5 Healthy Winter Smoothie Recipes

If you're feeling a bit stuffed this holiday season (and between Thanksgiving and Christmas, that's not uncommon), why not consider incorporating one of these five healthy Winter smoothies into your meal plan? Smoothies are perfect for the holidays, and they add fiber, vitamins and antioxidants to diets, and you can pack them full of fruit for an energy boost. Whether you’re looking for a hostess drink, a way to jazz up a winter day, or just trying to stay healthy, there’s a smoothie recipe to meet your needs.

Pineapple-Orange

The Martha Stewart website suggests a winter smoothie made of pineapple and orange juice. Ingredients include 2 and ½ cups of pineapple juice, and the same amount of squeezed orange juice. Three-quarters cup plain yogurt, one banana and three tablespoons of honey, plus ¼ teaspoon cinnamon. Fill an ice cube tray with orange juice and another with pineapple juice, and then freeze them. Mix the yogurt, banana and honey with cinnamon and blend them until smooth. Set the mixture aside.

Rinse the blender and blend the remaining pineapple juice with the pineapple ice cubes until it’s slush. Divide the blended pineapple juice into four glasses and top with the yogurt mixture, forming a parfait. Place the glasses into the freezer; then blend the remaining orange juice with the orange ice cubes until smooth, get the glasses from the freezer and top them with the orange slush. Garnish with cinnamon and an orange section. Serve the smoothies immediately.

Strawberries

Keith Smith, Director of The Ohio State University Extension, recommends using frozen strawberries in smoothies to perk up winter days. Strawberries mix well with other fruits. Frozen berries are not as sweet as fresh ones, so in addition to the ingredients, add a teaspoon of honey or sugar to sweeten them up. Mix ½ cup of strawberries with ½ cup of yogurt and a ½ cup of whole milk. Blend with 1 cup of ice cubes for a refreshingly healthy winter pick-me-up.

Pumpkin

Pumpkin just goes naturally with winter time. This great recipe calls for a 15 ounce can of chilled pumpkin, a 12 ounce can of evaporated milk, an 8 ounce container of whipped topping, 1/4 cup of granulated sugar, 1/4 teaspoon of pumpkin spice, and a garnish of whipped cream. Combine the ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth.

Cranberry-Honey Smoothie

Wondering what to do with those leftover cranberries? National Public Radio (NPR) suggests blending them into a nutritious smoothie. The recipe calls for 1 cup of soy, almond, rice or 2 percent milk. Mix in 1/4 cup of cranberry sauce, ½ banana, 1 or 2 teaspoons of honey and a few ice cubes. Blend until thick and frothy.

Peach Frappe

Put a bit of summer into winter with a peach frappe. The physicians at Saint Louis University tempt patients with this healthy recipe because it is calorie-dense and packs a punch. Mix a cup of milk with a packet of vanilla instant breakfast, 6 ounces of peach yogurt, ½ cup frozen peaches, 1/4 cup dry milk and ½ cup ice cubes. Blend until smooth.