5 easy, quick and healthy smoothies for you to try this monsoon

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About two years back, on the brink of baldness and nearly overdosing on all sorts of fickle supplements, I came unto a bit of divine enlightenment. Everything on the surface of your body is a reflection of what you’re putting inside of you. That, dear bonnies stands true for that ashy partner you defend in the group chat but that’s not what we’re here to discuss today.

Unless you’re my hundred years old grandma or living under a rock, you are no doubt familiar with the sheer popularity of this rockstar of a drink we call smoothie. In today’s world, it has found a rather high seat at the council of health and rightly, so I’d say.  These smoothies will keep you full, taste amazing, energize your exhausted soul and most importantly, cleanse your gut into the healthiest skin, hair and body you’ve ever wanted. After all, a way to your heart, is your stomach.

Smoothies without milk

Bonnies, I am not lactose intolerant, but I avoid milk as much as I can. Especially raw milk. Let me tell you why. Animal milk is rich in a hormone called IGF, insulin like growth factors. Some studies have shown that it increases inflammation in the body. Nearing adulthood, I certainly do not need that. However, that doesn’t mean one must villainize milk given its high nutrition value. I prefer to consume it in moderation, which is why these recipes are milk free. Should you prefer to, please go ahead and replace the water in the following recipes with milk. The taste will differ slightly, but in my North Indian boyfriend’s opinion, ‘milk makes everything tastier’.

Can you drink smoothies every day?

Yes, you can. In fact I have done it all through my fourth year of college while living in a hostel because of how efficient, quick and nutritious it was during the hectic, unforgiving schedule. Just like you can consume fruits every day, there is no problem consuming smoothies every day in my experience.

 Why are smoothies so very popular?

1) Maintaining your weight

Whether you want smoothies for weight loss or smoothies for weight gain, these recipes are simple bases to start with. A few tweaks here and there can give you the specificity you are looking for in terms of your goals. Smoothies are a great choice when it comes to maintaining a certain standard of wellbeing in your food habits, whether you want to become fitter or simply lead a healthy lifestyle.

2) Quick and efficient

In the everyday rush of our life these days, I find it extremely easy to get some fruits in my body by quickly having a drink of my favourite smoothies. These particular ones are unbelievably filling and keeps me freshly energized. Yes, granted that you’d have to peel the fruits, add your liquid, run the blender and so on but if done well in time, it is highly convenient. Besides, it takes lesser than ten minutes, a fair trade I’d say to get a boost of nutrients into your bloodstream.

3) Amazing solution to a missed breakfast

Most of us no longer have the luxury of getting breakfast served to us by our mommies. The mornings have become a nightmarish cousin to flash. I know you bonnies are guilty of missing breakfast more often than you’re ready to accept. Popular culture even began glorifying this practice. I know intermittent fasting is all the rage. However, I really see a difference in my vigor on the mornings I get out of the house with a well fed belly. An empty belly inhibits your immunity as you go out into the heavily toxic environment of contemporary India, increases midday cravings, results in binging and alters your mood.  What I like to do is, get my smoothie ready a night before for the next day if I have little time to prepare it in the morning. It spares me a lot of chaos.

4) Filling, light and efficient in calories

Even for those of us who aren’t strictly counting calories and keeping note of each morsel we ingest; it is wise to understand that distributing your calories throughout the day is a good way of practicing wellness. Do we need to start googling the calories of these now? No, we don’t because all of these recipes are generally 400 to 600 calories, a sweet spot to a meal that wont just fill you up but give you scrumptious satisfaction.

5) You can drink your fruit 

If you are anything like me, you have a deep preference over drinking your fruit rather than eating it. I know I know ‘you should eat your fruits’. The benefits are countess, including optimum consumption and healthy gums. However, I do not think there is anything wrong with compromising peak efficacy for personal customization as long as the result is achieved. The main idea is to get those vitamins and minerals inside of you. Smoothies are a lovely, delicious and elevated way of doing so.

Recipes packed with monsoon harvest

Monsoon might just be the fanciest fruit month of the year in my opinion. The peaches and plums and cherries always excite the living crap out of me. Although, I am no religious baker. So, no matter how much I want to whip up a peach cobbler or cherry pie every other day, it is simply not feasible to my schedule and lifestyle currently. That is not at all going to stop me from working with these absolutely gorgeous fruits over the usual mangoes and grapes. Yes, I am shallow and I like pretty things, bonnies.

Smoothies for weight loss:

These recipes are already low in calories, healthy and does not use products that could deter your weight loss journey. However, if you want the following smoothie as a part of a stricter weight loss plan then do the following:

A)     Skip the honey.

B)     Avoid the packeted cranberry in ‘andha jamun’.

C)    Replace the banana with a thin slice of papaya instead. The taste will change ever so slightly but papaya is a much lighter form of natural sweetener that will also provide a similar texture.

Smoothies for weight gain:

In case you’re going surplus, you may try to tweak the following things:

A)     Do not skip the honey obviously. You may also use brown or palm sugar.

B)     Replace water with milk if you like.

C)    Add two bananas instead of one.

D)    Along with the whole peanuts in ‘Candy apple’, add a spoonful of peanut butter.

E) Replace the plain Greek yogurt with sweetened blueberry yogurt in 'andha jamun', strawberry yogurt in 'cherry kom' and vanilla yogurt in 'peach house'.

The showstoppers:

1)      Cherry Kom (Cherry banana smoothie)

Cherry Kom is everything you want in your wife. Flavoured with divine femininity but can throw a punch when crossed. Packed with vitamin c and probiotics, it can strengthen the gut biome and make you glow inside out. The cocoa is an added advantage to remind you that she can make the dullest outfit appear smoking at your office parties if you shower her with the love she deserves.

   Prep time: 5 mins

   Making time: 4 mins

           Ingredients

a.      10 to 12 long stemmed cherries

b.      1 banana

c.      2 tbs of Cocoa powder

d.      Dash of Vanilla essence

e.      3 tbs of curd/plain Greek yogurt

f.        Honey to taste (optional)

g.      Water according to consistency

Recipe

Step 1:

Wash your cherries thoroughly and pit them using a knife if you do not have a pitter, I don’t too. Slice up your banana. Add the fruits to the blender.

Step 2:

Add your curd/yogurt, vanilla essence and cocoa powder. Run the blender once.

Step 3:

If you like your smoothie sweet like you bonnie, go ahead, add the honey and a sprinkle of water to customize the thickness you want. Run the blender a second time until it has a seamless, smooth texture.

Enjoy your glass of Cherry Kom!

2)      Peach house (Peach smoothie)

This is a drink to whip up on a rainy slow morning. I know bonny, your six-foot, blue eyes finance dream boat hasn’t built you a beach house just yet and that is severely getting in the way of your birthright to walk along the coast on a calm, azure morning. Well, this glass not only feels as refreshing as that but also boasts an wide range of vitamins and minerals. Make it for him today and watch the show spiral.

Prep time: 7 mins

   Making time: 4 mins

           Ingredients

a.      2 large, ripe peaches

b.      1 banana

c.      Assortment of a handful of almonds, cashews and walnuts

d.      Few raisins

e.      A pinch of cinnamon powder

f.       Dash of Vanilla essence

g.      3 tbs of curd/plain Greek yogurt

h.      Honey to taste (optional)

i.       Water according to consistency

Recipe

Step 1:

I like my peaches smooth and peeled for this recipe. You are most welcome to leave the skin if you prefer. Wash, slice and toss your fruits in a blender.

Step 2:

Add the vanilla, curd/yogurt, nuts, dry fruits and run it in the blender once. Then add your cinnamon powder and water according to your preference of consistency. Run the blender once more. Add honey if you want.

Enjoy your tall, beautiful glass of peach house!

3)      Andha Jamun (Jamun smoothie)

We might have an andha kanoon but not andha paise with this current economy. I love a good blueberry banana smoothie, but my pocket doesn’t. So, when it is finally jamun season and I can make this beautiful purply alternative packed with rich antioxidants, not just my body but my ‘atma nirbhar’ heart feels quite elated.

Prep time: 5 mins

   Making time: 5 mins

           Ingredients

a.      10 to 15 jamun

b.      2 tbs of oats

c.      A pinch of black salt

d.      Handful of dried cranberries

e.      2 to 3 fresh mint leaves (can use dried ones as well)

f.       3 tbs of curd

g.      Spoonful honey

h.      Water according to consistency

Recipe

Step 1:

Wash and seed your jamun. Toss it into the blender. Add the oats, salt, mint and curd and give it a good long blend. Water and honey are absolutely needed in this recipe to elevate the taste.

Step 2:

Taste test is necessary in this one to estimate the level of sweetness and add the cranberries accordingly. To ensure a frothy finish, add a few ice cubes and run the blender once more.

Enjoy your gorgeous, purply Andha Jamun!

4)      Old monk plum (Plum smoothie)

This recipe is the perfect way to honor the memories of your summer retreat to the cold, snowy hills. It also reminds me of rolling meadows nestled in some corner of our country, away from the hot, smelly streets we see otherwise. Luckily, I grew up close to such a little meadow and I can still recall the thrill in feeding freshly plucked plums to the ponies there.

Prep time: 5 mins

   Making time: 5 mins

           Ingredients

a.      3 ripe plums

b.      1 banana

c.      2 tbs of oats

d.      Half a pomegranate

e.      3 tbs of curd

f.       Spoonful honey

g.      Water according to consistency

Recipe

Step 1:

Wash and slice your fruits. Add it to the blender along with the oats, curd and honey. Run the blender once.

Step 2:

Check the consistency and add water. Once served, throw in a few pomegranate seeds to add a extra layer of crunchiness to the otherwise soft, lush texture of this smoothie.

Enjoy your warm, addictive old monk plum!

5)      Candy apple (apple cinnamon smoothie)

Apple and banana might be the oldest combination in the smoothie book but wait till you try this, where we let apples shine independently. Call this your hyper self-sufficient elder sister who cannot accept help because she’s honestly that capable. Besides we all know, a apple a day keeps those white coats away!

Prep time: 3 mins

   Making time: 5 mins

           Ingredients

a.      1 crunchy apple

b.      2 tbs of oats

c.      3 tbs of curd/plain Greek yogurt

d.      Half a small packet of salted peanuts we use as chakna

e.      1 tbs of cocoa powder

f.       Half a teaspoon of freshly ground cinnamon

g.      A pinch of coffee powder

h.      Spoonful honey if need

i.       Water according to consistency

Recipe

Step 1:

Wash and dice your apple. Add it into the blender along with oats, curd/plain Greek yogurt, peanuts, cocoa powder and cinnamon. Run the blender. Then add the coffee, making sure to let it settle for a few seconds.

Step 2:

Add water and honey as and if required and run the blender once more. Use ice in this particular recipe to make the apple cinnamon concoction more pronounced in frothiness.

Enjoy the kind of candy apple you can afford to have everyday.

Tips:

a/ It is advisable to freeze your bananas when using them as a natural sweetener in your smoothies. It makes the texture is smoother and the sweetness more intense.

b/ Blending twice may seem tedious, but it ensures a smoother, well-rounded texture. Besides it is a great way to add to your smoothie without unbalancing the mixture.

c/ Always add your water last in order to ace the correct consistency.

d/ Adding a few ice cubes in your second blend will make the smoothie frothy. However, not all smoothies taste good when it’s frothy. So, I recommend you experiment this bit and choose for yourself! I prefer an ice blend only in particular recipes.

e/ I prefer most of my smoothies without any additional honey. However, if you need that extra sweetness, do not feel guilty to add a dash of honey to ANY of these recipes.

f/ Whenever a recipe uses oats, it is essential to use water to balance the texture. It is even better if you have the time to pre-soak the oats for a few minutes.

Disclaimer:

This post doesn't claim to provide professional medical advice. Everything stated above is for informational or educational purposes only. It does not attempt to substitute professional consultation. Reliance on information above to warrant medical cure, physical transformations and guaranteed results is not the responsibility of blogger. Seek professional help before trying.