Smoothies are our all-time favorite pick-me-up, especially in the spring and summer. There's nothing quite like a sip of a chilled, creamy beverage after a walk or workout… or really any occasion at all! Inspired by this, we’re encouraging you to dust off your blender and start experimenting with a few smoothie recipes of your own. Below, we’ll answer your top smoothie recipe questions, then provide a few smoothie recipes, so you'll be on your way to sipping on something delicious in no time at all. Keep reading for more.
The Most Frequently Asked Smoothie Recipe Questions
What are the best things to put in a smoothie?
In short, the options are endless! Reach for your favorite fruits or veggies, or, even better, sneak in some collagen to your drink! If you’re looking for more guidance, here are a some healthy smoothie tips:
- Start with steamed or frozen veggies.
- Layer in some fresh or frozen fruit.
- Add milk. For those with dietary sensitivities to preferences, dairy-free milk, like almond milk, is a great option.
- Top off your smoothie with some crunchy toppings (think granola or chia seeds for protein).
- As a final tip, be sure not to overpack your smoothie! You don't want to overdo it as not all ingredients work well together in terms of flavors and benefits. As a good rule of thumb, keep it simple and stick to what you love!
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Are smoothies good for weight loss?
Vital Proteins is not in the "weight loss" business, so we can’t recommend whether smoothies are good for weight loss. However, what we can suggest are a variety of collagen powders to help boost your daily routine. Collagen Peptides, an incomplete protein, may promote satiety (a feeling of fullness) and can easily be added to any beverage, like smoothies!
Since we can't offer individual medical advice, we recommend discussing your health goals with your licensed healthcare professional. They can best provide you with the diagnosis and treatment of any medical condition and assist you as well in deciding whether a dietary supplement will be a helpful addition to your regimen.
Is a homemade smoothie good for breakfast?
We love a delicious homemade smoothie for breakfast! Not only is it incredibly satisfying, but it’s a great way to boost your nutrient intake! All you need are a few simple ingredients to blend up something delicious. This could include staples like fruit, milk and ice, in addition to things like greek yogurt, vanilla extract, honey and cinnamon.
Even better, to inspire your homemade smoothie game, we're providing you with some inspiration at the end of this post — so keep scrolling!
Should I put milk in a smoothie? Are smoothies better with milk or water?
One of the questions we get asked a lot is if you should put milk in a smoothie or if smoothies are better with milk or water. Given that there are many variations of a smoothie, the answer will depend on your tastes and preferences. Here is the breakdown of the different routes you can go:
Smoothie recipe with milk
Milk is a great way to ensure a creamier smoothie. That said, milk can come with more fat and calories than other alternatives.
Smoothie recipe with almond milk
Almond milk is a great dairy, gluten and lactose-free option. While it still gives your smoothie that same creaminess you'd get from regular milk, it comes with less fat and calories per serving.
Smoothie recipe with water
For a no-calorie addition to your smoothie, water does the trick! While it doesn't have nutritional properties, adding water to your smoothie will help up your hydration. Note, your smoothie may be thinner as a result.
Do you put ice in a smoothie?
Now that we've addressed the milk vs. water debate, let's move onto adding ice to a smoothie! The short answer is ice helps to make your smoothie thicker. However, too much can also water it down. That's why we advise sticking to ½ to 1 C of ice per smoothie. Otherwise, if you don't want to do ice, frozen fruit will work as well!
What are the best smoothie recipes to make?
Last, but certainly not least, are the best smoothie recipes to make! Sip of any of these five options, below, for a delicious take on wellness.
1. ENERGY-BOOSTING SMOOTHIE RECIPE**
Yields 1 serving
Ingredients:
- 1 scoop Vital Proteins® Energy** Collagen Smoothie Mix
- 1½ C unsweetened coconut milk or water
- 2 T chia seeds
- ¼ avocado
- 2 handfuls of spinach
- ½ C pineapple
- ½ orange
- 1 t fresh grated ginger
Directions:
- Blend all ingredients together & enjoy!
Vital Note: Our Collagen Smoothie Mixes can also be mixed with water or dairy-free milk for an easy smoothie recipe, without the prep!
2. JENNIFER ANISTON'S COCOA BERRY SMOOTHIE
Yields 1 serving
Ingredients:
- 1 C almond milk
- 1 banana
- 1 C frozen blueberries
- 1 C frozen cherries
- 3 T raw cacao powder
- 1/2 T honey
- 1 scoop Vital Proteins® Original Collagen Peptides
- Cacao nibs, extra cherry or blueberry pieces (Optional to garnish)
Directions:
- Blend all ingredients together & enjoy!
3. AVOCADO MINT SMOOTHIE
Yields 1 serving
Ingredients:
- 1 large frozen banana
- ½ frozen avocado
- ½ C frozen spinach
- 2 T hemp seeds, plus extra for topping
- ½ - 1 C coconut or almond milk
- 1 scoop Vital Proteins® Matcha Collagen
- 3-4 mint leaves, plus more for garnish
- 1-2 T cacao nibs (for topping)
Directions:
- Blend all ingredients together & enjoy!
4. SPIRULINA SMOOTHIE
Yields 1 serving
Ingredients:
- 1 C frozen banana
- ½ C frozen cauliflower
- ½ C frozen mango
- 1 Vital Proteins® Spirulina capsule
- 1 handful of spinach
Directions:
- Add the frozen banana, cauliflower and mango to a blender with the almond milk.
- Blend the fruit until the consistency looks thick and smooth.
- Once all of the fruit is well blended, open the Spirulina capsule and add the powder and spinach into the blender.
- Blend the final few ingredients for several seconds until well-combined. Pour your smoothie into a large glass & enjoy!
5. STRAWBERRY BANANA SMOOTHIE
Yields 1 serving
Ingredients:
- 2 C frozen strawberries
- 1 banana
- 1 C unsweetened almond milk (or any milk of choice)
- 1 scoop Vital Performance™ Strawberry Protein
Directions:
- Blend all ingredients together & enjoy!
