Giada De Laurentiis’ Energizing Smoothie Recipes
Food Network personality Giada De Laurentiis’ smoothie recipes are filling and delicious. Great as a snack or an after-workout light meal, here are just a few of the celebrity chef’s nourishing and downright tasty smoothies.
De Laurentiis turns to smoothies to ‘get back on track’
On her food and lifestyle blog Giadzy, De Laurentiis shared that smoothies are her go-to when life gets lifey. Their all-in-one package convenience makes them the perfect snack or mini-meal.
“Sometimes, it’s when I’ve been really busy traveling, filming, book-touring, or just being a … mom at home; other times, I just don’t feel like myself—whether it’s due to inflammation, bloating, or general sluggishness,” she writes. “Either way, I turn to juices and smoothies. They help me detox and get back on track, filling me with the essential nutrients from fresh fruits and vegetables that are good for my body.”
She added that smoothies also are a help in saying no to less nutritious foods: “I like a juice in the morning, to get a delicious, healthy start to the day. But they’re also restorative and energizing after a workout, or as a mid-afternoon pick-me-up. Bonus: The ingredients’ water and fiber help fill you up and may help you ward off the temptation of other, less virtuous snacks.”
The chef’s Banana Walnut Smoothie
With ice, unsweetened almond milk, coconut water, walnut pieces, coarsely chopped dried dates, and half a peeled banana, De Laurentiis’ smoothie comes together easily.
All of the ingredients are combined in a blender on high speed until it’s a smooth mixture.
The recipe earned dozens of five-star reviews on Food Network’s website, with one home cook writing, “First of Giada’s recipes that I’ve tried. Smoothie was very refreshing and delicious. Will definitely make this again!”
Find this recipe on Food Network’s site.
Her herby Sweet Basil Smoothie
This smoothie from the Simply Giada star features plain yogurt, fresh basil leaves, and a simple syrup of water, sugar, and lemon zest.
Reviewers were impressed with the sweet and savory flavors in this refreshing smoothie, with one person writing, “Super delicious! It’s fresh and bright and perfect for summertime. The … combination of basil and lemon zest is pure genius — you have to try it to believe it.”
Get the full recipe on Food Network’s site.
De Laurentiis’ Veggie Berry Breakfast smoothie
For De Laurentiis’ berry-licious blended beverage, the chef recommends using, ideally, homemade almond milk. If that’s not an option, she writes in her recent book, Eat Better, Feel Better: My Recipes for Wellness and Healing, Inside and Out, “be sure your brand contains only almonds, water, and salt; many commercial brands contain flavorings, sweeteners, and thickeners like carrageenan.”
She added that her favorite time to enjoy this smoothie is “on the weekend when I want a little sustenance before going for a hike or to a yoga class but don’t want to feel too full.”
This smoothie includes frozen blueberries, chopped celery, chopped English cucumber, chopped and peeled fresh ginger, baby arugula, avocado, the almond milk, a pinch of kosher salt, ice, and coconut oil, which “really gives it staying power,” De Laurentiis says.
Find this smoothie recipe in Eat Better, Feel Better.
Her Coffee and Spinach Smoothie is the perfect morning pick-me-up
Just the zing you need to get going in the mornings, or for that afternoon slump, this smoothie from De Laurentiis gets its bright vibe from banana, unsweetened almond milk, baby spinach, ice, pure vanilla extract, a pinch of kosher salt, ripe avocado, finely ground espresso or coffee, and coffee nibs.
“When I serve this smoothie for brunch, it wows people every time,” the chef wrote. “You barely taste the spinach, but you get a little jolt from the coffee. The cocoa nibs are my favorite part! I like to mix up all the ingredients except the ice the night before, so in the morning all I need to do is whiz it with ice just before serving.”
Find this recipe in Eat Better, Feel Better.
The chef’s Citrus Cream Smoothie resembles a vanilla-cream iced treat
Delicious and refreshing, the chef’s smoothie features water, sugar, plain Greek yogurt, orange juice, bananas, grated orange zest, pure vanilla extract, and ice.
One of the recipe’s many five-star ratings expressed, “This smoothie was DELICIOUS! It really DOES taste like a creamsicle. …”
Get this recipe on Food Network’s site.
