Happy summer, everybody! The warm weather is here, school is coming to a close, and we’re all itching to finish finals and spend our days laying out in the sun and getting some much needed R&R. I could name a million things I love about summer, but today I’m just going to talk about one: smoothies! Now, because of my Smoothie King obsession, I drink smoothies pretty much all year round, but I have to admit that there is just something so nice about a fresh, cold smoothie on a hot summer day. You can throw together almost any type of fruit, and most veggies, into a delicious smoothie to enjoy for any meal of the day, a post-gym snack, or a poolside beverage. In the spirit of the beginning of summer, and a happy return to my very own blender at home, I browsed through Food Network’s list of 50 smoothie recipes to find some new concoctions to enjoy all summer long. This list has something for everyone’s taste, so I’ve put together 5 of my top choices for this summer.
1. Pineapple-Coconut
This recipe, number 25 on Food Network’s list, is the perfect tropical combination to get your summer started. Whether you’re lucky enough to spend your days on the beach, or your keeping busy with a full-time summer internship, throwing together this combo for breakfast will make you feel like you’re on a Caribbean vacation. Here are the instructions from Food Network:
“Freeze about 2 cups coconut water in 1 or 2 ice-cube trays. Blend 2 cups each chopped pineapple and coconut ice cubes, 1 ½ tablespoons lime juice, 1 tablespoon honey, and ½ cup of coconut water”
2. Mango-Acai:
This recipe has the same tropical feel as the last, but the acai berry will give it a dark red color and add some really great flavor. Acai is great for you, and it tastes amazing—I always ask them to add acai berries when I go to Smoothie King. This recipe is perfect for a post-workout snack! Here’s the recipe, number 29 on Food Network’s list.
“Blend two 4-ounce packages frozen acai berry puree, one cup chopped mango, ½ cup orange juice, 2 cups ice.”
3. Creamsicle Smoothie
I was so excited when I saw this recipe on Food Network’s list. The delicious combination of orange and vanilla ice cream after a long, hot summer day spent on the beach or at the pool is something I’m sure we can all remember from our childhood. This recipe is sure to bring all of those childhood memories back as you sip on your Creamsicle smoothie after a day spent out in the sun!
“Blend ¾ cup frozen orange or orange-tangerine concentrate with ½ cup cold water and 1 cup vanilla ice cream and ice.”
4. Triple-Berry Blend
This combination is for those of you who aren’t crazy about the tropical fruit. While I definitely love pineapples and mangos, berries are usually my first choice of fruit and the first thing I’ll grab out of the fridge when making a smoothie. This smoothie will have the delicious flavor of your favorite berries with a creamy, smooth texture.
“1 ½ cups mixed blackberries, strawberries, and raspberries with 1 cup each milk and ice, and sugar to taste.”
5. Apple-Spinach
This last recipe is for you vegetable lovers out there. When I first heard of the idea of vegetable smoothies, I honestly wasn’t crazy about it. But, if you think about it, what better way to get your daily serving of vegetables than to mix it up into a healthy, delicious smoothie combination? Even Smoothie King now sells their veggie blend smoothies, and juicing has become a huge thing lately. This recipe sounds like the perfect way to introduce vegetables to your blender and add even more health benefits to your smoothie!
“Blend 2 cups spinach, 1 chopped peeled apple, ½ cup silken tofu, ¼ cup each soy milk and orange juice, 1 tablespoon each wheat germ, honey and lemon juice, and 1 cup ice.”
So, there you have it! Those are my top picks for delicious summer smoothie combinations. If you’re looking for more, check out Food Network’s list or simply look up “smoothie combinations” online. I know I’m looking forward to trying out different smoothie recipes all summer, because I really don’t think there’s a better way to stay cool, healthy, and refreshed on these hot days!