Smoothie a Day in May
Happy May!
As you guys know, I like to start the month off with a list of things I think would help make it a little happier/fun/fit. Since May is already a pretty awesome month, I was having a hard time thinking of things that would make it extra amazing. Since so many of you joined me for a green meal a day in March, I thought we would do something similar for this month.
How about a smoothie a day in May?
Smoothies are so refreshing in the toasty weather and are a great way to get in a lot of nutrients with hardly any prep.
Here are some of my favorite smoothie essentials:
Smoothie components:
-Liquid: Milk of choice, juice, coffee or water
-Protein: protein powders, nuts/seeds, nut butters
-Fruit: frozen fruit is the best way to go because then you don’t need to add ice, which waters smoothies down. I’ll always split browning bananas in half and put them in a bag in the freezer for smoothie purposes.
-Greens: spinach is my favorite because it has such a mild taste, but many people like the taste of kale or chard in their smoothies, too. Seeded cucumber, fresh mint and spirulina are fun ways to add in some green.
-Texture: Nuts/seeds (I’ll soak most nuts so they’re a little softer to blend), bananas and avocado with give smoothies a beautiful texture, yogurt and oats are a great way to bulk up a smoothie.
-Fats: You always want to make sure you have a little bit of fat in your smoothie to aid in nutrient absorption. My fave options are nut butter, chia seeds, hemp seeds and coconut oil.
-Extras: goji berries (soak in water to soften), espresso powder, sweetener (dates, Stevia, sugar, honey, maple syrup, etc) flavored extracts, shredded coconut, cinnamon and other spices, chocolate chips, cacao nibs….
Smoothies can be a very satisfying meal if you make sure to add in protein, healthy fat and enough calories to sustain you. If my smoothie is on the smaller side, I’ll enjoy it with a piece of toast with nut butter, a Larabar, amazeball or a salad.
(Amazeball + oats atop a smoothie pool. Try it, you’ll like it)
Make-ahead tip: put all of your smoothie ingredients in the main part of the blender and place it in the fridge overnight. The fruit may soften a little, but in the morning, all you have to do is blend and go
Throughout the month, I’ll share some smoothie recipes with you, and please link to your smoothies in the comment section, or tweet me your daily pics @fitnessista #smoothieaday
For inspiration, here are some awesome recipes:
–Chocolate Cake Batter Smoothie
Who’s in for the challenge? What’s your go-to smoothie combo?
Mine: almond milk, banana, frozen berries, nut butter, Sun Warrior, spinach, Stevia
Happy blending 🙂
xoxo
Gina
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Sounds like a great idea. I may attempt a smoothie a day (as I’m already behind) – might be move like every other day.
I will totally be partaking in this challenge! My family just ordered a Vitamix and it will be here this Thursday so I can’t wait to make tons of smoothies!
I am with you! I love making smoothies with fresh veggie juice but since I am not with my juicer right now we shall see what I make!
My go to while I am away: bananas, sunbutter, chia or flax seeds, lactose free milk, spinach and usually strawberries. 🙂
Oh I love this 🙂 you really can’t beat a smoothie on a hot day!
LOVE smoothies and this challenge! My go to recently is strawberry-banana with almond milk, vanilla Sunwarrior protein, hemp, a frozen banana and 1 cup frozen strawberries. Another favorite combo of mine recently – one frozen banana, almond milk, vanilla Sunwarrior and 1T peanut butter.
I’m so in. I love smoothies, in fact I just finished one. My go-to: almond milk, blueberries, protein powder, peanut flour, spinach and flax seeds.
Great challenge! It is so hot here already this sounds like a really good way to try and cool down.
My go to smoothie is frozen bananas, almond butter, almond or cow’s milk and then a scoop of Amazing Grass. Which actually brings me to a question I have for anyone that can help me: I can eat spinach salads without any problem but when I use frozen spinach or a product that has spinach in it like Amazing Grass it has a tendency to give me a worn down feeling shortly after finishing the smoothie. No big kick of energy here, just kind of lethargic when I include spinach. Anyone have a clue why?
I will have no problem with this challenge…or should I say “non Challenge”!! Hehe…I loooooove smoothies!
I’m so on board! My smoothies are very similar to yours Oj (sometimes a. milk, but oj for tropical fruits), almond butter, frozen bananas, strawberries, blueberries, flax, and oats to make a meal out of it.
I love smoothies…I had one this morning. My favorite is avocado + kale (or spinach) + frozen berries.
I have been obsessed with smoothies lately. I found one combo that I can’t get enough of now. The basic recipe is found here http://wealthohealth.wordpress.com/2012/04/07/magical-smoothie/ I also add some romaine or leafy greens if I am not having any on the side. Looking forward to many more yummy combos!
Avocado is another great addition that makes it super creamy and delicious!
yep, i think i added that under “texture”- one of my faves, too!
Oh I really need to do this. Lately my smoothies have been not so delicious though so I will browse around for recipes. I have a sample of that Ormus Greens coming and I’m super excited to try it!
I’ve been on a smoothie kick lately and I will GLADLY continue it through May. Right now I’m working on perfecting my pina colada smoothie but one of my favorites is the peanut butter cup: http://fresh-spinach.com/2011/11/14/for-the-love-of-peanut-butter-cups/
I’m totally in! I pretty much eat them everyday anyways so this will be a great way to remember! Awesome idea! 🙂
Great idea Gina!
This is such a great idea!! Smoothies are full of nutrients and perfect for on-the-go. I will be trying these recipes for sure =)
Frozen banana, raw cacao (beans, I mash them first in the mini-mill), maca, avocado, Whey Protein, a dash of sea salt, vanilla essence, a bit of stevia_erythritol. I can make that one in my sleep (or half-asleep, first thing in the morning if necessary). Sometimes I add frozen berries or a tsp of instant coffee. Also good is making it with coconut water or coconut milk instead of water. Smoothies are amazing and a great way to get up the fluid consumption. I”m trying to meet the national target at the moment (2.1L in addition to that from food) and it’s proving more difficult than I thought!
When I make smoothies I usually wing it with whatever ingredients I have on hand… my best creation was frozen banana, frozen cherries, spinach, soymilk, and pomegranate juice.
I only recently became addicted to smoothies, and now I may or may not be having them for dinner almost every night!!! What do you think about giving kids a smoothie for the main part of their dinner? I can’t decide if it’s a great way to get all that nutrition in, or whether having a smoothie for dinner takes some of the specialness out of having a family dinner around the table (or blender!) every night.
How many ways can I say I’m in??
Yay I already had one for lunch today- they taste so good since I’ve been Preggo. I do half a frozen banana, strawberries and blueberries, handful of spinach, Greek yogurt, hemp seeds, cinnamon and almond milk. So so so good! It will be a fun may!
spinach + banana + almond milk + maybe some frozen berries & I am good to go. at least 3x a week. good to know about the added fat though. Would almond milk or banana count for this or should I be putting almond butter in?
ooh I like this! I’m so in.
From now until September or October, I could eat smoothies for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (and sometimes I do!) Right now, my favorite combo is: banana, pumpkin, spinach, cocoa powder, Stevia, and plain nonfat Greek yogurt. Topped with a little cereal and some PB, it is the perfect lunch on a hot afternoon!
Yummy smoothies!! My current favorite is one with a coffee kick: frozen banana, peanut butter, almond milk, protein powder, instant coffee, spinach!
Mmmmmmm I have been craving smoothies this entire pregnancy. I even had them in the winter haha!
I have sooo many but this is a recent one, spring-like and lighter
http://www.loveveggiesandyoga.com/2012/03/strawberries-and-cream-smoothie.html
Great idea, Gina!
I love smoothies, I remember I saw the sun warrior protein on your blog a few years ago, I gave it a try once when you had an open sky deal, and I am in love since then!!!! 🙂 Its the best!!!
My favorite smoothie is exactly the same as yours! Love it.
Yum!! My hubby and I share the following recipe every morning: 2 oranges, 10 strawberries, 1 banana, 1 apple, and a big handful of spinach 🙂 blended in the Vitamix, it becomes a delicious (and pretty!) green smoothie! We can’t get enough of it 🙂
Just bought some protein powder today! I’m down 🙂
Mine today was AWESOME:
Vanilla Sun Warrior, frozen spinach, 1/2 frozen banana, 3 TBL pumpkin, 3 big ice cubes, 1/4 C chai concentrate, 1/4 C Almond Milk, 1/2 C water, nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon, and a pinch of xantham.
Seriously BUENO. 🙂
Keep sharing your recipes, Gina!
Love the smoothie a day idea! I might go for one every few days- it’s still too cold to have one every day!
My go-to combo is unsweetened vanilla almond milk, brown rice protein powder, frozen bananas, frozen berries and ground flax seed!
I’ve been having a smoothie every afternoon as a snack now that its getting warmer. Having a smoothie once a day in May should be super easy!
Love that Cherry Chocolate Bomb Shake but haven’t had it in way too long!! Need to get on that. 🙂
I’m considering buying a vitamix –it’s so expensive though…. which model do you recommend?
are there other blenders that are just as good but less $? Thanks!
So funny to see this post 2 seconds after I sat down with a fresh smoothie and popped open my laptop! This is only my second attempt at a smoothie but, I think I’m hooked! Tonight, I even got a little brave and added some fresh spinach to my Berry/Banana/Peanut Butter/Almond Milk combo- Just don’t tell my husband! He tried a sip and said it was MUCH better than last week’s smoothie. I didn’t have the heart to tell him what was really in it 😉
I have a smoothie everyday. I don’t feel quite right when I don’t drink a smoothie. I’ve bought books and thought about trying other recipes, but here’s my tried and true: 1 c. soy milk, 2-3 cups spinach, 1/2 banana, frozen strawberries and blueberries – 1 cup, 1tbs. almond butter, protein powder. Yum – the best way to start the morning.
smoothies!!! argh, those Vitamix blenders are so ugly but so freaking awesome!
Okay twist my arm…I’m in 🙂 My favorite go to mix is Unsweetened chocolate Almond Breeze, chocolate Amazing Grass, frozen banana, 1/4c frozen blueberries, 1 tsp bee pollen and 1 tsp flax oil.
i haven’t had a smoothie in so long, my goal for May for myself is to at least make 1 smoothie!
I will DEFINITELY be trying this! I like this one. Its a pledge I can do! lol
Love this post! I’ve been on a smoothie kick lately. My absolute favorite being coconut milk, strawberries, blueberries, 1/2 banana, raw cocoa powder, coconut oil and spinach SO delish!
I had my first smoothie in forever this morning for breakfast! And I didn’t even know it was May until this afternoon at the bank! winning all day!
I’ve been enjoying lots of green smoothies lately! I like how you broke down the “equation” to making a good smoothie – very helpful. My go-to smoothie is pretty similar to yours: almond milk, peanut butter, ground flax seeds (or chia seeds), Sun Warrior, spinach, frozen banana, frozen berries or pineapple, and 2 ice cubes. Yumm.
I like the smoothie a day idea, prob. more so bc I live in FL where it’s HOT now!
My go to combo includes half a frozen banana, almond milk, chocolate Sunwarrior, peanut butter, instant coffee, and a little cocoa powder. YUM. 🙂
German Chocolate Cake Smoothie. I ALWAYS add spinach to a smoothie. You seriously cannot taste it and why not get the extra nutrients?!
http://www.thegetinshapeworkoutplan.com/german-chocolate-cake-smoothie/
whooaaa that sounds awesome!
I want to do this so bad but, my husband sleeps during the day since he works the night shift so I can only blend them the night before and I hate the texture the next morning. Any ideas?!
On days where my husband or kids are sleeping and I want a smoothie, I carry my blender to the garage and blend away…
aha i’ve taken it outside on the patio before
Yum great challenge! I already had a smoothie this morning.