This Blueberry Smoothie includes banana, yogurt, and yes, blueberries to deliver a smooth and nutritious lavender-colored elixir.
Table of Contents
You know how you constantly ask yourself, What is my favorite fruit? And you know how you constantly walk into things because you’re too busy weighing up the pros and cons of nature’s candy? Well, I’m here to put the debate to rest. Blueberries is the answer.
Why? They are the utilities fruit. Never mind how nutritious they are, the antioxidants they provide, their mild flavor that doesn’t overpower, and the ease with which you can eat them (sorry, pomegranates!), what makes me love blueberries is the amount of other foods and drinks you can add them to. Everything can be infused with blueberry, including smoothies.
Which brings me to this recipe. It is smooth, creamy, healthy, and, thanks to the blueberries, has the loveliest aromatic flavor to it. Not too sweet but prominent enough that you know what you’re drinking without noticing its purplish hue. It’s the ideal way to start your day (and not a bad way to curb your afternoon hunger pangs!). And while you can make these with fruits that aren’t blueberries, we all know they just wouldn’t be as good. How do we know? I told you so, remember?
Are Blueberry Smoothies Healthy?
I’ve already mentioned the nutritional value of blueberries, but they’re not the only ingredients that are good for you. The banana will deliver potassium and energy, while the Greek yogurt contains lots of protein. With only four ingredients, this smoothie fits in nicely with vegetarian, Mediterranean, and gluten-free diets.
How Do I Reduce the Amount of Sugar?
Given there are only four ingredients in this smoothie, there isn’t a lot of wiggle room when it comes to sugar reduction. That said, you can make some adjustments. When it comes to the apple juice, look for the unsweetened variety. Bananas, meanwhile, get sweeter as they ripen. Now, I’m not suggesting you add a green banana to the mix but a pre-ripe one should do. Last, use plain Greek yogurt instead of flavored. Granted, the flavor will diminish but you were probably aware that reducing sugar would have that effect.
INGREDIENTS
- 1 1/2 cups apple juice
- 1 banana, halved
- 1 1/2 cups frozen blueberries
- 3/4 cup vanilla Greek yogurt
- fresh blueberries and mint sprigs (optional garnish)
INSTRUCTIONS
Blend
Mix apple juice, banana, blueberries, and Greek yogurt in a blender until smooth.
Garnish
Pour into glasses, add garnishes if you like.
DEVOUR!
FAQs & Tips
Sure, although you probably don’t need to, given how easy they are to make. In any case, you can blend them up then put the entire blender bowl in the fridge until you’re ready for them. At which point, put the bowl back on the blender blades and give it a spin. This will return the smoothie to its proper consistency.
These smoothies will keep for up to 3 days in the fridge, whether you keep them in the blender bowl or pour them into mason jars. You can also freeze them by pouring the mix into mason jars (leave some space at the top for expansion) then put them in the freezer. Use them within a month. I recommend giving them another trip in the blender to retrieve its consistency.
If you don’t like apple juice, white grape juice is a good substitute. You can also steer away from fruit juices and lean into something creamier, like cow’s milk or almond milk.
Sure, though the frozen berries give your smoothie a thicker consistency and keep it chilled. You may want to add ice if you go the fresh-blueberries route.
Not a fan of banana? Use mango or even avocado. Both will help with the thickness of your smoothie the way the banana would.
Blueberry Smoothie Variations
The beauty of this smoothie is in its simplicity. It takes no time to make and the flavor palate isn’t so complex, your tongue won’t know what hit it. But there is room to expand, if you should feel so inspired. You can start by adding a variety of fruit, like raspberries, strawberries, pineapple, or mango. Seeds and nuts are also your friend and can aid with nutrition. Look to flax seed, chia seed, and nut butters (use 100% natural). And if the sprig of mint isn’t enough green for you, add spinach and/or kale to the blender. While the texture will certainly change, you may not notice a difference in taste (whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing is up to you).
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups apple juice
- 1 banana halved
- 1 1/2 cups frozen blueberries
- 3/4 cup vanilla Greek yogurt
- fresh blueberries and mint sprigs (optional garnish)
Instructions
- Combine the apple juice, banana, frozen blueberries, and vanilla Greek yogurt in a blender.
- Blend the mixture on high speed until it reaches a smooth and creamy consistency.
- Pour the smoothie into two glasses, garnish with fresh blueberries and mint sprigs if desired, and DEVOUR!
Nutrition Info:
Recipes written and produced on Food Faith Fitness are for informational purposes only.
Leave a Comment