Ah, smoothies. The universal answer to when you crave a creamy, frozen concoction, but without all the guilt. Now that spring break has come and gone, it’s time to give our bodies a break from all that white rum in hollowed out coconuts, and usher in a bit of a cleansing period. Smoothies are the perfect answer to that: full of fiber, vitamins and healthy energy, their fruity flavor can even hide the taste of vegetables (thank goodness). So, here’s how to have a smoothie at any time of day, no matter the meal.
1. Breakfast Time
Smoothies are so awesome for us college students because, if you’re anything like me, I never give myself enough time to whip up anything fancier than a granola bar in the morning. Smoothies are quick, easy, and if you do it right, they can even be filling. Our friends over at Northwestern have a great guide to making the perfect breakfast smoothie, including a few recipes.
Photo by Julia Maguire
2. Lunch Time
Now, a smoothie itself may not be the best lunch, but it is definitely a great addition to your sandwich/salad/whatever. Green smoothies are great for this time, because they pack in a healthy dose of vegetables alongside your main course. PS: this green smoothie actually tastes good, so get blendin’.
Photo by Yonatan Soler
3. Snack Time
This is my personal favorite time of day to have a smoothie, and luckily our very own Hilltoss on campus has a winner for afternoon snack. One of my favorites has coffee, chocolate almond milk, banana, dates and more to create a creamy, sweet and simultaneously very healthy treat. The caffeine really doesn’t hurt either.
Photo by Scott Harrington
4. Dessert Time
You may have noticed I skipped dinner, but honestly, unless you’re going to blend some chicken and pasta, I don’t think you want a dinner smoothie. Moving right on to the best part of the day: dessert. This banana peanut butter smoothie is just rich enough to be a dessert, but without going overboard on the calories.
Photo by Kelda Baljon