Start your day with this delicious and healthy mango beet breakfast smoothie. If you don't like beets (like me) this smoothie just might change your mind.ย
For more healthy smoothie recipes, try myย Strawberry Smoothieย with oranges and greens or Tart Cherry Recovery Smoothie made with greek yogurt and canned tart cherries.
Lately, me and Coach have been focused on upping our fruit and veggie game. We are by no means on any kind of diet as we still eat โnormal foodsโ (including Christmas candy). We simply wanted to flood our bodies with lots of good stuff, the good stuff that only fruits and veggies can provide.
One of the easiest ways Iโve found to add more fruits and veggies to our daily diet is by drinking a smoothie. For those that have been long-time MHE readers (love you guys!) youโre very familiar with my love of smoothies.
I think of myself as a smoothie mad scientist, always trying new combinations. To be completely honest, Iโd say that 50% of the time my smoothies taste good and 50% of the time, they just donโt. Itโs always slightly entertaining to watch Coachโs response in the morning to my smoothie-de-jeur.
Through all my years of making smoothies, I had yet to crack the code on one big smoothie hurdle: making beets taste non-terrible.
See, I do not like beet flavor. Their earthy flavor tastes like dirty feet to me and nothing I had tried so far (and Iโve tried a lot of methods) seemed to improve them in any way.
Until now!
Simple Ingredients
This easy beet smoothie recipe is an excellent way to get the nutritional benefits of beets, even if you're not a beet lover. It's made with just a handful of ingredients that are easy at local grocery stores.
- Beet
- Frozen mango
- Frozen banana
- Carrots
- Leafy greens (romaine, spinach, beet tops, etc)
- Waterย
โExact quantities shown in the recipe below.
Iโve finally discovered the magic pairing with beets to make them taste, well, actually kind of good โ frozen mango and banana.
These 2 tropical flavors are the PERFECT compliment to fresh beets, providing natural sweetness and major nutrition. To prepare raw beets for smoothies, peel with a vegetable peeler and dice.
Why beets?
Perhaps you are wondering why I care so much about trying to like beets. I mean, if you donโt like it, you donโt like it. While I donโt know if Iโll ever love beets, I do want to try to eat them more. Why? Because they are mega powerhouses of nutrition that benefit the heart, circulatory system, detoxification, and beyond! And the color -- Beets have a gorgeous vibrant red color, known as betalain pigments, that make them quite unique amongst red and purple produce and provide antioxidant capacity.
Learning to like beets is worth-it from a health perspective, I assure you.
The other ingredients in this smoothie are super stars too. Mango, carrots, greens and banana provide additional vitamins, minerals and antioxidant capacity. Plus, the taste pretty great together. So great in fact, that this smoothie, beets and all, have earned the coveted honor of being approved by all 4 members of Team Braddock.
Recipe Video
Variations and Substitutions
The easy way to boost the health benefits of any smoothie is to add in some super foods.ย To this smoothie, you can easily add the following:
- 1โ fresh turmeric root - boosts anti-inflammatory properties
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric - same as above but easier to keep around
- 2 tablespoons ground flax seed - increases fiber and could benefit cholesterol levels
- 1โ fresh ginger root - boosts anti-inflammatory properties and made support join health
- 1 tablespoon Maca powder
- 1 serving spirulina powder
Equipment
Buy a good blender. If you are going to make smoothies on any type of regular basis, it is worth investing in a great high-powered blender. I've had this conversation with SO MANY people who just don't want to drop the few hundred dollars but hate their regular blender. (This was me. I went through three, yes three, Magic Bullets before breaking down and buying abetter blender.) But the MOMENT they start making their first smoothie in a high powered blender they regret not buying itย sooner.ย It's just worth it friends. It's just worth it.
Some of the best blenders I have actually owned are Vitamix and Blendtec. Both work great but I prefer a Blendtec high-speed blender based on it's clever and better (in my opinion) design. (For example: Blendtec has auto turn-off and is way easier to clean.) If either of these are just too pricey for you, start saving (again, I remind you it's worth it) and/or buy a refurbished model. Refurbished models are an excellent option and also come with a warranty when you directly from Blendtec.
Hereโs how you make my healthy Mango Beet Breakfast Smoothie:
PrintRecipe
Mango Beet Breakfast Smoothie
- Total Time: 3 minutes
- Yield: 2 1x
Description
Transform beets into a delicious Mango Beet Breakfast Smoothie. This smoothie is a great way to start your day.
Ingredients
- 1 small to medium size beet
- ยพ cup frozen mango
- ยฝ frozen banana
- 2 whole carrots
- 2 cups leafy greens (romaine, spinach, beet tops, etc)
- 1 cup water (give or take to give desired consistency)
Instructions
- Put ingredients in blender in order listed.
- Blend for 30-45 seconds until very smooth. Add more water if needed to get smooth texture.
Notes
Makes 2, 12 oz smoothies
- Prep Time: 2 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 minute
- Category: Smoothies
- Method: Blender
Iโm curious how you feel about beets. Leave a comment and let me know.
Want more smoothie recipes? Check out all my recipes HERE.
And for more healthy breakfasts, try these made with another powerhouse food: chia seeds!
- Mango Chia Pudding
- Raspberry Chia Puddingย - made with only 5 ingredients.
- Peanut Butter and Jelly Chia Pudding
Source: Beets. Available at: www.whfoods.com . Accessed on January 14, 2018.