It is so interesting to see how our diets change as spring grows near. While some people alter their daily diets to shed a bit of winter weight gain, or some start to eat foods that are fresher and more seasonal, many of us just like to lighten up and shift away from the heavier soups, stews, and meals that we relied on to keep us warm and energized during the cold winter weather into lighter fare that is cold and refreshing.

SEE ALSO: Top Smoothie And Juice Bars In Wilmington, NC

One easy and satisfying way to really bold up the colors in your diet this spring is to drink smoothies. Now, we don’t mean the smoothies you’ll find in fast food restaurants, and even in somewhat healthier establishments. Sadly, a lot of these readily available smoothies ignore the most important rules for truly healthy beverages. For example, they may add extra sugary syrups, food colorings, and other ingredients that do far more harm than good.

Some Tips for Top Smoothies

To be sure you can make smoothies that compete with professionally made versions (only without any bad ingredients), consider the following:

• Use a high power blender (800 watt motors are best).

• Freeze some of the fruits to create a “milkshake” like thickness (bananas are an amazing stand in for ice cream).

• Start with the fluid ingredients and then add dry ingredients, and finish off with heavy things like fruit chunks and ice cubes.

• Don’t ignore the healthy benefits of superior “add-ins” like chia seed, wheat germ, hemp or flax seeds, and even sunflower seeds or sliced almonds.

• If you are a vegan in Wilmington, you can use dairy alternatives like soy, coconut, or nut milks in place of animal based foods, and that also includes making your own non-dairy yogurts, and so on.

Now that you have the basic tips, consider these recipes – they are each made in the same way (fluid, light ingredients, heavy) and are just combined and then blended until smooth.

1. Mangos in the Spring

Ingredients

• 5 large strawberries
• 1 mango (peeled and cubed)
• 1 frozen banana (peeled and sliced)
• 1 cup of dairy or non-dairy milk

2. Peak of Spring Smoothie

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup frozen berries
• 1 peach (pitted and chopped)
• 1 plum (pitted and chopped)
• 1 nectarine (pitted and chopped)
• 1/2 yogurt or non-dairy yogurt

3. Green with Envy Smoothie

Ingredients

• 1 apple (cored and chopped)
• 1 frozen banana (peeled and sliced)
• 4 frozen broccoli florets
• 1 cup of kale
• 1 cup of spinach
• 1/2 cup carrot juice
• 1/2 cup orange juice

4. Orange You Ready for Spring Smoothie

Ingredients

• 6 ounces of frozen orange juice
• 1 cup ice
• 1 cup dairy or non-dairy milk
• 1/2 cup water

5. PB & J Banana

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup dairy or non-dairy milk
• 1 banana (frozen and sliced)
• 1/4 cup natural and unsweetened nut butter
• 2 tbsp honey

You can also rely on some health food stores in Wilmington to provide you with smoothies that are as healthy and natural as these. Tidal Creek Co-op CafŽÕs smoothies are ideal for anyone but are great if you are someone who is a vegan in Wilmington. Download our smoothie menu to discover the flavors we have for you right now, and give yourself a taste of the spring to come!