6. LOW CARB SMOOTHIE
Load up on high quality protein with a carbohydrate source packed with nutrients (i.e. fruit or vegetable). To sweeten use a sweetener such as Stevia or Splenda.
- 1 scoop protein powder
- 1 cup frozen, mixed berries
- 1 cup cold water
- ¼ cup low-fat cottage cheese
- 1 packet Splenda sugar substitute
7. METABOLISM BOOSTER
This tasty smoothie is designed to be filling, nutritious and boost metabolism. The base of this smoothie is green tea, which boasts both caffeine and catechins, substances shown to speed up metabolism. This smoothie is also rich in protein, which also has metabolism boosting effects.
- ½ tbsp honey
- 1 cup mango chunks
- ½ cup non-fat vanilla yogurt
- ½ cup brewed green tea, cooled to room temperature
- 1 cup ice (about 6 cubes)
8. PALEO POWER
This paleo friendly smoothie is filling and full of nutritional goodies. Herbal tea makes a great base as it is rich in anti-oxidants and depending on which herbal tea you choose will have specific health benefits (e.g. peppermint for digestive issues, etc).
- 1 scoop egg white protein powder
- 1 tbsp nut butter
- 1 cup frozen berries (mixed or otherwise)
- 1 cup brewed, chilled herbal tea
- ½ cup crushed ice
9. THE INVIGORATOR
This green smoothie will energize and invigorate the senses.
- 1 teaspoon lime juice
- 1 tbsp honey (if needed)
- 1 handful of spinach (or other leafy greens)
- 1 apple
- 1 pear
- 1 ½ cups chilled ginger tea*
- Ice cubes
Bring about 2 cups of water to the boil. Grate or slice thinly about 1” of ginger root and add to boiling water. Cover saucepan and leave to simmer for 15-20 minutes. Strain. Cool.
10. BREAKFAST IN ONE
Smoothies are perfect for breakfast on the go. All the goodness of a healthy breakfast in one cup. Quick cook oats and nuts help to slow down the absorption of sugar from the fruit, keeping blood sugar levels steady, and giving you more energy for longer. Yogurt and milk are rich in protein, which makes this smoothie filling. The fruit are a source of vitamins and minerals, as well as fiber and carbohydrates, making the smoothie nutritious and energizing.
- ¼ cup quick cook oats (not instant)
- ¼ cup nuts (walnuts, almonds, or pecans)
- 1 ripe banana
- 1 cup frozen fruit (mango, blackcurrants, or strawberries)
- 2 ½ tbsp low-fat yogurt
- 1 cup of milk (skim/ soy/ almond)
11. KOFFEE KICK
Wake up with this delicious blend.
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 frozen banana
- ¾ cup frozen low-fat vanilla yogurt
- 1 cup chilled strong black coffee
12. HANGOVER HERO
This smoothie is a meal in a glass and packed with nutrients to make up a little for last nights indulgences. Banana provides energy, ginger will help settle the stomach and help with nausea. Yogurt helps to soothe the digestive tract. Pomegranate juice super nutritious and contains high levels antioxidants. If you don’t have Pomegranate juice to hand, try cranberry or blueberry juice. Alternatively, add a cup of frozen mixed berries. Nut butter is rich in protein and healthy fats, which will help you feel full and provide lasting energy.
- 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
- 1 – 2 teaspoons almond butter
- 1 banana
- ½ cup low-fat yogurt
- ½ cup Pomegranate juice
- Ice cubes
13. SLEEP INDUCER
Is there anything worse than laying in bed trying to sleep, concentrating on trying to sleep, and thus not getting to sleep at all? You can’t mentally force yourself to sleep (a self-defeating effort); but you can physiologically. To that end, this smoothie is made up of foods (banana, peanut butter, milk) that contain tryptophan, a sleep-promoting substance, which is converted to serotonin or melatonin. This smoothie is also rich in carbs and calcium, which intensify the effect of tryptophan. Cherries contain melatonin and bananas are a great source of potassium and magnesium, which are natural muscle relaxants.
- 1 tbsp peanut butter
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds
- ¼ cup pitted cherries
- ½ banana
- 1 cup milk (skim/ almond/ soy)
- Ice cubes
14. THE CHILLAXER
Sit back and chillax. Enough for two – or just one.
- 1 dash nutmeg
- 1 splash vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1⁄4 cup ground almonds
- 2 ripe bananas (preferably frozen for extra creaminess)
- ½ cup vanilla yogurt
- ¼ cup chilled chamomile tea (a calming tea)
- ¼ cup milk (skim/ almond/ soy)
- Ice cubes
15. STOMACH SOOTHER
This all-rounder will address all manner of digestive woes. Papaya contains the enzyme papain, which has a soothing effect on the stomach and aids protein digestion. Ginger tackles nausea and fights flatulence. The probiotics in yogurt help increase friendly bacteria in your digestive tract, aiding digestion and reducing air. This smoothie is also rich in fiber. Fiber helps move food through the digestive tract, cleaning it out and removing toxins from the body.
- 1 tbsp ground flax seed
- 1 tsp sliced ginger
- 1 cup frozen sliced peaches
- 1 cup peeled, seeded, cubed papaya
- 1 medium pear, cubed, skin optional
- 1/2 cup low-fat Greek yogurt
- 6 ice cubes
16. THE DETOXER
The Detoxer looks just like a regular fruit smoothie, pinky red and smooth. It is in fact loaded with the goodness of beetroot and carrot, which are detox favorites. Beetroot boasts antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and detoxification properties and carrots are rich in anti-oxidants. Ginger is anti-inflammatory, while apples and pears are an excellent source of fiber, vitamin C and antioxidants. Spirulina is a super concentrated source of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and protein.
- 1 tsp spirulina (optional)
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 2 tsp minced fresh ginger
- 1 sweet apple
- 1 ripe pear
- 1 beet*
- 1 carrot*
- Ice
*Steam carrot and beet until just about tender (approx 10-15 minutes). Cool.
17. SKIN SMOOTHER
Just as weight loss is a combination of diet and exercise, so is great skin a product of good skincare and nutrition. This skin-smoothing smoothie is rich in anti-aging vitamin E, sun-damage-fighting healthy fats, collagen-boosting vitamin C, and wrinkle-reducing oleic acid from wheat germ, flaxseed, berries and avocado respectively.
- 2 tbsp ground flax seed
- 1 cup blueberries
- 1 cup pitted cherries
- ½ cup strawberries
- ¼ avocado
- ½ cup low-fat yogurt
- Ice cubes
18. IMMUNE BOOSTER
Boost your immune system and beat the cold and flu season with this smoothie loaded with beta-carotene and vitamin C from mango, cantaloupe, and pineapple, as well as almonds and almond milk, which are packed with zinc, an immune system booster.
- 1/3 cup ground almonds
- 1 cup chopped cantaloupe
- ½ cup cubed pineapple, fresh or canned
- 1 Banana
- 1 cup peeled, pitted, cubed mango
- ½ cup unsweetened almond milk
- Ice cubes
CORE SMOOTHIE INGREDIENTS
Below are the building blocks of any healthy smoothie. These core ingredients don’t just look pretty or taste awesome, but offer significant health & fitness benefits.
- Yogurt is packed with protein, calcium and tummy friendly probiotics. Go low-fat & Greek. Full fat yogurt is high in calories. Greek yogurt is high in protein & low in carbs. To up the protein content of any smoothie, try adding 1/4 to 1/2 cup low-fat Greek yogurt or silken tofu.
- Milk is another great source of protein, calcium & other nutrients. Go for skim milk. Can’t tolerate it? Try soy, rice or almond milk.
- Whey protein is an awesome means of boosting the protein content of a smoothie & also make it more filling. It’s a no-brainer for low-calorie smoothies. And of course, ideal post-workout.
- Fat has got a bad rap. But there are healthy fats that the body needs. Also, fat helps you feel full. Zero-fat foods are not filling. Your body needs fat to absorb important nutrients. Sources of healthy fats: fish oil, avocado, nuts, flaxseeds, peanut butter & more. Also, choose low-fat milk and yogurt, instead of the nonfat variety.
- Rich in potassium, vitamin B6& other nutrients bananas are filling, add sweetness, the mild taste means they go with almost everything & it’s rich consistency binds the ingredients in smoothies together.
- Berries are an antioxidant powerhouse, chock full of vitamin C & phytochemicals, conferring a plethora of health benefits. Naturally sweet & available fresh or frozen.
- Tea is a healthy & tasty way to customize a smoothie. Green tea, Rooibos, peppermint, etc. confer different health benefits. Try fresh-brewed tea, tea ice cubes or tea powders.
- What’s a smoothie if not cold & smooth? Use plain ol’ H2O or freeze fruit juice, green juice, tea, coffee, yogurt or milk. Also, try freezing bananas for extra creaminess.
Super Skinny Me The Skinny on Health, Diet, Fitness & Weight Loss











In the belly buster smoothie, can the blueberries be subsituted? if so with what fruits?
Hi Jessica,
Try adding another type of berry – e.g. strawberries, blackberries, etc. I’ve tried to explain as much as possible for each smoothie which ingredients are key ingredients. In this case, for the belly buster, it’s the flaxseed oil and yogurt. So you can experiment with ingredients to find a variation of the smoothie that best appeals to your taste buds. We’re all different, and it’s fun to experiment. See the post on how to make a smoothie – which breaks the process down into 5 easy steps. Happy blending!
Are you supposed to cook the quick cook oats in the Breakfast smoothie?
Hey Kelly,
just add the oats just as they are. If you want, you can grind the oatmeal into a powder before adding it to the smoothie. You can do this by adding the oatmeal into the blender first and blending it a little before adding the other ingredients, or using a spice grinder or food processor to make it finer.
Great blog! It’s so interesting and useful! Thanks for sharing great ideas! Your tips are amazing. Will definitely try to make my own yummies!
Does it have to be quick oats or can it be old fashioned? I’ve heard the quick oats aren’t as nutritious because of the way they are ‘rolled’??
Hey there,
You can use old fashioned oats over quick-cook oats. Old fashioned oats have a rougher texture. Quick oats are a little more processed and smoother making it easier to blend, and making for a smoother smoothie.
How do we know the exact measurements of the smoothie ingredients on the other 13 smoothies?
Hey Kristin,
The smoothie recipes continue on the next page. Click here for the next page of smoothie recipes. I’ve made the text linking to the next page at the end of the article a little bigger. Thanks for pointing that out!
Great chart! But ditch the dairy, whey protein powder (go for a plant based one), and splenda. Then the smoothies will be healthy. Just sayin’.
I liked Marisa’s comment about omiting the dairy, whey protein and splenda. What would she replace them with in the smoothies? Thank you.