Breakfast smoothies to get your morning going

Mornings are probably the most frantic part of the day. Getting ready for work, the kids ready for school and walking the dog after being jerked out of sleep by an obnoxious alarm clock are already difficults tasks without also worrying about the long workday ahead. In the hustle and bustle of the morning, it's easy to run out of time to make a healthy breakfast.

Even if we do wake up to a peaceful, perfectly-planned out morning, sometimes we just don't feel like cooking and would rather whip up something quick. Breakfast smoothies are the perfect answer to either a busy or lazy morning. They're not time consuming, are tasty and can be just as nutritious as your typical breakfast go-to like oatmeal.

They're also a great way to get your recommended daily intake of fruits and vegetables while cutting out the extra calories included in a typical breakfast meal. The ultimate breakfast smoothie should have five ingredients to ensure it's supercharged with nutrition. These include a leafy green, a nut butter, a liquid, like water or almond milk, and greek yogurt. But even if they don't have those five ingredients, that doesn't mean your smoothie isn't already jam-packed with nutrients. It's all about what you throw in.

Just like a typical breakfast, you can cater your smoothie to your cravings. If you want strawberries, throw them in. If you're craving kale, throw that in. Experiment with different ingredients to possibly find something new you might have never guessed you would like. Just remember to switch it up every morning to ensure your diet's getting a variety of health benefits.

Here are 40 breakfast smoothies to help you start your morning off on the right foot.

If you love the taste of the flavors of fall, go for this breakfast smoothie.

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This Spiced Pumpkin Smoothie is great for a brisk fall morning. One serving of this easy-to-make breakfast smoothie packs only 165 calories. The nutmeg gives it kick and adds several health benefits that include treating insomnia, promoting digestion and even fighting bad breath. To make the smoothie, blend ice, milk, pumpkin puree, honey and nutmeg until smooth.

This smoothie recipe is literally as easy as pie.

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If you’re craving apple pie but not the calories, then this smoothie is a great option. Ready in only 10 minutes, it’s simple to make. Throwing apple juice and unsweetened applesauce into the smoothie help its achieve its “apple taste,” while the mixture of nutmeg, cinnamon, and allspice takes it all the way to apple pie status.

This creamsicle breakfast smoothie is probably one your kids will love.

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This recipe packs the flavor of those infamous vanilla and orange popsicles even adults still love. While it might taste like those guilty pleasures, it's a lot more nutritious. The smoothie’s full of protein, carbohydrates and the coconut water adds essential electrolytes, necessary for keeping hydrated.

Take in the benefits of the acai berry with this nutritious breakfast smoothie.

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This acai super smoothie combines the health benefits of the acai berry with the tastiness of pomegranate juice in a smoothie that’s only 285 calories. The acai berry, also known as a Brazilian “superfruit,” is nutrient-dense, containing minerals like zinc, iron and potassium, and aids in possibly improving cholesterol levels and boosting brain function. Since fresh acai berries have a short shelf life, they’re often sold as a frozen puree, which is what this smoothie recipe calls for.

If you’re into the refreshing flavors of peppermint, this smoothie’s a great breakfast choice.

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This skinny peppermint mocha green smoothie is reminiscent of a tasty Starbucks drink. It blends all the flavors you’d expect from a store-bought beverage (coffee, chocolate and peppermint), without racking up so many calories. While the recipe is tasty on its own, you can add some medjool dates to sweeten it up.

A chocolate malt oatmeal smoothie combines both breakfast and dessert.

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There’s no rule against having chocolate for breakfast, no matter how many times you tell your kids there is. Cocoa powder, in fact, can provide lots of good for your health including possibly lowering the risk of heart attack and stroke, improving blood flow to the brain and improving mood. This recipe calls for cocoa powder and to give the smoothie a delicious, lingering finish, malted milk powder.

You might miss your last vacation after having this tropical breakfast smoothie.

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The flavors of papaya, mango and avocado are combined in this smoothie to achieve a tropical taste that’ll make you feel like you’re off to a Caribbean island. This smoothie packs protein and good fats from the avocados, vitamins from the mangoes and nutrients like potassium and fiber found in papayas. The addition of Greek yogurt will keep you feeling full, even though you only had a smoothie for breakfast.

This coconut water smoothie is loaded with nutrients that’ll have your feeling your best.

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Spinach, cranberries, chia seeds and ginger are just some of the healthy ingredients you’ll need to make this smoothie. Each ingredient has its own benefits that combine to truly make this drink a “super smoothie.” The ginger helps boosts your immune system and provide nausea relief, the spinach adds nutrients like iron and magnesium, the bananas add potassium and the list goes on.  

Try something new by having some green tea inside a smoothie.

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Instead of using water as the base of this smoothie, try chilling green tea overnight. Green tea does lots of good for your heart. It can help lower both blood cholesterol and blood pressure and help keep sugar levels stable in those with diabetes. To make this smoothie, you’ll combine chilled green tea, blueberries, yogurt, almonds and flaxseed in a blender until smooth.

It might sound weird to have peanut butter and jelly as a drink, but in this smoothie it works.

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If you’re someone that likes to workout in the morning, then this peanut butter and jelly protein smoothie is probably a good breakfast pick. This recipe uses whey protein powder, though you can substitute it for whichever you prefer. To achieve the peanut butter and jelly taste, the recipe calls for all natural peanut butter and mixed frozen berries, so you can skip out on all the extra calories in a store-bought jar of jelly.

You can cater this super greens smoothie to what you like.

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To get started on this smoothie, get 1 cup of your greens of choice. Some popular options are kale, baby spinach or chard. You’ll also add some chopped zucchini, which carries antioxidants that can help in slowing down the aging process by protecting the cells of the body and skin from damage. The avocado and banana will make it super creamy and you can add some dates for sweetness.

This simple smoothie is a quick pick-me-up for your morning.

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The most demanding part of this smoothie will be softening the dates, since you’ll have to leave them in the fridge for 15 minutes. But that requires almost no work at all. To make this creamy date smoothie, combine the dates, whole milk and ice in a blender until smooth and frothy and viola you’re done.

Take in all the benefits of this Asian superfruit, the goji berry.

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The goji berry has a sweet, slightly sour taste that's comparable to a cross between a cherry and cranberry. The goji berry is said to possibly aid in weight loss, maintain blood sugar levels and provide flu protection, among some other benefits. To make the sage’s smoothie, you’ll need some soaked goji berries, a cracked young Thai coconut, and some easier-to-find ingredients like papaya and chia seeds.

Incorporate spinach into your diet by throwing it into a smoothie.

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Spinach has a ton of benefits that include its ability to improve the quality of blood, thanks to its rich iron properties. Iron helps keep the body’s red blood cells healthy. It’s also a rich source of several vitamins, including vitamin K, which helps maintain bone health. For this smoothie, you’ll mix spinach with grapes and coconut water to serve up a cup of yumminess.

Start your morning off right with this greens on the go smoothie.

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This smoothie includes healthy servings of spinach and kale. Kale is full of nutritious benefits that make it everyone’s go-to super food. The leafy green contains lots of protein, folate (a vitamin that’s good for brain health), lutein and zeaxanthin (nutrients that are good for eye health), among other benefits. The pineapple and apple in this recipe will add some sweetness to make your taste buds content.

Add some flaxseed to give your smoothie a more filling and nutty taste.

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Flaxseeds are full of fiber, lignans that have antioxidant qualities and omega-3 essential fatty acids. Lignans may be helpful in improving blood sugar levels, while omega-3s may aid in maintaining the heart’s natural rhythm. Flaxseed omega-3s may also help prevent the hardening of arteries. This banana oat breakfast smoothie includes 1 teaspoon of flaxseed meal and other ingredients like rolled oats, and cinnamon to make it a drink worth skipping a traditional breakfast for.

Pumpkin isn’t only a great Halloween decoration.

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Though this recipe is probably great during any time of the year, it’s perfect for a fall morning. It combines typical fall flavors like apple, pumpkin pie spice, and pumpkin. Since pumpkin is so filling, it’s a great low-calorie ingredient for those on a weight loss journey. The beta-carotene in pumpkin also has anti-aging properties since the nutrient protects you from the sun’s UV rays.

Have dessert for breakfast with this dark chocolate strawberry smoothie.

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You won’t have a hard time getting your kids to have breakfast with this smoothie. It’s simple and made in only 5 minutes. You just have to get your hands on a packet of a Dark Chocolate Carnation Breakfast Essentials Drink, as this gives the smoothie its chocolate flavor. But you can also choose to experiment and substitute it for another chocolate-flavored ingredient like cocoa butter.

Detox your body for breakfast with this beet and carrot smoothie.

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Beets and carrots are jam-packed with antioxidants that destroy the free radicals in your body. Beets get their color from betacyanin, which may help protect cells against harmful carcinogens. They also lower the risk of heart disease and combat constipation, due to their fiber content. Carrots also improve eye health and reduce the risk of certain types of cancers, like stomach and colon. This nutritious smoothie is ready in only 15 minutes.

Drink this vegan detox green monster smoothie for a burst of energy.

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Drinking a green smoothie makes you instantly feel like you’re making better choices, but it’s not just a facade. The more greens, the more nutrients. This recipe calls for a cup and a half of kale, though you can substitute it for spinach if you like. To add more protein to the smoothie, you can also throw in some soy or other vegan protein powder.

Have a refreshing morning with this avocado and melon breakfast smoothie.

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Avocado’s the fatty food you don’t have to stay away from. It’s a fruit with plenty of healthy fats, like oleic acid, which is believed to reduce inflammation and have beneficial effects on genes linked to cancer. Though the recipe calls for California avocados, any avocado you can get your hands on will do.

Throw some papaya into your smoothie for a deliciously, refreshing taste.

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Papayas are stacked with a ton of health benefits that include protection against arthritis, aiding in digestion and even easing menstrual pain, among many others. To make this smoothie, all you’ll need is some papaya, almond milk, vanilla, ice and organic agave. To make it more filling, you can also add flaxseed or almonds.

Replace your breakfast with this smoothie to heal your digestive system.

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This vegetarian smoothie is made in two layers. The first layer is made with some ingredients that may be a little harder to find like bee pollen, turmeric and cardamom. But the nutrition value of these ingredients make it worth a trip to a healthy foods store. Bee pollen may work to relieve inflammation, boost liver health and ease the symptoms of menopause, among other benefits. The second layer is easier to make since its made with only cooked quinoa, natural yogurt and almond butter.

This smoothie may be green, but it tastes just like pumpkin pie.

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This breakfast smoothie is a great go-to for when you don’t know what to do with those pumpkins you used to decorate your house with after the fall season. It’s made with a bunch of superfood ingredients like pumpkin puree, spinach, flaxseed and unsweetened almond milk that combine to make this smoothie extra nutritious. You even add organic wheat grass powder to further boost its health properties.

This vegan smoothie is full of protein and essential nutrients.

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To make this soy fruit smoothie, you’ll need vanilla-flavored soy milk, though you can substitute it with any soy milk of your choice. To give it its fruity taste, you’ll also need strawberries, cranberries, blueberries, purple grapes and a banana. To up the smoothie’s nutritional value, you can also add amino acid complex, essential greens powder or any powder booster of your choice.

Instead of energizing your morning with coffee, try a coffee breakfast smoothie instead.

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Coffee’s an actual ingredient in this vegan and gluten-free smoothie and it only takes 5 minutes to make. To make the smoothie, you’ll need half a cup of chilled black coffee. To make the recipe your own, add the coffee you’d typically drink. In order to give the smoothie an underlying chocolate flavor, you’ll also add raw cacao and raw cocoa beans if you wish. Once you’ve gathered all the ingredients, blend until you’ve reached your desired consistency.

Kick fatigue with this energizing breakfast smoothie.

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This smoothie packs a ton of green ingredients including kiwis, avocado, kale leaves and broccoli, each aiding the body in some way. The sweet and tangy flavors of kiwi are not only yummy, but healthy as kiwis help treat asthma due to their high amount of vitamin C, aid digestion due to their fiber content and help manage blood pressure. Like the kiwis, the other ingredients are loaded with antioxidants that are perfect for kickstarting your day.

Add some oats to your typical strawberry banana smoothie to make it more filling.

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This strawberry banana oat breakfast smoothie is the perfect meal replacement smoothie since the addition of oats prevent you from getting hungry for longer. Strawberries are also a tasty way to add more nutrients to your diet. They’re good for your heart since they increase HDL (also known as the good cholesterol), lower blood pressure and are a good source of manganese and potassium.

Try not to overindulge in this coffee-inspired breakfast smoothie.

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If you’re craving a Starbucks mocha frappuccino without so many calories, then your in luck. This smoothie recipe is a copycat healthy version of the tasty drink. To make the shake, add strong black coffee, banana, unsweetened cocoa powder, chia seeds, light agave and vanilla extract into a blender and blend until smooth, adding ice cubes until you reach your desired consistency.

Add some veggies to your breakfast smoothies to keep the sugar content low.

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Cauliflower is a great addition that’ll give your smoothie a creamy texture. Though, it may give your drink a bit of a bitter taste, the bananas and chai spices added to this recipe help to conceal it. But this doesn’t make the cauliflower any less nutritious. Cauliflower has several benefits that include aiding in weight loss (due to its high water content) and protecting the body against free radicals that are harmful to the body’s cells.

You don’t have to be on a beach to have the tasty flavors of a piña colada for breakfast.

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But if you are, lucky you. This recipe skips the coconut milk to rid it of all the saturated fats, but the end result is still as yummy. To make this piña colada smoothie, combine a banana, crushed pineapple, yogurt, honey and coconut extract in a food processor or blender with ice and serve immediately.

Though pomegranates are usually consumed as seeds, the fruit’s juice is also a delicious smoothie ingredient.

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Fresh pomegranate juice is full of antioxidants and more than 100 phytochemicals. The antioxidants found in pomegranate juice are believed to aid the body in several ways including protecting memory, reducing inflammation in the gut and fighting off infections. This smoothie is really easy to make and all you need is chilled pure pomegranate juice, 2 large bananas and plain nonfat yogurt.

This recipe will taste like you’re having a truffle candy for breakfast.

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The keto chocolate berry truffle smoothie is great for someone who wakes up with a sweet tooth. The smoothie gets a chocolatey taste from the unsweetened cocoa butter and extra creamy consistency from the addition of avocado. The recipe uses a mix of raspberries, strawberries and blueberries but you can throw in some of your own favorite berries. This yummy smoothie is ready to serve in only 5 minutes.

Your morning serving of oatmeal doesn’t have to come in a bowl.

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You can have it in a smoothie like this peaches and cream oatmeal smoothie. With one serving of this smoothie, you’ll only take in 331 calories and you’ll get all the benefits of peaches like plenty of Vitamin C, which keeps the immune system going strong. To make this smoothie, you’ll need frozen peach slices, Greek yogurt, oatmeal, vanilla extract and almond milk.

This breakfast smoothie skips the fruits, but you won’t miss them.

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To make this meal replacement, you’ll only need nuts and grains and about 11 minutes. Gather your ingredients which include a banana, peanut butter, honey, rolled oats and unsweetened rice milk, throw into a blender and serve. It’ll be like you’re having your morning bowl of oatmeal.

A watermelon yogurt mint smoothie is perfect for the summer months, but still great for when you’re in a need of a refreshing morning.

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Mint is doesn’t only have a cooling and refreshing taste, but it also may help improve irritable bowel syndrome, relieve indigestion and improve brain function. Watermelon helps keep you hydrated due to its high water content and contains plant compounds that may prevent cancer, among other benefits. The two combine in this recipe for a fun morning smoothie.

Achieve healthy hair with this yummy breakfast smoothie.

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What you put into your body not only affects overall health, but many times also your skin and how you look. This smoothie contains ingredients that are full of antioxidants that promote healthy hair. To make this hair repair drink, you’ll need a mix of berries, leafy greens, a banana, light almond milk and chia seeds.

Carrot cake for breakfast is now a good idea.

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This smoothie turns carrot cake into a healthy choice by omitting some of the unnecessary calories. Carrots are good sources of fiber and other nutrients, and of course, help to improve eye health. Blended with spices like nutmeg and cinnamon and infused with fruits like pineapple to add sweetness, even your kids won’t mind having carrots for breakfast. 

Your shot of morning espresso doesn’t have to be so bland.

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Instead, try having it in an almond espresso breakfast smoothie. It’ll still be just as energizing, but a lot tastier. Plus, the almonds add some benefits like lowering cholesterol and adding vitamin E to your diet, which protects your cells from oxidative damage. To make the smoothie, all you need is plain yogurt, espresso, maple syrup, almond butter and almond or coconut milk.

Take in some morning sunshine with this blend of citrus flavors.

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You’ll need some tangerines and persimmon slices to achieve this creamy drink. Persimmons are sweet, honey-tasting fruits loaded with nutrients like copper, manganese and potassium. They’re also believed to improve heart health and reduce chronic inflammation. To make this smoothie, you’ll combine the persimmons, tangerines and other ingredients like ginger, almond milk and vanilla bean in a blender until smooth.