Smoothie Hacks To Make Your Morning Breakfast Quick & Easy (Includes Recipes)
- Emma Lisa
- Dec 10, 2021
- 12 min read
Updated: Oct 20
Making wholefood-based smoothies for breakfast is one of the easiest ways to get a generous serving of essential nutrients and macros in a quick and easy meal. You can make a breakfast smoothie for nearly any dietary need using dairy-free milk, or plantbased milk, veggies, fresh and frozen fruits, and a heap of nutritious superfood additions. So, this morning, I am sharing you my top smoothie making hacks as well as a little bonus recipe round-up of mouth-watering, breakfast smoothie recipes. Bookmark this page and let's get into the kitchen!
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Smoothies are such deliciously good way to nourish first thing in the mornings. Breakfast smoothies take only a few minutes to make, and are full of essential nutrients, packed with dietary fibre, come bundled with all-natural flavour, and provide a powerful boost of macros to start your day. When combined with a source of protein, breakfast smoothies can help combat food cravings, keep your blood sugar levels properly balanced and provide a super satisfy, healthy meal.
Mornings can feel like a blur. The school rush, a quick scroll of messages, and suddenly you’re heading out the door without breakfast. Again. For so many of my clients, smoothies are the “I’ll just grab this and go” meal… until it becomes a messy, time-consuming habit they start skipping. But I want to change that because with a few smart tweaks and some basic meal prep, smoothies can become the easiest, most nourishing part of your day. These are the simple hacks I share with clients (and use myself!) to make breakfast smoothies faster, healthier, and more satisfying without losing that creamy, café-style taste.
Why You’ll Love These Smoothie Hacks
easy to make: made in less then a minute and naturally balanced for busy mornings
perfect consistency: no more clumpy, watery smoothies — just perfect texture every time
well-balanced: filled with fibre, protein, and healthy fats to keep you full for hours
diet-friendly: perfect for low-carb, diabetic, vegan, and low-calorie eating
Because when mornings feel chaotic, your blender can become your best friend. These hacks take the stress out of healthy eating. No more guesswork, messy benchtops, or bland smoothies. Just quick, creamy blends that fuel your body and keep you glowing all morning.
How To Make Smoothies
Quick & Easy Meal Prep
A Nutritionist's Smoothie Hacks
Making Morning Breakfast Quick & Easy
Smoothies are more than a drink, they’re a daily habit that can reset your entire morning routine. I’ve seen clients transform their bodies, balance blood sugar levels and improve hormone health simply by adding a well-balanced smoothie to their morning menu. When you make it easy and intentional, it becomes effortless to stay consistent.
Bookmark this post. These are the super simple smoothie making tricks that help me save time and effort in the mornings. At the end, I've left you a delicious bonus as a treat; a round up of breakfast smoothie recipes to try that are some of my favourites. Blenders ready? Let's tuck into the hacks and then the smoothie goodness.
Always Add The Liquid First
New to smoothie making? The basics to making a well blended smoothie always begins with the liquid first, and then the remaining smoothie ingredients such as fresh or frozen fruit, nuts and seeds, veggies and ice. Pouring your liquid base first helps your blender blades move freely, creating a smoother texture and will preserve the life of your blender's blades. This practise also decrease the number of times you need to stop, scrape the sides and re-blend.
Sneak In More Veggies
Get the jump on your daily intake of veggies starting at breakfast with your smoothie. Yep, its that easy when you make your own smoothies at home to meet your RDA before noon. How you ask? Simply add a large handful of fresh spinach, kale, or watercress to your blender. Sneak in a few chunks of leftover broccoli, steamed cauliflower, beets or peas. Grate carrots, use up leftover cauliflower rice, or sweet potato mash. These ingredients all boost fibre and volume to smoothies without altering the flavour too much. I often teach this hack to clients who want to rebalance body weight, support healthy hormone, and the body's natural detox pathways. Don't knock it until you try, I promise you won't notice the flavour, especially if you combine the veggies with banana, tangy fruit and a scoop of vanilla protein powder.
Freezer Drops Using Ice Cube Trays
This is by far the best time saver ever. Use your ice cube tray to create "freezer drops" for your smoothies. This saves you heaps of time in the morning and avoids watering down flavours with adding too much ice. You'll get a super creamy smoothie every time, and if you like smoothies served cold, this hack makes it so super easy. Batch your ingredients on a Sunday: fruit, greens, and dry add-ins and then pop them in labelled freezer bags. Each morning, add liquid, grab and empty a freezer drop into your blender, and process until smooth and creamy. Instant breakfast without the fuss. So simple!
Mason Jars For On-The-Go & Meal Prep
This hack smoothie making is genius, but I didn't come up with it. Turns out that the threads of a regular mason jar fits the threads of most blenders. This means you can attach, blend and bring your smoothie on the go in minutes. To see if your blender is compatible with a mason jar, just detach the blade and twist on the jar. The blender's blades should not touch the inside of the glass jar. Test it with water to make sure if the fit creates a tight seal. Now you can blend, add a lid with a straw and off you go!
Mason jars also work really well for smoothie meal prep. You can blend, pour and store pre-made smoothies for 1-3 days in the fridge. Secure the lid to make a tight seal and store them towards the back of the fridge where it is usually coolest. I love using mason jars with the glass handle for easy carrying, and found them for $1.00 at K-Mart. Click here to see if they're still in stock. Aren't they super cute?! Super fun and great for sharing with a friend!
Keep The Extra
If you've got leftover smoothie mixture, don't throw it away. It makes the perfect ice block! Simply add to a silicon ice block moulds, or even just an ice cube tray with popsicle sticks for a tasty summer or healthy treat. Kids absolutely love these and it makes the perfect healthy summer treat. I find that coconut milk provides the best base, but experiment with what you like best. In this post, 10 Summer Ice Block Recipes For Glowing Skin, Hormone Balance & A Happy Gut, I share a heap of tips on making fruity ice blocks using many common smoothie ingredients. If you love a cold fruit treat, go bookmark that post for later.
Use Up Overripe Foods
I don't know about you, but the minute bananas get too many freckles, my kids won't eat them. I've always kept them aside to use in lunchbox muffins and things, but overripe bananas and other fruits are also perfect for smoothies. You can fill several small freezer bags with the overripe fruit or add in other ingredients you like for your favourite smoothie recipes. I like doing this over the weekends when I can see what didn't get eaten by the family and might be near spoiling. You can meal prep for a whole week or even a month in advance in just 10 minutes making up a few freezer drops. It only takes a few minutes and is well worth the effort upfront to save time later in the week. You can also chop fruit and veggies and store them individually in small, labelled freezer bags making choosing smoothie ingredients fast and easy as well.
RELATED:
Looking for a delicious way to detox and nourish with smoothies? Come join the Nutritionist -led 5 Day Detox Smoothie Challenge and feast on clean eating smoothies that naturally help your body detox from sugar, processed foods and rebalance the appetite. Register for this free event here.
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8 Quick Breakfast Smoothie Recipes
Healthy & Delicious Recipe Ideas
Ready to give these tasty, quick and easy breakfast smoothies recipes a go? I'll be honest with you, I am salivating just writing this because I know how damn good these all taste. Be sure to bookmark this page for the smoothie recipes and add them to your menu this coming week to deeply nourish your body.
Berry Bliss Brekkie Smoothie Bowl
Smoothie Ingredients
High in protein and rich in antioxidants, I should have named the a beauty bowl instead. Blend 1/2 banana, 1/2 cup blueberries, 250ml almond milk, 2 tbsp rolled oats, and add in 30g vanilla flavoured vegan or whey protein. Add the liquid first to a high-powered blender like a Ninja , Smeg or a handy Portable Blender for on the go, and then add all the remaining ingredients. blend for a minute until well-combined and creamy smooth.
Strawberries & Cream Smoothie
Smoothie Ingredients
A family favourite that honestly tastes more like dessert than a breakfast smoothie. Blend 1/2 frozen banana, 1/2 cup fresh or frozen strawberries, 250ml coconut milk, 2 tbsp Greek or Coconut yoghurt, and 30g vanilla flavoured protein powder. Add the liquid first to a high-powered blender like a Ninja , Smeg or a handy Portable Blender for on the go, and then add all the remaining ingredients. blend for a minute until well-combined and creamy smooth. Garnish with a few chopped berries on top.
Green Spirulina Breakfast Bowl
Smoothie Ingredients
Deeply nourishing with the superfood power of spirulina and blended with protein for all-day energy. Blend 1/2 frozen banana, 1/2 cup organic spinach, 250ml almond milk, 1 tbsp Hawaiian spirulina, and 30g vanilla flavoured vegan protein. Add the liquid first to a high-powered blender like a Ninja , Smeg or a handy Portable Blender for on the go, and then add all the remaining ingredients. blend for a minute until well-combined and creamy smooth.
Avocado Goddess Smoothie
Smoothie Ingredients
The best green smoothie I've ever made bursting with fibre, protein and plenty of phytonutrients. Blend 1/2 frozen banana, 1/2 ripe Hass avocado, 1 handful organic spinach, 1 handful watercress, 250ml almond or soy milk, 30g plain or vanilla protein powder. Add the liquid first to a high-powered blender like a Ninja , Smeg or a handy Portable Blender for on the go, and then add all the remaining ingredients. blend for a minute until well-combined and creamy smooth.
Cherry Bomb Breakfast Smoothie Bowl
Smoothie Ingredients
A sweet high protein breakfast smoothie you'll want to add to the menu every week. Blend 1/2 frozen banana, 1/2 cup frozen cherries, 250ml almond or soy milk, 2 tbsp psyllium husk, and 30g vanilla flavoured vegan or whey protein. Add the liquid first to a high-powered blender like a Ninja , Smeg or a handy Portable Blender for on the go, and then add all the remaining ingredients. blend for a minute until well-combined and creamy smooth. Alternatively try chocolate flavoured for a Cherry Ripe recipe.
Spicy Mango Breakfast Smoothie
Smoothie Ingredients
Boost weight loss with this tropical blend made with a spicy chili kick to rev up the metabolism. Blend 1/2 frozen banana, 1/2 fresh or frozen mango, 1/2 tsp cayenne or chilli flakes, 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon, 250ml almond milk, and 30g vanilla whey protein. Add the liquid first to a high-powered blender like a Ninja , Smeg or a handy Portable Blender for on the go, and then add all the remaining ingredients. blend for a minute until well-combined and creamy smooth.
Blackberry Acai Breakfast Smoothie
Smoothie Ingredients
A tangy sweet berry infusion full of antioxidants and berry goodness. Blend 1/2 frozen banana, 1/2 cup frozen blackberries, 1/4 cup acai puree, 250ml almond milk, 2 tbsp psyllium husk, 1 tbsp chia seeds, and 30g vanilla vegan or whey protein. Add the liquid first to a high-powered blender like a Ninja , Smeg or a handy Portable Blender for on the go, and then add all the remaining ingredients. blend for a minute until well-combined and creamy smooth.
PB Raw Chocolate Smoothie
Smoothie Ingredients
A classic breakfast smoothie at my house and perfect for all those chocolate lovers. Blend 1/2 frozen banana, 2 tbsp raw peanut butter, 2 organic dates (pitted), 250ml almond milk, 2 tsp raw cacao powder, and 30g chocolate flavoured vegan or whey protein. Add the liquid first to a high-powered blender like a Ninja , Smeg or a handy Portable Blender for on the go, and then add all the remaining ingredients. blend for a minute until well-combined and creamy smooth.
Nutritionist's Note
So there you have it, I hope you have enjoyed my top smoothie making hacks and the bonus breakfast smoothie recipes. I swear these small kitchen habits will make a big difference, especially if you apply several of them at any given time. Now, don't forget to bookmark this page so you can refer back to it as needed. Happy smoothie making!
Healthy + happiness,
Emma Lisa xx
HEALTH & NUTRITION PRACTITIONER
More Smoothie Recipes
If you loved these smoothie recipes, come check out all of my quick and easy recipes made with healthy, clean eating ingredients. Here are some of my other popular recipes you might like to try this week.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a high-speed blender?
Not necessarily, but it sure helps. A high-speed blender like this one I love by Smeg or a robust Ninja Blaster Portable Blender will make smoothies extra creamy and prep time less than a minute to blend. However, a regular food processor can also work fine, just blend longer and use smaller chunks of frozen fruit. If you are new to smoothies, I'd work on creating a little recipe collection you'll find in my detox smoothie cookbook fist, then decide what type of blender will suit your needs morning forward. You might like to check out this article I shared called, How To Make The Perfect Smoothie Every Time
to help you get started.
Can I get enough protein from a plant-based smoothie?
Absolutely. By adding a plant-based protein powder, nut butter, seeds (chia, hemp, flax), or oats, you can easily create a balanced smoothie that provides 20–30g of protein per serving. The key here is to choose a high-quality, vegan protein powder that blends different plant-based ingredients to provide all the essential amino acids typically found in animal protein sources. For example, pea protein combined with brown rice protein creates a complete amino acid profile, and other combinations such as beans with whole grains, or hemp with chia seeds, can also help form a complete plant-based protein.
Do I need to use frozen fruit in smoothies?
Honestly, the choice is yours. While frozen fruit isn't a must for smoothies, it definitely provides flavour and helps give smoothies that soft-serve ice cream texture. You can add fresh fruit along with crushed ice or yogurt to get the similar, creamy texture you get with frozen fruits like banana, mango or lychee. Enjoy experimenting with the fruits and other ingredients you like best to create the perfect creaminess.
Are smoothies good for weight loss?
Most definitely, you just need to bare in mind a few things. Smoothies are nutrient-dense and when the macros are well-balanced with protein, fibre, and healthy fats, they can help control cravings, boost energy and boost the metabolism and help with fat burn. Start with a clean protein powder that is at least 30g of protein per serving. Add 1-2 low carb, high fibre fruits to this and a low calorie milk such as unsweetened almond to balanced out the nutrition. Combined with nut and seeds for add healthy fats, smoothies can help support your weight loss goals.
Can I replace a meal with a smoothie?
Yes, but best if it is properly balanced. A good meal-replacement smoothie should include clean, lean protein from protein powder, seeds, nut butter, a small portion of healthy fats such as avocado, chia, or flax, and plenty of dietary fibre (think berries, leafy greens, chia seeds or rolled oats). These provide plenty of micronutrients and a well rounded meal replacement when needed. If you want a smoothie meal plan to get started, come try my detox smoothie cookbook where you feast on two smoothies per day and clean eating dinner for a gentle detox.
What’s the best liquid to use for smoothies?
Depending on your dietary preferences, try an unsweetened almond milk, oat milk, coconut water, or soy milk if you are plant-based or vegan. Stick with the unsweetened varieties to avoid extra sugar and choose brands that have minimal ingredients. There is nothing wrong with just plain water either, don't be shy to experiment to find what works best for you. Dairy can also work too, but I find for many people, it is harder to digest when combined with a mix of fruit and vegetables.
Can kids have smoothies?
Most definitely, kids can enjoy nutritious smoothies too! Smoothies are a fabulous way to sneak in extra fruits and veggies for those fussy eaters in your household. Just skip protein powders with artificial ingredients for young children, they aren't necessary or recommended for children under 12 years old. Focus on high fibre fruits and veggies, a little natural sweetness from dates or berries, and a little healthy fats from avocado. Always provide kids with a glass a of water after enjoying their smoothie to help with digestion and assimilating the extra dietary fibre.
These were such handy tips, thank you!!!
These are some really great suggestions. I do love a smoothie. But I do sometimes hate the faff so actually this is really helpful. Thank you for sharing your smoothie hacks.
Lauren - Bournemouthgirl
Nice tips! I have tried to start smoothies but it's seemed too much hustle. Maybe I need a new blender... with mason jar fit