I never wanted to “drink” my food, but this summer I am going to attempt to pack as much nutrition as possible into my first meal of the day by starting my day with a healthful Smoothie.

I started researching the Best Breakfast Smoothies and saw there are plenty to choose from.  I started editing my selections based on taste, calories, and special features.  As a sports enthusiast my focus is on hydration, so here are the smoothies I’m putting on my morning menu.  If you’ve got some favorite recipes please share them in the comment section below.

The first step: Replace my 20-year-old GE blender with a high-powered machine. Here’s the blender that’s received rave reviews: The Vitamix.  You can buy it on Amazon, but it is an investment.

Another great blender option that is not so expensive: The Magic Bullet!  The Magic Bullet is compact, easy to use, and, according to some, makes perfect smoothies.  You can get the Magic Bullet on Amazon as well.

Key Ingredient: Chia Seeds

I’m definitely including chia seeds in my morning mix. Turns out these magic seeds really help to keep you hydrated because they form a “chia-like gel” when exposed to liquid, that can actually help hydrate the body and reduce blood pressure. Read more about it here.

Key Ingredient: Bananas

Bananas replenish electrolytes.

Key Ingredient: Green Vibrance

You can buy Green Vibrance on Amazon.

Green Vibrance is designed as a concentrated, nutrient-dense food from vegetable sources that is meant to:

Support a healthy digestive tract, thereby improving nutrient absorption;

Deliver trace nutrients at Paleolithic concentrations (far higher than found in modern diets);

Improve circulation and cardiovascular health in order to deliver those nutrients to every cell of the body;*

• According to vibranthealth.us, each serving of Green Vibrance contains 25 billion probiotics, which help break down proteins for mineral transportation and decrease the amount of harmful bacteria. Similarly, the healthy amounts of beta-carotene, vitamins C and E, and other antioxidants help reduce the number of free radicals in the body associated with aging and reduction in cellular functioning.

Key Ingredient: Protein

I am not a fan of Protein Powder but if you are, then research the one that works best for you. I prefer plain, fat-free yogurt in my smoothie for texture and taste, and to get added protein, and/or a tablespoon of almond or peanut butter. I also prefer soy milk to dairy milk.

Key Ingredients: All kinds of Frozen (or Fresh) Fruits for Hydration 

Frozen mangoes, bananas, strawberries, pineapple etc. are all great for taste, vitamins and hydration.

So what’s for breakfast?

Here’s a few choice recipes  I’ve gathered from internet research, friend’s concoctions, and other websites.

A fantastic website that gives you great smoothie ideas is Perfect Smoothie.

Strawberry Banana Smoothie Recipe
photo by Luciana Andrade

This recipe will have the perfect taste combination of sweet strawberries and smooth bananas. Simple, yet a longstanding tradition, our strawberry banana smoothie recipe is the most commonly made recipe according to our fellow smoothie lovers. For an uncommon twist try using chocolate protein powder instead of the vanilla to give it a chocolaty low-guilt, delicious taste.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of soy milk (or dairy milk)
• 1 full scoop of vanilla protein powder (1/8 cup)
• 1 frozen banana
• 6 strawberries (preferably frozen)
• 4 cubes of ice

Instructions:

1. Add all ingredients to the blender in order of the listed ingredients.
2. Blend until perfect consistency is achieved.

Tips:

• For advice on the best blending technique read our How to Make a Smoothie page.

Nutrition Summary

Serving Size: 12 oz
Calories: 188
Protein: 15.1 grams
Fat: 3.4 grams
Carbs: 25.9 grams

*data is for 1 serving

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Green Hydration Smoothie From The Good Karma Kitchen

1 small zucchini

1 large cucumber, seeded  (peeled if not organic and seeded)

1 thumb-sized knob of ginger root (or to taste)
2 Granny Smith apples (or Pink Lady or a combination)
2 c. water
6 leaves fresh mint (or to taste)
2 packets Stevia
3-4 Tbsp. lime juice
1 banana

Place all ingredients except Stevia in a high-speed blender and blend on high for 60 seconds or until completely smooth. Add in Stevia, blend to incorporate and serve.

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Immunity Boosting Smoothie by Joos

This smoothie was featured on Better After 50.  Read more about it here.

1 cup dandelion greens
1 cup kale
1 cup chard
1 apple, chopped
juice of 1 lemon (add the rind if you’d like a more “buttery” taste)
1 cup blueberries (and/or raspberries, blackberries)
½ cup aloe juice

Whirr everything together in a blender until smooth. Makes two servings. Enjoy!

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Coopers Famous Smoothie Recipe  (a dear friend suggested this one)

One “smoothie pack” frozen Acai berry bar (these are found at Whole Foods in the frozen fruit section- they are sold as packs of 4 individually wrapped puree bars. They have different flavors but I like Acai) made by Sambazon- some Trader Joe’s have them too

1/2 cup frozen mango chunks (Trader Joe’s)

1/2 cup blueberries frozen or fresh

1 banana

1/2 cup nonfat vanilla yogurt

1/2 cup fruit juice-cranberry–you can also use soy milk if you prefer a more “milky smoothie”

sprinkling of chia seeds

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OR –The Daughter’s Version:  (a variation on the The Mom’s Recipe)

My favorite is 1 açai pack (found in the frozen fruit section of Whole Foods), frozen blueberries, a banana, some mango, 1 cup of soy milk, a sprinkle of chia seeds if you like them, a little cinnamon, and a scoop of Green Vibrance (order from Amazon–sooo good for you!)

Blend all together and add water or more lemonade/or juice if too thick

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The R. Folsom Smoothie (friend’s suggestion)

1 banana, 1/4 c. dry oatmeal, 1/2 c. low-fat milk, 1 c. plain, low-fat yogurt, 2 tsp. brown sugar and 1 tsp. cinnamon. You can add a Tbsp. of chia seeds to any smoothie to help fill you up. If you find some good recipes, please share

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The L. Kraft Magic Recipe: (friend’s suggestion)

My smoothies almost always contain kale and/or spinach. About 1/4 lime …with the rind…is great. A 1/4 banana is great for sweetness. I almost always put in protein powder. Sometimes I start with a few grapes, sometimes almond milk, and whatever other fruit I may want to add. Those are, generally, lunch smoothies. If  I have one for breakfast…it’s often simply, almond milk, protein powder, and either peanut butter or coconut oil. I generally have some type of smoothie every day.

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 The J. Rone Smoothie: (my dear friend’s daughter’s suggestion)

Chia seeds for consistency, hydration and nutritious “filler.” I stay away from all soy, rice, hemp powders or protein supplements. All fresh goodness! Besides chia the only other dried thing I’ll put in is Maca root an adaptigen from S. America that I love….. One of my favorites is 1 small green apple, 2 inches of beet, celery, ginger, 2 tsp. chia. yummmm.

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The L. Drake Smoothie: (friend’s suggestion)–This one is for “advanced” students of The Smoothie.

I learned the raw smoothie recipe in a raw food cleanse I did a few years back with Eloise Nelson who lives in Boulder and is a raw food guru. It makes enough to fill a large camelback bottle and I sip it from breakfast til about noon. Makes me too full for lunch. You can also grind mila (chia seeds) in it, but then use more liquid, as mila soaks up a lot of liquid. The recipe we learned in raw cleanse uses rejuvelac instead of coconut juice (basically a cup of buckwheat and a gallon of water, add 2 probiotic capsule contents and leave for 12 hours.) Use that juice, then re-soak buckwheat again for another 12 hours and use that rejuvelac. You can bottle the rejuvelac and keep in fridge up to 6 weeks. Eloise Nelson’s website is “The Power of Chow”.

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