smoothies

Mouth-puckeringly tart, slightly sweet, cool, and creamy, the mango lassi is a natural pairing with spicy Indian dishes as its dairy base quells fiery bursts of heat. Thankfully, like its smoothie kin, it's a simple recipe to master and, likewise, worth considering beyond the dinner table.

Thinner than a typical smoothie (thanks to a healthy dose of milk), a lassi isn't an exact analogue per se but ticks many of the same boxes. For those only familiar with it as Indian-restaurant fare, it might seem like an odd choice for breakfast, but I bet once you try your hand at the easy recipe, you'll want to enjoy it morning, noon, and night.

Making a smoothie is an easy way to whip up something nutritious when you don't have a lot of time, but they don't always have to replace a meal. This low-calorie cinnamon, honey, and green tea smoothie, for example, makes for an excellent frosty caffeine break when temperatures rise.

Not only will the caffeine in the green tea give you much-needed energy, but cinnamon and green tea have both been shown to have metabolism-boosting properties. In addition, research has shown that honey may help regulate blood sugar levels, meaning you won't feel groggy after this afternoon snack. The next time you're feeling like you could use a frosty, sweet caffeinated beverage, forgo the Frappuccino for this 139-calorie smoothie instead.

Miss out on Spring break? Not to worry: mango, avocado, pineapple, and a few splashes of milk are all you need to go on a miniature tropical getaway.

Why, you might ask, should you add avocado to the smoothie? Don't skip out on it: the fruit imparts a pleasant green hue on the drink, plus it contributes to the overall thickness and mouthfeel of the smoothie, since avocados are naturally high in fat. It won't really affect the flavor, though: this smoothie is all about the mighty sweet mango and mouth-puckering pineapple.

I prefer my smoothies on the thicker side, but keep blending it with more milk until you reach your desired consistency. I like to pop my smoothie in the freezer for 10 minutes or so to really chill it up.

Keep reading for the recipe.

Eating breakfast is one way to get your metabolism fires burning strong, but what you eat can boost your metabolism even more. With a quick whir of the blender, here's a smoothie recipe loaded with metabolism-boosting ingredients.

In this recipe, you'll find calcium-rich Greek yogurt, almonds, and broccoli, which has been shown to help the body break down fat. The almonds, cannellini beans, and yogurt also add a great deal of protein, and what's more, the zinc in the yogurt may increase the production of the hormone leptin, shown to improve metabolism and suppress appetite. The high-fiber strawberries keep you feeling full longer and are also packed with vitamin C. Pour in some green tea for caffeine, a natural metabolism booster, and top it all off with cinnamon, a warming spice that can temporarily boost metabolism. In the end, you've got a breakfast under 345 calories that offers over 30 grams of protein and 7.2 grams of fiber.

Find out how delicious boosting your metabolism can be when you read more.

While making another one of my favorite smoothies, seeing a bunch of ripe bananas in the kitchen gave me the urge to bake some banana bread. Then a light went off — why not combine a smoothie recipe with banana bread to make banana smoothie muffins?

Made with pureed banana, spinach, and strawberries, these muffins came out even more deliciously sweet and moist than anticipated. Skeptics might be turned off by the greenish hue, but just like green eggs and ham, "try them, try them," and this might become your new favorite banana bread recipe.

From Jenny Sugar, POPSUGAR Fitness

Banana Smoothie Muffins

Recipe Notes

These muffins taste best freshly baked, with the edges slightly crispy. Store leftovers in an airtight container.

Ingredients

3 ripe bananas
2 cups packed baby spinach
8 strawberries
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup canola oil
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Puree the bananas, spinach, and strawberries in a blender.
3. In a medium-size bowl, combine the flour, sugar, egg, oil, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
4. Pour the smoothie mixture into the bowl and mix well.
5. Put paper or silicone muffin cups in a muffin pan (you'll need two pans for 14 muffins).
6. Spoon the batter, filling each cup about three quarters full.
7. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
8. Allow muffins to cool on a rack and enjoy!

Makes 14 muffins. Here's the nutritional information for one muffin.

Source: Calorie Count

print recipe

If you're feeling bloated, sluggish, or otherwise low energy, it's time to whip up this digestion-relieving smoothie. Almost every ingredient in this recipe is good for your gut: papaya helps you debloat and relieves constipation, Greek yogurt offers healthy probiotics for your system, and ginger and mint help calm any stomach upsets. It even has a splash of lemon juice to help flush out toxins. Keep this recipe on hand for any overindulgent days.

Read on for the recipe.

If sipping a mojito on the beach isn't in the cards anytime soon, serve up this refreshing smoothie that tastes spot on to the boozy tropical treat. This riff on a green machine does more than offer a full serving of fruit and veggies — it helps alleviate hangover pains! Instead of leaving you with a nasty headache, this virgin mojito is high in potassium, manganese, and B vitamins, nutrients that get you back on your feet after a big night out.

Keep reading for the list of ingredients that go into this Spring break-inspired smoothie.