8 Easy Superfood Smoothies for a Better Morning

Ashley Marcin — Thu, 26 Feb 2015 18:00:05 +0000

We all know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but how many of us still skip our morning meal on occasion because we're just too busy? Smoothies to the rescue!

You can toss many healthy ingredients, including those all-important superfoods, into your blender and pour into a travel cup to take on the go. Or — better yet — make smoothies in bulk and freeze them into cubes. Then, thaw a few cubes in a glass on your way to work. (See also: 15 Nutritious Breakfasts for People With Busy Mornings)

1. Avocado Smoothie

To make this avocado smoothie, you'll blend together blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, orange juice, yogurt, mint, and avocado. The recipe calls for agave nectar, but you can definitely leave that out and dip the natural sweetness of the fruits instead. For extra protein, try using Greek yogurt.

2. Kale Smoothie

This basic kale smoothie is amped up with pineapple, banana, and coconut milk. Blending kale can be tough on standard blenders, so if you like green smoothies, try using baby kale or cutting the stems off the leaf to make it incorporate better. If you plan to make lots of green smoothies, you might want to check out a high wattage blender; the Ninja Blender is powerful (over 1000 watts) without the hefty price tag.

3. Not-So-Green Smoothie

Does the idea of sipping on greens sort of gross you out? This not-so-green smoothie is teeming with spinach, but you'd never know it. Use nut butter (almond, peanut, sunflower) and cocoa powder to transform the color and flavor to milkshake proportions. For extra creaminess, add in a few chunks of frozen banana.

4. All Green Smoothie

Alternatively, you can whip up this spring detox smoothie, which is all green things combined. You'll blend kale, arugula, pea shoots, cucumber, and avocado with coconut water and some lemon juice. The result is rather zesty, so if you'd like to tone it down, the author suggests adding a bit of fruit (blueberries, raspberries, etc.).

5. Kiwi Smoothie

This tasty kiwi smoothie will infuse your body with a dose of vitamin C. You can, again, choose to leave out the sweetener in the recipe if you're trying to watch sugar in your diet. Some people enjoy using a few pitted medjool dates in place of sweeteners since they're lower on the glycemic index. (See also: 12 Delicious Slow Cooker Breakfasts for Lazy Cooks)

6. Black Bean Smoothie

Stay with me on this black bean smoothie. The superfood beans pack some impressive protein without artificial powders and other add-ins. And from experience — you won't even notice you're drinking beans. The peanut butter, cocoa powder, and banana mask the flavor so all you're left with is a dreamy creamy texture.

7. Apple Smoothie

An apple a day might keep the doctor away, so why not try this fruit-filled apple smoothie? Apples contain powerful antioxidants that might help ward off some cancers. Plus, they taste good and can be purchased on the cheap. I like to buy gigantic bags of apples to keep on hand for smoothies, baking, and general snacking.

8. Sweet Potato Smoothie

There's a ton of buzz around sweet potatoes in the health food community, and for good reason. This sweet potato smoothie contains lots of potassium, fiber, and vitamin A, among other key nutrients. Best yet, this recipe helps eliminate food waste by using up any stray potatoes that might be lurking in your kitchen. Just peel, boil, chill, and blend.

What's your favorite superfood smoothie? Share yours in the comments below!

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This article is from Ashley Marcin of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread: