Banana Smoothies

Just wait until you experience the smooth delicious flavor of this holiday-inspired smoothie! You will make it a tradition every year from now on! We used prepared eggnog that we purchased at the supermarket, but homemade would be even better. Be careful with raw egg yolks, since they may be contaminated with salmonella bacteria. Try to use either pasteurized liquid, whole eggs, or a recipe where the eggs are cooked to kill the bacteria. If you purchase eggnog, make sure it has been pasteurized. After all of these safety precautions are taken, enjoy your scrumptious holiday concoction with your loved ones.

Breakfast in a glass, this smoothie will satisfy your morning carbohydrate cravings and provide satisfying fiber to get you through a busy morning. Fiber, along with cinnamon, may help keep blood sugar balanced as you go about your business prior to lunch. For quick preparation, the next time you make oatmeal save ½ cup in the refrigerator to throw in your smoothie when rushing off to greet your day. If you are in the mood for something not-so-cold, try this smoothie with warm oatmeal and a fresh rather than frozen banana. Make sure to fit in the most important meal of the day by grabbing this quick and delicious breakfast smoothie.

This creamy non-dairy breakfast smoothie provides a healthy dose of vegetarian protein that will keep you full until your busy schedule allows you to take a lunch break. Packed full of potassium, calcium, healthy fats, and antioxidants, this smoothie is an awesome way to wake up. Take it with you in the car, and fill yourself with the vitality you need to get you through a hectic day at the office. Pea protein provides all the essential amino acids. If you are trying to build muscle we recommend complimenting the recipe with a whole grain, since some amino acids in pea protein are present in smaller amounts than are needed for sufficient muscle building.

This smoothie can be made with any type of protein powder. Some choices are pea protein, whey protein, soy protein, or powdered egg white. Any flavor works, but vanilla or plain is recommended. Also, any type of milk beverage may be used, such as cow’s milk, soy milk, rice beverage, almond milk, etc. You can also feel free to get creative with the additives. We used wheat grass and flax oil to add important nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and omega 3 fatty acids. But chia seeds, spirulina, or nutritional yeast are also good nutrition hoices to add in.

The common allergens include soy, dairy, eggs, and nuts. This smoothie recipe is free of all of these common allergens and is appropriate for vegans and vegetarians. Of all of the non-dairy milks available, Rice Dream has a much smoother flavor and goes well with fruit in smoothies. It is also great on cereal or with graham crackers. So if you are looking for a good allergen free milk alternative, Rice Dream is the way to go. Pea protein is a nutritious protein powder with a nice mild flavor that also compliments the fruit in the smoothies. Try the pea protein and Rice Dream with various fresh fruits.

What do you get when you combine Ben and Jerry’s Peanut Butter Cup ice cream with raspberries, bananas and almond milk? An awesome malt-like smoothie dessert!! We added malt flavoring to really enhance the sweet richness of all of these combined flavors. A great way to incorporate fruit into your family’s dessert, this smoothie will satisfy your sweet craving while providing two and a half fruit servings. Most national nutrition recommendations call for at least two to three servings of fruit daily for an average adult, and basically as many vegetables as you can eat (5-8 servings daily). So eat plenty of vegetables with each meal and have this smoothie for dessert to meet your nutrition goals.

All of the ingredients in this smoothie recipe have been said to have anti-inflammatory effects on the body. Inflammation is a process that is basically an exaggeration of the immune response in the body. When the body thinks there is an intruder, it fights back by mounting an army of special warrior cells called neutrophils and macrophages. These white blood cells build up at the battle site causing swelling and sometimes pain. This is the body’s natural defense system, but sometimes the culprits are harmless and the inflammation itself begins to cause problems in the body leading to chronic disease. So, to help prevent this unnecessary war, try this delicious smoothie recipe.

This calming, tasty smoothie recipe contains bananas, which are a good source of B-6, a precursor to melatonin production in the body. Melatonin is a hormone that regulates circadian rhythms (our sleep-wake cycles). Kale and milk are both good sources of calcium. A calcium deficiency may contribute to insomnia. Tart cherry juice was shown in a study to aid in sleep because it also contains melatonin. This smoothie recipe combines all of these natural sleep-inducing ingredients while providing a slightly tart but sweet bedtime treat. Try it with sweet cherry juice in place of the tart juice for a mellower flavor.

This is a truly rich dessert smoothie recipe so save it for a treat or party. The extra calories come from the macadamia nuts, ice cream, and cocoa powder. The flavor is very mild and can be enhanced by adding coconut essence. To reduce the calories in the recipe try using fat free or low fat frozen yogurt in place of the ice cream. Also, almonds may be used in place of macadamia nuts for a more pronounced nut flavor. Nuts contain protein and healthy fats, and studies have shown that people who include nuts in their diet usually weigh less than those who do not.

Silken tofu makes a great base for smoothie recipes due to its ability to soften and absorb the flavor of fruits and other ingredients. This is a simple smoothie recipe that makes a great dessert while providing the amazing benefits of soy protein. Soy is one of the few plant sources of “complete protein,” meaning that it contains all the essential amino acids needed to repair and build muscle and tissues. Soy has also been shown to be helpful in preventing heart disease, especially when used to replace meat in the diet. It is easy to add soy to smoothies by using soft tofu, which adds very little flavor, a little texture, and a lot of healthy protein.