Food Recipe Collections & Favorites Healthy Meals 21 Healthy Breakfast Smoothies for When You Need a Quick Meal on the Go It's okay to be short on time, but there's no need to skimp on nutrition. By Betty Gold Betty Gold Betty Gold is the former senior digital food editor at Real Simple. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines and Kimberly Holland Updated on February 14, 2020 Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Getty Images For time-crunched, superfood-seeking eaters, smoothies are one of the best ways to secure several servings of fruit, vegetables, and even healthy fats in a single meal. They also happen to be incredibly delicious, whether they're tropical and sweet, like a Creamy Mango Smoothie, or a bit more invigorating, like a Coffee, Oat, and Maple Smoothie. The key to blending healthy smoothies that taste great is hitting a balance of naturally sweet ingredients, like fruits, with other vitamin-packed options. These might include spirulina, spinach, beets, and a variety of vegetables that are revered for their nutrition profile but perhaps not their flavors in a beverage. This collection of healthy breakfast smoothies features green smoothies, fruit smoothies, and a variety of other ingredient mixtures that whir up into a delicious drink you can enjoy on the go. Find one and make it daily—you can buy ingredients in bulk—or mix and match different recipes to try something new and different each day. Here, our collection of the 21 best healthy smoothie recipes that deliver a great deal of flavor, and more importantly, a healthy dose of good-for-you ingredients. Not All Superfoods Are Actually Healthy, but These 11 Live Up to the Hype 01 of 21 Coffee, Oat, and Maple Smoothie Greg DuPree On mornings when you want the jolt of coffee but can't fathom the heat of it, turn to this coffee-infused smoothie for a fast pick-me-up. The addition of old-fashioned rolled oats in a smoothie might seem out of the ordinary, but when blended with a banana, the texture turns luscious and rich. The extra dose of fiber will also keep you full longer, which is not something you get from just any breakfast smoothie. Get the Recipe: Coffee, Oat, and Maple Smoothie 02 of 21 Coconut Milk Smoothie Charles Masters Consider this healthy smoothie your blueprint: Almost any fruit can be substituted for the frozen blueberries, and you'll still get a delicious drink. This smoothie serves four, so it's ideal for a family that sips smoothies together. Get the Recipe: Coconut Milk Smoothie 7 Smoothie Ingredients Nutrition Experts Love 03 of 21 Coconut-Kale Smoothie With Ginger and Mint Grant Cornett Don't turn your nose up at healthy green smoothies if the color doesn't appeal. Many green smoothies are sweet, delicious, and ultra-satisfying, even if their color gives away that they're ultra-healthy, too. This smoothie is no exception. The combination of coconut water and fruit provide a refreshing foundation for green leaves of kale and mint. A burst of citrus from fresh lime juice balances out the tang of the greens and the coconut water for a fast and easy breakfast smoothie. Get the Recipe: Coconut-Kale Smoothie With Ginger and Mint Related: 5 Healthy Green Smoothie Recipes 04 of 21 Fresh Cranberry and Orange Smoothie Sarah Karnasiewicz Tangy, bright, and packed with vitamin C and antioxidants, cranberries deserve a place in the kitchen outside the Thanksgiving table. We like to pop a bag of fresh cranberries in the freezer to keep on hand for healthful liquid breakfasts all winter long. Just toss a few into the blender with almond milk, Greek yogurt and two juicy oranges, and give it a whirl. Get the recipe. 05 of 21 Pear, Oat, and Maple Smoothie Sarah Karnasiewicz Love oatmeal but never have time to sit down and enjoy it? This on-the-go-breakfast is the answer. Greek yogurt gives this smoothie a great foundation of protein while the subtle, juicy flavor of ripe pears is the perfect marriage for dark maple syrup and sweet creamy oat milk. Get the recipe. 06 of 21 Tangerine, Carrot, and Turmeric Smoothie Sarah Karnasiewicz Turmeric is a trendy nutritional powerhouse—studies suggest it may help ward off dementia and cancer. It's gorgeous golden hue will add a welcome bit of sunshine to your winter breakfast landscape, too. When blended with carrots and the season's juiciest tangerines, turmeric has a savory-sweet bite that surprises and satisfies. Get the recipec. 07 of 21 Pumpkin, Cashew, and Cinnamon Smoothie Sarah Karnasiewicz This decadent and gently spicy seasonal smoothie may taste like pie in a glass, but don't be fooled: Cashew milk (available in most supermarkets) adds some creaminess without the calories of conventional dairy and the combo of pumpkin and Greek yogurt packs a welcome one-two punch of fiber and protein. Get the recipe. 08 of 21 Creamy Mango Smoothie Grant Cornett You'll be well understood if you make this tropical-inspired smoothie recipe on a morning when you're deciding between skipping work and heading to a secluded island or actually hopping the train to report for duty. Each sip of this fruit smoothie is a moment of relaxation. What's more, it packs a bit of filling protein because of yogurt, so you can stave off morning hunger pangs before the lunch hour arrives. Get the Recipe: Creamy Mango Smoothie 09 of 21 Meyer Lemon, Ginger, and Buttermilk Smoothie Sarah Karnasiewicz Buttermilk isn't just for pancakes: Swap it into your morning smoothie in place of regular milk along with a little citrus and a knob of fresh ginger and you'll be pleasantly surprised by its silkiness and refreshing, tart taste. Bonus: Like yogurt, it's full of protein and probiotics to keep you going strong beyond breakfast. Get the recipepo. 10 of 21 Raspberry Chia Smoothie Sang An Chia seeds are little powerhouses of fiber and protein—and a little goes a long way. Just one tablespoon is all you need to round out a whopping 10 grams of protein and 15 grams of fiber in this fruit drink. The chia seeds will start to plump if the smoothie sits for too long, so drink up immediately after blending. Get the Recipe: Raspberry Chia Smoothie 11 of 21 Carrot-Pineapple Smoothie Grant Cornett The color is as bright as the morning sun, which is certainly a sign that this breakfast smoothie is loaded with vitamins and minerals. The ingredient list is short—pineapple, orange juice, carrot, banana, and a bit of ice—so you can almost make this smoothie without even consulting your recipe book. To make this healthy smoothie even faster, use our favorite make-ahead smoothie trick so you can blend and be out the door in record time. Get the Recipe: Carrot-Pineapple Smoothie 12 of 21 Spinach, Grape, and Coconut Smoothie Grant Cornett Seedless green grapes and coconut milk bring unexpected sweetness to this green drink. Spinach hides beautifully in the other ingredients so you'll never know this green smoothie is serving up vitamins A, K, and C, and even a good bit of iron, calcium, and folic acid. You could consider this as good as almost any multivitamin—but a lot more delicious. Get the Recipe: Spinach, Grape, and Coconut Smoothie 13 of 21 Raspberry and Nut Smoothie Grant Cornett If you don't have the time (or the extra hands) to slather a bit of peanut butter and jelly onto bread for a quick and effortless breakfast, you can turn that PB&J into a sippable shake by blending low-fat milk, frozen raspberries, and your favorite nut butter. Nut butters in smoothies add filling protein, healthy fats, and a delicious richness you won't get from fruits and vegetables alone. Get the Recipe: Raspberry and Nut Smoothie 14 of 21 Mango Smoothie Grant Cornett Mango is a great source of vitamins A and C, as well as filling fiber, so drinking a whole one in a morning smoothie is starting your day on the right nutritional foot. Use almond milk in place of cow's milk for a dairy-free version. If you like your smoothies extra cold, freeze the mango overnight before blending. Get the Recipe: Mango Smoothie 15 of 21 Gingery Berry and Oat Smoothie Grant Cornett Reinvent oatmeal by whirling rolled oats, blueberries, yogurt, and ice in a blender. Brown sugar and fresh ginger add an extra pop of tang. If you don't like the chew of rolled oats, don't worry. They disappear to form a scrumptious and creamy smoothie that tastes decadent and rich. Get the Recipe: Gingery Berry and Oat Smoothie 16 of 21 Spiced Pumpkin Smoothie Grant Cornett If you can't wait for pumpkin spice season, go ahead and bring the spice to breakfast. This autumn-inspired sipper really is terrific any time of year, but we won't blame you if this becomes a favorite in the season of pumpkin spice latte-sized lines at the neighborhood coffee spot. Use canned pumpkin puree to make this five-ingredient seasonal sipper even easier. Get the Recipe: Spiced Pumpkin Smoothie 17 of 21 Pomegranate, Pink Grapefruit, and Beet Smoothie Sarah Karnasiewicz Got the midwinter blues? This brilliant pink blend of tart grapefruit, luscious pomegranate, and sweet beets is guaranteed to chase them away. To avoid hassles on hectic mornings, stock up on conveniently packaged "vacuum-packed" cooked beets rather than roasting your own. They're available in the produce section of many markets and are a real time saver. Get the recipe. 18 of 21 Creamy Date Smoothie Grant Cornett Dates may be a bit too sticky to enjoy as snacks, but when blended up with milk and ice, they turn into a sweet sipper with hints of molasses and floral flavor. Soften pitted dates by placing them in milk for 15 minutes, then blend with ice for a sweet on-the-go breakfast. Get the Recipe: Creamy Date Smoothie 19 of 21 Kale Smoothie With Pineapple and Banana Christopher Baker Kale salads are always a welcome way to get loads of vitamins A, K, and C, but if you've grown tired of eating a leafy dish at every meal, you can get all the goodness of the greens in a smoothie. This green smoothie gets its signature hue from kale, but coconut milk, bananas, and fresh pineapple balance out the flavors. Get the Recipe: Kale Smoothie with Pineapple and Banana 20 of 21 Strawberry-Flax Smoothie Grant Cornett Made with flaxseed meal, low-fat yogurt, and strawberries, this rich and creamy drink is a healthy choice for breakfast or as a snack. If you need more servings of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, this sweet smoothie is one way to get them, thanks to flaxseed meal. You can add flax to any smoothie recipe, actually. Just make sure it's flaxseed meal, not flax seeds. The seeds need to be ground up so you can get the most nutritional benefit. Get the Recipe: Strawberry-Flax Smoothie 21 of 21 OJ Shake Levi Brown Fruit juice might seem like a healthy breakfast option when time is tight, but many dietitians would encourage you to make it an occasional treat because it's a concentrated source of sugar and not much else. You can use that bottled orange juice and make your own healthy breakfast beverage with milk, clementines, bananas, and ice. Sweeten the final product with vanilla and honey. Get the Recipe: OJ Shake Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit