Whether you’re in need of a quick, filling, healthy breakfast, fancy a refreshing drink or are looking to get a dose of your ‘five a day’, then whizzing up a healthy smoothie recipe is a good go-to.
While smoothies and juices have soared in popularity, many of the ones sold in shops are packed with sugar and extra calories. The healthier option is to make your own or try something like Juice Plus+, then you know exactly what’s going into your drink, not to mention it’s fun and allows you to experiment with different ingredients.
There’s plenty of healthy smoothie recipes out there, so if you’re in need of one that gives you an energy boost, full of nutrients or packed with protein then look no further, as we’ve rounded up some tasty recipes.
Remember, while it’s ok to have a smoothie to replace a meal now and again, this should not be done regularly.
The best healthy smoothie recipes UK
Two minute smoothie
Best for: Breakfast
If you have limited time in the morning, but don’t want to skip on a good low-calorie breakfast, then this breakfast smoothie from BBC Good Food is well worth whizzing up. It’s one of our favourite healthy breakfast smoothies recipes that's packed with banana, oats, honey, milk and fruit. The oats will help give you a slow release of energy throughout the day and it’s naturally low in fat too.
Carrot, ginger and turmeric smoothie
Best for: A healthy immune system
This seven-ingredient smoothie from Minimalist Baker is packed with ingredients that your body will love. Ginger is brilliant antioxidant that helps strengthen your immune system and fight off diseases, while turmeric is great for keeping joints healthy and has anti-inflammatory properties.
Detox smoothie
Best for: Detox
Loaded with nutrients and fruit and veg naturally low in calories, this smoothie from Detox Inista, will help flush out your body.
Peanut Butter and banana smoothie
Best for: Post-workout
Peanut butter and banana are a classic smoothie combo. This recipe from Gainful includes a scoop of protein powder (you can use any brand) to help aid muscle recovery after a good workout, as well as some cocoa powder for a chocolate flavour.
Strawberry banana smoothie
Best for: Weight loss
If weight loss is your goal and you’re trying to remain in a calorie deficit, you’ll be looking for a low calorie smoothie. Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Momhas loads of smoothie recipes that are all under 150 calories, but we particularly love the sound of the banana smoothie one, which is only 119 calories.
Energy boosting smoothie
Best for: Energy booster
If you’re in need of a little ‘pick me up’ this three-ingredient smoothie from Cooking with Sapana will do just that. It contains superfood spinach, bananas, which are full of potassium and fibre, and apples, which are a great source of slow releasing energy.
Blueberry smoothie
Best for: Healthy snack
Sometimes we just get a little peckish throughout the day. But instead of reaching for the tin of biscuits, why not give this blueberry smoothie from Joy Food Sunshine a try? Blueberries are naturally low in calorie and are not overly sweet, so you'll want to add this recipe to your list of healthy smoothie recipes for weight loss.
Are smoothies healthy?
Smoothies can be a healthier alternative to fruit juices as the whole fruit is retained, meaning you'll still get all of the fibre. You'll also get plenty of Vitamin C too, giving you more energy and strengthening your immune system.
However, it's important to note that over-drinking them could be bad for you teeth as they contain 'free sugars' that can wear down your enamel and lead to dental decay, so try sticking to one a day.
Bryony Firth-Bernard has contributed to various Bauer Media brands such as Yours and What’s The Best as a Health and Fitness Product Writer since 2022. Having previously sat on the editorial team for Mother&Baby and Yours as a Digital Writer, she is now pursuing her passion for fitness further at T3.com as an Active Writer.