The best summer smoothies

Smoothies are perfect for summer and there are so many options to choose from. Enjoying a cold fruit smoothie on a hot summer’s day is bliss and they are very easy to make at home; all you need is a good blender and some fresh ingredients. When you buy some in the shops they have lots of added sugar and ingredients to make them tasty, but that won’t be good for your summer waistline.

Try using frozen fruit to enhance that cool refreshing taste. You can enjoy smoothies without all the added sugar if you make them yourself. You can use healthy natural ingredients such as healthy almonds to sweeten the taste of your drinks and give them a tasty nutty flavour. Vanilla ice cream and milk are used in most; it’s up to you whether you want to buy the low fat versions. There is no need to add any sugary syrups or brown sugar as the fruit should provide natural flavouring.

Here are some popular summer smoothies to make at home.

1. Dark Chocolate & Raspberry Smoothie

The tantalising taste of raspberries blended with dark chocolate is a refreshing take on the chocolate smoothie for summer. Add almonds and vanilla ice cream for a sweeter taste. Dark chocolate is healthier than milk chocolate because it has a higher percentage of cocoa. There is high nutritional value in cocoa and a lot less sugar.

Ingredients: Raspberries, 85% dark chocolate, vanilla ice cream, milk, almonds.

2. Mixed Berry Smoothie

Mixed berry is always a safe choice for the summer. Blueberries are a superfood and they are high in vitamin C, dietary fibre and antioxidants. Tuck into this fresh summer smoothie and you won’t be disappointed.

Ingredients: Blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, milk, vanilla ice cream.

3. Banana & Peanut Butter Smoothie

Peanut butter fans will love this banana and peanut butter delight. Although not as refreshing as some of the other summer smoothies, it’s ideal if you have a bit of a sweet tooth. Or a hangover.

Ingredients: Bananas, peanut butter, milk, vanilla ice cream.

4. Mango & Passion Fruit Smoothie

Imagine lying back in the sunshine on a beach and sipping on a delicious tropical mango smoothie. This is another really refreshing summer choice that is a good option if you aren’t a fan of berries. Add some coconut for a more intense tropical taste.

Ingredients: Milk, mango, passion fruit, sliced almonds, ice cream, desiccated coconut.

5. Peach & Almond Smoothie

The almonds really complement the peach flavour in this sweet peach smoothie. If you want a simple option to enjoy this summer then try a peach and almond smoothie, it’s really easy to make.

Ingredients: Peaches, almond milk, vanilla ice cream, almonds.

Disclosure: This post was brought to you by Blue Diamond Almonds.