Four healthy dairy-free smoothies that are easy to make ahead and will boost your workout recovery as well as make you smile.
4 Best Post-Workout Smoothies (Make-ahead In Ice Cube Trays)
I’m not sure if my workouts are more strenuous or if I am just getting older😀, but I am finding a recovery post-workout smoothie to be a necessity these days, so I thought I’d share my favorite four recipes!
How These Smoothies Help Recovery
In addition to the obvious nutrition provided, all these smoothies are specifically great at providing anti-inflammatory support to help those muscles recover, combat free-radical formation triggered by strenuous workouts, and to restore water, potassium, magnesium, electrolytes, and minerals lost while sweating.
You probably already know that a post workout snack or meal is important.
In case you need convincing, the Mayo Clinic recommends eating a replenishing snack or meal within 2 hours of a strenuous workout.
These Smoothies Are Easy to Make
As my current mantra is recipes with few ingredients, these four smoothies also have few ingredients. And I make them ahead, usually on the weekend since I work full-time, and stuff them into ice cube trays, ready to blend super quick as soon as my workout is complete!
Make Ahead Smoothies in Ice Cube Trays
But these recipes are not all this post is about. I have an additional super fun share for you regarding smoothie-cubing meal prep. I found a new favorite make-ahead-smoothie ice cube tray!
It’s a new favorite because the cubes are actually domes that are quite small and easy for any blender to handle, and smoothie mixtures pop out quite easily! Popping them out is actually the most fun I’ve had this week! (You can see I live a very exciting life😂)
Let’s Breakdown Each Recipe
Okay, back to the recipes. I want to note that one of my favorite recipes here is the first one, using strawberries.
I sometimes think the extraordinary nutritional value of the strawberry is overlooked just because the berry is such a fixture in breakfast and dessert recipes. Strawberries are magical packages, full of fiber, protein, vitamin C, vitamin A, folate, potassium and low in sugar.
Perfect to help support the body trying to recover after a strenuous workout. My strawberry recipe, and in fact all of the smoothie recipes, are perfect as base recipes, to be customized as your mood takes you.
Recently, for instance, I adjusted the strawberry recipe by swapping the water for plant milk for extra protein and pitaya (dragonfruit) for added antioxidants, omega-3s and other nutrients. I also provide a list of optional superfood additions at the end for you to consider.
By the way, as wonderful as strawberries are, only buy them organic – they are often at the top of the EWG.com’s dirty list for veggies and fruits that absorb pesticides so must be purchased organic. (Spinach is often up there too)
I hope you enjoy my smoothie recipes, and that they support your workout recovery!
If you want your final smoothie to be thicker, try adding a zucchini, cauliflower, or even a handful of rolled oats
And you can boost your smoothie further with additional superfoods, here are a few to consider:
- Coconut oil
- Goji Berries
- Flax seeds
- Camu Camu
- Wheatgrass
- Almonds
- Matcha
Another detox recipe you might enjoy is my Blender Lemon Ginger shot, no juicer necessary!
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4 Best Recovery Post-Workout Smoothies (Make-ahead In Ice Cube Trays)
These smoothies supply you with the minerals and vitamins needed to recovery from a workout. Make ahead and toss cubes in blender for a fast smoothie when you need it!
Ingredients
Strawberry Coconut Lemon Water
- 1 cup frozen strawberries
- 1/2 cup coconut water
- 3 tbsp lemon juice
Kale Spirulina Smoothie
- 1 cup kale
- 1 pear
- 1/2 cup coconut water
- 1 tbsp spirulina powder
Pineapple Ginger Smoothie
- 1 cup pineapple
- 1 small banana
- 1/2 tsp crushed ginger root (I peel the ginger, and use a garlic press to crush the root)
- 1/2 cup water
Acai Cherry Smoothie
- 1 cup frozen cherries
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 tbsp acai powder (I use this brand)
Equipment
- Ice Cube Trays - I like this tray best because the smoothie cubes are small and easy to blend, and it is super easy to use one finger to pop out each cube. Each tray holds 1 cup worth of smoothie. (You can buy the ice cube tray here!)
Instructions
To create the meal-prep cubes
-
Blend ingredients for each smoothie until smooth, pour into ice trays and freeze at least 4 hours. Each tray holds about 1 cup of smoothie. Pop bricks out and store in an air-tight container in the freezer to blend up for future smoothies.
To make a smoothie
-
Add the cubes to your blender (1 tray equals one cup), add another 1/2 cup of the water used in the recipe (either water or coconut water). And blend until smooth.
Dee Dine is the recipe developer and writer behind Green Smoothie Gourmet. She shares her super healthy wholesome recipes on her blog and her Instagram that she feeds her family and friends. She gravitates toward recipes that are fast to create, plant-based, nutritious, easy, and use familiar ingredients. And chocolate is always a good idea! More about Dee.
Chris
Very impressed!!! I’m working on Making EVERYONE healthier and getting off the crazy fast food… Thanks for showing others how easy and valuable these ideas are!!!! You Rock
Dee Dine | Green Smoothie Gourmet
Well thank you so very much! I love your enthusiasm. Yes, freezing smoothies in ice cubes is so very helpful! Take care, Dee xx