Healthy smoothies to up your energy

Smoothies provide an instant lift that lasts

In the article Caffeine-free tips to boost your energy, certified nutritionist Angela Pifer extols the virtues of smart snacking and recommends smoothies as a healthy alternative to coffee. She suggests smoothies made with rice, almond, cashew, soy or regular dairy milk, with the addition of another protein to ensure your smoothies satisfy your hunger and keep you full. Drinking a smoothie instead of coffee will raise your blood sugar levels and keep them on an even keel. You won't have the instant surge of energy and eventual crash that often comes with caffeine.

Healthy smoothie recipes

Here are smoothie recipes, courtesy of Emily M. White, author of Caffeine-free tips to boost your energy, and regular contributor for SheKnows.com. For the following smoothie recipes, place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth or your desired consistency.

Pumpkin-Banana Smoothie

1 serving vanilla flavored rice protein
1 cup vanilla soy milk, light
1/4 cup canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)
1/2 medium banana
Dash of pumpkin pie spice
4 ice cubes

Chocolate Raspberry Shake

1 serving chocolate flavored soy protein
1 cup vanilla soy milk, light
1 cup frozen raspberries
1/8 teaspoon orange extract
4 ice cubes

Very Berry Shake

1 serving vanilla flavored soy protein
1 cup vanilla soy milk, light
1 cup frozen mixed berries
A few drops pure vanilla extract
4 ice cubes

Orange Julius Shake

1 serving vanilla flavored soy protein
1 cup vanilla soy milk, light
3 tablespoons frozen orange juice concentrate
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 ice cubes

Apple Pie Shake

1 serving vanilla flavored soy protein
1 cup vanilla soy milk, light
1 cup frozen apple slices
A few dashes each ground cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves
1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
4 ice cubes

Smoothie recipes and tips

Tips for nutritious and delicious smoothies
Vanilla Aphrodisiac Smoothie
A fun and fruity smoothie