As the season changes, you gotta make sure your smoothie routine stays updated. So get ready to ditch your tropical fruit mix and make room for these healthy, winter-inspired ingredients.
1. Cranberries
Photo by Natalie Burns-Holland
From mediocre fruitcake to your favorite holiday cocktail, cranberries are the ultimate winter fruit. And they pack a healthy punch; high in vitamins and antioxidants, they make a perfect addition to your morning smoothie.
Pair these tart little fruits with some sweet oranges and you’ll have a delicious, immunity-boosting drink that will be your holy grail during these next few (flu) months.
See Recipe Below: Cranberry-Orange Smoothie
2. Peppermint
Photo by Natalie Burns-Holland
If you’re one of those people who loves those peppermint candies that your grandma always seems to have a never-ending supply of, then you’re in luck. That minty flavor can be added to your morning smoothie in a way that would make your grandma proud.
Combining it with the nutritious benefits of cacao makes for a healthy, chocolatey, and slightly caffeinated morning treat – basically the ultimate college student combination.
See Recipe Below: Chocolate-Peppermint Smoothie
3. Nuts
Photo by Natalie Burns-Holland
Nuts take on a whole new decadence during winter: they’re made into candies, used as fancy appetizers, and turned into trendy DIY decorations (thanks, Pinterest).
But for us constantly-sick-and-always-exhausted college students, the most important role nuts play in our lives during wintertime is keeping us healthy and energized. They’re high in fiber and vitamin content, which makes them a perfect addition to your morning smoothie.
See Recipe Below: Chocolate-Hazelnut Smoothie
4. Pumpkin
Photo by Holly Birchfield
Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte may be gone, but pumpkin still has a few more months left in the spotlight. Why not take advantage of this by adding it to your smoothie? Plus, it’s totally guilt-free (take that Starbucks), since pumpkin on its own is incredibly high in fiber and low in calories.
And don’t worry, you don’t have to feel #basic about drinking this pumpkin beverage unless you write your name on the cup.
See Recipe Below: Healthy Pumpkin Pie Smoothie
5. Cinnamon
Photo by Natalie Burns-Holland
Possibly the most versatile spice, cinnamon shines during winter whether in apple cider, holiday cookies, or the ultimate treat yo’ self-indulgence — cinnamon buns. On its own, cinnamon is a super healthy spice with many disease-fighting properties.
The warm flavor will give your smoothie that extra kick of sweetness. Plus, adding a cinnamon stick will take your drink’s presentation from 0 to 100 real quick.
See Recipe Below: Healthy Cinnamon Bun Smoothie
6. Ginger
Photo by Natalie Burns-Holland
Ginger is so much more than just something you throw in your stir-fry and then drown in Sriracha sauce. From curing sore throats to preventing heart disease, ginger is pretty much the miracle food.
If you know what’s good for you, you’ll add it to your repertoire of smoothie ingredients. Ginger on its own isn’t an overly “wintry” ingredient, but pair it with a few other spices in your smoothie and you’ll end up with an intense gingerbread flavor.
See Recipe Below: Healthy Gingerbread Smoothie
Cranberry-Orange Smoothie
- Prep Time:5 minutes
- Cook Time:0 minutes
- Total Time:5 minutes
- Servings:1
- Easy
- 3/4 cup orange juice
- 1 cup frozen cranberries
- 1/2 cup plain greek yogurt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 frozen banana
Ingredients
-
Step 1
Place all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth.
Chocolate-Peppermint Smoothie
- Prep Time:5 minutes
- Cook Time:0 minutes
- Total Time:5 minutes
- Servings:1
- Easy
- 2 tablespoon cacao powder
- 1 cup almond milk
- 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 frozen banana
- 1 cup ice
Ingredients
-
Step 1
Place all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth.
Chocolate-Hazelnut Smoothie
- Prep Time:5 minutes
- Cook Time:0 minutes
- Total Time:5 minutes
- Servings:1
- Easy
- 1 tablespoon cacao powder
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup roasted hazelnuts
- 1/2 cup chopped pear
- 3/4 cup almond milk
- 3-4 pitted dates
- 1 cup ice
Ingredients
-
Step 1
Place all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth.
Healthy Pumpkin Pie Smoothie
- Prep Time:5 minutes
- Cook Time:0 minutes
- Total Time:5 minutes
- Servings:1
- Easy
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- 3-4 pitted dates
- 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 1/2 tablespoon almond butter
- 1/2 cup almond milk
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 frozen banana
- 1 cup ice
- Sweetener (to taste)
Ingredients
-
Step 1
Place all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth.
Healthy Cinnamon Bun Smoothie
- Prep Time:5 minutes
- Cook Time:0 minutes
- Total Time:5 minutes
- Servings:1
- Easy
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 cup vanilla greek yogurt
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup almond milk
- 1/4 cup rolled oats (optional)
- 1 frozen banana
- 1 cup ice
- Sweetener (to taste)
Ingredients
-
Step 1
Place all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth.
Healthy Gingerbread Smoothie
- Prep Time:5 minutes
- Cook Time:0 minutes
- Total Time:5 minutes
- Servings:1
- Easy
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh ginger
- 1 cup almond milk
- 1 tablespoon molasses
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 pinch nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 frozen banana
- 1 cup ice
- Sweetener (to taste)
Ingredients
-
Step 1
Place all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth.