The secret formula for out-of-this-world delicious AND healthy breakfast smoothies using just a handful of ingredients, plus a collection of 6 super easy smoothies ideas.
The phrase “less is more” couldn’t be more accurate when it comes to making a truly healthy breakfast smoothie. Many smoothie recipes call for a dozen ingredients or claim to be healthy but they are not that healthy at all.
The trick is to keep it simple and use the right ingredients to balance the flavor and keep it nutritious.
If you’re looking for more of a dessert-like smoothie as a snack check out this amazing Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie. Super chocolatey and delicious.
The Secret to Healthy Breakfast Smoothies
The formula for a healthy smoothie needs to have one ingredient of each of these categories:
- protein
- healthy fat
- healthy carbohydrate
- fiber in the form of fruit and vegetable
Many delicious smoothies are all fruit and thus high in sugar and carbs and not very healthy at all.
On the other hand, many healthy smoothies are all veggies and powdered superfoods and not yummy at all, plus, super expensive.
So how can we achieve the best of both worlds? Healthy AND yummy breakfast smoothies at the same time?
It’s much simpler than you think. Just follow the formula and you’ll nourish your body through and through. No need for expensive superfoods, unless you love them in your smoothies of course :)
The Best Protein For Smoothies
- Plain unsweetened yogurt: 1/2 cup = 5g protein
- Cashews: 1/4 cup = 6g protein (also 14g fat, so watch out for overall fat content)
- Protein powder: 2 Tbsp = 12g protein
- Egg white: 1 large = 4g protein
The Best Healthy Fats For Smoothies
- Ground flax seeds: 1 Tbsp = 3g fat
- Hemp seeds: 1 Tbsp = 7g fat
- Chia seeds: 1 Tbsp = 4g fat
- Cashews: 2 Tbsp = 9g fat
- Egg yolk: 1 large = 5g fat
- Avocado: 1/8 large avocado = 7g fat
The Best Carbohydrate For Sweet Breakfast Smoothies
Hands down the best carbohydrate for sweet and creamy breakfast smoothies is one half frozen banana.
It is essential that you use a frozen banana to achieve that delicious creamy consistency.
It is also the most natural “sugar” you can add to your smoothie.
If you don’t like bananas, replace them with ½ cup of frozen mango. That’s the next best thing.
The Best Fruits and Vegetables for Breakfast Smoothies
- 1/2 cup (frozen) blueberries
- 2 apricots
- 1/2 cup (frozen) strawberries
- 1 small fresh orange
- 1/2 cup (frozen) mango
- 2 fresh clementines
- 1/2 cup (frozen) raspberries
- 1/2 cup (frozen) pineapple
- 1 kiwi
- 1/2 cup (frozen) peach
- 1/2 fresh dragon fruit
- 1/2 cup raw baby spinach
- 1/4 cup pumpkin puree
- 1/2 cup raw red cabbage
- 1/2 cup blanched and frozen cauliflower
- 1/4 raw cucumber
- 1/2 cup blanched and frozen butternut squash
- 1/2 cup raw diced carrot
- 2 stalks celery
- 1/2 raw red beet
- 1/2 cup raw kale
The Best Liquid For Smoothies
Add water or milk to your smoothie depending on the other ingredients you are using.
Water is great when you use nuts or yogurt as protein.
Nut milk or dairy milk works best if you are using protein powder or egg white as protein, and seeds, yolk or avocado as a healthy fat.
Frequently Asked Questions
That depends entirely on the smoothie. As long as your smoothie contains protein, healthy fats, healthy carbs, and plenty of fiber and vitamins it’s a perfectly healthy breakfast.
It also depends on what you eat for the rest of the day. A smoothie might be enough or not depending on your complete day’s nutrients and calories.
Weight loss cannot be achieved by focusing on one meal only. You need to consider your overall diet throughout the day and week to reach weight goals.
However, smoothies are a healthy way of including fruits and veggies in your diet. They also make an excellent healthy snack.
As long as your smoothie is nutritionally balanced, it doesn’t matter when you drink it.
If your smoothie contains an ingredient of each of the categories mentioned above, it is considered a full meal and does not require any additional food.
Other Healthy Breakfast Ideas
If you like switching it up between liquid breakfast and something that requires a little chewing, these are amazing alternatives to healthy smoothies:
6 Recipe Ideas for Healthy Breakfast Smoothies
Green Breakfast Smoothie
- ½ frozen banana
- ½ cup water
- ¼ cup plain unsweetened yogurt
- ⅛ frozen avocado
- 1 kiwi
- ½ cup baby spinach
Purple Breakfast Smoothie
- ½ frozen banana
- ½ cup water
- 2-4 Tbsp protein powder
- 2 Tbsp raw cashews
- ½ cup frozen blueberries
- ½ cup raw red cabbage
Orange Breakfast Smoothie
- ½ frozen banana
- ½ cup water
- ¼ cup plain unsweetened yogurt
- 1 Tbsp ground flax seeds
- ½ fresh orange
- 1 raw carrot
Hot Pink Breakfast Smoothie
- ½ frozen banana
- ½ cup milk of choice
- 1 egg white
- 1 Tbsp chia seeds
- ½ cup frozen raspberries
- ½ raw red beet
Yellow Breakfast Smoothie
- ½ frozen banana
- ½ cup water
- ¼ cup unsweetened yogurt
- 1 Tbsp hemp seeds
- ½ cup frozen mango
- ½ cup blanched frozen butternut squash
Rose Breakfast Smoothie
- ½ frozen banana
- ½ cup milk of choice
- ¼ cup raw cashews
- ½ cup frozen strawberries
- ½ cup blanched frozen cauliflower
Healthy Breakfast Smoothies
Equipment
- blender
Ingredients
- 1/2 frozen banana
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/4 cup plain unsweetened yogurt
- 1/8 frozen avocado
- 1 kiwi
- 1/2 cup baby spinach
- ___ ___ ___
- 1/2 frozen banana
- 1/2 cup water
- 2-4 Tbsp protein powder
- 2 Tbsp raw cashews
- 1/2 cup frozen blueberries
- 1/2 cup raw red cabbage
- ___ ___ ___
- 1/2 frozen banana
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/4 cup plain unsweetened yogurt
- 1 Tbsp ground flax seeds
- 1/2 fresh orange
- 1 raw carrot
- ___ ___ ___
- 1/2 frozen banana
- 1/2 cup milk of choice
- 1 egg white
- 1 Tbsp chia seeds
- 1/2 cup frozen raspberries
- 1/2 raw red beet
- ___ ___ ___
- 1/2 frozen banana
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/4 cup plain unsweetened yogurt
- 1 Tbsp hemp seeds
- 1/2 cup frozen mango
- 1/2 cup blanched frozen butternut squash
- ___ ___ ___
- 1/2 frozen banana
- 1/2 cup milk of choice
- 1/4 cup raw cashews
- 1/2 cup frozen strawberries
- 1/2 cup blanched frozen cauliflower
Instructions
- Add 1/2 frozen banana, 1/2 cup liquid, 1 serving of protein, 1 serving of healthy fat, and 1/2 cup fruit and 1/2 cup vegetables to your blender and blend until smooth.Use at the very least frozen banana better 2-3 frozen ingredients in your smoothie.
- Hot Pink Smoothie: Banana, milk, egg white, chia seeds, raspberries, beet.Light Pink Smoothie: Banana, milk, cashews, strawberries, cauliflower.Green Smoothie: Banana, water, yogurt, avocado, kiwi, baby spinach.Orange Smoothie: Banana, water, yogurt, flax meal, orange, carrot.Purple Smoothie: Banana, water, protein powder, cashews, blueberries, red cabbage.Yellow Smoothie: Banana, water, yogurt, hemp seeds, mango, butternut squash.
- Serve and drink immediately.
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Gina says
How many MLs approx. does each of these smoothies make please?
And can they be made ahead and frozen so you can pull them out when you need?
Michèle Martin says
Could you suggest a replacement for banana please? I find it a strong taste
Lorena Grater says
Frozen mango is probably the best replacement.
Cynthia Richardson says
Hi,I haven’t tried either one yet. I’m lactose intolerant. That means no yogurt either. Whenever I try a smoothie recipe that requires milk or yogurt I just use water. What would you recommend in place of milk and yogurt?
Lorena Grater says
In the list of protein you can see what I recommend instead of yogurt. In place of milk in a specific recipe, I would use nut milk and a bit of protein powder.
maria says
there are vegetarian yogurt options in the market. Good luck!