Secrets to a More Satisfying Smoothie
Plus three healthy recipes to try
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Store-bought smoothies might not be the healthy option you’re hoping for; they’re often made with juice rather than just whole fruit, which ups the sugars count. (A 15.2-ounce bottle of Naked Green Machine, for example, has 270 calories and 53 grams of sugars.)
“If you have the time, and a good blender, making a smoothie at home is often healthier,” says Amy Keating, R.D., a CR nutritionist. Try one of the healthy smoothie recipes below. But with Keating’s three tips, you can easily make any smoothie tasty, filling, and nutritious.
1. Perfect Pairing
You can boost the nutritional benefits of your smoothie by adding vitamin-rich leafy greens, such as kale or spinach, or antioxidant-rich veggies like beets. But those ingredients don’t need to be the dominant flavor. Spinach pairs well with blueberries, and kale gets a nice flavor kick from tangy pineapple.
½ cup milk or unsweetened plant milk
1½ cups chopped pineapple
1 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt
4 cups chopped kale leaves
3 cups frozen mixed berries
1 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt
½ cup orange juice
2 teaspoons orange zest
1½ cups nonfat plain Greek yogurt
1 cup unsweetened almond-coconut milk blend
Top Blenders From CR's Tests
These blenders, listed in alphabetical order, performed well in our tests that evaluate smoothness and thickness.
Editor’s Note: This article also appeared in the August 2020 issue of Consumer Reports magazine.
