healthy breakfast smoothies
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Ten different ways you can make a banana smoothie more interesting
Bananas are one of the most used ingredients in smoothies, milkshakes and smoothie bowls. Their soft texture is instantly creamy and they have a sweet flavour that goes with everything.
You can make a banana smoothie with fresh or frozen banana or you can use a dehydrated banana powder for instant store-cupboard convenience.
We take a look at why bananas deserve superfood status, and the many ways you can use them in your smoothies.
Are bananas good for you?
Because of their sugar content bananas became a bit of a dirty word with the anti-carbohydrate crowd. Yet bananas contain both quick release sugars and slow release sugars so provide a great overall energy boost. Higher in calories than other fruits, they also provide more fat, more fibre and more protein.
Bananas are an excellent source of potassium which is essential for controlling fluid balance and blood pressure. A natural prebiotic, they also contribute to gut health by feeding the good bacteria in your tummy. Bananas also contain antacids which are why they are so good for indigestion and soothing an upset stomach. A great beauty food, they contain antioxidant lutein that boosts skin elasticity and controls sebum levels. Ripe bananas have higher levels of antioxidants.
One medium banana provides, on average, 105kcal, 0.4g fat, 10g sugars, 3g fibre and 1.3g protein. It is rich in vitamin B6 and C, biotin, copper, manganese, potassium, fibre and lutein.
Basic banana smoothie recipe
A basic banana smoothie is made from milk (dairy or otherwise) and bananas. Fresh banana will thicken and sweeten, whilst frozen banana will thicken, cool and sweeten. The frozen banana will have a less pronounced sweetness and banana flavour because the cold dulls the senses a little. Banana powder will not thicken, but it will flavour and sweeten. It also contains all the nutritional value of a fresh banana.
For a basic banana smoothie
1 cup milk
1 banana, frozen or fresh
or
1 tbsp banana powder
Banana powder, and other powders, are useful if you don’t have a blender. Just put the ingredients in a shaker and shake to blend. Or put them in a bowl and whisk together. Other ingredients such as peanut butter, vanilla extract, or seeds and grains such as oats or chia, can also be added without a blender.
Make your banana smoothie more interesting by adding…
Mango
Add fresh, frozen or powdered mango to your smoothie. Not only will it add extra tropical flavour, but is also full of antioxidant beta-carotene and vitamin C. Mango is also full of fibre and a good-for-your-gut prebiotic.
Nut butter
Adding a nut butter such as peanut butter to your banana smoothie will add a lovely creamy nutty texture and salty flavour. Nuts are high in essential fatty acids and are super good for your skin.
Berries
Berries bring additional fruity flavour and you can add them in fresh, frozen or powdered form. Full of antioxidant plant power, berries are immune boosting, inflammatory fighting superfoods.
Oats
A few tablespoons of oats added to your smoothies will help to thicken and add extra creamy texture. Oats will slow down the release of blood sugars and lower LDL cholesterol levels. They also add as a natural sedative. Oats are the original comfort food.
Protein powder
Protein powder will help to thicken your smoothies and help keep you feeling fuller for longer. Choose dairy or non-dairy but the nutrient values will differ.
Maca
Maca powder has a unique malty flavour that goes particularly well with bananas and milk. It is a powerful adaptogen that helps to balance stress and hormones as well as enhancing energy.
Chia seeds
Chia seeds will help to thicken your smoothie and boost the levels of essential fatty acids and protein. Leave it to stand once mixed in order for the chia seeds to swell.
Cacao
Cacao, the raw form of chocolate, goes well with banana and turns your banana smoothie or shake into chocolate heaven. Don’t be put off by the fact that it is raw as the flavour is actually less bitter than cocoa powder. Or you could add cacao nibs for crunchy texture. Either way you get a healthy dose of powerful antioxidants.
Honey
You can add extra sweetness with a spoonful of honey, or add an interesting crunch with bee pollen. Both have a range of natural nutrients than can only enhance the quality of your smoothie.
Vanilla
Vanilla adds a comforting sweetness to anything, especially banana. Use good quality extract. Freshly grated nutmeg also gives a comforting sweetness to the milk/banana combo.
You could choose just one of these elements to make your banana smoothie more interesting, or combine a few. The variations become endless.
You will find these smoothie ingredients and more here at Boost Nutrients, or head over to the online store to buy bulk food online.
10 of the best ingredients for a deliciously healthy breakfast shake
Breakfast. If there was ever a time to indulge in a delicious healthy shake this is it. The best breakfast shake will set you up for the day with all the nutrients you need for sustained energy. And it should taste good too.
A good breakfast should be as nutrient dense as it is delicious, and ideally cover all the macronutrients of protein, fats and carbohydrates, with plenty of essential vitamins and minerals. A few additional superfood boosts will keep you firmly on track until lunch.
But what are the best ingredients to include in your breakfast shakes for a balanced morning meal?
What should my ideal breakfast shake contain?
To fuel the first part of your day you are looking for something that will fill you up without feeling sluggish and keep you fuller for longer. You want sustainable energy without stimulation. And you want that to come in a package that contains as many micronutrients as possible. Grains, nuts and fruits should cover it. Add a little milk, dairy or non-dairy is up to you, and you are good to go. More than ready.
Ten great ingredients for a healthy breakfast shake
Oats
Quite possibly the best breakfast food there is, oats are ridiculously good for you. Rich in vitamins and minerals, oats are a great source of antioxidant polyphenols. The soluble fibre in oats, beta-glucan, leads to an increased feeling of fullness, delays glucose absorption and is even known to promote gut health.
As part of your breakfast shake they lend a thick creamy texture especially if left to stand for a while after blending. They also add a milky sweetness.
Banana
Banana is another breakfast champion. High in heart-healthy potassium, mood-enhancing magnesium, Vitamin C, and Vitamin B6 they also contain soluble fibre, in the form of pectin, that helps to control blood sugar and promote gut health. Bananas contain tryptophan, another mood-enhancing nutrient, the precursor to serotonin the feel-good neurotransmitter.
Like oats, they add creamy texture and milky sweetness to your breakfast shake. Plus, they taste like banana so its all good.
You could substitute banana for our banana powder…
Milk
To turn your breakfast into a shake you will need a liquid. Any liquid is good, but for a thick breakfast shake with all the creamy elements like bananas and oats, milk is the obvious choice. Cow milk is a source of easily available calcium and is often fortified with Vitamin D. It is also a good source of protein, with a full spectrum of essential amino acids. Because of food intolerances, allergies, and also ethical choices, non-dairy milk is a popular alternative. They vary widely in nutrient content and flavour according to the manufacturer.
In your breakfast shake, milk will add creamy body and silky texture.
Protein powder
Protein powder is the modern way to add easily digestible protein, and therefore all essential amino acids, to your foods. You can choose whey concentrate, derived from cow milk, or vegan pea protein which is derived from um…peas. Extra protein will add to the satiety value of your shake, making you feel full and keep hunger away for longer. Whey concentrate contains no lactose so is an alternative for those with lactose intolerance.
Both types of protein powder will add creamy body to your shake. If you have no reason to stay away from dairy then choose whey protein for flavour and texture.
Almonds
Almonds are high in fibre, protein and heart-healthy monounsaturated fats. Full of antioxidant Vitamin E that supports the immune system and is great for skin, the skin of almonds also boasts many other antioxidant compounds. High in magnesium, almonds can help to control blood sugar.
Keep the skin on and blitz in your breakfast shake or add a spoonful of whole almond butter for extra body and a nutty taste.
Maca powder
Maca. Superfood of superfoods. From a group of healing plants known as adaptogens, maca adapts to the body strengthening and balancing its systems as needed. It gives energy without stimulation, regulates stress and balances hormones. And is also full of powerful phytonutrients.
In a creamy banana breakfast shake maca powder adds a malty undertone.
Honey
A natural sweetener, honey contains as many calories as sugar but also has a host of nutritional benefits. Composition of honey varies wildly, as does quality, yet it is full of bioactive plant compounds and antioxidants. Look for good quality, local varieties of honey – darker honey may contain more beneficial compounds.
Add just a teaspoon of honey for sweetness and nuance of flavour.
Mango
Mango is one of the highest food sources of vitamin C. Packed with fibre, vitamin A, and potassium as well as plenty of antioxidant phytochemicals, mango is a superfruit any time of day.
The richly textured flesh of mango makes it an ideal addition to a thick breakfast shake. Or choose our mango powder for an easy vitamin C boost.
Berries
Who doesn’t love berries. Among the most nutrient dense foods on the planet, berries are little powerhouses of vitamin C, vitamin A and antioxidants. Boasting the highest levels of antioxidants in all fruits, berries will help support your immune system and are also anti-ageing. They also taste amazing. Berries deterioriate quite quickly so freeze any fresh berries you have leftover.
Frozen berries add icy cold texture to your smoothies and go surprisingly well with creamy sweet flavours. For an instant flavour and nutrient boost add a few teaspoons of berry powder to your breakfast shakes.
Flax
Bursting with anti-inflammatory essential fatty acids (aka EFA’s) flaxseed is really good at keeping your brain, heart and joints all healthy. With vitamin E for glowing supple skin, and a decent amount of fibre, flaxseed powder is a good addition to any smoothie, breakfast or otherwise. Flax is also hormone-balancing too, so is an excellent addition to any superfood arsenal.
Flax has a mild taste that is well hidden in smoothies, although it does particularly the thick and creamy variety with its vaguely nutty tones and thickening capacity. Try our LSA mix for flax, sunflower seed and almond all in one handy powder.
We hope you are feeling more confident to blitz up some healthy breakfast shakes.
Take a look at our smoothie ingredients or head on over to our wholefoods bulk store.
Breakfast healthy smoothie recipe. Get the best possible start to your day!
This breakfast healthy smoothie recipe is ready in minutes and can even be made using only store cupboard ingredients.
A thick and satisfying smoothie makes the perfect breakfast, quick to make and easy to digest it gives you everything you need in one delicious go.
So why not start your day the right way with all the nutrients you need to be at your best.
Breakfast healthy smoothie recipe
Easy to drink, and easy to digest, this breakfast smoothie will fill you up and keep you feeling fuller for longer. Made with milk as a base, it is up to you whether you go dairy or non-dairy. With added protein powder for a creamier texture and extra amino acids, again you can choose whether to go dairy or plant-based. Banana is the ideal fruit for breakfast, particularly in a smoothie where it blends into creamy sweetness. Not just about flavour though, banana packs a punch in the nutrient department with resistant starch for blood sugar control and plenty of heart-healthy potassium. Oats deliver that all important carbohydrate energy, but in the slow-release form of beta-glucan.
Throw in some maca powder for its magical powers and add in a dash of flax for fibre. By the way, did you know that both of these superfoods helps to balance hormones? Yeap. And that is just as relevant for men as it is for women.
To make this recipe you will need…
2 cups milk, dairy or non-dairy
1 banana, frozen in chunks or 1 tbsp banana powder
1/3 cup oats
3 tbsp whey concentrate or vegan protein powder
1 tbsp maca powder
1/4 cup raw almonds
1 tbsp flax powder or LSA mix
For the garnish
Drizzle of honey
1 tbsp bee pollen
And now for the method…
There’s only 3 steps.
- Blitz
- Pour
- Garnish with bee pollen and a drizzle of honey
Take a look at all of our ingredients for smoothies or you can even bulk buy online direct from us.
How to make life easier with stunning smoothie recipes straight from your pantry
Although a smoothie made in a blender is a beautiful thing, there are times when you really need your smoothie recipes to be more grab and go. With a wide range of powders beyond the protein variety now available, it is perfectly possible to make all kinds of smoothies straight in the shaker or glass.
Let us talk you through the process so that you can create your own no blend smoothie recipes at home.
Step by step smoothie recipes straight from your pantry
When creating blender smoothie recipes you make a series of decisions. When making smoothies without a blender you follow this same procedure yet think a little more carefully about how those ingredients will blend together by stirring of shaking. Consider what you want from your smoothie; do you want a refreshing fruity drink or something creamy and full of protein? Many superfood powders such as maca or hemp have quite strong flavours that blend best in sweet creamy concoctions, whilst fruit powders and berries such as acai or goji are well suited to the less creamy sharper end of the spectrum.
Step 1 – Choose your liquid
Depending on the overall result you want to achieve, there are so many options available to you. On the heavier milky side, you have the obvious choice between dairy or non-dairy. Non dairy milks tend to have a thicker texture so will affect the end consistency of your smoothie recipes. Coconut milk out of the can is the creamiest thickest option, and the full coconut flavour it brings can be quite decadent. You could also consider kefir, or just plain old yoghurt thinned down with milk or water.
On the non-creamy side think kombucha, cold teas, or fruit juice. Or even just water.
Here, we chose dairy cow milk.
Step 2 – Choose your fruit or vegetable powders
Again, you will have some idea of where you are going based on those original decisions. Because here we have taken the creamy route, we chose banana powder. There is absolutely nothing to stop you mixing any fruit or vegetable powder with a creamy liquid of course. Vegetable powders would go particularly well with yoghurt or kefir for example. And berries go beautifully with coconut milk. Mmm peaches and cream…
Step 3 – Choose your superfoods
Not that fruits and vegetables aren’t the original superfoods, but we are talking about all those little extras now available to us. Some superfood powders need a milky creamy base to taste their best. Maca, for instance, can be overpowering, but in a thick creamy banana shake it lends a hint of malty goodness. Hemp has a distinct flavour that can be almost grassy. Cacao goes with most things, but sits particularly well in creamier concoctions. Goji powder and acai powder are deeply fruity and acidic, so go particularly well with fruit juices, teas and kombucha. Don’t forget that making great smoothie recipes is all about flavour. Chugging something down just because it is good for is not the aim here at all. So, superfood powders. We chose cacao, maca, and hemp to go with our banana and milk.
Step 4 – Choose any sweeteners and additional flavours
You may need to sweeten your smoothie to suit personal taste or simply to bring the best out in all the flavours. Maybe you want a specific flavour like mint, or rosewater. Maybe you want to bring in a bit of texture with a nut butter. Keep sweetener to a minimum to hold on to nutrient value and keep excess calories to a minimum, and choose all natural extracts.
Here we added a teaspoon of date syrup for sweetness, and a teaspoon of vanilla extract.
Step 5 – shake or stir
That’s it. Shake or stir it all together until well blended.
Pour over ice. You could pour it through a strainer to get rid of any small lumps of powder that did not so mix so well.
Add a garnish if you wish. Here we added a boost with cacao nibs and bee pollen. A bit of texture and some extra nutritional benefit.
We hope you learned from this post how easy it can be to think a little differently and make some fantastic smoothie recipes without the mess or fuss of a blender.
Head on over to find some fantastic no-blend smoothie ingredients on site, or buy direct from the wholefoods bulk store.
3 great healthy recipes for smoothies. Boost your power with superfood ingredients.
Gone are the days when smoothies were purely a way to get your 5-a-day in liquid form. A convenient nutrient booster yes, but mother nature, via modern nutritional science, has given us so much more to play with. These three healthy recipes for smoothies are not only delicious and nutritious in their own right, but also make the most of some clever superfood nutrient boosters to really up the ante. With little or no chopping, and a quick blitz in the blender, these super smoothies will keep you going for the day.
Be prepared!
Alongside your larder of smoothie ingredients, there are a few easy tips you can follow to get the most from these healthy recipes for smoothies. A little quick and easy advance preparation is all it takes. Some of the best smoothies are ice cold and full of semi-frozen texture so make good use of both the freezer as well as the cupboard and you will always be good to go.
- Frozen fruits are the mainstay of many a good smoothie. In these recipes we make use of frozen berries and frozen banana slices. Freeze 1 inch chunks of banana laid flat in a freezer bag. Once solid you can fill the bag and store away in the freezer for easy use. This is an excellent way to use up those browner bananas in the fruit bowl, and they taste sweeter that way too. Ditto berries. Whilst you may use commercial bags of frozen berries, freezing those you have left over from fresh is also a great waste saver.
- Ice cubes are another good way to get frosty flavour into your healthy smoothie recipes. We make use of coconut milk in these recipes, but you can experiment with anything that might make life a little easier and even control kitchen waste. Try freezing cold teas such as green, earl grey or herbal blends. Think of liquids that you might use and could freeze to give maximum flavour to your smoothies rather than dilute them with ice made from water.
What will I need to make these healthy recipes for smoothies?
As well as coconut milk ice cubes, frozen mixed berries, and frozen banana chunks, here’s the list of ingredients we used for these 3 smoothie recipes. Most of the ingredients came straight from the storecupboard for minimum waste and maximum speed.
- Vanilla Extract
- Flaxseed powder, or LSA mix
- Chia seeds
- Maca powder
- Hemp powder
- Acai powder
- Goji powder
- Spinach powder
- Cacao powder
- Cacao nibs
- Dried mulberries
- Dried dates
- Milks; coconut, oat, cow
- Juices; pomegranate
- Whole limes
Pom berry smoothie recipe
Full of fruity sharp flavour, this berry based smoothie is packed with antioxidant power. Best served immediately whilst still semi frozen, yet still great later if you need to put it a bottle and go.
Makes 1 serving
1 cup pomegranate juice
1/2 cup frozen berries
1 tablespoon acai powder
1 tablespoon goji powder
2 tablespoon dried mulberries
- Blitz all ingredients in a blender until smooth and slushie thick.
Lime and green smoothie recipe
A great tasting green smoothie thanks to a healthy shot of lime juice and the creamy calm of coconut. The chia adds an almost ice cream texture and lots of fibre.
Makes 1 serving
1 cup coconut milk
1 tablespoon flax seed or LSA mix
1/2 cup coconut ice
Flesh of 2 whole limes, plus the zest
2 teaspoon chia seeds
1 tablespoon spinach powder
- Blitz all ingredients in a blender until smooth and ice cream thick.
Choc date shake smoothie recipe
Like your favourite chocolate shake with nutritional powerhouse cacao, the sweetness of dates and a kiss of vanilla. The maca powder gives it a hint of malted flavour.
Makes 1 serving
1 cup milk (dairy or non-dairy)
3/4 cup frozen banana
2 tablespoon cacao powder
1 tablespoon cacao nibs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 pitted dates
1 tablespoon hemp powder
1 teaspoon maca powder
- Blitz all ingredients in a blender until smooth and shakey thick.
We hope you are inspired to try these three healthy recipes for smoothies. Let us know how you get on. Our post on top ten acai ingredients looks at the benefits of some of the ingredients used here.
Don’t forget to check out our range of smoothie ingredients, or buy your wholefood bulk groceries online.
Organic Beetroot Vegetable Powder is Perfect for Healthy Breakfast Smoothies
Organic beetroot vegetable powder by Boost Nutrients is perfect for healthy breakfast smoothies. It is manufactured from premium organic beetroot juice. Healthy smoothies can be easily made with the help of naturally dried vegetable powders. Besides this, it is ideal for an acai bowl and granola bowl toppings. The products of Boost Nutrients are made under certain HACCP certified grounds and it is also manufactured from respective organic certified manufacturers as well as processors in which organic products are shown. Organic beetroot vegetable powder contains high nutrient retention and it is a gluten-free and allergen-free product. The ingredients of organic beetroot vegetable powder are 100% organic beetroot juice. It is rich in protein, fibre, calcium, minerals and vitamins.
Organic beetroot vegetable powder has a long shelf life if respective products are stored properly. This product is sealed in foil-lined resealable bags. Please never left the bags open as it may get expired due to absorbing moisture from respective air.
Visit Boost Nutrients website for more information to know more details about the product. Book your favourite product now and get online discounts on this product.
Organic Acai Powder – A Magnificent Concentrated Natural Food Supplement
Organic Acai Powder by Amazon Power, available from Boost Nutrients is 100% pure acai fruit freeze dried. Organic Acai Powder truely is a magnificent concentrated natural food supplement. The perfect way to boost your nutrients with an easy healthy breakfast.
It is termed as an antioxidant power house and it contains no preservatives. Amazon’s Organic Acai Powder is ideal for a home made acai bowl or granola bowl topping and for smoothies and juices.
This Organic Acai Powder 250g is a magnificent concentrated natural food supplement. Our high quality Organic Acai Powder helps to develop immune system of individuals and will increase your energy. It is rich in protein, fiber, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins.
Opera Foods delivers Organic Acai Powder to Consumers Direct and to retailers in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne overnight along with our Boost Nutrient brand products. Boost Nutrients also provides consumers directly from our online store.
Visit our online organic store for more information. Book your favorite product now and get online discounts on this and many other products.
Natural Goji Berry Powder Riches in Fiber and Protein
Boost Nutrients produce great ingredients for smoothie, acai bowl toppings, fruit and vegetable powder and natural goji berry powder is very popular among those that taste superior and fine foods.
Boost Nutrients, a division of Opera Foods are health ingredient distributors of Australia. They provide products for gourmet grocery as well as organic food in Sydney, Brisbane as well as Newcastle. With the help of natural goji berry powder, healthy smoothies can be made for breakfast and also it can be used for toppings for acai bowl or granola bowl.
Goji berries have been utilized as a kind of medicine herb in China for many decades. It is usually given with tea and many others in China. The Chinese medicine was believed on perceived results without any scientific analysis as well as information. According to the researches of modern science, goji berries possess distinctive level of respective anti-oxidants namely Lycium barbarum polysaccharides that help to increase an immune system of an individual.
Goji berries are rich in protein and moreover these super berries contain significant amount of amino acids that is higher than other berries.
Natural goji berry powder is rich in protein, fats, carbohydrates, sugars, sodium that aids to prevent against illness. It is also gluten free as well as allergen free. Natural Goji berry powder contains certain health benefits including improves healthy skin, lowers blood sugar, and reduces anxiety.
Organic Pepitas a Fresh Natural Super Food Helps Digestion and Boosts Nutrition
Boost Nutrients produce great smoothie ingredients, vegetable powders, fruit powders; toppings for acai bowl. Our organic pepitas are very much popular among them. They taste superior and fine and are easy to sprinkle on meal with a great boost to nutrition.
Organically grown Pepitas are rich in vitamins, fiber, antioxidants and minerals that helps to strengthen your immune system and so prevent illness. It is considered as a perfect superfood topping for smoothies and acai bowl.
It is generally utilized for nutritious breakfast smoothie as well as acai bowl ingredients. Organic Pepitas can be sprinkled on acai bowl, salads, smoothies, oatmeal, cereal, chicken as well as vegetable platters. It is also great for stews and soups and it adds a superior consistency in cookies, puddings and several other desserts. Buy Organic Pepitas online now.
Vegan Vitality and Immune Power with Organic Beetroot Powder
Organic beetroot powder is a vegetable powder product of the Boost Nutrients brand. Boost nutrients are the distributors of respected superior quality food powders to retailers as well as cafes.
Boost Nutrients is conducted and owned by an Australian Family Food Business Opera Foods. Organic beetroot vegetable powder is basically allergen-free as well as gluten-free. Healthy and nutritious smoothies can be produced with the help of organic beetroot powder.
Healthy smoothies can be regarded as a healthy breakfast as it contains protein, carbohydrates, sugars, sodium. It contains high nutrient retention owing to the unique process of drying technology. It is produced from the natural pulp of organic beetroot. It helps to increase immune power as well as the vitality of an individual. Its another vegan food ingredient for vitality.
Our 500g bag is pictured and also available in 100g pouch for consumer direct orders.
Buy it online from Opera Foods, Australia’s wholesale cafe foods suppliers.