13 Smoothies to Start Your Day Off Right (2024)

  • Non-Alcoholic Drinks
  • American Breakfast

They're Great for Breakfast or an Afternoon Pick-Me-Up

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Stephanie Gallagher

Stephanie Gallagher

Stephanie Gallagher is a journalist and food writer who has authored multiple cookbooks.

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Updated on 08/13/21

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13 Smoothies to Start Your Day Off Right (1)

Smoothies are a convenient and colorful way to start your day, but some recipes can be filled with added sugar and fat. For a healthy meal or snack, stick to the basics: fruit and veggies.

Every successful smoothie contains two main ingredients: fruit and/or vegetables (often frozen) and a liquid, such as fruit juice, vegetable juice, or milk. Other possible ingredients include yogurt, nut butter, seeds, spices, herbs, and more. Many smoothies also include a few ice cubes to keep the mixture nice and cold. Often, recipes can be tweaked to meet different dietary requirements or tastes—feel free to swap out dairy products for non-dairy ones or change up the spices and juices.

All of these smoothies recipes are loaded with good-for-you vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, fiber, and protein. They're made with only natural ingredients and range in flavors from mango to chocolate to veggie. You're sure to find a breakfast smoothie for every day of the week.

Start With a Basic Smoothie and Then Customize

  • Blueberry and Spinach Superfood Green Smoothie

    13 Smoothies to Start Your Day Off Right (3)

    All-natural, vegan, low-calorie, and raw, this superfood smoothie is nutritious and delicious. Antioxidant-rich blueberries and iron-rich spinach will start your day off right. This drink doesn't contain any sweeteners, but you can add a touch of honey or use fruit juice as the liquid if you like. Using a very ripe banana will naturally sweeten things up, too.

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    Strawberry Smoothie

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    You don't need fresh berries for a delicious strawberry smoothie—frozen will do just fine. Blended with a couple of fruit juices and yogurt, this simple concoction will be a hit with kids and adults alike. If you want to cut down on sugar, use plain yogurt instead of vanilla.

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    Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

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    Packed with protein and so creamy it's almost milkshake-like, this chocolate, peanut butter, and banana smoothie feels a treat. It also happens to be vegan. With peanut butter (swap for soy or cashew if that's what you have) and almond milk, it's a good after workout breakfast.

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    Avocado Mango Smoothie Recipe

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    Avocado adds magical creaminess to smoothies without the need for dairy. Full of healthy fat, this avocado and mango smoothie is just sweet enough thanks to a splash of orange juice. If you'd like your smoothie extra cold, add a scoop of ice to the blender.

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    Low-Calorie Vegetable Smoothie

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    If you like vegetable juice or even bloody Marys, give this vegetable smoothie a try. A combination of tomato juice, carrot juice, fresh celery, spinach, and cucumber make for a vitamin and nutrient-packed breakfast. Add a dash of hot sauce if you're feeling spicy.

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    Mixed Berry Smoothie

    Made with just three ingredients, this smoothie is just sweet enough and full of berry flavor. If you're vegan, replace the yogurt with non-dairy yogurt or a little silken tofu. Frozen or fresh berries will work—you may want to add a little ice if you use unfrozen, fresh fruit.

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    Banana Date Smoothie with Ginger and Cardamom

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    Dates add a natural sweetness to smoothies that will provide the flavor you want without spiking your sugar levels. Combined with frozen banana, Greek yogurt, fresh ginger, and a pinch of cardamom, you have a healthy, dessert-worthy drink. If your dates are a little hard, simply soak them in warm water before using.

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    Green Pear Smoothie

    13 Smoothies to Start Your Day Off Right (10)

    Kale is included in this green pear smoothie recipe for an added healthful spin on the traditional drink. Banana and honey give it a touch of sweetness and cinnamon and ginger add a bit of spice.

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    Matcha Green Tea Smoothie

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    Matcha is a bright green powdered tea that's loaded with antioxidants and a little caffeine to wake you up. It pairs nicely with sweet banana for a simply delicious smoothie. Use non-dairy milk if desired and add a few ice cubes if your banana isn't frozen.

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    Watermelon Smoothie

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    It's amazing how great a few simple ingredients can taste. This smoothie is made with fresh watermelon, milk, vanilla yogurt, and a drop of maple syrup. The watermelon chunks are frozen first to make this fruit smoothie smooth and refreshing—perfect for summer.

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    Pineapple Coconut Smoothie

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    For a tropical breakfast, whirl together frozen pineapple, coconut milk, and pineapple juice. If you're vegan or dairy-free, replace the yogurt with non-dairy yogurt or more coconut milk. The canned kind works best here since it has more coconut flavor than boxed milk.

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    Peanut Banana Cinnamon Smoothie

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    Kids will love this sweet, but filling smoothie, featuring peanut butter for lasting protein and banana for fiber. The recipe is easily adjusted to fit any diet: Swap the peanut butter for another nut butter or even tahini and use your choice of dairy or non-dairy milk. The cinnamon adds a nice hint of spice.

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    Raw Food Green Kale Smoothie

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    Greens contain lots of vitamins and minerals, making them a healthy addition to your morning smoothie. Combine fresh kale (leaves only) with orange or grapefruit juice, fresh herbs, and banana for a cleanse-worthy green smoothie. You can swap the kale for spinach if you like.

13 Smoothies to Start Your Day Off Right (2024)

FAQs

Are smoothies good to start the day? ›

Smoothies are a convenient and colorful way to start your day, but some recipes can be filled with added sugar and fat. For a healthy meal or snack, stick to the basics: fruit and veggies.

How many smoothies a day is ok? ›

The guidance for the majority of us is to limit our daily intake of smoothies and juices to one glass of 150ml. This contributes a maximum of one of our five-a-day. For a child, a smoothie portion will depend on their age and activity levels.

Can you lose weight by drinking a smoothie every morning? ›

Yes and no. While most weight loss experts don't recommend substituting smoothies for every meal of the day, drinking them here or there (or even daily) can support weight loss goals. It all depends on what they contain and, of course, their portion size.

Should you drink smoothie on an empty stomach? ›

Breakfast is best

Drinking your green juice on an empty stomach is therefore the best option, and there's no better time to do it than first thing in the morning, at least an hour before or after a coffee too, to avoid any acidic interaction with the juice.

Can you drink a smoothie first thing in the morning? ›

If you want a quick and healthy breakfast, smoothies are a great option.

Are store-bought smoothies healthy? ›

When buying smoothies at the supermarket, be sure to check the ingredients. In addition to fruit and/or leafy greens, undesirable ingredients such as sugar, flavorings or even dyes are often added. In our opinion, such recipes do not add any positive value to a health-conscious diet.

Can a smoothie replace a meal? ›

A smoothie graduates to a meal replacement not merely by its consistency but its content. Combining a variety of ingredients, these drinks aim to provide the same amount of nutrition as a full meal. The interplay between savory and sweet flavor profiles ensures these meal replacements remain fulfilling and enjoyable.

Are frozen fruit smoothies healthy? ›

Yes, Frozen Smoothies Are Healthy!

Overall, drinking smoothies will increase your consumption of fruits and vegetables. This increase in consumption provides a diverse array of essential vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants. so it's a big Yes, homemade frozen smoothies are healthy – go on, get blending!

How to lose 10 pounds in a week? ›

To lose 10 pounds in one week, you'll need to burn between 3,500 and 5,000 calories more than you consume each day by restricting your diet to small portions of nutritious yet low-calorie foods, and significantly increasing your aerobic exercise with interval training, sports, and other vigorous activities.

Why do I feel weird after drinking a smoothie? ›

Hard To Digest Ingredients

If you're adding nuts or cashews to your smoothie, they can cause problems as they're hard for the digestive system to break down. Another common culprit could be your protein. Many cheap proteins are filled with unnecessary fillers and artificial sugars that can cause digestive upset.

What are two potential risks of smoothies? ›

In conclusion, smoothies can be a great way to increase intakes of fruit and vegetables in our diet, which would have many health benefits. However, they may contain large amounts of added or natural sugars, which can contribute to dental problems and obesity.

Why shouldn't you add a banana to a smoothie? ›

We know from previous studies that flavanols can be broken down by polyphenol oxidase. The extent of the effect from adding a single banana was still very surprising – it had enough polyphenol oxidase to destroy the vast majority of flavanols found in the berries.

Why shouldn't you put ice in a smoothie? ›

Making a smoothie with ice cubes in a regular blender can be challenging, as blending ice cubes can quickly turn them into slush, making the smoothie thicker and harder to drink.

Why shouldn't you blend bananas? ›

The new study found that smoothies combining bananas with berries proved to decrease in flavanols (a key nutrient in berries) after being blended together. Considering the health benefits of flavanols, this presents a problem.

Is it better to drink smoothies in the morning or Evening? ›

It doesn't matter if you are a fitness enthusiast or not; one of the best times to drink a smoothie is in the morning. If you work out in the morning or you have a hard time starting your day, it would greatly benefit you to start your day with one.

Should I have a smoothie for breakfast or lunch? ›

To be clear, a smoothie doesn't have to be a meal. You can enjoy a smoothie as part of a meal, or have it as a snack, and that's ok. But if you're having only a smoothie for breakfast or lunch, then it should be built like a meal.

Do smoothies go bad after a day? ›

How many days can I store my smoothie in the fridge? Homemade smoothies last up to 1-2 days in the fridge. While smoothies are best enjoyed fresh ASAP, they'll last for 24-48 hours if they're kept inside a clean, airtight container. If you have dairy in your smoothie, it's more likely to last just 1 day.

Can you make a smoothie at night for the morning? ›

Yes! Making smoothies the night before is super simple and saves you a little time in the morning. If you want to go the extra mile and meal prep breakfast for the whole week, you'll only need to set aside about 30 minutes. Before you begin, stock up on fruit, juice, milk and yogurt.

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