Top 11 Healthy Smoothie Recipes to Drive Away Winter Blues

Reviewed by: | Author: Manoja Kalakanti

Is winter your favourite season? Or do you actually not care too much for the cold winds and dry weather that is an inextricable part of the winter months? If you are thinking about how to keep yourself warm and fuzzy this winter, then we have just the thing for you! Before you think of it, no, they are not warm mittens or leather jackets. We’re going to be telling you about a couple of warm and nourishing drinks that will not only keep your body temperatures comfortable, but also provide you with the right nutrients to keep you healthy!

healthy-smoothie-recipes

7 Things to Keep you Warm in Winters

Many of us look at the approaching winter months with a feeling of dread. Getting up early in the morning from the cozy comfort of your quilts seem like a chore, walking bare feet insouciantly seems to be an impossible feat, and your teeth start clattering the moment you think of venturing out of your comfortable home! Do these sound familiar? So how should you equip yourself to beat the winter blues? Check out some tips to combat the chilly winds with a smile on your face, albeit a grudging one!

things-to-keep-you-warm-in-winters

  • Layer up- Layering up can be stylish too, despite all the stylish clothes out there to ignore winter clothes. Keeping your feet, hands and ears covered are the best ways to beat the cold winds. So keep your socks, mittens, and caps handy, they can keep you comfortable when everything else fails to keep you warm.
  • Start sweating- Exercise might be furthest from your minds, as venturing out seems to be a strict no-no and also come winter, every active bone in your body seems to suddenly become lazy. You seem to be competing with the somnolent sun in laziness. The best medicine is exercise, a few jumps here and there can not only warm you but also bring about a warm flush to your face, totally killing your winter skin goals. Long workouts might be boring, so keep your winter workouts short and fun with interval training. Sweating is not as fun in summers as it is in the winters. Keep the circulation going!
  • Skin woes- The best way to keep you warm in winters is by getting yourself a good massage. Your skin becomes parched, and the touch of warm oils on your body not only keep it soft and supple, but the delicious warmth embracing your body is hard to miss. The best oils to use during those long winter months are olive oil, sesame oil, mustard oil, castor oil, almond oil and so on.
  • Eating warm foods- Spices, whole-grains and good fats are your best bets to keep yourself warm during winters. Magnesium and B-vitamins in the whole-grains help the thyroid and adrenal glands to regulate the body temperature. Cinnamon, cumin, paprika, nutmeg, and allspice help increase the body’s metabolism and generate heat. Fats in general, such as coconut oil, keep the body warm with the help of metabolizing.

eating-warm-foods

  • Keep it active- Yes, the winters seem to be long and dreary but it’s also the season to do all those insanely active things which you don’t find the stamina for in the harsh summer months. A long hike or maybe cleaning that one part of your house which you always put off saying “it’s just too hot for that,” or maybe learn a dancing form is just what you need. You can get ready for those Christmas parties by learning some mean moves on the dance floor. You can get warm and incite the Michael Jackson in you as well. Learning dancing can also help you lose that extra weight you pile on owing to those sinfully rich cakes and cookies you have during the winter months.
  • Stay hydrated- The first thing we put off during the winter months is drinking water. We stop drinking as our bodies don’t ask for it, read we don’t get thirsty. But keeping yourself hydrated and well-fed also means you will be better adapted to combat the cold. Reason enough to keep a handy bottle of water right near you.
  • Skip alcohol- Though many of us think that spiking your warm beverages with a dash of alcohol can warm us up considerably, it’s a myth. Alcohol drops the body’s core temperature. So when you think of adding some warm drinks to your everyday routine, alcohol clearly shouldn’t figure in your daily scheme of affairs, barring that one party or two.

Winter Smoothie Recipes

Eat, drink and be merry, that seems to be the mantra for most of us during the winter months, and the result is expanding waistlines, dropping energy levels and a dip in our immunity levels too. So if you’re wondering how to keep things warm and healthy as well, then we have the right answer for you! Concoct these delicious healthy winter smoothies and keep yourself warm this winter season.

1. Cashew Cinnamon Smoothie

Winter smoothies taste the best with a liberal dose of nuts in them. With a healthy dose of antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids, nuts or nut milk are the food to go to when you are blue with cold and to give it a delicious twist add, the Greek yogurt.

cashew-cinnamon-smoothie

Ingredients

  • 1cup cashew milk
  • 1/2cup whole milk Greek yogurt
  • 1/2frozen banana
  • 2/3cup pumpkin puree
  • 1pinch ground cinnamon

Method: Combine the cashew milk, yogurt, banana, pumpkin puree, cinnamon in the blender.

2. Beet Smoothie

If nothing else, the color of the smoothie is enough to drive away the mid-winter blues. Smoothies are perfect for those busy mornings when you don’t have much time on your hands to rustle up something healthy and nutritious. Give the bagel a break and indulge in this warm and delicious smoothie.

beet-smoothie

Ingredients

  • 1cup pomegranate juice
  • 1/2cup whole milk Greek yogurt
  • 2small cooked beets
  • 2small/medium pink grapefruits, peeled, seeded and sectioned
  • 2tablespoons honey

Method: Combine the pomegranate juice, yogurt, beets, grapefruits, honey and in the blender.

3. Choco Smoothie

If a chocolate drink served in a tall glass does not entice you to break your fast, we doubt if anything else will. This is the perfect wake-me-up healthy fruit smoothie recipe to give your sleepy mornings the perfect jump-start.

choco-smoothie

Ingredients

  • 1 small banana
  • 1 scoop unsweetened whey protein powder
  • 1 cup ice
  • 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
  • 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup or agave or pinch of green stevia

Method: Puree banana, protein powder, ice, milk, cocoa and sweetener in a blender until smooth, about 1 minute. Pour into a tall glass and enjoy.

4. Ginger Smoothie

Ginger is the warming spice which notches up the fat-burning quotient of the body pretty efficiently. This is one of the best breakfast options served in a glass. It should be on your list of easy healthy smoothie recipes.

ginger-smoothieIngredients

  • ¼ cup ice cubes
  • ½ frozen bananas
  • ¾ cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
  • ½ teaspoon fresh ginger grated
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoons molasses
  • Crystallized ginger for garnish (optional)

Method: Combine all of the ingredients, except the crystallized ginger, in your blender.Blend well until smooth. Serve with crystallized ginger on top.

5. Oat Smoothie

If you cannot do with your regular carb fix in the morning, yet you don’t know how to keep it really healthy as well, then this smoothie recipe should suit you just fine.

oat-smoothie

Ingredients

  • 15g/0.5oz dark chocolate chopped if possible go for a gluten-free one
  • 200ml/6.75floz almond milk or cashew milk or hazelnut milk
  • 20g/0.7oz rolled oats, preferably gluten-free
  • ½ a ripe, medium sized banana
  • 6 almonds
  • 5g/0.2oz chia seeds
  • 20ml/0.7floz cold water

Method

  1. Add the dark chocolate to a jug and pour in the almond milk. Microwave until the mixture is warm and the chocolate has melted, you can even use a double-boiler to melt the chocolate. Add the oats, banana, almonds, chia seeds, the water and approx. a fifth of the almond milk or the milk of your choice to your blender. Add an extra splash of cold water if you think the liquid is too warm, smoothies taste and work best when the ingredients are cold.
  2. Blend on high for a minute until the oats and chia seeds have been completely blended.
  3. While it’s blending, further heat the rest of the almond/chocolate mix until it’s piping hot, but just short of boiling.
  4. Pour the blended oat mix into your cup, stir in the almond/chocolate mix and serve.

6. Apple Smoothie

This recipe should surely be a part of your healthy fruit smoothie recipes. It is thick, creamy and filling. The honey adds the right dash of sweetness, making it an irresistible concoction.

apple-smoothie

Ingredients

  • 1 apple, cored and cut into chunks (peeled if you don’t have a high-powered blender)
  • ½ cup / 120 ml water (for a creamier smoothie you can use yogurt)
  • ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup (or raw organic honey)
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • A pinch of nutmeg
  • A pinch of allspice
  • 1 scoop protein powder (optional)

Method: Combine the apple, water, vanilla, maple syrup and spices in a blender. Blend until smooth. Pour into a mug and bake it in a microwave on high for about 2 minutes.

7. Green Winter Smoothie

Your smoothie recipe list will never be complete unless you add a green smoothie to it. Combining all the healthy ingredients of fruits and vegetables, this smoothie is surely a winner in the health department. Have it first thing in the morning to amp your mornings in the best way possible.

green-winter-smoothie

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups water (can substitute coconut water or milk of choice)
  • 2 cups spinach, washed and dried
  • 1 ripe pear, seeded and chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
  • 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
  • Honey to taste, optional
  • Mint to garnish, optional
  • Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth

8. Carrot Smoothie

Winters are not complete without your customary orange stick, carrots! They are full of nutrients and anti-oxidants, so are a must have in your smoothie recipe list.

carrot-smoothie

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons raisins
  • 1 cup non-dairy milk (I prefer unsweetened almond)
  • 1 cup peeled, chopped carrot
  • 1 banana, preferably frozen
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 cup spinach, optional

Method

  1. In a small bowl, soak raisins 5 minutes in the hottest tap water to soften. Soaked raisins blend better.
  2. Place all ingredients into a blender and blend until completely smooth.

9. Spicy Smoothie

Come winters, your spice bottles become the most hard-working bottles in your entire kitchen, for the simple reason that spices add the warmth in your dishes that other ingredients cannot, and drive away the winter blues in a jiffy.

spicy-smoothie

Ingredients

  • 1 cup milk of choice, or less for a thicker shake
  • 1 very ripe frozen banana
  • 1/2 tsp. each cinnamon and powdered ginger
  • Tiny dash each: pepper, cardamom, ground cloves, and nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp. pure vanilla extract
  • Optional sweetener if desired

Method: Combine all ingredients and blend until smooth. Serve cold, or gently heat if you want a hot drink instead.

10. Chai Latte Smoothie

Even if you are not a tea lover, your bond with this hot beverage becomes stronger in the long winter months. Drink it up to feel warm and fuzzy on the inside even if it is cold and blustery outside.

chai-latte-smoothie

Ingredients

  • 1 c hot brewed chai tea
  • ½ c canned coconut milk, heated in microwave or on stovetop
  • 2 Tbsp almond butter
  • 1″ chunk ginger, grated or finely chopped
  • ½ Tbsp maple syrup
  • ½ tsp. cinnamon

Method

Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth. If it is not warm enough for you, pour your smoothie into a microwave-safe cup and heat for 15 to 30 seconds or until it reaches the desired temperature.

11. Sweet Potato Smoothie

Whip up this creamy, frothy smoothie to chase away your cold frigid-to-the-bone feeling. Winters are not great, but they aren’t that bad either when you sip these delicious smoothies.

sweet-potato-smoothie

Ingredients

  • 1 c unsweetened almond milk, heated in microwave or on stovetop until hot
  • ½ lb sweet potato, cooked and mashed
  • 2 Tbsp almond butter
  • ½-1″ chunk ginger, grated or finely chopped
  • ½ Tbsp maple syrup
  • 1 tsp. cinnamon

Method: Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth. If it isn’t warm enough, transfer your smoothie into a microwave-safe cup and heat for 15 to 30 seconds, or until it becomes reasonably warm.

Not many of us adore those gray days with chilling winds which dry up our skin like no tomorrow. The only thing remotely comforting about winters is this list of healthy smoothie recipes. Try them to make winters more tolerable, and who knows, you might even take a grudging liking towards this much despised season. Let us know in the comments section below what it is that you hate or like about the winter season.

Top 11 Winter Smoothie Recipes – Stay Warm and Stay Healthy – PDF

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