Simple, fresh, healthy and versatile, the humble fruit smoothie is a delicious way to get your 5-a-day and, believe it or not, impossible to get wrong. Here are some of our favourite breakfast smoothie recipes for you to try out, and don’t forget, they don’t have to be for breakfast!
Cranberry & Rasberry Smoothie - a low fat, vitamin C-packed smoothie to get your day off to a good start.
200ml cranberry juice
175g frozen raspberries, defrosted
100ml milk
200ml natural yogurt
1 tbsp caster sugar, or to taste
Mint sprigs, to serve
Place all the ingredients into a blender and pulse until smooth. Pour into glasses and serve topped with fresh mint.
Super Berry Smoothie - frozen berries are a thrifty way of creating a healthy smoothie. You can also pad it out with oats to make it extra filling.
450g bag frozen berries
450g pot fat-free strawberry yogurt
100ml milk
25g porridge oats
2 tsp honey (optional)
Blend the berries, yogurt and milk together until smooth. Stir through the porridge oats, then pour into 4 glasses and serve with a drizzle of honey to taste.
Avocado & Strawberry Smoothie - perfect for breakfast, this creamy blend is low in calories and high in calcium.
½ avocado, stoned, peeled and cut into chunks
150g strawberries, halved
4 tbsp low-fat natural yogurt
200ml semi-skimmed milk
Lemon or lime juice, to taste
Honey, to taste
Put all the ingredients in a blender and whizz until smooth. If the consistency is too thick, add a little water.
Mango & Passion Fruit Smoothie- A truly tropical blend to start your day or for sipping in the sun. Full of vitamin C and, obviously, low in fat.
400g/14oz peeled and chopped ripe mango
2 x 125g pots fat-free mango yogurt
250ml skimmed milk
Juice 1 lime
4 passion fruits, halved
Blitz the mango, yogurt and milk together in a blender until smooth. Stir in the lime juice, then pour into 4 glasses. Scoop the pulp of a passion fruit into each one and mix with a spoon before serving.
Banana, Honey & Hazelnut Smoothie - a delicious smoothie, packed with energy, potassium and natural goodness.
1 peeled, sliced banana
250ml soya milk
1 tsp honey
A little grated nutmeg
2 tsp chopped hazelnuts, to serve
All of these recipes - plus a whole host of other delicious concoctions - can be found over on BBC Good Food.