5 To-Go Smoothies to Pump Up Your Work Day *Guest Post*
When you reach that afternoon slump it can be tempting to reach for a chocolate bar or other sugary snack, but if you need a little energy pick-me-up to pump up your working day, then why not prepare one of these smoothies before you head off in the morning – the perfect afternoon energy booster. Try out these five super energising smoothie recipes:
1. Peach and Vanilla Smoothie
This delicious drink makes a great pick-me-up with vitamins from the fruit – which you can swap for any other kind of you are not a big fan of peaches. The milk and yoghurt provide calories for energy as well, providing a perfect energy boost.
Ingredients
A cup of full-fat milk
A fresh peach
Half a cup of frozen vanilla yoghurt
Simply blend all of the ingredients in a blender and then you can take the drink to work with you and store in the fridge until you are ready to drink it later that day. Each serving provides around 300 calories.
2. Kale and Pear Green Smoothie
For a real energising health kick you can’t be a green smoothie and this one combines antioxidant-rich kale and spinach with the sweet greens of pear and grapes for added vitamins and nutrients. If you are facing a work day slump, this will give you a much need boost.
Ingredients
A cup of spinach
A cup of kale
A cup of green grapes
A chopped, cored pear
Half a cup of water
Two cups of ice
A chopped banana
Blend all of the ingredients together well in a blender. This should make around five servings, which deliver around 80 calories per serving.
3. Creamy Berry Smoothie
This creamy smoothie combines the tartness of berries with the softness of bananas and the dairy flavours, making it a firm favourite. The berries provide a nutrient boost while the calorie-laden dairy helps to increase the energy levels in this delicious recipe.
Ingredients
Eight ounces of milk
A third of a cup of cottage cheese
A quarter of a cup of blueberries
A quarter of a cup of blackberries
A quarter of a cup of grapes
Half a banana
Two cups of ice
Blend all of the ingredients together in a blender – add more milk if needed. The ingredients make one serving which provides around 240 calories.
4. Kale and Strawberry Smoothie
A truly refreshing drink, the combination of fruit and vegetables provide the perfect nutritious pick-me-up for your work day. The sweetness of the fruit match, the bitterness of the kale and the smoothness of the yoghurt work in tangent to create the ideal afternoon smoothie.
Ingredients
A cup of strawberries
Half a cup of mango
A quarter of a cup of grapes
A quarter of a cup of blueberries
A quarter of a cup of kale
Half a chopped carrot
Half a chopped pepper
A tablespoon of Greek yoghurt
A quarter of a cup of green tea
Simply combine all of the ingredients in a blender and blend up until smooth, and then it’s ready to drink. This makes around two cups of smoothie which deliver around 200 calories. For an added protein boost, add a scoop of strawberry Grass Fed Whey Protein from Focus Performance -
5. Vitamin C Smoothie
This orange and peaches packed smoothie provides a cool dose of vitamin C to support your system and give your work day a much needed pump. Vitamin C is good for your immune system, skin and can also help lower the risk of certain diseases including cancer and stroke, so it’s a great all round smoothie to support your health.
Ingredients
Two cups of ice cream
Two cups of sliced peaches
Half a cup of orange juice
Two tablespoons of flaxseed
A cup of milk
Combine all of the ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth, then your vitamin C packed smoothie is ready to drink. This makes four cups and delivers around 200 calories per serving.
The great thing about smoothie recipes is if you don’t like any of the ingredients, you can just swap them out for others, so if you don’t like peaches, change them up for strawberries, or swap the kale for broccoli. It’s entirely up to you to make the recipe which you like best. As long as it has fruit and/or greens included, it will still give you that much needed energy boost.
If you are concerned about the calorie levels in the smoothies containing ice cream or other dairy products, then again, you can swap these out for low/non-fat versions, or soy versions instead. So as well as controlling the flavours, you can also take charge of the calorie levels you are consuming.
Smoothies provide energy and natural nutrients, as well as giving you control over your calorie intake – now that has got to be better than heading for the chocolate bar vending machine to pump up your work day.
*About our guest author - Scott is a freelance sports and fitness writer based in London. When not in front of his computer or spending time in the gym you can see him hanging out in his favourite coffee shop devouring the latest Stephen King novel*
