7 Simple Healthy Smoothies

A smoothie a day...keeps the Dr. away...or something like that! Fuel up your body with a different color smoothie every day of the week.

O.K. call me crazy, but it makes me really happy to see my refrigerator (and fruit bowl) filled with really colorful fruits and veggies. The more colors, the happier I am. While I like to pile the different colorful fruits and vegetable together on things like salads, I am a more of a purist when it comes to my smoothies (and juices).

Ever noticed what happens when you blend a bunch of colorful vegetables together either to make a smoothie or fresh juice? Ya, you got it…it’s turns into a brown mess. I like keeping my smoothies more in color scale (you know like keeping all the red color fruits/vegetables together, or orange/yellow, green, blue/purples and whites etc.).

Not only do the smoothies/juices look better, but each color fruit/vegetable is directly connected with which nutrients they are rich in. For example, the Orange/Yellow fruits and vegetables are rich in Beta Carotene, Vitamins A and C and Bioflavonoids. Dark green vegetables are rich in iron, folate, and chlorophyll. Each color has it’s nutritional benefits. Eating the broad spectrum of colors will help make sure you are getting the nutritional benefits of each color group.

Here are 7 simple & healthy smoothie recipes to try this week ( one in every color group). The directions are super simple, add the ingredients to a blender, add ice if you wish and blend until smooth. Sip, enjoy, and know you're giving you body some healthy nutrition.

This "WHITE" smoothie combines pears, frozen bananas, yogurt and coconut milk for a super creamy treat. Just a touch of honey for some sweetness and flax seeds (for fiber & Omega 3's) and a few almonds for flavor.

You just might think you've landed in the tropics with this "YELLOW" smoothie. Mangos, oranges, and carrots are rich in Beta Carotene and Vitamin C ( good for the eyes, heart and skin). The turmeric adds some anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and a subtle taste that blends well with with hint of coconut. Refreshing Mango, orange coconut goodness.

Oranges + frozen bananas + Greek yogurt = extra creamy "ORANGE" smoothie. A good dose of vitamin C with some ginger and honey added to the mix for additional benefits. This recipe calls for orange juice, if you don't have any on hand you can just squeeze the juice of one orange instead.

Like orange smoothies? Here's another one to try "Stress Buster Orange Smoothie"

This "RED" smoothie is basically my favorite red juice recipe in smoothie format. The combo of apple "a" with beets "b" and carrots "c" ( hence the name "abc" smoothie) is fabulous. And fabulously good for you. Chock full of nutrients, antioxidants and fiber. It's good for your skin, liver, heart and so much more. I would suggest adding a few cubes of ice to this one, it's exceptionally good when it's really cold!

A fan of the beet? You might also like to try "Beet it Up" Beet Smoothie.

Had a big night? Gotten a little off track nutritionally? This "LIGHT GREEN" smoothie (aka "green detox" smoothie) can get you pointed back in the right direction. It's chock full of good stuff for you body! The combination of apples, spinach, parsley, cucumber, celery and lime fuels you up with vitamins, antioxidants and fiber. The parsley, cucumber and lime have purifying and cleansing properties as well.