By: Jennifer Oppelt
Here in Florida, summer is hot! There is nothing better than an ice cold smoothie to cool things down. Now, before you 
run off to the nearest smoothie shop, consider making this treat at home. Not only are the smoothie chain smoothies terribly expensive, they usually contain added sugars and other unnatural ingredients. I like to keep my smoothies simple using frozen fruit, a little juice and sometimes I’ll add some yogurt and/or nutritional supplements. Below is a collection of healthy smoothie favorites. Enjoy!
Strawberry-Banana Smoothie
Directions: In a blender, combine the yogurt, banana, juice, and strawberries for 20 seconds. Scrape down the sides and blend for an additional 15 seconds.
Tropical Mango Smoothie
- 1/2 cup pineapple chunks
- 1 cup plain yogurt
- 1 large ripe mango, peeled and chopped
- 1 ripe banana, sliced
- crushed or cracked ice
- 1 cup of coconut water
Directions: In a blender, combine the pineapple, coconut water, yogurt, mango, and banana. Blend until smooth. With the blender running, gradually drop in enough ice to bring the level up to 4 cups. Blend until the ice is pureed.
Groovy Green Smoothie
- 1 banana, cut in chunks
- 1 cup grapes
- 1/2 cup plain yogurt
- 4-6 frozen strawberries
- 1 1/2 cups fresh spinach leaves
- 1/2 cup apple juice
Directions: Place the banana, grapes, strawberries, yogurt, apple juice and spinach into a blender. Cover, and blend until smooth, stopping frequently to push down anything stuck to the sides. Add a little more juice or water if needed.
Create Your Own Healthy Smoothie
Ready to get creative and make your own smoothie recipe? It’s easy! Consider some of the below ingredients or add your own.
- 3/4 to 1 cup of liquid: coconut water, almond milk, or juice
- 1/2 cup each of two other kinds of fruit: berries, mangos, cherries, peaches, pineapple, grapes, apple (fresh or frozen)
- 1/2 banana (fresh or frozen)
Want a nutritional boost? Just add some of these:
- Plain Yogurt
- Ginger
- Avocado
- Flax meal or oil
- Peanut other nut butter (unsweetened)
- Cocoa powder
- Kale
- Spirulina powder
- Bee Pollen
Directions: Just blend up your choice of ingredients and enjoy!
Hint: If your smoothie needs more liquid and you don’t want to add extra calories, just add water!
Jennifer Oppelt is the President and Founder of Enliven Wellness Works, a company specializing in workplace wellness and health coaching based in St. Petersburg/Tampa Bay FL. She is a licensed massage therapist in the state of FL and is currently enrolled in the Institute for Integrative Nutrition’s Health Coach program. She is happily married and a mother to two children, Alchemy 7 and Ashton 1. Jennifer loves spending time with family, cooking real food, fitness and is an advocate of sustainable living.
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