ice cubes or crushed ice

Directions: Combine baby spinach, Greek yogurt, almond milk and honey. Blend in food processor until smooth. Add in mango, mixed berries and crushed ice and blend until smooth. Can be served immediately or refrigerated.

3. Fruit and Oat Smoothie:

smoothie

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup quartered fresh strawberries
  • 1 sliced banana
  • 1/4 cup raw almonds
  • 1/2 cup old fashioned oats
  • 1 teaspoon maple syrup
  • 1/2 cup ice cubes or crushed ice

Directions: Combine strawberries, banana and oats. Blend in food processor until smooth. Add in almonds, syrup and crushed ice. Blend again until smooth. Serve immediately.

4. Raspberry, Apple and Rose Water Smoothie

smoothie

Ingredients:

  • 2 peeled and sliced apples
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 3/4 cup fresh or frozen raspberries
  • 2/3 cup apple juice
  • 2 tablespoon rose water

Directions: Combine apple slices with honey and lemon juice. Blend in food processor until smooth. Add raspberries and apple juice to the apple puree. Blend until completely smooth. Add rose water and blend briefly to combine. Extra raspberries can be used as garnish. Can be served immediately or refrigerated.

5. Coconut and hazelnut smoothie

smoothie

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup whole blanched hazelnuts
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
  • 1 cup coconut cream
  • 2 tablespoons heavy cream (can substitute with Greek yogurt)
  • 2/3 cup mineral water
  • crushed ice

Directions: Chop hazelnuts roughly and toast lightly in a pan or skillet until they are a golden  color. Allow them to cool and then blend together with honey in food processor until very finely grounded. Add the almond extract, coconut cream and heavy cream (or Greek yogurt). Blend until completely smooth. Strain mixture through a sieve into a pitcher, pressing the pulp down with the back of a spoon to get as much juice out as possible. Stir in mineral water. Serve over crushed ice.

6. Banana Maple Nut Smoothie

smoothie

Ingredients:

  • 2 large ripe bananas
  • 1/2 cup pecan nuts
  • 2/3 cup almond or soy milk
  • 4 tablespoons pure maple syrup
  • crushed ice

Directions: Combine bananas and nuts. Blend until smooth. Add maple syrup and almond (or soy) milk over banana nut paste and blend again until creamy and smooth. Serve over crushed ice.

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