During the summer months we all tend to be pretty enthusiastic about smoothies and juices, as our appetites are smaller and our bodies are warm. There are lots of great nutritional benefits to smoothies so it makes sense to keep consuming them all year round – but would you want to? These 5 winter smoothie recipes are perfect for the colder months of the year and will help you to maintain nutrition, as well as being thoroughly enjoyable (and warming) to eat.
Avoid S.A.D thanks to the tryptophan and vitamin B6 in bananas and oats – and enjoy a delicious taste experience every time. Simply heat up 250ml unsweetened almond or coconut milk and add 100ml of this to 50ml of cold water. Put in the blender with 1 scoop protein powder, 25g rolled oats, 1 date, 1 tablespoon cocoa powder, a few drops of vanilla essence and a sliced banana. When blended, pour over the rest of the warm milk and enjoy hot.
Everyone loves hot chocolate at this time of year and this is a delicious way to consume it. Melt 15g dark chocolate with 200ml almond milk. Stir in 20g rolled oats, 5g chia seeds, half a ripe banana and 6 almonds. Add a little cold water if too hot and then blend.
A pudding as a smoothie that is warming and incredibly easy to make – it’s the ideal option for winter. Simply combine a cored and chopped up apple with 120ml of water, a couple of drops of vanilla extract, a tablespoon of maple syrup and spices like cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice (a pinch of each). Blend all of the ingredients together until smooth. If you want to enjoy this smoothie even more you can add a dollop of ice cream to the top too.
Bananas are an awesome food in general but are particularly useful if you suffer from a low mood in winter, as they are rich in serotonin producing B6. This recipe also contains walnuts, which are filled with all-important Omega 3s. Alongside a peeled, ripe banana, add a handful of chopped raw walnuts, 2 or 3 organic dates, a pinch of cinnamon and a few drops of vanilla extract. Add a cup of hot water and blend.
If you’re keen for a detox then this smoothie is ideal – it’s sweet and spicy but also packed with good things. Juice half a lemon and pour this into a blender with 3 chopped green apples, 2 handfuls of baby spinach, an inch of fresh ginger, a tablespoon of cinnamon 250 – 500ml water and a couple of scoops of protein powder. Blend until smooth and enjoy.
Smoothies at this time of year offer some fantastic benefits – some are packed with immune-boosting nutrients, some are great for your mood and others are just downright delicious. If you’ve been stuck with the same old smoothies for a while now is a great time to start to experiment.