Smashing Summer Smoothies

What do blended berry drinks and George Clooney have in common? They’re both smoothies! Sorry.

Smoothies are so refreshing in the summer and a great way to make sure you’re getting your five a day as often as possible. They’re fab for a quick breakfast, they’re good for getting some goodness down the kids after school and they’re a brilliant snack at any time.

At Tefal, we’ve got a whole range of different liquidisers and blenders to help you get the perfect smoothie consistency, but what exactly should you be mixing up in there?

When you’ve not got much time for dragging yourself out of bed, getting ready AND eating breakfast in the morning, a smoothie is an excellent option. All you need to do is chuck everything in the blender and whizz it all up.

Just fruit by itself isn’t necessarily filling enough to keep you going until lunchtime, but by using banana as well as berries, and adding oats for extra filling power and slow-burning energy, it’ll definitely do the job. The Kitchen Shed has a recipe for a strawberry, banana and oat smoothie that would be just the thing.

One of the most fun parts of making a smoothie is seeing what colour it turns out when it’s blended together, and ending up with a shocking pink is particularly joyous.

You’ll definitely get that if you add beetroot and raspberries to a smoothie, like Lucy Loves has. Her smoothie also features banana, almond milk dates and optional flax seeds – leave them out if you don’t fancy a gritty texture. Again, this would be a brilliant breakfast, or simply an energy-boosting snack during the day.

Bright green smoothies don’t always necessarily look the most appetising, but contrary to popular belief, they don’t have to taste like pond water. Some will, probably, but not this one from In Sonnet’s Kitchen.

It only features four ingredients: kale, apple juice, bananas and ice. Together, they combine to make a slightly alarmingly green but beautifully sweet-tasting kale smoothie.

We’re afraid there’s not much we can do to make your kids gulp down a glass of green stuff, so we’d like to take this opportunity to wish you the best of luck too.

Smoothies can be a good option for dessert too, and this vegan and gluten-free recipe from Veggie Desserts combines a few ingredients you probably never would have thought to mix to create the perfect post-meal drink.

It features avocado, dates, coffee and hazelnut-flavoured milk, which blend to create a sweet and smooth drink for a coffee course with a difference.

Ever wish that you could have a smoothie that tastes like your favourite ginger cake? We’ve all been there. But simply shoving a slice of cake in your blender and hoping for the best probably isn’t going to give you the desired end result.

Instead, follow The Spruce Eats’ recipe for this ginger, cardamom banana and date smoothie. Okay, it’s not quite ginger cake, but if you close your eyes and try hard enough, you can convince yourself it is. Not convinced? Well, you’ve got nothing to lose from trying it, except a whole load of vitamins.

‘Bowls’ are a big deal right now, particularly after the new Duke and Duchess of Sussex Prince Harry and Meghan Markle served up bowl food to guests at their recent wedding. Pour your smoothie into a bowl instead of a glass, and you’ve got a proper sophisticated-looking dessert that will look absolutely incred on the old Instagram.

Hungry Healthy Happy has a gorgeous recipe for a chocolate, banana and peanut butter smoothie bowl, which is packed with protein but with just a hint of naughtiness. Enjoy it for dessert, or treat yourself to an indulgent breakfast on a Sunday morning. Smoothie-licious.