Healthy smoothie recipes

Smoothies are a great way to get your family consuming their vitamins and minerals in a delicious, easy to prepare beverage. Your kids will love gathering the ingredients and churning them all together in a blender. Serve these at their next party or play date with cute paper straws, tall glasses and a few berries on the side.

Avoid overloading your smoothie mixes with unhealthy additions like ice-cream and chocolate flavouring, but instead keep them healthy by opting for low-fat milk, natural yoghurt and plenty of fruit. Dairy products like milk and yoghurt are a great source of vitamins and minerals, especially calcium and will help maintain bone health. Bananas, a common ingredient in smoothies, provide plenty of fibre, potassium and the vitamin B6. Throw in some berries and you'll also be enjoying antioxidants, vitamin E and fibre.

Healthy banana and berry smoothie

Serves 2

Ingredients:

• 1 cup skim milk
• ½ cup natural yoghurt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
• 1 banana, chopped
• 10 strawberries, hulled
• 8 ice cubes, crushed

Directions: 

1. Pour the milk, yoghurt and vanilla into a blender, then add the banana and strawberries. Blend until combined.
2. Add the crushed ice and blend for another minute. Add more ice if you prefer a thicker consistency.

Juice-based smoothie

Serves 2 

Ingredients:

• 1 cup mango juice
• 1 banana, chopped
• 1 punnet strawberries, hulled
• 1 peach, peeled, cored and chopped
• 8 ice cubes, crushed

Directions:

1. Pour the juice into a blender and add the banana, strawberries and peach. Blend to combine.
2. Add the crushed ice and blend for another minute. Add more ice if you prefer a thicker consistency.

Basic banana smoothie

Serves 2 

Ingredients: 

• 1 cup skim milk
• ½ cup natural yoghurt
• 2 bananas, chopped
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 8 ice cubes, crushed

Directions:

1. Pour the milk and yoghurt into a blender, then add the bananas, honey and cinnamon. Blend to combine.
2. Add the crushed ice and blend for another minute. Add more ice if you prefer a thicker consistency.

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