Healthy smoothie recipes to start your week on the Morning News

WINNIPEG – If you’re looking for a healthy meal alternative, smoothies are always a good option.

You can pack many fruits and vegetables into these drinks, and still make them taste delicious with the right ingredients.

Shannon Cuciz joined Fairmont Winnipeg’s head chef Eraj Jayawickreme Monday morning to go through smoothie recipes.

WATCH: Chef Eraj shows you how to make a spinach flax protein smoothie

Spinach Flax Protein Smoothie

1 cup soy milk

1 large handful baby spinach, washed

¼ cup frozen mango chunks

¼ cup frozen pineapple

½ of a banana (fresh)

1 Tbsp flax meal

1 Tbsp chia seeds

1 scoop vegan vanilla protein powder

1. Combine all ingredients into a blender
2. Blend until smooth
3. Pour into a glass & serve immediately

WATCH: Chef Eraj mixes a fresh orange and creamy blueberry smoothie

Fresh Orange Smoothie

4 fresh oranges, peeled

2 cups ice

1/3 cup soy milk

1-2 tablespoons honey

1 teaspoon vanilla

1. Combine all ingredients into a blender
2. Blend until smooth
3. Pour into a glass & serve immediately

Creamy Blueberry

½ cup plain Greek yogurt

½ cup unsweetened soy milk

½ cup water

1 ½ cups blueberries, frozen

½ cup of quick oats

2 tbsp flax protein

1. Combine all ingredients into a blender
2. Blend until smooth
3. Pour into a glass & serve immediately

WATCH: Chef Eraj makes a banana coconut smoothie on Global’s Morning News

Banana-Coconut Smoothie

1 cup milk (hemp almond, rice, or organic 1 percent cow’s milk)

1 frozen banana, slightly thawed

1 scoop protein powder

2 Tbsp unsweetened coconut milk

1. Combine all ingredients in a blender, and blend well.

Peanut Butter, Banana, and Oat Milkshake

2 cups cold almond milk (soy or regular milk would also be delicious)

1 banana, cut into chunks (frozen is ideal) (peel the banana)

1/4 cup peanut butter

1 heaping teaspoon honey

1 tablespoon flax seeds, ground into meal

2 teaspoon old fashioned oats, ground fine

1. In a spice grinder, pulverize flax seeds and oats into a fine powder.
2. In a blender combine almond milk, banana, peanut butter, honey, and ground flax and oats.  Blend until no banana chunks remain, and the mixture is thoroughly incorporated.  Pour into a glass and enjoy immediately.

Dopamine Delight Smoothie

“Dopamine is a neurotransmitter involved in motivation, emotion and pleasure and it’s easily boosted by a healthy serving of protein,” Jayawickreme said. “It can be found here in the form of protein powder and soy milk… mix up this smoothie when you really need to get things done!”

1/2 cup small banana, peeled and frozen

1 Tbsp chia seeds

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

3/4 cup soy milk (vanilla or plain)

1 double shot (approximately 1/2 cup) organic espresso

1 serving whey protein powder (vanilla)

1. Combine all the ingredients except the protein powder in a blender, and blend on high speed until smooth.
2. Add the protein powder and lightly blend until incorporated.