4 Healthy smoothies to jump-start your holidays

Start your day off right with a healthy and delicious pumpkin, chocolate-peppermint, gingerbread or cranberry-almond holiday smoothie.

Each of these smoothies captures a classic holiday flavor and can be whipped up in about two minutes — perfect for the hustle and bustle of this time of year. While only the chocolate-peppermint smoothie has protein powder in it, you can definitely add a scoop of your favorite protein powder to any of the other recipes for additional energy. Just make sure to use a plain protein powder, as flavored ones will affect the taste.

Creamy pumpkin smoothie recipe

The pumpkin in this smoothie is for more than just flavor. It also adds fiber and a huge dose of vitamin A, which is great for your immune system.

Serves 1

Total time: 2 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup canned pumpkin puree
• 1 banana, peeled
• 1/2 cup 2 percent milk
• 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1 teaspoon Sucanat (or brown sugar)
• 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 6 ice cubes

Directions:

1. Place all the ingredients into a blender, and puree.

Chocolate-peppermint smoothie recipe

Be careful to not overdo the peppermint extract in this recipe — it’s powerful stuff! You can also substitute chocolate protein powder for the plain protein powder if you like.

Serves 1

Total time: 2 mintues

Ingredients:

• 1 banana, peeled
• 8 ice cubes
• 3/4 cup 2 percent milk
• 1 teaspoon maple syrup
• 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
• 1/8 teaspoon peppermint extract
• 1 tablespoon plain protein powder
• Chocolate bar, for garnish (optional)

Directions:

1. Place all the ingredients into a blender, and puree.
2. Grate a little bit of your favorite chocolate bar over the top of the smoothie to garnish if you like.

Gingerbread cream smoothie recipe

The Greek yogurt in this smoothie gives a tangy flavor that blends nicely with the gingerbread spices. If you want your smoothie a little sweeter, then you can add another teaspoon of molasses.

Serves 1

Total time: 2 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 banana, peeled
• 3/4 cup percent milk
• 1/2 cup Greek yogurt (nonfat is fine)
• 6 ice cubes
• 2 teaspoons molasses
• 1/4 teaspoon ginger powder
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Directions:

1. Place all the ingredients into a blender, and puree.
2. You can sprinkle another dash of cinnamon on top if you like.

Cranberry-almond smoothie recipe

I like the nuttiness of almond milk with the cranberry juice. For an extra kick of flavor and color, this pretty pink smoothie is topped with a bit of orange zest.

Serves 1

Total time: 2 minutes

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup cranberry juice
• 1/2 cup almond milk
• 10 ice cubes
• 1/2 cup Greek yogurt (nonfat is fine)
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon pure maple syrup
• 1/4 teaspoon orange zest

Directions:

1. Place all the ingredients except for the orange zest into a blender, and puree.
2. Sprinkle the orange zest on top of the smoothie.

More holiday smoothies

Spiced eggnog smoothie
Pumpkin-orange smoothies
Sweet potato shake