Strawberry Banana Smoothie
Hungry for something healthy but don’t have time to cook? This Strawberry Banana Smoothie is a terrific (berry-fic?) blend of fruit and almond milk that will have you filled up and out the door in no time.
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Something happened to the way I make smoothies. When I first started making them as a meal replacement (usually breakfast) or a snack, they were simple concoctions that involved only a handful of ingredients. They took little time to make. In fact, I found washing up the blender took longer than actually making the smoothie!
Then something changed. I got overzealous. Soon, I was rummaging through my fridge and pantry for anything that COULD go in my smoothie instead of using only those ingredients that SHOULD go in it. Yes, I was just like the scientists at Jurassic Park.
Granola, eggs, peanut butter, kale, spinach, yogurt, powders of any variety… it all went in there. My taste buds could not make sense of what was going down my throat. I just kept telling myself that it was healthy. And they were. But I can’t say I was enjoying the mish-mash of flavors. Not only that, the smoothies were taking so long to make, I may as well have taken the time to make a proper meal.
Well, this recipe is a return to those simpler times. It uses only four ingredients (discounting ice and the garnish) and can be blended together in a few minutes. Plus, the strawberry and banana taste great together, while the milk adds a creamy texture. It’s simple and easy—just what you need in a snack!
Is This Strawberry Banana Smoothie Healthy?
You bet it is. All the ingredients are natural. The fruit will give you energy, as well as a variety of nutrients, while the honey/syrup is an all-natural healthy sugar, perfect for those long afternoons when you’re feeling run down. The almond milk contains vitamin D and calcium, and is a dairy-free alternative to cow’s milk. Together, these ingredients are suitable for dairy-free and gluten-free.
Which Other Fruit Combinations Do You Recommend?
If banana and strawberry aren’t your thing (or you simply don’t have any), there are so many other fruit combinations to try.
Berries: Ramp up your antioxidants with a medley of blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries (and strawberries, if you like).
Tropical: Use fresh mango and pineapple and pretend you’re on a beach.
Go Green: If you want to rely solely on the honey/syrup for your smoothie’s sweetness and forgo the fruit, use spinach and/or kale.
Citrus: Why go green when you can go orange? Use oranges, clementines, and/or tangerines with a squirt of lemon or lime juice.
Apple Pie: Chop up some apple and add a dash of cinnamon for a taste just like grandma used to make.
INGREDIENTS
- 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled
- 1 ripe banana, frozen preferably
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1 tbsp honey or pure maple syrup
- 1 cup ice cubes
- fresh mint leaves (optional garnish)
INSTRUCTIONS
Blend
Combine strawberries, banana, almond milk, honey, and ice in a blender. Process until you achieve a smooth and creamy consistency.
Taste & Serve
Adjust the sweetness to your liking, pour into glasses, and enjoy a refreshing Strawberry Banana Smoothie. Garnish with mint for an extra touch of freshness
DEVOUR!
FAQs & Tips
When I make this smoothie, I usually load up my blender, pour however much I want, then put the entire jar in the fridge, to be consumed the next day. If I made more than I can handle in that narrow window of time, I pour the smoothie into a mason jars and store them in the freezer for up to a month. If I think tomorrow is going to be a busy day, I’ll take out a mason jar from the freezer and let it thaw in the fridge overnight. It will be right there waiting for me first thing in the morning!
There are 125 calories in a serving of this smoothie. The lion’s share comes from the banana, which also loads up the carbs (keto friendly, it is not!). I can’t imagine a day that I don’t have a banana, especially when I need a pick-me-up, so I don’t mind its high numbers, but you may want to switch it out for another fruit if you are trying to keep your sugar/carb/calorie count low.
Nope. I chose unsweetened almond milk for the health benefits and taste but you can please yourself and use whichever dairy/non-dairy, sweetened/unsweetened creamer you like. You may have to adjust the quantity though to find a consistency you prefer.
No, especially if you are using frozen strawberries and a frozen banana. Your smoothie will be nicely chilled without having to water it down with the ice cubes. You can also keep it chilled longer without having to resort to ice cubes by keeping your glass in the fridge before using it.
Thin it out by adding more ice cubes. I don’t find almond milk particularly thick, so you can also add more of that. Also, use fresh fruit instead of frozen fruit; this will affect the consistency. To thicken, you can do the opposite of what I just said (i.e., use frozen fruit instead of fresh fruit) or call upon plain Greek yogurt or avocado. Both shall thicken your smoothie without completely altering the taste.
Other Smoothie Recipes to Try
- Peanut Butter Low-Carb Keto Smoothie with Almond Milk: The name is longer than the ingredients list. A very simple keto smoothie that tastes like a peanut butter cup!
- Banana Vanilla Orange Smoothie: A high-protein (thanks to the added protein powder), thick smoothie that reminds me of an orange Creamsicle.
- Blueberry Spinach Smoothie: Rich with antioxidants, this smoothie balances healthy and sweet with aplomb (no, not a plum).
Strawberry Banana Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh strawberries hulled
- 1 ripe banana preferably frozen
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1 tbsp honey or pure maple syrup
- 1 cup ice cubes
- fresh mint leaves (optional garnish)
Instructions
- In a blender, combine the fresh strawberries, banana, unsweetened almond milk, honey or pure maple syrup, and ice cubes.
- Blend on high speed until all the ingredients are thoroughly combined and the mixture is smooth and creamy.
- Taste the smoothie and, if desired, add a little more honey or maple syrup for extra sweetness. Blend again if additional sweetener is added.
- Pour the smoothie into two glasses, garnish with fresh mint leaves if desired.
Nutrition
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