A smoothie is basically a drink with blended fruit, veggies, and possibly other additional ingredients. It’s so easy and quick to make, it can be quite filling, and depending on what you put in it, it can be super healthy and good for you!
Smoothies have become very popular in the last few years, and most people consider drinking breakfast smoothies in the morning a routine now.
So, as a nutritionist, I am writing a post to let you know if drinking a smoothie in the morning is good for you, and what happens to your body if you drink a smoothie every day.
Is a Fruit Smoothie in the Morning Healthy?
Drinking a smoothie in the morning is very healthy for you! Of course, that is when you put good and healthy ingredients in it!
If your smoothies consist of mostly fruit and vegetables, a smoothie can definitely count as a healthy breakfast. It can help you lose weight, it can be a good source of protein, and it can leave you energized and ready for the day.
Depending on how much you make, and what you add to it, it can definitely be a full breakfast meal.
By having breakfast smoothies daily, you are getting many vitamins in your body, and you’re adding fruit and vegetables to your diet, which is something many people don’t eat enough of if they don’t like the taste.
Of course, it’s always better to make your smoothie at home instead of buying one, because when you make it yourself, you know it doesn’t have any added sugar in it.
I don’t normally like drinks as meal replacements, but smoothies can be very filling and nutritious, which is why they work as a healthy breakfast. However, if you’re drinking it for breakfast, make sure to make more than you do when you just drink it as a snack.
How To Make Healthy Smoothies
Add Fruit
Fruit is one of the main ingredients of a smoothie.
Some of the most popular fruit to add in smoothies are bananas, berries, pineapple, peaches, and more.
The beauty of it is that you can add literally any fruit that you like, and it will still be delicious!Â
Also, definitely add a mix of fruits and veggies in one smoothie – you don’t need to use only one fruit per smoothie. Having a mix of fruit can help you be sure you added some for vitamins and acidity, you added some for sweetness, and you added some for the taste that you like.
Add Veggies
Some people don’t add veggies to smoothies, but it’s actually a great way to add veggies into your diet if you don’t like eating them since you won’t really taste them that much
Great veggies to add to smoothies are spinach, kale, cucumber, broccoli, celery, and more.Â
They’re great for vitamins, have barely any calories, and they can make the smoothie a bit more balanced since it can get a bit sweet depending on what fruit you choose to add.
Add A Liquid
If you want to make your breakfast smoothies as healthy as possible, you can just add water to them.
Another option is unsweetened coconut water.
Or, feel free to add regular milk or other types of milk in it if you prefer. If you’re adding almond milk, or something similar, just make sure it doesn’t have any additional sugars in it, so you keep your smoothie as healthy as possible.
Greek yogurt (which isn’t completely a liquid, but fits the category) is also a great thing to add – add it together with water or milk.Â
Add Healthy Fats And Protein
This is optional and you definitely don’t need to do this, but you can. If you want to add healthy fats, try adding a little bit of peanut butter, or nut butter to your smoothie. Maybe not every day, but definitely add it sometimes if you like it.
For protein, chia seeds are a great thing to add, since they are one of the best natural sources of protein for smoothies. They’re known as a superfood, they’re high in protein, low in calories, and you won’t taste them, but you’ll get all of the benefits.
If you want to pack your smoothie with protein, add protein powder as well. It’s a great addition to your healthy smoothies, and it will help you increase your sources of protein by simply drinking a smoothie in the morning.
Add Natural Sweeteners
If your smoothie isn’t sweet enough for your taste (they are usually sweet enough because of fruit), add a little bit of honey or maple syrup. A little will go a long way, and it’s healthier than sugar, obviously. But you could also just add a sweeter fruit as an addition (like a little bit of a banana if you didn’t include it).
Benefits Of Smoothies For Breakfast
There are lots of health benefits to having a smoothie for breakfast. Here are some of the main health benefits of a morning smoothie:
- It can give you the energy you need for the day
- You’ll get lots of nutrients right away, as a smoothie packs a lot of nutrients and minerals in a single meal
- It can be a good source of protein
- It can be good for weight loss
- It will make you feel full until lunch
- If you add fiber, protein, and healthy fat to your smoothie, it can be good for your blood sugar
Healthy Smoothie Recipes
Here are some healthy breakfast smoothie recipes.
Protein Smoothie
294 calories
Ingredients
- 1 Protein powder – 120 calories
- 1 cup Strawberries, fresh – 50 calories
- 1 cup Almond milk – 30 calories
- 1 Tbsp Peanut butter – 94 calories
Instructions
- Slice strawberries.
- Mix all ingredients in a blender, add ice if you like.
Mango Spinach Smoothie
132 calories
Ingredients
- 1 cup Leafy greens, spinach, raw – 7 calories
- ¼ Zucchini, medium – 8.25 calories
- ¼ cup Celery stalks, chopped in half – 4 calories
- ½ cup Mango, frozen, chunks – 45 calories
- ½ Banana – 52.5 calories
- ½ cup Almond milk – 15 calories
- ½ tsp Vanilla – 0 calories
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a blender with ice.
- Blend until smooth.
Green Smoothie With Banana
252 calories
Ingredients
- 1 cup Almond milk – 30 calories
- ½ Banana – 52.5 calories
- ½ cup Pineapple, frozen chunks, unsweetened – 46.5 calories
- 1 Tbsp Almond butter – 101 calories
- 1 cup Leafy greens, kale, raw – 15 calories
- 1 cup Leafy greens, spinach, raw – 7 calories
Instructions
- Add in all ingredients and 3-4 ice cubes to a blender
- Blend
