Strawberry Banana Smoothie

Strawberry Banana Smoothie benefits

• It's extra delicious. Fruity, extra smooth, and very refreshing.
• It's packed with essential nutrients, especially fibers, vitamin C, antioxidants, and healthy Omega-3s.
• It's filling and nutritious, a great drink for weight loss.
• It's made with a few simple ingredients and without added sugars.
• It's vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free.
• It's super easy to whip up and plus kids love it!

Ingredients used

You will need only a few simple pantry ingredients for this healthy strawberry banana smoothie recipe.

• Strawberries. They are the star ingredient in this beautiful smoothie. They are loaded with vitamin C and many other powerful immune-boosting antioxidants. (Source) I love them because they are low-carb, reduce inflammation and keep our gut and heart healthy. (Source) I used fresh strawberries for this smoothie, but frozen will work fine too.
• Banana. This fruit is full of essential nutrients, especially potassium and gut-friendly fibers. It's also very filling and great for energy. Check "Recipe variations" for ideas on how to swap banana in this recipe.
• Milk of choice. I used oat milk, but you can use any milk you prefer and like. Note that coconut milk won't work well here, because of the flavor.

To give this healthy strawberry smoothie some extra flavor and boost, I also tossed in:

• Cinnamon. I always use Ceylon cinnamon, also known as "true" cinnamon. It's a highly delicious spice with many health benefits. Cinnamon gave this strawberry smoothie a wonderful flavor.
• Flax seeds. They are an excellent source of heart-healthy Omega-3 and fiber. Which makes them a great addition to smoothies, making smoothies more filling and balanced. Make sure you ground flax seeds before mixing them in smoothies.

How to make Strawberry Banana Smoothie

Making this strawberry banana smoothie is quite easy. It will take you 5 minutes and all you need is a good blender.

Step by step instructions

• Step 1: Prepare the ingredients.
  • Start with preparing and measuring all the ingredients. I like to use measuring cups.
  • If you are using fresh strawberries, wash them and remove strawberry stems.
  • If you have whole flax seeds, make sure you grind them in a grinder before using them.
• Step 2: Mix the smoothie.
  • Take the blender and add all ingredients. Note: add wet ingredients first for easier blending.
  • Turn on the blender and mix at high speed until you get a smooth texture.
  • If the smoothie is too thick, add a little more liquid – milk or water. Blend again until the smoothie is smooth.
  • Taste the smoothie and add additional sweetener if you like. (See the "Sweetener recommendation" for suggestions)
• Step 3: Serve the smoothie.
  • Transfer the smoothie into a tall smoothie glass. 
  • Add toppings (optional): I used hemp seeds and cacao nibs. Be creative here and add toppings you like. 
  • Serve and enjoy!

Substitutions

• You can use fresh or frozen fruits.
• You can use any plant-based milk here except coconut milk. Coconut milk (from a box) won't work well here in terms of pairing with other flavors. Cow's milk works well too.
• You can substitute flax seeds with chia seeds or hemp seeds.

Smoothie variations

This strawberry banana smoothie is vegan and gluten-free.

Make it without banana: Substitute banana with ½ avocado. In that case, you will need to add extra sweetener. See the "Sweetener recommendation" for suggestions.

Make it weight loss friendly: Use only ½ banana to cut down calories. Or omit banana and use ¼ avocado. If using avocado, opt-in for low-carb sweeteners, like stevia.

Add protein powder: Add a scoop of vanilla protein powder. This will transfer smoothie into a great protein-packed, post-workout shake.

Tips for storing

• Store in a smoothie cup with a lid and keep refrigerated for up to one day.
• If you left the smoothie standing long it will set. Don't forget to shake or stir it before drinking!
• Remember, all smoothies oxidate when left standing. That's not bad. But it's best to have the smoothie fresh.

Recipe tips

• When you're adding ingredients to a blender, always add the liquids first. Doing this will help your blender run easily and it will prevent lumps.
• Use a high-power blender to ensure everything blends well and the smoothie is silky smooth. 
• Fresh strawberries are the best for making this smoothie. They blend into a flavorful, fresh, and delicious drink. For a cold punch, I like to add ice cubes.
• If you want to use frozen fruits, but don't have them at hand, just pop the fresh strawberries in the freezer for 1 hour.
• You can use a frozen banana too. This will make the smoothie extra thick and even hard to mix. In that case, add a little more milk when blending to adjust thickness.
• If you have whole flax seeds, make sure you grind them before blending them in a smoothie. Grinding flax seeds is the best way to make the most of their health benefits.
• Always use unsweetened non-dairy milk to avoid unnecessary sugars. Read the ingredients list on the back of the label.

Sweetener recommendation

This smoothie uses banana as a natural sweetener. I don't recommend adding any extra sugar. But if you find the smoothie not sweet enough or if you use avocado instead of banana, you can add some sweetener. Here are my recommendations.

• You can use 1-2 dates, date syrup, liquid honey, or maple syrup.
• If you are using dates, make sure you soak them in warm water for at least 10 minutes. Drain them before using them.
• Use liquid stevia or any liquid low-carb sweetener for the low-carb option.
• Coconut sugar or any other cristal sugar won't work well here. It will not dissolve well in a cold smoothie mixture.