Strawberry Oatmeal Smoothie

Summer is in full swing, and it's a peak season for sweet strawberries. You can find them in every store and on the markets. They will be in season until the end of August, and my plan is to enjoy them as much as I can.

This Strawberry Oatmeal Smoothie is a perfect Summer smoothie. It's loaded with fruity flavors and sweetness. It's creamy, dreamy, and so delicious!

I bet your whole family's gonna love this strawberry smoothie. Plus, it's made without added sugars, which makes this smoothie the ideal smoothie for weight loss.

Strawberry Oatmeal Smoothie benefits

• It's extra delicious. Thick, creamy, fruity. Extra smooth but so light.
• It's packed with essential nutrients, especially fibers, and powerful antioxidants from strawberries and oats.
• It's quite filling and nutritious, a great smoothie for weight loss.
• It's loaded with immune-boosting Vitamin C and healthy Omega-3s.
• It's made with wholesome ingredients and without added sugars.
• It's vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free.
• It's super easy to whip up plus kids love it!

Ingredients used

You will need only a few simple pantry ingredients for this beautiful strawberry breakfast smoothie recipe.

• Milk of choice. I used oat milk, but any non-dairy milk such as almond, cashew, or soy milk. Cow's milk is ok too, while coconut milk won't work well here. It doesn't pair well with other flavors.
• Strawberries. Strawberries are delightful low-calorie fruit. they are loaded with vitamin C – a powerful immune-boosting antioxidant. Strawberries have many health benefits - I love them because they reduce inflammation and keep our gut and heart-healthy (1). For this smoothie, I used fresh strawberries, but frozen will work fine too.
• Oats. It might seem odd to add oats to a smoothie, but oats are a great addition to smoothies. They make smoothies creamy and thick, but oats also add up many nutrients. Oats are an excellent source of fiber, especially beta-glucan, a type of soluble fiber responsible for keeping our heart healthy. It also supports the growth of good bacteria in our digestive tract, which is essential for our overall health. They are a great source of energy and fullness.  
• Banana. The riper the better for natural sweetness. And for an extra creamy texture, you can use a frozen banana. See "Recipe tips" for more info.

To make it more interesting, creamy, and super healthy, I also added:

• Almond Butter. I added almond butter because I wanted to make the smoothie complete and more nutritious. Almond butter is packed with healthy monounsaturated fats, fibers, proteins, and many essential minerals and vitamins. 
• Maca powder. Maca is a superfood with many health benefits. It boosts mood, energy, and stamina. It contains many vitamins, minerals, and amino acids and it's a great addition to smoothies.
• Vanilla extract. For extra flavor punch.

How to make Strawberry Oatmeal Smoothie

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

Step by step instructions

• Start with measuring all the ingredients. I like to use measuring cups.
• Wash the strawberries and remove strawberry stems.
• 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" section for suggestions)
• Transfer the smoothie into a glass. 
• Add toppings (optional): I used goji berries and bee pollen. Be creative here and add toppings you like. 
• Serve and enjoy!

Substitutions

• You can use rolled oats or quick oats here.
• You can use any plant-based milk here except coconut milk. Coconut milk won't work well here. Cow's milk is fine.
• You can substitute almond butter with peanut butter or cashew butter. Tahini works well too.

Smoothie variations

Make it without banana: Substitute banana with ½ avocado. It will make the smoothie creamy. Note: in this case, you will need to add extra sweetener.

Make it weight loss friendly: Use only ½ banana to cut down calories.

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

Make it gluten-free: Use certified gluten-free oats.

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. 
• Frozen strawberries are the best for making this smoothie. They blend into a thick, refreshing drink that gives you a cold punch.
• If you don't have frozen strawberries at hand, just pop the fresh ones in the freezer for at least 1 hour.
• You can use a frozen banana. This will make the smoothie extra thick and even hard to mix. In that case, add a little more milk when blending and adjust thickness to your liking.
• If you don't have a frozen banana at hand, just slice the banana and pop it in the freezer for at least 1 hour. Or just use ice cubes.

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, you can add some. Be mindful.

• Add 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.

Faq

You may also like:

• Avocado Smoothie
• Blueberry Chia Smoothie
• Mixed Berry Smoothie
• Cherry Banana Smoothie