The Healthiest Smoothies That Actually Taste Great!

A good, balanced diet has always been essential to good health, and since the dawn of time nutritious food packed with vitamins and nutrients has been the primary way we stave off sickness and maintain a good immune system. But amidst the busyness of 21st century life, it can be difficult to maintain a healthy diet, especially when most of us don’t always have the time to cook good meals, and the convenient fast food is loaded with fats, sugars, and salt that wreaks havoc on our weight and metabolism.

This is why the single biggest positive dietary change you can make is to start the day off with a smoothie that is rich in healthy ingredients and low in processed sugars and carbohydrates. While the smoothie craze has often gotten a bad rap for including bland, bitter, unpalatable ingredients that might be good for your body but are horrible for your taste buds, becoming a smoothie drinker doesn’t mean giving up on flavor. Here are just a few quick, easy-to-make smoothies that will make you excited to get out of bed in the morning!

1. Oatmeal, Almond, And Blueberry Delight

Oatmeal, almonds, and blueberries may seem like an odd combination, but it’s the perfect and natural way to blend protein, fiber, and antioxidants into one delicious breakfast.

Combine one cup of frozen blueberries, two sliced bananas, two tablespoons of almond butter, and four tablespoons of steel-cut oats with two cups of skim milk. If you want it a little sweeter add a date, then put it all in a Vitamix blender and you’re ready to start the day!

2. Spinach Orange Special

Spinach in smoothies has a bad reputation, but this light, citrus-y concoction should dispel any concerns you have.

Use one large orange, one cup of chopped spinach (frozen is ideal), a grapefruit, and half a cup of coconut water. If you want to make it a little creamier, consider adding a banana for texture. Blend for two minutes, and enjoy!

3. True Blue Smoothie

If you like berries, this is the smoothie for you. Depending on what is in season, you may consider adding different berries to create a local flavor — otherwise fresh or frozen works equally well!

Put one cup of blueberries, one cup of blackberries, two tablespoons of almonds and a chopped banana into your blender with a teaspoon of honey, then pour over a cup of nut or soy milk and a dollop of plain or Balkan-style yogurt. Blend for 3-4 minutes, and serve on ice.

Building a good diet is not just about cutting bad foods out; it’s also about embracing new ways of eating that you enjoy but which are better for you. Diet experts agree that you’ll never get anywhere eating foods you don’t enjoy, so creating a long-term health plan means finding ways to include food you get excited about into your morning routine. Starting the day off with a healthy smoothie that tastes great is one of the best ways to guarantee that you will have the energy and drive to meet the rest of your goals.

This is a guest blog entry.