Photo: Chiquita Banana

3 skinny smoothie recipes

Smoothies can be a refreshing alternative to heavier meals in the scorching summer months — particularly when the last thing you want to do is exert any energy, chewing included. The problem is that if you’re not chewing your lunch, it may be easy to assume that you’re not consuming as many calories as you would if you were indulging in a platter of greasy disco fries.

Smoothies prepared with whole milk, ice cream, sugar or any combination thereof could make you pack on the pounds and leave you wishing you got those skinny black jeans a size larger and with extra stretch. But other smoothies, like these three, are filling and healthy and will make skipping that order of disco fries worthwhile.

Banana-oatmeal breakfast smoothie

Photo: Chiquita Banana

Ingredients

  • 2 whole bananas, preferably with brown flecks on peel
  • 2 cups ice
  • 1/3 cup plain low-fat yogurt (Greek yogurt with honey)
  • 1/2 cup cooked oatmeal
  • 1/3 cup almonds (optional)

Place all the ingredients in a blender, leaving the ice for last. Blend on high for at least 30 seconds or until thick.

Papaya smoothie

Eats_PapayaSmoothie

Ingredients

  • 2 cups papaya, peeled, seeded and cubed
  • 2 cups fat-free milk
  • 1 cup plain low-fat yogurt (Greek yogurt with honey)
  • 2 cups ice

Place all the ingredients in a blender, leaving the ice for last. Blend on high for at least 30 seconds or until smooth.

Avocado pear smoothie

Photo: MarthaStewart.com

Ingredients

  • 1 ripe avocado (about 7 ounces)
  • 1/2 cup silken tofu drained
  • 1 cup pear juice
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 2 cups ice

Quarter, pit, and peel avocado. Place avocado, tofu, juice, honey and vanilla in a blender, leaving the ice for last. Blend until smooth.