How to Make a Smoothie: The Beginner’s Guide to Easy Healthy Smoothies

This beginner's guide to homemade smoothies will teach you how to make a smoothie at home–the healthy (and easy!) way. You'll also find buying tips for your blender, the not-so-secret ingredients you can use to make your smoothie thicker, and 17 healthy smoothie recipes that you can make in 5 minutes (or less).

I think you'll be hard-pressed to find a better breakfast, snack or post-gym food than a smoothie. They're so easy to grab-and-go and (depending on your recipe) can pack a serious 1-2 punch of nutrition!

But not all smoothies are created equally. Sure, you can probably buy one from your local grocer, gym or even a fast-food chain–but they're not always healthy. And it's not usually that easy to ask for the ingredient list to double-check what's inside your shake.

If you're looking to avoid particular ingredients–like dairy–pre-made smoothies open up an entirely new set of problems because so many pre-made and store-bought recipes rely on milk, yogurt or whey to provide a smooth, creamy consistency.

The good news? If you keep your kitchen stocked with healthy ingredients and the right tools, making healthy homemade smoothies couldn't be easier!

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Vitamix vs Blendtec: How to Choose The Best Blender for Smoothies

Much like smoothie recipes, blenders aren't created equally. The secret for a smoother blend? A high performance blender with stainless steel blades and a powerful motor will give you the best result. This becomes particularly important if you're skipping dairy products or using ice for your frozen fruit smoothies.

Wondering which blender to choose?

Great question. I hunted for the perfect smoothie blender for a while and, after much testing, my top picks for the best powerful blender for smoothies are Vitamix (I own this one) and Blendtec (I own this one).

Yes, I own two blenders! The Vitamix blender and Blendtec blender each have specific strengths that are best suited for particular types of smoothie recipes. Here's why:

The Vitamix has a tamper that you can insert through the top to keep the ingredients moving. This makes it the best blender for green smoothies and recipes that result in thicker smoothies. With variable speed controls and a pulse feature, it's also great for making nut butters, mixing batters, and preparing no-cook hot soup.

Meanwhile, the Blendtec has button controls that make it easy to wipe clean. Better yet, those buttons aren't just for constant blade speed–they actually include built-in speed settings cycles for juicing and smoothies. Beyond use for smoothies, it also works quite well for preparing batters, soups, and can crush ice for frozen drinks.

If you're looking for a good blender, you can't go wrong with either of these models. Both will handle the toughest ingredients like ice cubes and nuts. And the best thing is you can blend warm water and a drop of dish soap for easy cleaning.

If you have a small kitchen, the Blendtec is a slightly more compact size may make it the right choice. But I think the Vitamix's sharp blades, tamper, and capacity for large batches make it a slightly more versatile blender.

How to Make a Smoothie Thicker (No Dairy Required!)

Thankfully, there are some easy ways to make a healthy smoothie without adding dairy. These tips will also help you whip up a thick and creamy smoothie bowl.

If you're looking to achieve a creamy texture with just fruit ingredients, try avocado, frozen bananas or other frozen fruit. You'll see these fruits on a lot of healthy smoothie recipe ingredient lists, so know that these ingredients alone will help deliver a smoother, creamier texture. You don't need yogurt or whey to make a creamy healthy smoothie!

My favorite healthy smoothie hack? Peel and freeze extra ripe bananas. They're the perfect smoothie thickener to keep on hand. You can have your breakfast or snack pulled together in a flash!

Handy Smoothie Ingredients To Keep In Your Kitchen

Aside from your fruits and veggies, there are a handful of staples that will make it easier for you to whip up a healthy smoothie (or shake) whenever a craving strikes.

Here are some of my favorites:

• For collagen, I’m currently loving this marine collagen and this grass-fed collagen that is certified glyphosate free (it's by far the best value I’ve found).





• Egg white protein powder–Look for unsweetened 100% egg white powder without additives.





• Coconut milk with no added gums or sweeteners. You'll be looking for an ingredient list that only just includes coconut and water (I buy mine from Amazon or Thrive Market).





• Nut milk – as with the coconut milk, you'll want to look for cashew milk or almond milk without gums or stabilizers (here's how I make cashew milk at home).





• Fresh fruit – smoothies are a great way to use whatever's in season.





• Frozen fruits – strawberries, blueberries, mango, and pineapple are staples in my freezer.





• Leafy greens – spinach is my favorite and can be used fresh or frozen.





• Flavorings, like raw cacao powder, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg.





• Local raw honey or maple syrup (if you like your smoothies a little sweeter).





• Other extras to suit your tastes, like fresh herbs, pumpkin puree, and pumpkin pie spice.

17 Easy Healthy Smoothie Recipes You Can Make At Home (Without Yogurt!)

Now that you have your kitchen tools and smoothie ingredients sorted, it's time to whip up some healthy smoothies of your own. Here are 17 delicious smoothies that are a snap to make at home. You'll find recipes for green smoothies, fruit smoothies, chocolate shakes, coffee smoothies, tropical smoothies and more. All are made with healthy, whole ingredients and skip on anything dairy or gluten!

3-Ingredient Green Smoothie

This easy green smoothie is so simple to make. If you love tropical drinks but green smoothies make you nervous, start with this recipe. It's easy, naturally sweet and tastes like a pina colada!

Total Time: 5 minutes

Number of Ingredients: 3