It’s probably not the first ingredient you think of, but throw some naturally sweet beets into your smoothie and you’ll get a dose of exercise-boosting nitrates, along with magnesium and fiber.

If you don’t have a high-powered blender, use pre-cooked beets. You’ll also find anabolic whey protein from the ricotta and heart-healthy omega-3 fat in the walnuts.

Beet Pineapple Smoothie

Beet-Pineapple Blaster

This ramped-up smoothie provides a pre-workout surge.

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Pro tip: For easier blending, add liquids first; then soft items like yogurt and nut butters; then harder ingredients, such as raw vegetables; and finally, frozen fruit or ice.

This helps lubricate the blender’s blades so they’ll cut through the harder stuff and extend the life span of less-powerful machines.

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup low-fat buttermilk
  • 2/3 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
  • 1/2 scoop protein powder
  • 1 medium-size beet, peeled and chopped
  • 1 Tbsp walnuts
  • 1 tsp honey
  • 1 tsp orange zest
  • 1/4 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp ginger powder
  • 1 cup frozen strawberries

Directions

  1. Place all ingredients in a blender in the order listed, and blend on high for 1 minute or until smooth.
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