During the winter, smoothies are an easy and quick way to enjoy a healthy on-the-go meal, and they seem to be the last thing you want to drink while you are wrapped up in sweater and scarf, but that might change.
It doesn’t matter what’s the temperature outside, smoothies are always a good source of minerals, vitamins, and produce in liquid form. They are winter’s superfoods, they deserve their place in the spotlight, and this period of the year is the best to showcase them.
Replace your meal without giving up any seasonality with flavors from clementines or cranberries. While people are sipping hot chocolate and eggnog, indulging in their fifth candy cane, and nothing on holiday cookies, you can be getting back to winter’ bounty, sipping on tasty smoothies that won’t derail your diet and can help you neutralize the holiday bulge.
Boost your immune system and stay healthy during the cold winter by enjoying one of these antioxidant- and vitamin-packed smoothies. They are all tasty and look great, and healthy at the same time. Get inspired by reading the winter smoothies ideas, and have your blender ready. Just because it’s winter it doesn’t mean you have to take a break from your produce-centric diet. Here are five winter smoothies ideas that highlight winter’s best superfoods.
1. Cinnamon & spice
Since pears, pumpkin and apples are in season, accent these flavors all spices, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove. Also, by using durian you can make some delicious vanilla custard smoothies, or try out pumpkin pie or apple pie smoothie recipes. Be sure to use subtly flavored fall fruits (avoid berries and tropical flavors) if you use spices, and stick with non-bitter greens like leaf lettuce and baby spinach.
2. Non-frozen fruits
Frozen berries in your green smoothies keep you cool during the summer, and accent summer fruit nicely. However, use fresh ingredients and drink smoothies at room temperature during the winter. This way you won’t unnecessarily chill your body and it is the healthier way.
3. Add a kick of ginger
By adding fresh ginger root in the smoothie you’ll give it a warming sensation. Make sure to grate fresh ginger into your smoothie before you blend it. Ginger can blend very well with almost anything, but it is especially good with pears, mangoes, apples, carrots, bananas, citrus, and pineapple. If you are using ginger, don’t go overboard with bitter greens such as kale or dandelion.
4. Raw veggie blender soups
You can make warm soup in about 90 seconds if you have a high-speed blender such as the Vitamix. It is recommended to make it with tomatoes, carrots, some fresh drill, a little onion, a few stalks of celery and a clove of garlic. Blender soups provide fresh nutrition of whole vegetables in a steaming hot bowl of savory deliciousness.
5. Hot cayenne pepper
A dash of cayenne in a raw chocolate smoothie gives a Mexican, warm flair to your chocolaty shake. Also, cayenne can be used with raw vegetable blender soups.