Healthy, Fast Easy ! Healthy Smoothie Recipes

I've been whipping up delicious simple smoothies for decades. Sometimes I blend my smoothies in my food processor or glass jar blender.

Other times I choose to make a smoothie with a stick type immersion blender. If I make a smoothie recipe without fruit chunks or ice, I simply combine ingredients, stir and enjoy a fast, tasty liquid breakfast or afternoon snack.

Features : Recipes : Healthful, tasty, cool smoothie recipes

Smoothies made with frozen or fresh fruit, juice and milk or yogurt are the fastest healthy breakfast I know of to make and take when you're pressed for time or have to eat on the run.

A simple smoothie is also a great snack, especially when the weather's hot. You can make frozen smoothies, dairy-free smoothies, fruity smoothies and even chocolate smoothies that taste as good as a shake or frappe (but with far less fat and calories). I'll show you how to make and enjoy a blended, healthy simple smoothie drink any time.

It only takes 5 minutes to make a delicious instant breakfast using my simple smoothie recipes, and you don't need a fancy blender to whip 'em up!

Fast and Easy Smoothie Recipes

For years I commuted 30 to 40 minutes one way to my high tech job. Mornings were always hectic with two teenage daughters to usher out the door before I left for work. So to save time (and a few calories) I started making smoothies instead of cereal to remove some of the stress from my morning "rush hour".

At first I mixed up my smoothies in the blender; after awhile I realized all I needed to do was mix the basic simple ingredients with a long spoon right in my travel mug. But the tastiest smoothies are the most creamy variety, and they do require a quick whirl in the blender or use of an immersion (stick) blender that my son in law calls "the motorboat".

Here's my super quick commuter-friendly dairy and juice smoothy recipe. If you can't tolerate dairy products, try using soy milk or soy yogurt or almond milk in place of the cow's milk ingredients.

The fastest smoothie drink recipe in the world. No blender required.

Speedy Smoothie Basic Recipe

1/2 glass juice

1/2 glass yogurt

1 Tbl. wheat germ (optional)

1 Tbl. vanilla (optional)

Stir all ingredients together in large glass. If you're heading out the door, use a travel mug with a lid and you've got breakfast on the run.

Frozen Yogurt Smoothie with Fruit

Thick, delicious, nutritious and sweet!

Ready to drink banana blueberry smoothie
1 frozen, peeled banana, cut into 4 or 5 small chunks

1/2 cup frozen or fresh blueberries, raspberries

1/2 cup nonfat yogurt (any flavor, or plain)

1/2 cup juice (your choice)

1/2 cup nonfat milk (substitute soy milk, almond milk if desired)

Combine all ingredients in a blender, food processor or the blending cup of an immersion blender until liquefied and thickened.

For variety, omit the juice, use chocolate yogurt and add 3 Tablespoons of chocolate syrup. This version is my granddaughter's fave.

5 Minute Blended Smoothie - Made with your choice of fruit and juice

5 minute heathy breakfast -blueberry banana yogurt smoothie
If you have 5 minutes and a simple blender, food processor or stick blender, you can whip up a creamy, fruity frozen smoothie with the consistency of a thick ice cream shake without the fat and far fewer calories.

1 peeled banana (see secret tip #1 below)

1/2 Cup milk or soy milk

1/2 Cup nonfat yogurt

1/2 Cup fruit juice

1/2 cup fruit (small pieces): blueberries, sliced strawberries, raspberries, chopped apples, pineapple ...

Place all ingredients into a blender or stick blender cup and whip until pureed.

Secret tip #1: If you like a smoothie with a thicker frappe-like consistency, use frozen fruit.

Secret tip #2: Use previously peeled and frozen banana. Break the banana into 4 chunks before blending.

Blueberry Mint Energy Shake

My go-to afternoon treat made with organic blueberries and frozen mint ice cubes

I freeze fresh snipped herbs from my garden in ice cubes so I can use fresh herbs for all types of recipes all winter long.

Frozen chopped mint ice cubes are perfect for cooling hot tea or adding to a smoothie to give a bright, fresh taste.

Here's my favorite superfresh smoothie recipe that gets its cool refreshing color and flavor from frozen blueberries and mint leaf ice cubes combined with banana, yogurt, milk and apple cider.

2 mint leaf ice cubes

1/4 cup frozen blueberries

1 organic banana

1/2 cup nonfat yogurt

1/4 cup cider or other juice

1/2 cup milk or soy milk

Place all ingredients in a blender or the cup of a handheld immersion blender and whip until smooth.

Frozen Super Chocolate Berry Smoothie

We call this a healthy snack or dessert ... for chocolate lovers

Better than Starbucks without the calories or the high price.

If I've got a chocolate craving but don't want to add too many calories to my diet, I opt for a delicious treat that tastes as good as a black and white frappe (if you aren't from New England, this is a chocolate shake made with vanilla ice cream). My granddaughter tasted my frozen berry chocolate smoothie a few months ago and she's back on the smoothie fan bandwagon.

To make this chocolate frozen drink, use 1 frozen banana broken into 4 or 5 chunks, 1 cup yogurt (vanilla or chocolate), 1/2 cup soy milk, almond milk or dairy milk, and 1/2 cup blueberries. Whirl everything in a blender or food processor or whip with an immersion blender to the consistency of a thick shake.

All the tasty, creamy goodness without the fat or high price.

Hungry yet? Have no guilt with these healthy frozen drink recipes!

You can make a smoothie for any meal - these simple smoothie recipes are my choice for breakfast, lunch or a refreshing and healthy snack.