When I think of frozen berries, my mind usually goes to delicious smoothies or desserts. But, there’s another side to these convenient fruits that I have to keep in mind: food safety. Most of us know that fresh produce can harbor nasties like bacteria and viruses, and the same goes for their frozen counterparts.

Storage and Temperature
I always make sure my berries are stored at the right temperature. Freezing doesn’t kill pathogens like E. coli, Salmonella, or Listeria; it just puts them on pause. This means the safety of frozen berries hinges on how they’re handled before they hit those low temperatures and how they’re maintained during storage.

FDA’s Role
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is pretty big on this stuff. They’ve been working on strategies to make sure frozen berries are safe, conducting surveillance sampling, and looking out for viruses like hepatitis A and norovirus which can sneak into my food.

Washing Frozen Berries?
I used to think, “They’re frozen, so they must be clean, right?” Not quite. Even though they’re cold, I wash them thoroughly to reduce any potential pathogens. This doesn’t guarantee that the berries will be pathogen-free, but it’s a step toward reducing the risk of foodborne illness.

Nutrition vs. Safety
Another thing — the nutrition of frozen berries isn’t in question; they’re a great source of vitamins and antioxidants. But when it comes to bacteria and other microorganisms, I make sure to keep food safety in mind.

In the end, enjoying frozen berries is all about balance. With proper storage, handling, and a bit of care, I can enjoy their taste and health benefits while keeping the vexing bugs at bay.

Health Benefits of Frozen Berries

When I stash frozen berries in my freezer, I’m not just thinking about the convenience, but also the health benefits they pack. Let me tell you, these frosty nuggets are nutritional powerhouses.

First up, most frozen berries come loaded with Vitamin C. It’s like getting a burst of immunity with every bite, which is pretty awesome. And hey, they don’t skimp on other vitamins either. Many times, they’re high in folate, a B-vitamin that’s a big deal for our cells and growth.

Here’s the kicker – the freezing process actually helps to maintain high nutrient levels. Unlike fresh berries that might lose some oomph while they chill in your fridge, the frozen kind tend to lock in their goodness. That means I’m getting a solid dose of the vitamins I need, whenever I need them.

• Vitamin C: Powerhouse for immunity and skin health
• Folate: Essential for cell growth and metabolism

And, it isn’t just about vitamins. Berries are like little fiber bombs, making sure my digestive system stays on track. Plus, they’re low in calories but high in nutrients, which adds up to a pretty sweet deal for maintaining my weight.

One cup of frozen berries typically gives me:

• Around 60 calories
• 1 gram of protein
• 15 grams of carbohydrates
• 0.5 grams of fat

Of course, the exact numbers can vary depending on the berry mix and brand. But no matter how you slice it, these frozen treats are a win in my book for keeping my vitamin and nutrient levels up there.

Risks of Consuming Frozen Berries

While I always appreciate the convenience of having frozen berries on hand, it’s important to be aware of their potential risks. These risks can range from viral and bacterial contaminations to recalls due to health outbreaks.

Viral Contaminations: Hepatitis and Norovirus

I’ve learned that frozen berries can sometimes be tainted with viruses like Hepatitis A and Norovirus. For instance, Hepatitis A is a liver disease that can lead to serious health issues; it’s been linked to consuming contaminated frozen berries. Norovirus, often associated with stomach flu, can also survive freezing temperatures and contaminate frozen berry products.

Bacterial Contaminations: E. Coli and Salmonella

Another concern with frozen berries is bacterial contamination, including bacteria like E. coli and Salmonella. These harmful bacteria can result in foodborne illnesses that manifest as gastrointestinal symptoms. The problem arises when contaminated water or soil comes into contact with the berries pre-freezing. Since berries are often eaten raw, the bacteria don’t get killed by cooking.

Recalls and Outbreaks History

There’s been a history of recalls and multistate outbreaks linked to frozen berries. These often stem from Listeria monocytogenes or the presence of heavy metals. Recalls in the industry are significant as they signal a breakdown in food safety protocols. They also remind us of the potential for widespread effects due to consumption of contaminated frozen berries during or even before a pandemic. These recalls play a crucial role in preventing further spread of contamination and consequent illness.

Comparing Fresh and Frozen Berries

When I wander down the grocery store aisles and think about my berry intake, I often weigh the pros and cons of fresh versus frozen berries. Frozen berries are convenient; they last longer and are often cheaper than their fresh counterparts, making them a staple in my freezer. Plus, according to WebMD, both fresh and frozen fruits are great additions to a diet.

On the other hand, I enjoy the taste of fresh berries, which for me, tends to be juicier and more vibrant. However, fresh produce has a shorter shelf life, which means I need to eat them quickly or risk them going bad.

Here’s a breakdown of how they compare:

I’ve read that the nutritional content of frozen berries is pretty solid; Healthline even suggests they may have more nutrients than fresh fruits because they’re picked at peak ripeness and frozen quickly. The freezing process actually preserves vitamins and antioxidants which are pivotal for my health.

When I’m baking or making smoothies, I lean toward frozen berries since they blend well and give me that nice, thick texture I love. For garnishes or just snacking, I’ll grab fresh berries for their natural sweetness and full flavor. In the end, I make my choice based on what I’m using the berries for and how soon I plan to use them.

Preventing Contamination in Frozen Berries

Before we dive into the specifics, let’s acknowledge that ensuring the safety of frozen berries involves coordinated efforts by the industry and regulatory agencies, along with proper handling and storage.

Role of Industry and FDA

I understand that the food industry plays a crucial role in delivering safe to eat frozen produce. Processors need to follow stringent food safety protocols from the moment berries are harvested to when they’re packaged. This means employing methods to reduce contamination risks such as using clean water for washing and ensuring that equipment is regularly sanitized. Compliance with these standards is essential, and it’s where the FDA steps in to enforce food safety regulations.

Moreover, groups like the American Frozen Food Institute work alongside the FDA to develop best practices. They ensure distribution centers and warehouses maintain the cold chain effectively, which is vital as temperature fluctuations can compromise berry safety. Part of these joint initiatives could include creating a comprehensive list of the control program, specific to the berry freezing process, with ready to eat products in mind.

Safe Handling and Storage Practices

When it comes to storage, I can’t emphasize enough the importance of keeping these berries at consistent sub-zero temperatures. Freezing is a reliable preservation method, but it doesn’t kill all harmful pathogens. This is why handling and storage require careful monitoring.

Here are my tips to help minimize risks:

• Always store frozen berries at consistent temperatures as recommended by the FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
• Regularly check storage units for proper functioning and maintain them to prevent any contamination through faulty equipment.
• Follow procedures outlined by industry guidelines for safe handling—these include wearing gloves, using clean containers, and avoiding cross-contamination.

Remember, as an end consumer, you have a part to play too. You should keep your freezer at a suggested temperature and handle your berries with clean hands, and utensils before enjoying them.

Using Frozen Berries in Cooking and Preparation

I find that incorporating frozen berries into my cooking routine is super convenient. Often, I toss them into a blender for a smoothie without a second thought. My go-to berries are raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries and they’re generally safe to eat straight from the bag. However, there’s always that small risk of foodborne illness.

Occasionally, berries can carry a virus if, say, an infected worker handled them. To avoid getting sick, research suggests bringing berries to a boil or microwaving them reaches temperatures that’ll neutralize most baddies.

When making something like a berry compote or perhaps a berry-studded pancake, I keep the berries frozen. Thawing them tends to result in a soggy disaster, so I just add them to the dish a bit earlier than I would with fresh fruit.

Here’s a quick frozen fruit safety tip table:

When it comes to other frozen products like spinach, corn, or mangoes, I prefer to thaw and drain them because they can be a bit watery. But for berries, the colder the better until they hit the heat.

By the way, this advice isn’t just coming from my kitchen experiments. I found confirmation on several sites, like Baking Kneads and The Kitchn, which agree that using frozen berries directly in recipes works like a charm.

Lastly, beyond the berries, I always have a stash of other frozen favorites like avocado slices for toast, peaches for desserts, and pineapple chunks for tropical smoothies. Frozen fruit is just a fantastic way to enjoy off-season flavors without fretting over them spoiling too fast, which we all know can be a real bummer with fresh produce. Just remember that when it comes to safety, a little extra heat treatment never hurts, especially if you’re serving folks with vulnerable immune systems.

Regulation and Surveillance of the Frozen Berry Industry

As someone who’s always eyeing those bags of frozen berries, I’ve learned a bit about how they’re regulated. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) takes the lead on this, making sure my smoothie berries are safe to eat. They run a program specifically for microbiological surveillance sampling of frozen berries.

• Who’s Involved?
  • Big Brands
  • Private Label
  • Store Brands

All the big players from major brands to the store brands get their frozen fruit scrutinized. We’re talking about strawberries, raspberries, and the like.

• FDA’s Role in Surveillance:
  • Conducts testing for pathogens like Hepatitis A and norovirus
  • Develops and implements prevention strategies

I’ve read that they’re especially watchful for stuff like Hepatitis A and norovirus because nobody wants those as surprise smoothie ingredients. The FDA is working on a food safety prevention strategy to up the safety game even more.

The frozen food industry, including those berries, follows a bunch of regulations to stay on the FDA’s good side. And since I’m pretty fond of not getting sick from my fruit, I’m all for these safety checks and balances. It’s good to know that there’s an eye on things from field to freezer aisle.

Trends and Research in Frozen Berry Consumption

In recent years, I’ve seen a significant uptick in the consumption of frozen fruits, particularly berries like raspberries. My browsing through market research shows that consumers are opting for frozen options due to their convenience and extended shelf life. Specifically, the Global Frozen Fruits Market report suggests that there is a growing demand for these products.

From a nutrition perspective, I’ve gathered that freezing berries may preserve their antioxidants, which are often highlighted for complementing a healthy diet. I enjoy adding a handful to my smoothies or tea for a refreshing twist. And thanks to researchers like those at Rutgers University, there’s emphasis on the fact that frozen berries can maintain much of their nutritional value when properly handled and processed.

However, the concern for foodborne illnesses associated with frozen berries cannot be ignored. Learning from sources like the FDA, I know that there have been instances where outbreaks have been linked to frozen berries due to issues like contamination with Hepatitis A virus (HAV) or Norovirus (NoV).

On the flip side, my scour through research articles indicates that most pre-packaged frozen berries are safe when safe handling practices are followed. The findings from a Canadian inspection survey support this, reassuring us that the majority of these products on the market are safe for consumption.

Now, when I look at the mix of frozen vegetables and fruits on the shelves, it’s clear that they have become a mainstay for people seeking the ease and assurance of having vegetables and fruits year-round. The ongoing research keeps me confident in my choices but also reminds me to stay mindful of food safety standards.

Supplementing Diets with Frozen Berries

When I’m looking to amp up the nutritional content of my diet, I often turn to frozen berries. They’re a convenient and versatile option, allowing me to enjoy a burst of flavor and nutrition even when fresh berries aren’t in season. Here’s my lowdown on why I make them a staple in my freezer:

Nutritional Benefits:
Frozen berries are packed with vitamins that can benefit your overall health. They’re a great source of fiber and antioxidants like vitamin C, which can help support my immune system. Plus, they contain various phytochemicals, which have shown potential in reducing the risk of certain diseases.

• Vitamins:
  • Vitamin C
  • Vitamin K
  • Various B vitamins (in smaller amounts)

Food Safety Considerations:
I always check the packaging to make sure my frozen berries come from a reliable source. Proper handling and storage are key to preventing potential contamination with bacteria. Ensuring the berries are properly frozen quickly after harvest helps lock in the goodness and safety.

• Safe Handling:
  • Check for intact packaging
  • Store at consistent, freezing temperatures

For those on specific diets or with additional dietary needs, frozen berries can be a fantastic supplement. For example, they’re great for baby food as they’re free of additives and can be easily blended after thawing. However, I’m cautious to steer clear of combining berries with spices or foods like ground beef that might not pair well in terms of flavor or food safety.

When it comes to supplements, I sometimes find that frozen berries are a whole food alternative. They provide me with essential nutrients without the need for synthetic vitamins.

Lastly, I like to mix frozen berries with frozen veggies in a smoothie. This way, I boost my intake of diverse nutrients without compromising on taste.

So that’s my take! Frozen berries, with their convenience and health benefits, have earned their spot in my diet. Just remember, quality and safety come first, then it’s all about enjoying those tasty, nutritious berries any day of the year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yo, I get it—frozen berries are a tasty, convenient snack, but there’s stuff we’ve gotta know about their safety and nutrition, right? Let’s dive into the most common Qs folks are asking.

Is it cool to munch on frozen berries straight from the pack?

I’ve heard that you might wanna be careful with eating frozen berries directly from the package. Sometimes, they can harbor nasty bacteria or viruses. It’s probably a smart move to heat them first to zap those germs.

Can chowing down on frozen berries every day be a chill move for my health?

Absolutely! If you’re into eating frozen berries on the reg, you’re doing your body a solid. They’re packed with vitamins and antioxidants. Just make sure you’re getting them from a safe, reputable source.

What’s the scoop on those frozen fruit recalls from 2023?

Last year, some frozen fruit brands had to pull their products off the shelves due to health concerns like hepatitis A and listeria contamination. It was a serious heads-up to always check where your frozen treats come from.

Are frozen fruits still rockin’ all the good nutrients?

For sure, frozen fruits are typically picked at peak ripeness, which means they’re holding onto most of their nutritional value. Freezing can actually lock in those vitamins and antioxidants.

How do I dodge any health risks when I snack on frozen fruit?

Key move here is proper handling and preparation. Boiling or cooking the berries can kill any lurking nasties. Skipping a simple rinse and going straight for the heat treatment is the way to go.

Has that whole frozen fruit recall drama settled down now?

It looks like the industry’s been working hard to up their safety game, conducting tests and reinforcing standards. But it’s still on me to stay updated on recall info—peace of mind and all that jazz.

You’ll also get tips to upgrade your elderberry kiwi spinach smoothie to a healthy breakfast bowl by sprinkling superfoods into it – This keeps you and your loved ones energetic and fresh throughout the day.

Ready? Let’s get started!

Do you want to know more about the ingredients and health benefits? Keep reading!

Prepare To Fall Head Over Heels For This Elderberry Kiwi Spinach Smoothie!

Why should you try the elderberry kiwi spinach smoothie?

(1) Because it works with most diets (vegan and more)! Diets

(2) Because it keeps you healthy and beautiful! Beauty and Health Benefits

(3) Because it only needs 3 ingredients! Ingredients

(4) Because it only takes 5 minutes to make! Recipe

(5) Because one cup has only 114 calories and is packed with vital nutrients! Calories and Nutrition Table

(6) Because it’s easily affordable! Save Money

(7) Because you can pimp it with superfoods and use it as a healthy baseline for our delicious breakfast bowls! Bowls

So why not?

Which Diets Apply to the Elderberry Kiwi Spinach Smoothie?

The following diets apply to the basic elderberry kiwi spinach smoothie recipe of just elderberry, kiwi, and spinach, and water:

Do you want to learn more about these and other diets? Feel free to dive into our full guide on the WeirdSmoothie blog — it’s super informative!

Recommended Guide: An Overview of Dietary Plans

As you can see, the elderberry kiwi spinach smoothie adheres to the principles of many popular dietary plans.

Why should you care about any of those? Here are the seven top benefits of choosing a healthy diet:

1. Improved Energy Levels: Eating a healthy diet can give you the energy to stay productive and alert throughout the day.
2. Weight Management: Eating healthily can help you get your dream weight.
3. Improved Mood: A balanced diet helps to keep your hormones in check, improving your mood and reducing stress.
4. Reduced Risk of Chronic Diseases: Eating a healthy diet can reduce your risk of developing chronic diseases like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.
5. Improved Digestive Health: It can improve your digestion and help prevent digestive problems like constipation, diarrhea, and heartburn.
6. Improved Immune Function: A healthy diet can boost your immune system, making you less susceptible to illnesses.
7. Improved Heart Health: Lastly, it can reduce cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and other risk factors for heart disease.

Below, I’ll give you some variants that may influence these dietary considerations. But now let’s dive right into the health benefits, specifically, of the elderberry kiwi spinach smoothie:

Say Goodbye To Dull Skin With This Deliciously Nutritious Smoothie!

Unlock your inner radiance with the elderberry kiwi spinach smoothie! Enjoy a healthier life today by sipping on this nutritious blend. In particular, here are the beauty benefits of the elderberry kiwi spinach smoothie:

Elderberries are a wealthy source of skincare benefits. Packed with antioxidants and flavonoids, elderberries can help protect your skin from damage caused by free radicals, reduce the appearance of wrinkles and soothe and calm sensitive skin. Plus, they contain vitamin A to nourish and moisturize. With all these wonderful features, it’s no wonder elderberries are a popular choice for skincare products. Try adding elderberries to your diet for healthier, brighter skin!

Kiwis have some wonderful beauty benefits. The fruit is packed with vitamin C, which can help protect your skin from free radical damage, reduce wrinkles, and promote collagen production. It also contains a high amount of vitamin E, which helps protect your skin from sun damage and promotes a healthy, glowing complexion. Plus, kiwis are a source of antioxidants, which can help reduce inflammation and improve skin tone. Eating kiwis can help your skin look brighter, younger, and more radiant.

Spinach contains loads of vitamin C and boosts collagen production, helping your body create new skin cells. Vitamin C can help you look brighter with tighter and bouncier skin. Overall, with its collagen and vitamin C nutrients, spinach can give you the refreshed look you desire.

Health Benefits

In a Nutshell: The elderberry kiwi spinach smoothie has multiple health benefits. Elderberries are rich in antioxidants and vitamins that can boost your immune system, tame inflammation, lessen stress, protect your heart, and even help prevent and ease cold and flu symptoms. Kiwis are a nutrient-packed, low-calorie snack that can help regulate blood pressure, reduce cholesterol levels, and support cell growth while satisfying your sweet tooth! By adding spinach to your meals, you can get the health benefits of reduced oxidative stress, improved eye health, and a decreased risk of heart disease and cancer.

Elderberries are a natural immune booster packed with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. According to research, they may help reduce cold and flu symptoms, improve heart health, and even have anticancer effects. They’re definitely worth considering as a natural addition to your healthcare routine!

Kiwis provide numerous health benefits: They are a wealthy source of dietary fiber, which can help keep your digestive system in check and reduce cholesterol levels. Additionally, kiwis are rich in potassium and folate, which help regulate blood pressure and support cell growth. Lastly, they are low in calories and contain a good amount of natural sugars, making them a great snack to satisfy your sweet tooth without a guilty conscience.

Tired of the same old salads? Spice up your smoothie with nutrient-rich spinach! This leafy green has been scientifically proven to reduce oxidative stress, promote eye health, and even reduce your risk of heart disease and cancer. Incorporating spinach into your life is an easy way to reap its amazing health benefits – so why not give it a try today?

These are only some of the plenty of health benefits. Find more on our detailed health guide on the WeirdSmoothie blog. As with everything, you shouldn’t consume smoothies too excessively because, in the wrong dose, everything becomes unhealthy, even water!

Paracelsus: “There is nothing without poison; only the dose makes a thing non-poisonous.”

Ingredients – Anatomy of a Perfect Smoothie

Making a tasty smoothie is super easy—if you use good ingredients and blend them the right way. In addition to the base ingredients, we use blending and binding agents to create the perfect thickness and consistency.

Here are the base ingredients of a simple and healthy elderberry kiwi spinach smoothie:

• Base Ingredient #1: Elderberry
• Base Ingredient #2: Kiwi
• Base Ingredient #3: Spinach
• Blending Agent: Water

Now, this would be the base smoothie — nothing more is needed!

But now comes the fun part: Use variations of blending and binding agents to make your smoothie more interesting, healthy, and delicious!

Do you want to know the secret formula to your perfect smoothie? Here it is: 1 + 2 + 3 + 4.

1. Base Ingredients: Fruits or vegetables. For this recipe, elderberry, kiwi, and spinach.
2. Blending Agents: Water, vegan milk alternatives (soy, almond, oat, pea), cow milk, coconut water, or other liquids
3. Binding Agents: Avocado, vegan yogurt alternatives (soy, almond, oat, pea), yogurt, nut butter (peanut, almond), or cottage cheese
4. Extras: Superfoods and toppings such as chia seeds, nuts, flaxseeds, herbs, cacao powder

Let’s dive into each of those next. The perfect smoothie starts with the perfect ingredients!

Use Organic Ingredients! They are free from synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. Many people believe these chemicals are harmful to our health, so eating organic foods can help reduce our exposure to them. Organic foods also tend to be fresher and less processed, so they can retain more natural vitamins and minerals.

1) Base Ingredients – Fruits and Vegetables

Creating smoothies with your family is an easy and fun way to get your daily dose of delicious and nutritious fruits and vegetables! These base ingredients provide a flavor base and serve as the building blocks for a healthy snack or meal. And why not get creative in the kitchen and let your loved ones pick out their favorite fruits and veggies for a smoothie that will make them happy?

Elderberry Kiwi Spinach Smoothie Flavors:

• Elderberries are a unique and delicious balance of earthy and tart-like flavors, making them an excellent complement to both sweet and tart fruits. Reminiscent of a blend of blackberries and blueberries, they create a flavorful base for smoothies!
• Kiwi is a tropical fruit that is sweet and refreshing, with a unique and distinctive taste. The flesh of kiwis is juicy and soft. Its flavor is often described as a combination of strawberry, pineapple, and lemon — and subtle notes of honeydew and citrus. It has a slightly tangy aftertaste with a hint of tartness.
• Raw spinach has a mild, slightly sweet taste, adding a delightfully subtle flavor to any smoothie. Only when cooked its flavor transforms into an acidic, robust taste.

Yummy! This delicious and nutritious smoothie not only tastes great — it keeps you and your loved ones healthy, energetic, and radiant. Beauty and Health Benefits

2) Blending Agents – Liquids

Liquids are a crucial component of smoothies because they help to blend the other ingredients together and create a smooth, drinkable consistency. Without enough liquid, your smoothie will be too thick and difficult to drink.

Beware! Two of my blenders got destroyed because I tried to blend too many hard ingredients and the thickness broke the blender knives. If you’re looking for a high-powered blender, feel free to check out our ultimate blender guide.

The type of liquid you use in your smoothie can also affect its flavor and nutritional content, so choosing a liquid that will complement your other ingredients is important.

Here is a list of the eight most common blending agents for smoothies:

1. Water
2. Coconut water
3. Coconut milk
4. Almond milk
5. Soy milk
6. Oat milk (not gluten-free!)
7. Cow milk (not vegan or lactose-free!)
8. Juice

If you’re adventurous, you can also experiment with other liquids like tea or even coffee!

3) Binding Agents

Binding agents are the secret ingredient that makes smoothies smooth and creamy! These ingredients are high in fiber and help to combine the other ingredients in the smoothie, creating the desired smooth and thick consistency.

They also add volume to the smoothie, making it more filling and satisfying. Plus, binding agents add serious nutritional value to your smoothie, providing essential vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients.

So don’t skimp on the binding agents – they’re the key to a delicious and satisfying smoothie!

Here is a list of the eleven most common binding agents for smoothies:

1. Avocados
2. Peanut and almond butter
3. Plant-based yogurts
4. Milk-based yogurt (not vegan or lactose-free!)
5. Cottage cheese (not vegan or lactose-free!)
6. Frozen fruits
7. Oats (not gluten-free!)
8. Chia seeds
9. Flaxseeds
10. Psyllium husk
11. Protein powder

In addition to these ingredients, you can experiment with other binding agents, such as egg whites, cornstarch, or leafy greens.

4) Extras

Taste-enhancing ingredients like honey, maple syrup, dates, and vanilla extract can be added for sweetness. Spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, and ginger can also be added for extra flavor. Here’s a list of ideas:

• Nuts: Almonds, walnuts, cashews, pecans, macadamias, brazil nuts, chestnuts
• Seeds: Chia seeds, flaxseeds, hemp seeds
• Dry fruits: Dates, raisins, apricots, figs, prunes, goji berries
• Powder: Cacao, matcha, maca, coconut
• Natural Sweeteners: Honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar, agave nectar, date syrup
• Spices: Cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg, turmeric, cardamom, ginger

To make your smoothie look more appetizing, choose your preferred colorful toppings from this list, such as fruits, nuts, seeds, or granola. For example, drizzle honey or agave syrup, sprinkle with cinnamon or nutmeg, or add a swirl of nut butter or coconut cream plus a sprig of mint or a slice of lemon. Et voilà!

Recommended: Pimp Your Smoothie – Dr. Greger’s Daily Dozens

If you want to dive even deeper into the anatomy of a perfect smoothie, binding agents, blending agents, and all the secrets you want to know, feel free to check out our full guide on the WeirdSmoothie blog.

Should You Use Frozen Ingredients?

Here’s a little-known secret: Use at least one frozen ingredient in your smoothie recipe — or a handful of ice cubes — to make your smoothie thicker and give it a delicious chill!

There are many benefits of freezing your smoothie ingredients:

• Nutrition: Freezing your ingredients helps to preserve their nutritional content. Frozen fruits and vegetables retain vitamins and minerals longer than fruits that are not frozen.
• Antibacterial: Freezing food can reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses. Freezing kills many of the bacteria and organisms that cause food to spoil.
• Zero Preservatives: Frozen food is free from preservatives, i.e., it’s more natural!
• Shelf Life: Freezing can extend the shelf life of fruits and vegetables, so they stay fresh for months.
• Seasonality: You don’t have to go vitamin-free during winter but eat healthy (frozen) fruits and vegetables all year without excessive long-distance transportation.
• Plastic Waste: You can prepare zero-waste smoothies easily by purchasing raw ingredients, cutting them, and saving them in handy and reusable boxes. No plastic!
• Food Waste: Freezing food can reduce food waste. Fruits and vegetables can be frozen and blended later, rather than throwing out any leftovers.
• Convenience: The last thing you want to do is cut ingredients during a hectic day. Freezing food is super convenient and allows for easier meal preparation. Pre-frozen ingredients can make meals much faster to prepare.
• Money: You save money because you can purchase larger amounts of ingredients at a discount and have zero food waste.

You can either buy frozen fruits and veggies or cut them into handy portions and freeze them for future use.

Sustainability Tip: Freezing food could reduce global food waste by an astonishing 83%! Roughly one-third of food is thrown away worldwide, and 45% are fruits and vegetables. Freezing can largely eliminate this waste. (Martindale and Schiebel, British Food Journal 2017)

The following three elderberry kiwi spinach smoothie recipe variations are sure to tantalize your taste buds. So what are you waiting for? Get your blender out and get ready for a refreshingly delicious start to your day!

Elderberry Kiwi Spinach Smoothie Recipe

YIELD: 2 Servings

PREP TIME: 5 Minutes

Our base recipe is easy, healthy, and oh-so-yummy. But if you’re looking for something to cool you down in the summer heat or warm you up on a cold winter day, we’ve got you covered with two season-inspired recipe variations.

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Variation #1 – Base Smoothie

• 1 cup of fresh elderberries OR 2 tablespoons of elderberry syrup
• 2 peeled and sliced kiwis
• 2 cups of baby spinach, or 1/3 cup of frozen spinach
• 2 cups of water
• (Optional) 1/2 a cup of unsweetened plant-based yogurt

Variation #2 – Refreshing Summer Smoothie

• 1 cup of fresh elderberries OR 2 tablespoons of elderberry syrup
• 2 peeled and sliced kiwis
• 2 cups of baby spinach, or 1/3 cup of frozen spinach
• 2 cups of cold water
• 1/2 cup of lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons of chia seeds
• 2 tablespoons of coconut flakes (topping)
• (Optional) 1/2 cup of ice cubes or crushed ice

Variation #3 – Cozy Winter Smoothie

• 1 cup of fresh elderberries OR 2 tablespoons of elderberry syrup
• 2 peeled and sliced kiwis
• 2 cups of baby spinach, or 1/3 cup of frozen spinach
• 2 cups of warm unsweetened oat milk
• 1/2 cup of plant-based yogurt
• 2 teaspoons of peanut butter
• 2 teaspoons of chia seeds
• 1/2 cup of raw almonds
• 1/2 teaspoon of ground nutmeg
• 2 teaspoons of honey

Instructions

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
Pour into glasses and decorate with some leftover ingredients.
Serve and enjoy!

Tips

Add at least one frozen ingredient or a handful of ice cubes to make your smoothie extra creamy and thick!
Add more water to reduce the thickness of your smoothie!
See Problems and Solutions

Do you want to make this smoothie even healthier? Check out our amazing selection of healthy bowl ideas based on this smoothie. Scroll down or jump right in!

Are you looking for the best blender for your kitchen? Look no further! We have scoured the market to bring you an unbiased comparison of the top blenders available. Find out which blender will best meet your needs and budget.

Recommended Guide: The Ultimate Blender Showdown: Who Will Come Out on Top?

Elderberry Kiwi Spinach Smoothie Calories — A Not-So-Guilty Pleasure

A homemade elderberry kiwi spinach smoothie typically has roughly 114 calories per serving (200 ml, one glass).

The amount of calories you need per day varies depending on your gender, age, height, weight, activity level, and overall health.

• The average woman needs about 2,000–2,400 calories per day to maintain her weight, and 1,500–1,800 calories per day to lose 1 pound (0.45 kg) of weight per week.
• The average man needs around 2,500 to 3,000 calories per day to maintain his weight, and 1,800-2,300 calories per day to lose 1 pound (0.45 kg) of weight per week.

Compare one large cup of the elderberry kiwi spinach smoothie (114 calories) with one cappuccino (80 calories), one small serving of red wine (105 calories), and one 500 ml glass of beer (218 calories).

If you’re interested in shredding some pounds, feel free to check out our popular WeirdSmoothie guide on weight loss!

Elderberry Kiwi Spinach Smoothie Nutrition per 100 Grams

Nutrition information isn’t always accurate – we use generalized estimates!

Save Time and Money with These 10 Tricks

Costs: You can expect to pay roughly $2 USD for one cup of the basic elderberry kiwi spinach smoothie. If you use advanced ingredients such as chia seeds and nuts, the cost of one glass will increase by another +$2 USD to $4 USD. Note that these are only rough estimates because the costs depend on your location and the quality of the ingredients.

Still too expensive? These ten tricks will help you save money and time:

1. Buy pre-cut frozen fruits or vegetables, saving you time on prep work.
2. Freeze fresh ingredients before they expire and spoil — even nuts retain their nutrients longer when refrigerated.
3. Buy in bulk so you can save money on each individual item.
4. Make large batches of smoothies so you only have to do the prep and clean up once.
5. Use a powerful blender to make a large batch at once.
6. Don’t try to be exact with the measurements. Rough guesses will do to save time and minimize clean-up!
7. Drink the smoothie directly out of the blender, so you don’t have to clean your glasses after. (Just kidding.)
8. Use water instead of milk to reduce the costs per cup significantly.
9. Use Greek yogurt instead of regular yogurt, as it has more protein and will fill you up faster.
10. Add nuts and seeds for more protein, which are cheaper than protein powder.

And don’t be penny-wise but pound-foolish! A healthy lifestyle will save you tens of thousands of dollars in direct health costs, add years to your life, and make you more productive in the time you have!

Sustainability Tip: Shop seasonally and regionally for fresh ingredients to save money! When on sale, stock up, wash, portion, and freeze for future use. Your wallet and the environment will thank you!

Want more sustainability tips? Sure, find them on the WeirdSmoothie blog!

Typical Mistakes and Problems

Problem: My smoothie is too thick.
Solution: Add more liquids or other blending agents.

Problem: My smoothie is too thin.
Solution: Add a binding agents to make it thicker, such as banana, avocado, nut butter, chia seeds, and frozen fruits.

Problem: My smoothie is too grainy.
Solution: Add more blending agents (liquids) and binding agents (e.g., avocados, bananas, and peanut butter) to make it creamier. If nothing works, you may need to buy a better blender or change the knives.

Problem: My smoothie is too smooth.
Solution: Congratulations. This is what it’s all about!

Problem: My smoothie is too bitter.
Solution: Add natural “sweeteners” such as bananas, dates, or honey.

Problem: My smoothie is too sweet.
Solution: Add lemon or lime juice, grapefruits, pomegranate, or plain yogurt to balance the sweetness.

Problem: I have leftovers.
Solution: Put it into the refrigerator and drink it within 24 hours to avoid losing too many nutrients. Or put it into the freezer and save it for up to three months. Your kids will love the smoothie ice cream.

Recommended Article: The Most Common Problems and Solutions When Creating Smoothies

Wake Up To A Refreshing Elderberry Kiwi Spinach Smoothie Bowl

When I sip a smoothie, it’s not as satisfying as a meal. Science backs this up: Chewing releases saliva that helps break down food, so no smoothie can replace a proper meal.

You can use the elderberry kiwi spinach smoothie as a basis for your innovative elderberry kiwi spinach smoothie bowl!

Follow the elderberry kiwi spinach smoothie recipe as outlined before. Then add your favorite unblended ingredients such as nuts, seeds, and peanut butter. Sprinkle in some oatmeal or healthy muesli. Superfoods such as berries, chia seeds, or flaxseeds are a perfect addition. Ta-da! Your elderberry kiwi spinach smoothie bowl!

Do you need more inspiration? Choose your favorites or be adventurous:

• Nuts and nut butter: Almonds, walnuts, cashews, pecans, macadamias, brazil nuts, chestnuts
• Seeds: Chia seeds, flaxseeds, hemp seeds, psyllium husk
• Dry fruits: Dates, raisins, apricots, figs, prunes, goji berries
• Sliced fresh fruits: bananas, berries, pineapple, mango
• Powder: Cacao, matcha, maca, coconut
• Natural Sweeteners: Honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar, agave nectar, date syrup
• Spices: Cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg, turmeric, cardamom, ginger
• Muesli: Oats, Cornflakes, Granola, Cereal

Recommended Article: Secrets of Creating Delicious and Healthy Smoothie Bowls

More Smoothie Recipes You May Like

If you liked this recipe, you’ll love our other delicious — and, yes, sometimes weird — smoothies:

• Boysenberry Coconut Watermelon Smoothie
• Lemon Lime Pomegranate Smoothie
• Melon Parsley Raspberry Smoothie
• Plum Spinach Smoothie
• Avocado Passion Fruit Spinach Smoothie
• Papaya Pear Smoothie
• Dragon Fruit Tomato Smoothie
• Nectarine Persimmon Smoothie
• Grape Nectarine Pineapple Smoothie
• Bell Pepper Parsley Smoothie

Sip Your Way to a Better Health — Nine Benefits of Smoothies

Thanks and Bye!

Drinking the Banana Cacao Smoothie is fun, but cleaning it up—not so much. Anyways, thanks for checking out our weird smoothie recipe. I hope to see you around soon to check out one of our weird smoothie recipes!

You’ll also get tips to upgrade your carrot elderberry zucchini smoothie to a healthy breakfast bowl by sprinkling superfoods into it – This keeps you and your loved ones energetic and fresh throughout the day.

Ready? Let’s get started!

Do you want to know more about the ingredients and health benefits? Keep reading!

Prepare To Fall Head Over Heels For This Carrot Elderberry Zucchini Smoothie!

Why should you try the carrot elderberry zucchini smoothie?

(1) Because it works with most diets (vegan and more)! Diets

(2) Because it keeps you healthy and beautiful! Beauty and Health Benefits

(3) Because it only needs 3 ingredients! Ingredients

(4) Because it only takes 5 minutes to make! Recipe

(5) Because one cup has only 81 calories and is packed with vital nutrients! Calories and Nutrition Table

(6) Because it’s easily affordable! Save Money

(7) Because you can pimp it with superfoods and use it as a healthy baseline for our delicious breakfast bowls! Bowls

So why not?

Which Diets Apply to the Carrot Elderberry Zucchini Smoothie?

The following diets apply to the basic carrot elderberry zucchini smoothie recipe of just carrot, elderberry, and zucchini, and water:

Do you want to learn more about these and other diets? Feel free to dive into our full guide on the WeirdSmoothie blog — it’s super informative!

Recommended Guide: An Overview of Dietary Plans

As you can see, the carrot elderberry zucchini smoothie adheres to the principles of many popular dietary plans.

Why should you care about any of those? Here are the seven top benefits of choosing a healthy diet:

1. Improved Energy Levels: Eating a healthy diet can give you the energy to stay productive and alert throughout the day.
2. Weight Management: Eating healthily can help you get your dream weight.
3. Improved Mood: A balanced diet helps to keep your hormones in check, improving your mood and reducing stress.
4. Reduced Risk of Chronic Diseases: Eating a healthy diet can reduce your risk of developing chronic diseases like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.
5. Improved Digestive Health: It can improve your digestion and help prevent digestive problems like constipation, diarrhea, and heartburn.
6. Improved Immune Function: A healthy diet can boost your immune system, making you less susceptible to illnesses.
7. Improved Heart Health: Lastly, it can reduce cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and other risk factors for heart disease.

Below, I’ll give you some variants that may influence these dietary considerations. But now let’s dive right into the health benefits, specifically, of the carrot elderberry zucchini smoothie:

Carrot Elderberry Zucchini Smoothie: The Secret Beauty Ingredients You Can Find Right In Your Kitchen!

Unlock your inner radiance with the carrot elderberry zucchini smoothie! Enjoy a healthier life today by sipping on this nutritious blend. In particular, here are the beauty benefits of the carrot elderberry zucchini smoothie:

Rich in beta-carotene, carrots are packed with beauty-boosting antioxidants that help to protect your skin from free radicals and keep it looking healthy and glowing. Plus, their high vitamin A content helps to keep your skin hydrated and looking supple. So enjoy this delicious smoothie and give your skin the nourishment it needs for a healthy, beautiful complexion.

Elderberries are a wealthy source of skincare benefits. Packed with antioxidants and flavonoids, elderberries can help protect your skin from damage caused by free radicals, reduce the appearance of wrinkles and soothe and calm sensitive skin. Plus, they contain vitamin A to nourish and moisturize. With all these wonderful features, it’s no wonder elderberries are a popular choice for skincare products. Try adding elderberries to your diet for healthier, brighter skin!

Benefit from the beauty-boosting effects of zucchini! Rich in an abundance of vitamins and minerals, this vegetable is packed with antioxidants, water, vitamin A, vitamin C, anti-inflammatory properties, iron, and fiber – all of which work together to promote healthy, glowing skin. Enjoy the nourishing benefits of zucchini for strong bones, collagen production, and a clear complexion.

Health Benefits

In a Nutshell: The carrot elderberry zucchini smoothie has multiple health benefits. Drinking carrot smoothie can provide increased antioxidant and Vitamin A benefits for improved eyesight and skin health. Elderberries are rich in antioxidants and vitamins that can boost your immune system, tame inflammation, lessen stress, protect your heart, and even help prevent and ease cold and flu symptoms. Zucchini is an ideal food for weight loss, as it is packed with nutrients, antioxidants, and fiber, while being low in calories and helpful for managing blood sugar levels.

Drinking a carrot smoothie is one of the healthiest and most delicious ways to get your daily dose of vital nutrients! It is packed with vitamins and minerals and is also high in beta-carotene, which can help support your immune system and keep your eyes healthy. Carrots are also a great source of dietary fiber, which helps keep your digestive system healthy and regular. So why not give this delicious and nutritious drink a try?

Elderberries are a natural immune booster packed with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. According to research, they may help reduce cold and flu symptoms, improve heart health, and even have anticancer effects. They’re definitely worth considering as a natural addition to your healthcare routine!

Zucchini is packed with nutrients, boasting an impressive array of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, vitamin A, magnesium, and potassium. It’s also rich in powerful antioxidants like lutein and zeaxanthin that help protect your eyes from age-related damage. Plus, its high fiber content can help slow the absorption of sugar in the body and reduce cholesterol levels, making it an excellent choice for managing your blood sugar levels. And if that wasn’t enough, zucchini is also low in calories & high in fiber. An ideal food for weight loss!

These are only some of the plenty of health benefits. Find more on our detailed health guide on the WeirdSmoothie blog. As with everything, you shouldn’t consume smoothies too excessively because, in the wrong dose, everything becomes unhealthy, even water!

Paracelsus: “There is nothing without poison; only the dose makes a thing non-poisonous.”

Ingredients – Anatomy of a Perfect Smoothie

Making a tasty smoothie is super easy—if you use good ingredients and blend them the right way. In addition to the base ingredients, we use blending and binding agents to create the perfect thickness and consistency.

Here are the base ingredients of a simple and healthy carrot elderberry zucchini smoothie:

• Base Ingredient #1: Carrot
• Base Ingredient #2: Elderberry
• Base Ingredient #3: Zucchini
• Blending Agent: Water

Now, this would be the base smoothie — nothing more is needed!

But now comes the fun part: Use variations of blending and binding agents to make your smoothie more interesting, healthy, and delicious!

Do you want to know the secret formula to your perfect smoothie? Here it is: 1 + 2 + 3 + 4.

1. Base Ingredients: Fruits or vegetables. For this recipe, carrot, elderberry, and zucchini.
2. Blending Agents: Water, vegan milk alternatives (soy, almond, oat, pea), cow milk, coconut water, or other liquids
3. Binding Agents: Avocado, vegan yogurt alternatives (soy, almond, oat, pea), yogurt, nut butter (peanut, almond), or cottage cheese
4. Extras: Superfoods and toppings such as chia seeds, nuts, flaxseeds, herbs, cacao powder

Let’s dive into each of those next. The perfect smoothie starts with the perfect ingredients!

Use Organic Ingredients! They are free from synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. Many people believe these chemicals are harmful to our health, so eating organic foods can help reduce our exposure to them. Organic foods also tend to be fresher and less processed, so they can retain more natural vitamins and minerals.

1) Base Ingredients – Fruits and Vegetables

Creating smoothies with your family is an easy and fun way to get your daily dose of delicious and nutritious fruits and vegetables! These base ingredients provide a flavor base and serve as the building blocks for a healthy snack or meal. And why not get creative in the kitchen and let your loved ones pick out their favorite fruits and veggies for a smoothie that will make them happy?

Carrot Elderberry Zucchini Smoothie Flavors:

• Carrots offer a delightful combination of earthy sweetness and crunchy texture – like a burst of sunshine in every bite. Their unique flavor is bright and earthy, with just a hint of natural sweetness. Whether served raw, cooked, or juiced, carrots provide a delightful treat that’s sure to please the taste buds.
• Elderberries are a unique and delicious balance of earthy and tart-like flavors, making them an excellent complement to both sweet and tart fruits. Reminiscent of a blend of blackberries and blueberries, they create a flavorful base for smoothies!
• Zucchini has a delicate flavor that can be described as slightly sweet and mild. My tongue would say it has a mild, vegetal taste, with a hint of grassy, nutty flavors.

Yummy! This delicious and nutritious smoothie not only tastes great — it keeps you and your loved ones healthy, energetic, and radiant. Beauty and Health Benefits

2) Blending Agents – Liquids

Liquids are a crucial component of smoothies because they help to blend the other ingredients together and create a smooth, drinkable consistency. Without enough liquid, your smoothie will be too thick and difficult to drink.

Beware! Two of my blenders got destroyed because I tried to blend too many hard ingredients and the thickness broke the blender knives. If you’re looking for a high-powered blender, feel free to check out our ultimate blender guide.

The type of liquid you use in your smoothie can also affect its flavor and nutritional content, so choosing a liquid that will complement your other ingredients is important.

Here is a list of the eight most common blending agents for smoothies:

1. Water
2. Coconut water
3. Coconut milk
4. Almond milk
5. Soy milk
6. Oat milk (not gluten-free!)
7. Cow milk (not vegan or lactose-free!)
8. Juice

If you’re adventurous, you can also experiment with other liquids like tea or even coffee!

3) Binding Agents

Binding agents are the secret ingredient that makes smoothies smooth and creamy! These ingredients are high in fiber and help to combine the other ingredients in the smoothie, creating the desired smooth and thick consistency.

They also add volume to the smoothie, making it more filling and satisfying. Plus, binding agents add serious nutritional value to your smoothie, providing essential vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients.

So don’t skimp on the binding agents – they’re the key to a delicious and satisfying smoothie!

Here is a list of the eleven most common binding agents for smoothies:

1. Avocados
2. Peanut and almond butter
3. Plant-based yogurts
4. Milk-based yogurt (not vegan or lactose-free!)
5. Cottage cheese (not vegan or lactose-free!)
6. Frozen fruits
7. Oats (not gluten-free!)
8. Chia seeds
9. Flaxseeds
10. Psyllium husk
11. Protein powder

In addition to these ingredients, you can experiment with other binding agents, such as egg whites, cornstarch, or leafy greens.

4) Extras

Taste-enhancing ingredients like honey, maple syrup, dates, and vanilla extract can be added for sweetness. Spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, and ginger can also be added for extra flavor. Here’s a list of ideas:

• Nuts: Almonds, walnuts, cashews, pecans, macadamias, brazil nuts, chestnuts
• Seeds: Chia seeds, flaxseeds, hemp seeds
• Dry fruits: Dates, raisins, apricots, figs, prunes, goji berries
• Powder: Cacao, matcha, maca, coconut
• Natural Sweeteners: Honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar, agave nectar, date syrup
• Spices: Cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg, turmeric, cardamom, ginger

To make your smoothie look more appetizing, choose your preferred colorful toppings from this list, such as fruits, nuts, seeds, or granola. For example, drizzle honey or agave syrup, sprinkle with cinnamon or nutmeg, or add a swirl of nut butter or coconut cream plus a sprig of mint or a slice of lemon. Et voilà!

Recommended: Pimp Your Smoothie – Dr. Greger’s Daily Dozens

If you want to dive even deeper into the anatomy of a perfect smoothie, binding agents, blending agents, and all the secrets you want to know, feel free to check out our full guide on the WeirdSmoothie blog.

Should You Use Frozen Ingredients?

Here’s a little-known secret: Use at least one frozen ingredient in your smoothie recipe — or a handful of ice cubes — to make your smoothie thicker and give it a delicious chill!

There are many benefits of freezing your smoothie ingredients:

• Nutrition: Freezing your ingredients helps to preserve their nutritional content. Frozen fruits and vegetables retain vitamins and minerals longer than fruits that are not frozen.
• Antibacterial: Freezing food can reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses. Freezing kills many of the bacteria and organisms that cause food to spoil.
• Zero Preservatives: Frozen food is free from preservatives, i.e., it’s more natural!
• Shelf Life: Freezing can extend the shelf life of fruits and vegetables, so they stay fresh for months.
• Seasonality: You don’t have to go vitamin-free during winter but eat healthy (frozen) fruits and vegetables all year without excessive long-distance transportation.
• Plastic Waste: You can prepare zero-waste smoothies easily by purchasing raw ingredients, cutting them, and saving them in handy and reusable boxes. No plastic!
• Food Waste: Freezing food can reduce food waste. Fruits and vegetables can be frozen and blended later, rather than throwing out any leftovers.
• Convenience: The last thing you want to do is cut ingredients during a hectic day. Freezing food is super convenient and allows for easier meal preparation. Pre-frozen ingredients can make meals much faster to prepare.
• Money: You save money because you can purchase larger amounts of ingredients at a discount and have zero food waste.

You can either buy frozen fruits and veggies or cut them into handy portions and freeze them for future use.

Sustainability Tip: Freezing food could reduce global food waste by an astonishing 83%! Roughly one-third of food is thrown away worldwide, and 45% are fruits and vegetables. Freezing can largely eliminate this waste. (Martindale and Schiebel, British Food Journal 2017)

The following three carrot elderberry zucchini smoothie recipe variations are sure to tantalize your taste buds. So what are you waiting for? Get your blender out and get ready for a refreshingly delicious start to your day!

Carrot Elderberry Zucchini Smoothie Recipe

YIELD: 2 Servings

PREP TIME: 5 Minutes

Our base recipe is easy, healthy, and oh-so-yummy. But if you’re looking for something to cool you down in the summer heat or warm you up on a cold winter day, we’ve got you covered with two season-inspired recipe variations.

---

Variation #1 – Base Smoothie

• 2 cups of sliced carrots
• 1 cup of fresh elderberries OR 2 tablespoons of elderberry syrup
• 1 cup of zucchini (~1 small), chopped
• 2 cups of water
• (Optional) 1/2 a cup of unsweetened plant-based yogurt

Variation #2 – Refreshing Summer Smoothie

• 2 cups of sliced carrots
• 1 cup of fresh elderberries OR 2 tablespoons of elderberry syrup
• 1 cup of zucchini (~1 small), chopped
• 2 cups of cold water
• 1/2 cup of apple juice
• 2 tablespoons of chia seeds
• 1/2 cup of vegan greek yogurt
• (Optional) 1/2 cup of ice cubes or crushed ice

Variation #3 – Cozy Winter Smoothie

• 2 cups of sliced carrots
• 1 cup of fresh elderberries OR 2 tablespoons of elderberry syrup
• 1 cup of zucchini (~1 small), chopped
• 2 cups of warm unsweetened soy milk
• 1/2 cup of plant-based yogurt
• 2 teaspoons of almond butter
• 2 teaspoons of cacao powder
• 1/2 cup of raw walnuts
• 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons of maple syrup

Instructions

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
Pour into glasses and decorate with some leftover ingredients.
Serve and enjoy!

Tips

Add at least one frozen ingredient or a handful of ice cubes to make your smoothie extra creamy and thick!
Add more water to reduce the thickness of your smoothie!
See Problems and Solutions

Do you want to make this smoothie even healthier? Check out our amazing selection of healthy bowl ideas based on this smoothie. Scroll down or jump right in!

Are you looking for the best blender for your kitchen? Look no further! We have scoured the market to bring you an unbiased comparison of the top blenders available. Find out which blender will best meet your needs and budget.

Recommended Guide: The Ultimate Blender Showdown: Who Will Come Out on Top?

Carrot Elderberry Zucchini Smoothie Calories — A Not-So-Guilty Pleasure

A homemade carrot elderberry zucchini smoothie typically has roughly 81 calories per serving (200 ml, one glass).

The amount of calories you need per day varies depending on your gender, age, height, weight, activity level, and overall health.

• The average woman needs about 2,000–2,400 calories per day to maintain her weight, and 1,500–1,800 calories per day to lose 1 pound (0.45 kg) of weight per week.
• The average man needs around 2,500 to 3,000 calories per day to maintain his weight, and 1,800-2,300 calories per day to lose 1 pound (0.45 kg) of weight per week.

Compare one large cup of the carrot elderberry zucchini smoothie (81 calories) with one cappuccino (80 calories), one small serving of red wine (105 calories), and one 500 ml glass of beer (218 calories).

If you’re interested in shredding some pounds, feel free to check out our popular WeirdSmoothie guide on weight loss!

Carrot Elderberry Zucchini Smoothie Nutrition per 100 Grams

Nutrition information isn’t always accurate – we use generalized estimates!

Save Time and Money with These 10 Tricks

Costs: You can expect to pay roughly $2 USD for one cup of the basic carrot elderberry zucchini smoothie. If you use advanced ingredients such as chia seeds and nuts, the cost of one glass will increase by another +$2 USD to $4 USD. Note that these are only rough estimates because the costs depend on your location and the quality of the ingredients.

Still too expensive? These ten tricks will help you save money and time:

1. Buy pre-cut frozen fruits or vegetables, saving you time on prep work.
2. Freeze fresh ingredients before they expire and spoil — even nuts retain their nutrients longer when refrigerated.
3. Buy in bulk so you can save money on each individual item.
4. Make large batches of smoothies so you only have to do the prep and clean up once.
5. Use a powerful blender to make a large batch at once.
6. Don’t try to be exact with the measurements. Rough guesses will do to save time and minimize clean-up!
7. Drink the smoothie directly out of the blender, so you don’t have to clean your glasses after. (Just kidding.)
8. Use water instead of milk to reduce the costs per cup significantly.
9. Use Greek yogurt instead of regular yogurt, as it has more protein and will fill you up faster.
10. Add nuts and seeds for more protein, which are cheaper than protein powder.

And don’t be penny-wise but pound-foolish! A healthy lifestyle will save you tens of thousands of dollars in direct health costs, add years to your life, and make you more productive in the time you have!

Sustainability Tip: Shop seasonally and regionally for fresh ingredients to save money! When on sale, stock up, wash, portion, and freeze for future use. Your wallet and the environment will thank you!

Want more sustainability tips? Sure, find them on the WeirdSmoothie blog!

Typical Mistakes and Problems

Problem: My smoothie is too thick.
Solution: Add more liquids or other blending agents.

Problem: My smoothie is too thin.
Solution: Add a binding agents to make it thicker, such as banana, avocado, nut butter, chia seeds, and frozen fruits.

Problem: My smoothie is too grainy.
Solution: Add more blending agents (liquids) and binding agents (e.g., avocados, bananas, and peanut butter) to make it creamier. If nothing works, you may need to buy a better blender or change the knives.

Problem: My smoothie is too smooth.
Solution: Congratulations. This is what it’s all about!

Problem: My smoothie is too bitter.
Solution: Add natural “sweeteners” such as bananas, dates, or honey.

Problem: My smoothie is too sweet.
Solution: Add lemon or lime juice, grapefruits, pomegranate, or plain yogurt to balance the sweetness.

Problem: I have leftovers.
Solution: Put it into the refrigerator and drink it within 24 hours to avoid losing too many nutrients. Or put it into the freezer and save it for up to three months. Your kids will love the smoothie ice cream.

Recommended Article: The Most Common Problems and Solutions When Creating Smoothies

The Perfect Carrot Elderberry Zucchini Smoothie Bowl For A Healthy Breakfast

When I sip a smoothie, it’s not as satisfying as a meal. Science backs this up: Chewing releases saliva that helps break down food, so no smoothie can replace a proper meal.

You can use the carrot elderberry zucchini smoothie as a basis for your innovative carrot elderberry zucchini smoothie bowl!

Follow the carrot elderberry zucchini smoothie recipe as outlined before. Then add your favorite unblended ingredients such as nuts, seeds, and peanut butter. Sprinkle in some oatmeal or healthy muesli. Superfoods such as berries, chia seeds, or flaxseeds are a perfect addition. Ta-da! Your carrot elderberry zucchini smoothie bowl!

Do you need more inspiration? Choose your favorites or be adventurous:

• Nuts and nut butter: Almonds, walnuts, cashews, pecans, macadamias, brazil nuts, chestnuts
• Seeds: Chia seeds, flaxseeds, hemp seeds, psyllium husk
• Dry fruits: Dates, raisins, apricots, figs, prunes, goji berries
• Sliced fresh fruits: bananas, berries, pineapple, mango
• Powder: Cacao, matcha, maca, coconut
• Natural Sweeteners: Honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar, agave nectar, date syrup
• Spices: Cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg, turmeric, cardamom, ginger
• Muesli: Oats, Cornflakes, Granola, Cereal

Recommended Article: Secrets of Creating Delicious and Healthy Smoothie Bowls

More Smoothie Recipes You May Like

If you liked this recipe, you’ll love our other delicious — and, yes, sometimes weird — smoothies:

• Banana Ginger Smoothie
• Apple Blackberry Smoothie
• Apricot Banana Grape Smoothie
• Spinach Watermelon Smoothie
• Raspberry Strawberry Smoothie
• Lime Strawberry Smoothie
• Peach Plum Pomegranate Smoothie
• Guava Kale Pomegranate Smoothie
• Apple Orange Smoothie
• Blood Orange Cranberry Smoothie

Sip Your Way to a Better Health — Nine Benefits of Smoothies

Thanks and Bye!

Drinking the Banana Cacao Smoothie is fun, but cleaning it up—not so much. Anyways, thanks for checking out our weird smoothie recipe. I hope to see you around soon to check out one of our weird smoothie recipes!

You’ll also get tips to upgrade your apricot elderberry smoothie to a healthy breakfast bowl by sprinkling superfoods into it – This keeps you and your loved ones energetic and fresh throughout the day.

Ready? Let’s get started!

Do you want to know more about the ingredients and health benefits? Keep reading!

Get Ready To Be Smitten By This Tempting Apricot Elderberry Smoothie!

Why should you try the apricot elderberry smoothie?

(1) Because it works with most diets (vegan and more)! Diets

(2) Because it keeps you healthy and beautiful! Beauty and Health Benefits

(3) Because it only needs 2 ingredients! Ingredients

(4) Because it only takes 5 minutes to make! Recipe

(5) Because one cup has only 107 calories and is packed with vital nutrients! Calories and Nutrition Table

(6) Because it’s easily affordable! Save Money

(7) Because you can pimp it with superfoods and use it as a healthy baseline for our delicious breakfast bowls! Bowls

So why not?

Which Diets Apply to the Apricot Elderberry Smoothie?

The following diets apply to the basic apricot elderberry smoothie recipe of just apricot and elderberry, and water:

Do you want to learn more about these and other diets? Feel free to dive into our full guide on the WeirdSmoothie blog — it’s super informative!

Recommended Guide: An Overview of Dietary Plans

As you can see, the apricot elderberry smoothie adheres to the principles of many popular dietary plans.

Why should you care about any of those? Here are the seven top benefits of choosing a healthy diet:

1. Improved Energy Levels: Eating a healthy diet can give you the energy to stay productive and alert throughout the day.
2. Weight Management: Eating healthily can help you get your dream weight.
3. Improved Mood: A balanced diet helps to keep your hormones in check, improving your mood and reducing stress.
4. Reduced Risk of Chronic Diseases: Eating a healthy diet can reduce your risk of developing chronic diseases like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.
5. Improved Digestive Health: It can improve your digestion and help prevent digestive problems like constipation, diarrhea, and heartburn.
6. Improved Immune Function: A healthy diet can boost your immune system, making you less susceptible to illnesses.
7. Improved Heart Health: Lastly, it can reduce cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and other risk factors for heart disease.

Below, I’ll give you some variants that may influence these dietary considerations. But now let’s dive right into the health benefits, specifically, of the apricot elderberry smoothie:

Say Goodbye To Dull Skin With This Deliciously Nutritious Smoothie!

Unlock your inner radiance with the apricot elderberry smoothie! Enjoy a healthier life today by sipping on this nutritious blend. In particular, here are the beauty benefits of the apricot elderberry smoothie:

Did you know that apricots are bursting with beauty benefits? Not only are they delicious, but they can help you keep your skin looking its best! Apricot is packed with antioxidants, which can help protect your skin from damage caused by free radicals. It’s also a good source of Vitamin A and C, which help to keep skin looking firm and youthful. Plus, the natural oils in apricot can help to moisturize and nourish your skin, giving it a healthy glow! So don’t forget to include apricot in your beauty regimen for gorgeous, glowing skin!

Elderberries are a wealthy source of skincare benefits. Packed with antioxidants and flavonoids, elderberries can help protect your skin from damage caused by free radicals, reduce the appearance of wrinkles and soothe and calm sensitive skin. Plus, they contain vitamin A to nourish and moisturize. With all these wonderful features, it’s no wonder elderberries are a popular choice for skincare products. Try adding elderberries to your diet for healthier, brighter skin!

Health Benefits

In a Nutshell: The apricot elderberry smoothie has multiple health benefits. Drinking apricot juice can help to improve digestion, boost immunity, and provide essential vitamins and minerals. Elderberries are rich in antioxidants and vitamins that can boost your immune system, tame inflammation, lessen stress, protect your heart, and even help prevent and ease cold and flu symptoms.

If you’re looking for a delicious way to improve your health, then look no further than apricot! This sweet and juicy fruit is packed with nutrients that can help you feel your best. Apricots are a great source of beta-carotene, which your body converts into vitamin A. This vitamin can help protect your eyes and skin, as well as boost your immune system. Apricots are also full of fiber, which helps keep your digestive system running smoothly. And the antioxidants in apricots can help protect your cells from damage, reducing your risk of certain diseases. So why not treat yourself to a sweet and nutritious snack, and enjoy the health benefits of apricot today!

Elderberries are a natural immune booster packed with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. According to research, they may help reduce cold and flu symptoms, improve heart health, and even have anticancer effects. They’re definitely worth considering as a natural addition to your healthcare routine!

These are only some of the plenty of health benefits. Find more on our detailed health guide on the WeirdSmoothie blog. As with everything, you shouldn’t consume smoothies too excessively because, in the wrong dose, everything becomes unhealthy, even water!

Paracelsus: “There is nothing without poison; only the dose makes a thing non-poisonous.”

Ingredients – Anatomy of a Perfect Smoothie

Making a tasty smoothie is super easy—if you use good ingredients and blend them the right way. In addition to the base ingredients, we use blending and binding agents to create the perfect thickness and consistency.

Here are the base ingredients of a simple and healthy apricot elderberry smoothie:

• Base Ingredient #1: Apricot
• Base Ingredient #2: Elderberry
• Blending Agent: Water

Now, this would be the base smoothie — nothing more is needed!

But now comes the fun part: Use variations of blending and binding agents to make your smoothie more interesting, healthy, and delicious!

Do you want to know the secret formula to your perfect smoothie? Here it is: 1 + 2 + 3 + 4.

1. Base Ingredients: Fruits or vegetables. For this recipe, apricot and elderberry.
2. Blending Agents: Water, vegan milk alternatives (soy, almond, oat, pea), cow milk, coconut water, or other liquids
3. Binding Agents: Avocado, vegan yogurt alternatives (soy, almond, oat, pea), yogurt, nut butter (peanut, almond), or cottage cheese
4. Extras: Superfoods and toppings such as chia seeds, nuts, flaxseeds, herbs, cacao powder

Let’s dive into each of those next. The perfect smoothie starts with the perfect ingredients!

Use Organic Ingredients! They are free from synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. Many people believe these chemicals are harmful to our health, so eating organic foods can help reduce our exposure to them. Organic foods also tend to be fresher and less processed, so they can retain more natural vitamins and minerals.

1) Base Ingredients – Fruits and Vegetables

Creating smoothies with your family is an easy and fun way to get your daily dose of delicious and nutritious fruits and vegetables! These base ingredients provide a flavor base and serve as the building blocks for a healthy snack or meal. And why not get creative in the kitchen and let your loved ones pick out their favorite fruits and veggies for a smoothie that will make them happy?

Apricot Elderberry Smoothie Flavors:

• Apricot has a vibrant, sweet-tart flavor, like a sun-ripened peach or orange with a hint of honey. It has a unique, mouth-watering taste that is both juicy and tangy, with an intense, sweet aroma.
• Elderberries are a unique and delicious balance of earthy and tart-like flavors, making them an excellent complement to both sweet and tart fruits. Reminiscent of a blend of blackberries and blueberries, they create a flavorful base for smoothies!

Yummy! This delicious and nutritious smoothie not only tastes great — it keeps you and your loved ones healthy, energetic, and radiant. Beauty and Health Benefits

2) Blending Agents – Liquids

Liquids are a crucial component of smoothies because they help to blend the other ingredients together and create a smooth, drinkable consistency. Without enough liquid, your smoothie will be too thick and difficult to drink.

Beware! Two of my blenders got destroyed because I tried to blend too many hard ingredients and the thickness broke the blender knives. If you’re looking for a high-powered blender, feel free to check out our ultimate blender guide.

The type of liquid you use in your smoothie can also affect its flavor and nutritional content, so choosing a liquid that will complement your other ingredients is important.

Here is a list of the eight most common blending agents for smoothies:

1. Water
2. Coconut water
3. Coconut milk
4. Almond milk
5. Soy milk
6. Oat milk (not gluten-free!)
7. Cow milk (not vegan or lactose-free!)
8. Juice

If you’re adventurous, you can also experiment with other liquids like tea or even coffee!

3) Binding Agents

Binding agents are the secret ingredient that makes smoothies smooth and creamy! These ingredients are high in fiber and help to combine the other ingredients in the smoothie, creating the desired smooth and thick consistency.

They also add volume to the smoothie, making it more filling and satisfying. Plus, binding agents add serious nutritional value to your smoothie, providing essential vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients.

So don’t skimp on the binding agents – they’re the key to a delicious and satisfying smoothie!

Here is a list of the eleven most common binding agents for smoothies:

1. Avocados
2. Peanut and almond butter
3. Plant-based yogurts
4. Milk-based yogurt (not vegan or lactose-free!)
5. Cottage cheese (not vegan or lactose-free!)
6. Frozen fruits
7. Oats (not gluten-free!)
8. Chia seeds
9. Flaxseeds
10. Psyllium husk
11. Protein powder

In addition to these ingredients, you can experiment with other binding agents, such as egg whites, cornstarch, or leafy greens.

4) Extras

Taste-enhancing ingredients like honey, maple syrup, dates, and vanilla extract can be added for sweetness. Spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, and ginger can also be added for extra flavor. Here’s a list of ideas:

• Nuts: Almonds, walnuts, cashews, pecans, macadamias, brazil nuts, chestnuts
• Seeds: Chia seeds, flaxseeds, hemp seeds
• Dry fruits: Dates, raisins, apricots, figs, prunes, goji berries
• Powder: Cacao, matcha, maca, coconut
• Natural Sweeteners: Honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar, agave nectar, date syrup
• Spices: Cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg, turmeric, cardamom, ginger

To make your smoothie look more appetizing, choose your preferred colorful toppings from this list, such as fruits, nuts, seeds, or granola. For example, drizzle honey or agave syrup, sprinkle with cinnamon or nutmeg, or add a swirl of nut butter or coconut cream plus a sprig of mint or a slice of lemon. Et voilà!

Recommended: Pimp Your Smoothie – Dr. Greger’s Daily Dozens

If you want to dive even deeper into the anatomy of a perfect smoothie, binding agents, blending agents, and all the secrets you want to know, feel free to check out our full guide on the WeirdSmoothie blog.

Should You Use Frozen Ingredients?

Here’s a little-known secret: Use at least one frozen ingredient in your smoothie recipe — or a handful of ice cubes — to make your smoothie thicker and give it a delicious chill!

There are many benefits of freezing your smoothie ingredients:

• Nutrition: Freezing your ingredients helps to preserve their nutritional content. Frozen fruits and vegetables retain vitamins and minerals longer than fruits that are not frozen.
• Antibacterial: Freezing food can reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses. Freezing kills many of the bacteria and organisms that cause food to spoil.
• Zero Preservatives: Frozen food is free from preservatives, i.e., it’s more natural!
• Shelf Life: Freezing can extend the shelf life of fruits and vegetables, so they stay fresh for months.
• Seasonality: You don’t have to go vitamin-free during winter but eat healthy (frozen) fruits and vegetables all year without excessive long-distance transportation.
• Plastic Waste: You can prepare zero-waste smoothies easily by purchasing raw ingredients, cutting them, and saving them in handy and reusable boxes. No plastic!
• Food Waste: Freezing food can reduce food waste. Fruits and vegetables can be frozen and blended later, rather than throwing out any leftovers.
• Convenience: The last thing you want to do is cut ingredients during a hectic day. Freezing food is super convenient and allows for easier meal preparation. Pre-frozen ingredients can make meals much faster to prepare.
• Money: You save money because you can purchase larger amounts of ingredients at a discount and have zero food waste.

You can either buy frozen fruits and veggies or cut them into handy portions and freeze them for future use.

Sustainability Tip: Freezing food could reduce global food waste by an astonishing 83%! Roughly one-third of food is thrown away worldwide, and 45% are fruits and vegetables. Freezing can largely eliminate this waste. (Martindale and Schiebel, British Food Journal 2017)

The following three apricot elderberry smoothie recipe variations are sure to tantalize your taste buds. So what are you waiting for? Get your blender out and get ready for a refreshingly delicious start to your day!

Apricot Elderberry Smoothie Recipe

YIELD: 2 Servings

PREP TIME: 5 Minutes

Our base recipe is easy, healthy, and oh-so-yummy. But if you’re looking for something to cool you down in the summer heat or warm you up on a cold winter day, we’ve got you covered with two season-inspired recipe variations.

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Variation #1 – Base Smoothie

• 6 pitted apricots
• 1 cup of fresh elderberries OR 2 tablespoons of elderberry syrup
• 2 cups of water
• (Optional) 1/2 a cup of unsweetened plant-based yogurt

Variation #2 – Refreshing Summer Smoothie

• 6 pitted apricots
• 1 cup of fresh elderberries OR 2 tablespoons of elderberry syrup
• 2 cup of iced tea
• 1/2 cup of pineapple juice
• 2 tablespoons of chia seeds
• 1/2 cup of plant-based milk
• (Optional) 1/2 cup of ice cubes or crushed ice

Variation #3 – Cozy Winter Smoothie

• 6 pitted apricots
• 1 cup of fresh elderberries OR 2 tablespoons of elderberry syrup
• 2 cups of hot tea
• 1/2 cup of plant-based yogurt
• 2 teaspoons of olive oil
• 2 teaspoons of cacao powder
• 1/2 cup of raw brazil nuts
• 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons of honey

Instructions

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
Pour into glasses and decorate with some leftover ingredients.
Serve and enjoy!

Tips

Add at least one frozen ingredient or a handful of ice cubes to make your smoothie extra creamy and thick!
Add more water to reduce the thickness of your smoothie!
See Problems and Solutions

Do you want to make this smoothie even healthier? Check out our amazing selection of healthy bowl ideas based on this smoothie. Scroll down or jump right in!

Are you looking for the best blender for your kitchen? Look no further! We have scoured the market to bring you an unbiased comparison of the top blenders available. Find out which blender will best meet your needs and budget.

Recommended Guide: The Ultimate Blender Showdown: Who Will Come Out on Top?

Apricot Elderberry Smoothie Calories — A Not-So-Guilty Pleasure

A homemade apricot elderberry smoothie typically has roughly 107 calories per serving (200 ml, one glass).

The amount of calories you need per day varies depending on your gender, age, height, weight, activity level, and overall health.

• The average woman needs about 2,000–2,400 calories per day to maintain her weight, and 1,500–1,800 calories per day to lose 1 pound (0.45 kg) of weight per week.
• The average man needs around 2,500 to 3,000 calories per day to maintain his weight, and 1,800-2,300 calories per day to lose 1 pound (0.45 kg) of weight per week.

Compare one large cup of the apricot elderberry smoothie (107 calories) with one cappuccino (80 calories), one small serving of red wine (105 calories), and one 500 ml glass of beer (218 calories).

If you’re interested in shredding some pounds, feel free to check out our popular WeirdSmoothie guide on weight loss!

Apricot Elderberry Smoothie Nutrition per 100 Grams

Nutrition information isn’t always accurate – we use generalized estimates!

Save Time and Money with These 10 Tricks

Costs: You can expect to pay roughly $2 USD for one cup of the basic apricot elderberry smoothie. If you use advanced ingredients such as chia seeds and nuts, the cost of one glass will increase by another +$2 USD to $4 USD. Note that these are only rough estimates because the costs depend on your location and the quality of the ingredients.

Still too expensive? These ten tricks will help you save money and time:

1. Buy pre-cut frozen fruits or vegetables, saving you time on prep work.
2. Freeze fresh ingredients before they expire and spoil — even nuts retain their nutrients longer when refrigerated.
3. Buy in bulk so you can save money on each individual item.
4. Make large batches of smoothies so you only have to do the prep and clean up once.
5. Use a powerful blender to make a large batch at once.
6. Don’t try to be exact with the measurements. Rough guesses will do to save time and minimize clean-up!
7. Drink the smoothie directly out of the blender, so you don’t have to clean your glasses after. (Just kidding.)
8. Use water instead of milk to reduce the costs per cup significantly.
9. Use Greek yogurt instead of regular yogurt, as it has more protein and will fill you up faster.
10. Add nuts and seeds for more protein, which are cheaper than protein powder.

And don’t be penny-wise but pound-foolish! A healthy lifestyle will save you tens of thousands of dollars in direct health costs, add years to your life, and make you more productive in the time you have!

Sustainability Tip: Shop seasonally and regionally for fresh ingredients to save money! When on sale, stock up, wash, portion, and freeze for future use. Your wallet and the environment will thank you!

Want more sustainability tips? Sure, find them on the WeirdSmoothie blog!

Typical Mistakes and Problems

Problem: My smoothie is too thick.
Solution: Add more liquids or other blending agents.

Problem: My smoothie is too thin.
Solution: Add a binding agents to make it thicker, such as banana, avocado, nut butter, chia seeds, and frozen fruits.

Problem: My smoothie is too grainy.
Solution: Add more blending agents (liquids) and binding agents (e.g., avocados, bananas, and peanut butter) to make it creamier. If nothing works, you may need to buy a better blender or change the knives.

Problem: My smoothie is too smooth.
Solution: Congratulations. This is what it’s all about!

Problem: My smoothie is too bitter.
Solution: Add natural “sweeteners” such as bananas, dates, or honey.

Problem: My smoothie is too sweet.
Solution: Add lemon or lime juice, grapefruits, pomegranate, or plain yogurt to balance the sweetness.

Problem: I have leftovers.
Solution: Put it into the refrigerator and drink it within 24 hours to avoid losing too many nutrients. Or put it into the freezer and save it for up to three months. Your kids will love the smoothie ice cream.

Recommended Article: The Most Common Problems and Solutions When Creating Smoothies

Kickstart Your Day With This Amazing Apricot Elderberry Smoothie Bowl!

When I sip a smoothie, it’s not as satisfying as a meal. Science backs this up: Chewing releases saliva that helps break down food, so no smoothie can replace a proper meal.

You can use the apricot elderberry smoothie as a basis for your innovative apricot elderberry smoothie bowl!

Follow the apricot elderberry smoothie recipe as outlined before. Then add your favorite unblended ingredients such as nuts, seeds, and peanut butter. Sprinkle in some oatmeal or healthy muesli. Superfoods such as berries, chia seeds, or flaxseeds are a perfect addition. Ta-da! Your apricot elderberry smoothie bowl!

Do you need more inspiration? Choose your favorites or be adventurous:

• Nuts and nut butter: Almonds, walnuts, cashews, pecans, macadamias, brazil nuts, chestnuts
• Seeds: Chia seeds, flaxseeds, hemp seeds, psyllium husk
• Dry fruits: Dates, raisins, apricots, figs, prunes, goji berries
• Sliced fresh fruits: bananas, berries, pineapple, mango
• Powder: Cacao, matcha, maca, coconut
• Natural Sweeteners: Honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar, agave nectar, date syrup
• Spices: Cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg, turmeric, cardamom, ginger
• Muesli: Oats, Cornflakes, Granola, Cereal

Recommended Article: Secrets of Creating Delicious and Healthy Smoothie Bowls

More Smoothie Recipes You May Like

If you liked this recipe, you’ll love our other delicious — and, yes, sometimes weird — smoothies:

• Coconut Lime Pomegranate Smoothie
• Cucumber Kiwi Strawberry Smoothie
• Coconut Pomegranate Smoothie
• Acai Apricot Ginger Smoothie
• Grape Zucchini Smoothie
• Parsley Pear Smoothie
• Lingonberry Mango Smoothie
• Bell Pepper Ginger Spinach Smoothie
• Ginger Peach Pomegranate Smoothie
• Beet Grapefruit Smoothie

Sip Your Way to a Better Health — Nine Benefits of Smoothies

Thanks and Bye!

Drinking the Banana Cacao Smoothie is fun, but cleaning it up—not so much. Anyways, thanks for checking out our weird smoothie recipe. I hope to see you around soon to check out one of our weird smoothie recipes!

You’ll also get tips to upgrade your elderberry plum zucchini smoothie to a healthy breakfast bowl by sprinkling superfoods into it – This keeps you and your loved ones energetic and fresh throughout the day.

Ready? Let’s get started!

Do you want to know more about the ingredients and health benefits? Keep reading!

Discover The Deliciousness Of The Elderberry Plum Zucchini Smoothie!

Why should you try the elderberry plum zucchini smoothie?

(1) Because it works with most diets (vegan and more)! Diets

(2) Because it keeps you healthy and beautiful! Beauty and Health Benefits

(3) Because it only needs 3 ingredients! Ingredients

(4) Because it only takes 5 minutes to make! Recipe

(5) Because one cup has only 90 calories and is packed with vital nutrients! Calories and Nutrition Table

(6) Because it’s easily affordable! Save Money

(7) Because you can pimp it with superfoods and use it as a healthy baseline for our delicious breakfast bowls! Bowls

So why not?

Which Diets Apply to the Elderberry Plum Zucchini Smoothie?

The following diets apply to the basic elderberry plum zucchini smoothie recipe of just elderberry, plum, and zucchini, and water:

Do you want to learn more about these and other diets? Feel free to dive into our full guide on the WeirdSmoothie blog — it’s super informative!

Recommended Guide: An Overview of Dietary Plans

As you can see, the elderberry plum zucchini smoothie adheres to the principles of many popular dietary plans.

Why should you care about any of those? Here are the seven top benefits of choosing a healthy diet:

1. Improved Energy Levels: Eating a healthy diet can give you the energy to stay productive and alert throughout the day.
2. Weight Management: Eating healthily can help you get your dream weight.
3. Improved Mood: A balanced diet helps to keep your hormones in check, improving your mood and reducing stress.
4. Reduced Risk of Chronic Diseases: Eating a healthy diet can reduce your risk of developing chronic diseases like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.
5. Improved Digestive Health: It can improve your digestion and help prevent digestive problems like constipation, diarrhea, and heartburn.
6. Improved Immune Function: A healthy diet can boost your immune system, making you less susceptible to illnesses.
7. Improved Heart Health: Lastly, it can reduce cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and other risk factors for heart disease.

Below, I’ll give you some variants that may influence these dietary considerations. But now let’s dive right into the health benefits, specifically, of the elderberry plum zucchini smoothie:

Elderberry Plum Zucchini Smoothie: The Secret Beauty Ingredients You Can Find Right In Your Kitchen!

Unlock your inner radiance with the elderberry plum zucchini smoothie! Enjoy a healthier life today by sipping on this nutritious blend. In particular, here are the beauty benefits of the elderberry plum zucchini smoothie:

Elderberries are a wealthy source of skincare benefits. Packed with antioxidants and flavonoids, elderberries can help protect your skin from damage caused by free radicals, reduce the appearance of wrinkles and soothe and calm sensitive skin. Plus, they contain vitamin A to nourish and moisturize. With all these wonderful features, it’s no wonder elderberries are a popular choice for skincare products. Try adding elderberries to your diet for healthier, brighter skin!

Plums are packed with vitamin C, which helps brighten the complexion, reduce the appearance of dark spots and freckles, and even improve skin tone. Additionally, plums help to promote blood circulation in the skin, which can help to lighten age spots or scars. According to the British Journal of Nutrition, plums may also help to prevent plaque buildup in the blood vessels, leading to improved circulation and increased arousal.

Benefit from the beauty-boosting effects of zucchini! Rich in an abundance of vitamins and minerals, this vegetable is packed with antioxidants, water, vitamin A, vitamin C, anti-inflammatory properties, iron, and fiber – all of which work together to promote healthy, glowing skin. Enjoy the nourishing benefits of zucchini for strong bones, collagen production, and a clear complexion.

Health Benefits

In a Nutshell: The elderberry plum zucchini smoothie has multiple health benefits. Elderberries are rich in antioxidants and vitamins that can boost your immune system, tame inflammation, lessen stress, protect your heart, and even help prevent and ease cold and flu symptoms. Plums are a nutrient-rich superfood that can help reduce inflammation, anxiety, constipation, blood pressure and sugar levels, and promote bone health. Zucchini is an ideal food for weight loss, as it is packed with nutrients, antioxidants, and fiber, while being low in calories and helpful for managing blood sugar levels.

Elderberries are a natural immune booster packed with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. According to research, they may help reduce cold and flu symptoms, improve heart health, and even have anticancer effects. They’re definitely worth considering as a natural addition to your healthcare routine!

Plums are an excellent source of nutrition that provides various health benefits. They are rich in antioxidants, phytochemicals, and nutrients, which help to reduce inflammation that can trigger heart disease and reduce anxiety. Plums can also help to relieve constipation, reduce blood pressure and stroke risk, and reduce blood sugar levels. Additionally, plums are an excellent source of bone health-promoting nutrients such as vitamin C and potassium.

Zucchini is packed with nutrients, boasting an impressive array of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, vitamin A, magnesium, and potassium. It’s also rich in powerful antioxidants like lutein and zeaxanthin that help protect your eyes from age-related damage. Plus, its high fiber content can help slow the absorption of sugar in the body and reduce cholesterol levels, making it an excellent choice for managing your blood sugar levels. And if that wasn’t enough, zucchini is also low in calories & high in fiber. An ideal food for weight loss!

These are only some of the plenty of health benefits. Find more on our detailed health guide on the WeirdSmoothie blog. As with everything, you shouldn’t consume smoothies too excessively because, in the wrong dose, everything becomes unhealthy, even water!

Paracelsus: “There is nothing without poison; only the dose makes a thing non-poisonous.”

Ingredients – Anatomy of a Perfect Smoothie

Making a tasty smoothie is super easy—if you use good ingredients and blend them the right way. In addition to the base ingredients, we use blending and binding agents to create the perfect thickness and consistency.

Here are the base ingredients of a simple and healthy elderberry plum zucchini smoothie:

• Base Ingredient #1: Elderberry
• Base Ingredient #2: Plum
• Base Ingredient #3: Zucchini
• Blending Agent: Water

Now, this would be the base smoothie — nothing more is needed!

But now comes the fun part: Use variations of blending and binding agents to make your smoothie more interesting, healthy, and delicious!

Do you want to know the secret formula to your perfect smoothie? Here it is: 1 + 2 + 3 + 4.

1. Base Ingredients: Fruits or vegetables. For this recipe, elderberry, plum, and zucchini.
2. Blending Agents: Water, vegan milk alternatives (soy, almond, oat, pea), cow milk, coconut water, or other liquids
3. Binding Agents: Avocado, vegan yogurt alternatives (soy, almond, oat, pea), yogurt, nut butter (peanut, almond), or cottage cheese
4. Extras: Superfoods and toppings such as chia seeds, nuts, flaxseeds, herbs, cacao powder

Let’s dive into each of those next. The perfect smoothie starts with the perfect ingredients!

Use Organic Ingredients! They are free from synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. Many people believe these chemicals are harmful to our health, so eating organic foods can help reduce our exposure to them. Organic foods also tend to be fresher and less processed, so they can retain more natural vitamins and minerals.

1) Base Ingredients – Fruits and Vegetables

Creating smoothies with your family is an easy and fun way to get your daily dose of delicious and nutritious fruits and vegetables! These base ingredients provide a flavor base and serve as the building blocks for a healthy snack or meal. And why not get creative in the kitchen and let your loved ones pick out their favorite fruits and veggies for a smoothie that will make them happy?

Elderberry Plum Zucchini Smoothie Flavors:

• Elderberries are a unique and delicious balance of earthy and tart-like flavors, making them an excellent complement to both sweet and tart fruits. Reminiscent of a blend of blackberries and blueberries, they create a flavorful base for smoothies!
• The flavor of plums is a compelling and balanced blend of sweetness and tartness, a juicy complexity of flavors that lingers on the tongue.
• Zucchini has a delicate flavor that can be described as slightly sweet and mild. My tongue would say it has a mild, vegetal taste, with a hint of grassy, nutty flavors.

Yummy! This delicious and nutritious smoothie not only tastes great — it keeps you and your loved ones healthy, energetic, and radiant. Beauty and Health Benefits

2) Blending Agents – Liquids

Liquids are a crucial component of smoothies because they help to blend the other ingredients together and create a smooth, drinkable consistency. Without enough liquid, your smoothie will be too thick and difficult to drink.

Beware! Two of my blenders got destroyed because I tried to blend too many hard ingredients and the thickness broke the blender knives. If you’re looking for a high-powered blender, feel free to check out our ultimate blender guide.

The type of liquid you use in your smoothie can also affect its flavor and nutritional content, so choosing a liquid that will complement your other ingredients is important.

Here is a list of the eight most common blending agents for smoothies:

1. Water
2. Coconut water
3. Coconut milk
4. Almond milk
5. Soy milk
6. Oat milk (not gluten-free!)
7. Cow milk (not vegan or lactose-free!)
8. Juice

If you’re adventurous, you can also experiment with other liquids like tea or even coffee!

3) Binding Agents

Binding agents are the secret ingredient that makes smoothies smooth and creamy! These ingredients are high in fiber and help to combine the other ingredients in the smoothie, creating the desired smooth and thick consistency.

They also add volume to the smoothie, making it more filling and satisfying. Plus, binding agents add serious nutritional value to your smoothie, providing essential vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients.

So don’t skimp on the binding agents – they’re the key to a delicious and satisfying smoothie!

Here is a list of the eleven most common binding agents for smoothies:

1. Avocados
2. Peanut and almond butter
3. Plant-based yogurts
4. Milk-based yogurt (not vegan or lactose-free!)
5. Cottage cheese (not vegan or lactose-free!)
6. Frozen fruits
7. Oats (not gluten-free!)
8. Chia seeds
9. Flaxseeds
10. Psyllium husk
11. Protein powder

In addition to these ingredients, you can experiment with other binding agents, such as egg whites, cornstarch, or leafy greens.

4) Extras

Taste-enhancing ingredients like honey, maple syrup, dates, and vanilla extract can be added for sweetness. Spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, and ginger can also be added for extra flavor. Here’s a list of ideas:

• Nuts: Almonds, walnuts, cashews, pecans, macadamias, brazil nuts, chestnuts
• Seeds: Chia seeds, flaxseeds, hemp seeds
• Dry fruits: Dates, raisins, apricots, figs, prunes, goji berries
• Powder: Cacao, matcha, maca, coconut
• Natural Sweeteners: Honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar, agave nectar, date syrup
• Spices: Cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg, turmeric, cardamom, ginger

To make your smoothie look more appetizing, choose your preferred colorful toppings from this list, such as fruits, nuts, seeds, or granola. For example, drizzle honey or agave syrup, sprinkle with cinnamon or nutmeg, or add a swirl of nut butter or coconut cream plus a sprig of mint or a slice of lemon. Et voilà!

Recommended: Pimp Your Smoothie – Dr. Greger’s Daily Dozens

If you want to dive even deeper into the anatomy of a perfect smoothie, binding agents, blending agents, and all the secrets you want to know, feel free to check out our full guide on the WeirdSmoothie blog.

Should You Use Frozen Ingredients?

Here’s a little-known secret: Use at least one frozen ingredient in your smoothie recipe — or a handful of ice cubes — to make your smoothie thicker and give it a delicious chill!

There are many benefits of freezing your smoothie ingredients:

• Nutrition: Freezing your ingredients helps to preserve their nutritional content. Frozen fruits and vegetables retain vitamins and minerals longer than fruits that are not frozen.
• Antibacterial: Freezing food can reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses. Freezing kills many of the bacteria and organisms that cause food to spoil.
• Zero Preservatives: Frozen food is free from preservatives, i.e., it’s more natural!
• Shelf Life: Freezing can extend the shelf life of fruits and vegetables, so they stay fresh for months.
• Seasonality: You don’t have to go vitamin-free during winter but eat healthy (frozen) fruits and vegetables all year without excessive long-distance transportation.
• Plastic Waste: You can prepare zero-waste smoothies easily by purchasing raw ingredients, cutting them, and saving them in handy and reusable boxes. No plastic!
• Food Waste: Freezing food can reduce food waste. Fruits and vegetables can be frozen and blended later, rather than throwing out any leftovers.
• Convenience: The last thing you want to do is cut ingredients during a hectic day. Freezing food is super convenient and allows for easier meal preparation. Pre-frozen ingredients can make meals much faster to prepare.
• Money: You save money because you can purchase larger amounts of ingredients at a discount and have zero food waste.

You can either buy frozen fruits and veggies or cut them into handy portions and freeze them for future use.

Sustainability Tip: Freezing food could reduce global food waste by an astonishing 83%! Roughly one-third of food is thrown away worldwide, and 45% are fruits and vegetables. Freezing can largely eliminate this waste. (Martindale and Schiebel, British Food Journal 2017)

The following three elderberry plum zucchini smoothie recipe variations are sure to tantalize your taste buds. So what are you waiting for? Get your blender out and get ready for a refreshingly delicious start to your day!

Elderberry Plum Zucchini Smoothie Recipe

YIELD: 2 Servings

PREP TIME: 5 Minutes

Our base recipe is easy, healthy, and oh-so-yummy. But if you’re looking for something to cool you down in the summer heat or warm you up on a cold winter day, we’ve got you covered with two season-inspired recipe variations.

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Variation #1 – Base Smoothie

• 1 cup of fresh elderberries OR 2 tablespoons of elderberry syrup
• 2 large fresh (or frozen) ripe plums, pitted but not peeled
• 1 cup of zucchini (~1 small), chopped
• 2 cups of water
• (Optional) 1/2 a cup of unsweetened plant-based yogurt

Variation #2 – Refreshing Summer Smoothie

• 1 cup of fresh elderberries OR 2 tablespoons of elderberry syrup
• 2 large fresh (or frozen) ripe plums, pitted but not peeled
• 1 cup of zucchini (~1 small), chopped
• 2 cups of cold water
• 1/2 cup of lime juice
• 2 tablespoons of flaxseeds
• 1/2 cup of vegan greek yogurt
• (Optional) 1/2 cup of ice cubes or crushed ice

Variation #3 – Cozy Winter Smoothie

• 1 cup of fresh elderberries OR 2 tablespoons of elderberry syrup
• 2 large fresh (or frozen) ripe plums, pitted but not peeled
• 1 cup of zucchini (~1 small), chopped
• 2 cups of warm unsweetened almond milk
• 1/2 cup of plant-based yogurt
• 2 teaspoons of peanut butter
• 2 teaspoons of flaxseeds
• 1/2 cup of raw walnuts
• 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons of agave nectar

Instructions

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
Pour into glasses and decorate with some leftover ingredients.
Serve and enjoy!

Tips

Add at least one frozen ingredient or a handful of ice cubes to make your smoothie extra creamy and thick!
Add more water to reduce the thickness of your smoothie!
See Problems and Solutions

Do you want to make this smoothie even healthier? Check out our amazing selection of healthy bowl ideas based on this smoothie. Scroll down or jump right in!

Are you looking for the best blender for your kitchen? Look no further! We have scoured the market to bring you an unbiased comparison of the top blenders available. Find out which blender will best meet your needs and budget.

Recommended Guide: The Ultimate Blender Showdown: Who Will Come Out on Top?

Elderberry Plum Zucchini Smoothie Calories — A Not-So-Guilty Pleasure

A homemade elderberry plum zucchini smoothie typically has roughly 90 calories per serving (200 ml, one glass).

The amount of calories you need per day varies depending on your gender, age, height, weight, activity level, and overall health.

• The average woman needs about 2,000–2,400 calories per day to maintain her weight, and 1,500–1,800 calories per day to lose 1 pound (0.45 kg) of weight per week.
• The average man needs around 2,500 to 3,000 calories per day to maintain his weight, and 1,800-2,300 calories per day to lose 1 pound (0.45 kg) of weight per week.

Compare one large cup of the elderberry plum zucchini smoothie (90 calories) with one cappuccino (80 calories), one small serving of red wine (105 calories), and one 500 ml glass of beer (218 calories).

If you’re interested in shredding some pounds, feel free to check out our popular WeirdSmoothie guide on weight loss!

Elderberry Plum Zucchini Smoothie Nutrition per 100 Grams

Nutrition information isn’t always accurate – we use generalized estimates!

Save Time and Money with These 10 Tricks

Costs: You can expect to pay roughly $2 USD for one cup of the basic elderberry plum zucchini smoothie. If you use advanced ingredients such as chia seeds and nuts, the cost of one glass will increase by another +$2 USD to $4 USD. Note that these are only rough estimates because the costs depend on your location and the quality of the ingredients.

Still too expensive? These ten tricks will help you save money and time:

1. Buy pre-cut frozen fruits or vegetables, saving you time on prep work.
2. Freeze fresh ingredients before they expire and spoil — even nuts retain their nutrients longer when refrigerated.
3. Buy in bulk so you can save money on each individual item.
4. Make large batches of smoothies so you only have to do the prep and clean up once.
5. Use a powerful blender to make a large batch at once.
6. Don’t try to be exact with the measurements. Rough guesses will do to save time and minimize clean-up!
7. Drink the smoothie directly out of the blender, so you don’t have to clean your glasses after. (Just kidding.)
8. Use water instead of milk to reduce the costs per cup significantly.
9. Use Greek yogurt instead of regular yogurt, as it has more protein and will fill you up faster.
10. Add nuts and seeds for more protein, which are cheaper than protein powder.

And don’t be penny-wise but pound-foolish! A healthy lifestyle will save you tens of thousands of dollars in direct health costs, add years to your life, and make you more productive in the time you have!

Sustainability Tip: Shop seasonally and regionally for fresh ingredients to save money! When on sale, stock up, wash, portion, and freeze for future use. Your wallet and the environment will thank you!

Want more sustainability tips? Sure, find them on the WeirdSmoothie blog!

Typical Mistakes and Problems

Problem: My smoothie is too thick.
Solution: Add more liquids or other blending agents.

Problem: My smoothie is too thin.
Solution: Add a binding agents to make it thicker, such as banana, avocado, nut butter, chia seeds, and frozen fruits.

Problem: My smoothie is too grainy.
Solution: Add more blending agents (liquids) and binding agents (e.g., avocados, bananas, and peanut butter) to make it creamier. If nothing works, you may need to buy a better blender or change the knives.

Problem: My smoothie is too smooth.
Solution: Congratulations. This is what it’s all about!

Problem: My smoothie is too bitter.
Solution: Add natural “sweeteners” such as bananas, dates, or honey.

Problem: My smoothie is too sweet.
Solution: Add lemon or lime juice, grapefruits, pomegranate, or plain yogurt to balance the sweetness.

Problem: I have leftovers.
Solution: Put it into the refrigerator and drink it within 24 hours to avoid losing too many nutrients. Or put it into the freezer and save it for up to three months. Your kids will love the smoothie ice cream.

Recommended Article: The Most Common Problems and Solutions When Creating Smoothies

The Perfect Elderberry Plum Zucchini Smoothie Bowl For A Healthy Breakfast

When I sip a smoothie, it’s not as satisfying as a meal. Science backs this up: Chewing releases saliva that helps break down food, so no smoothie can replace a proper meal.

You can use the elderberry plum zucchini smoothie as a basis for your innovative elderberry plum zucchini smoothie bowl!

Follow the elderberry plum zucchini smoothie recipe as outlined before. Then add your favorite unblended ingredients such as nuts, seeds, and peanut butter. Sprinkle in some oatmeal or healthy muesli. Superfoods such as berries, chia seeds, or flaxseeds are a perfect addition. Ta-da! Your elderberry plum zucchini smoothie bowl!

Do you need more inspiration? Choose your favorites or be adventurous:

• Nuts and nut butter: Almonds, walnuts, cashews, pecans, macadamias, brazil nuts, chestnuts
• Seeds: Chia seeds, flaxseeds, hemp seeds, psyllium husk
• Dry fruits: Dates, raisins, apricots, figs, prunes, goji berries
• Sliced fresh fruits: bananas, berries, pineapple, mango
• Powder: Cacao, matcha, maca, coconut
• Natural Sweeteners: Honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar, agave nectar, date syrup
• Spices: Cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg, turmeric, cardamom, ginger
• Muesli: Oats, Cornflakes, Granola, Cereal

Recommended Article: Secrets of Creating Delicious and Healthy Smoothie Bowls

More Smoothie Recipes You May Like

If you liked this recipe, you’ll love our other delicious — and, yes, sometimes weird — smoothies:

• Broccoli Strawberry Smoothie
• Lime Persimmon Smoothie
• Kumquat Nectarine Papaya Smoothie
• Fig Parsley Smoothie
• Dragon Fruit Melon Smoothie
• Lingonberry Melon Smoothie
• Bell Pepper Grape Raspberry Smoothie
• Grape Passion Fruit Pear Smoothie
• Broccoli Watermelon Smoothie
• Elderberry Peach Pomegranate Smoothie

Sip Your Way to a Better Health — Nine Benefits of Smoothies

Thanks and Bye!

Drinking the Banana Cacao Smoothie is fun, but cleaning it up—not so much. Anyways, thanks for checking out our weird smoothie recipe. I hope to see you around soon to check out one of our weird smoothie recipes!

You’ll also get tips to upgrade your blood orange carrot elderberry smoothie to a healthy breakfast bowl by sprinkling superfoods into it – This keeps you and your loved ones energetic and fresh throughout the day.

Ready? Let’s get started!

Do you want to know more about the ingredients and health benefits? Keep reading!

Discover The Deliciousness Of The Blood Orange Carrot Elderberry Smoothie!

Why should you try the blood orange carrot elderberry smoothie?

(1) Because it works with most diets (vegan and more)! Diets

(2) Because it keeps you healthy and beautiful! Beauty and Health Benefits

(3) Because it only needs 3 ingredients! Ingredients

(4) Because it only takes 5 minutes to make! Recipe

(5) Because one cup has only 97 calories and is packed with vital nutrients! Calories and Nutrition Table

(6) Because it’s easily affordable! Save Money

(7) Because you can pimp it with superfoods and use it as a healthy baseline for our delicious breakfast bowls! Bowls

So why not?

Which Diets Apply to the Blood Orange Carrot Elderberry Smoothie?

The following diets apply to the basic blood orange carrot elderberry smoothie recipe of just blood orange, carrot, and elderberry, and water:

Do you want to learn more about these and other diets? Feel free to dive into our full guide on the WeirdSmoothie blog — it’s super informative!

Recommended Guide: An Overview of Dietary Plans

As you can see, the blood orange carrot elderberry smoothie adheres to the principles of many popular dietary plans.

Why should you care about any of those? Here are the seven top benefits of choosing a healthy diet:

1. Improved Energy Levels: Eating a healthy diet can give you the energy to stay productive and alert throughout the day.
2. Weight Management: Eating healthily can help you get your dream weight.
3. Improved Mood: A balanced diet helps to keep your hormones in check, improving your mood and reducing stress.
4. Reduced Risk of Chronic Diseases: Eating a healthy diet can reduce your risk of developing chronic diseases like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.
5. Improved Digestive Health: It can improve your digestion and help prevent digestive problems like constipation, diarrhea, and heartburn.
6. Improved Immune Function: A healthy diet can boost your immune system, making you less susceptible to illnesses.
7. Improved Heart Health: Lastly, it can reduce cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and other risk factors for heart disease.

Below, I’ll give you some variants that may influence these dietary considerations. But now let’s dive right into the health benefits, specifically, of the blood orange carrot elderberry smoothie:

Beauty In A Glass: Discover The Health Benefits Of A Blood Orange Carrot Elderberry Smoothie!

Unlock your inner radiance with the blood orange carrot elderberry smoothie! Enjoy a healthier life today by sipping on this nutritious blend. In particular, here are the beauty benefits of the blood orange carrot elderberry smoothie:

Blood oranges are a delicious treat that provide fantastic beauty benefits! Packed with antioxidants, lycopene, and Vitamin C, they help protect the skin from environmental damage and reduce inflammation, brightening skin tone and fighting off wrinkles for a youthful glow. Enjoy the taste and beauty benefits of this sweet treat!

Rich in beta-carotene, carrots are packed with beauty-boosting antioxidants that help to protect your skin from free radicals and keep it looking healthy and glowing. Plus, their high vitamin A content helps to keep your skin hydrated and looking supple. So enjoy this delicious smoothie and give your skin the nourishment it needs for a healthy, beautiful complexion.

Elderberries are a wealthy source of skincare benefits. Packed with antioxidants and flavonoids, elderberries can help protect your skin from damage caused by free radicals, reduce the appearance of wrinkles and soothe and calm sensitive skin. Plus, they contain vitamin A to nourish and moisturize. With all these wonderful features, it’s no wonder elderberries are a popular choice for skincare products. Try adding elderberries to your diet for healthier, brighter skin!

Health Benefits

In a Nutshell: The blood orange carrot elderberry smoothie has multiple health benefits. Blood oranges can provide a range of health benefits, including improved heart health, increased immunity, and reduced inflammation. Drinking carrot smoothie can provide increased antioxidant and Vitamin A benefits for improved eyesight and skin health. Elderberries are rich in antioxidants and vitamins that can boost your immune system, tame inflammation, lessen stress, protect your heart, and even help prevent and ease cold and flu symptoms.

Blood oranges are a great source of Vitamin C, which helps to boost the immune system and fight off infection. They also contain potent antioxidants, which prevent certain types of cancer and reduce inflammation throughout the body. In addition, blood oranges contain folate and potassium, which can help control blood pressure and protect against heart disease. So, make sure to include blood oranges in your diet for their fantastic health benefits!

Drinking a carrot smoothie is one of the healthiest and most delicious ways to get your daily dose of vital nutrients! It is packed with vitamins and minerals and is also high in beta-carotene, which can help support your immune system and keep your eyes healthy. Carrots are also a great source of dietary fiber, which helps keep your digestive system healthy and regular. So why not give this delicious and nutritious drink a try?

Elderberries are a natural immune booster packed with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. According to research, they may help reduce cold and flu symptoms, improve heart health, and even have anticancer effects. They’re definitely worth considering as a natural addition to your healthcare routine!

These are only some of the plenty of health benefits. Find more on our detailed health guide on the WeirdSmoothie blog. As with everything, you shouldn’t consume smoothies too excessively because, in the wrong dose, everything becomes unhealthy, even water!

Paracelsus: “There is nothing without poison; only the dose makes a thing non-poisonous.”

Ingredients – Anatomy of a Perfect Smoothie

Making a tasty smoothie is super easy—if you use good ingredients and blend them the right way. In addition to the base ingredients, we use blending and binding agents to create the perfect thickness and consistency.

Here are the base ingredients of a simple and healthy blood orange carrot elderberry smoothie:

• Base Ingredient #1: Blood orange
• Base Ingredient #2: Carrot
• Base Ingredient #3: Elderberry
• Blending Agent: Water

Now, this would be the base smoothie — nothing more is needed!

But now comes the fun part: Use variations of blending and binding agents to make your smoothie more interesting, healthy, and delicious!

Do you want to know the secret formula to your perfect smoothie? Here it is: 1 + 2 + 3 + 4.

1. Base Ingredients: Fruits or vegetables. For this recipe, blood orange, carrot, and elderberry.
2. Blending Agents: Water, vegan milk alternatives (soy, almond, oat, pea), cow milk, coconut water, or other liquids
3. Binding Agents: Avocado, vegan yogurt alternatives (soy, almond, oat, pea), yogurt, nut butter (peanut, almond), or cottage cheese
4. Extras: Superfoods and toppings such as chia seeds, nuts, flaxseeds, herbs, cacao powder

Let’s dive into each of those next. The perfect smoothie starts with the perfect ingredients!

Use Organic Ingredients! They are free from synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. Many people believe these chemicals are harmful to our health, so eating organic foods can help reduce our exposure to them. Organic foods also tend to be fresher and less processed, so they can retain more natural vitamins and minerals.

1) Base Ingredients – Fruits and Vegetables

Creating smoothies with your family is an easy and fun way to get your daily dose of delicious and nutritious fruits and vegetables! These base ingredients provide a flavor base and serve as the building blocks for a healthy snack or meal. And why not get creative in the kitchen and let your loved ones pick out their favorite fruits and veggies for a smoothie that will make them happy?

Blood Orange Carrot Elderberry Smoothie Flavors:

• The flavor of blood oranges can be described as a mix of navel oranges and raspberries, with a more floral and tart taste. Compared to regular oranges, they are often sweeter and less acidic.
• Carrots offer a delightful combination of earthy sweetness and crunchy texture – like a burst of sunshine in every bite. Their unique flavor is bright and earthy, with just a hint of natural sweetness. Whether served raw, cooked, or juiced, carrots provide a delightful treat that’s sure to please the taste buds.
• Elderberries are a unique and delicious balance of earthy and tart-like flavors, making them an excellent complement to both sweet and tart fruits. Reminiscent of a blend of blackberries and blueberries, they create a flavorful base for smoothies!

Yummy! This delicious and nutritious smoothie not only tastes great — it keeps you and your loved ones healthy, energetic, and radiant. Beauty and Health Benefits

2) Blending Agents – Liquids

Liquids are a crucial component of smoothies because they help to blend the other ingredients together and create a smooth, drinkable consistency. Without enough liquid, your smoothie will be too thick and difficult to drink.

Beware! Two of my blenders got destroyed because I tried to blend too many hard ingredients and the thickness broke the blender knives. If you’re looking for a high-powered blender, feel free to check out our ultimate blender guide.

The type of liquid you use in your smoothie can also affect its flavor and nutritional content, so choosing a liquid that will complement your other ingredients is important.

Here is a list of the eight most common blending agents for smoothies:

1. Water
2. Coconut water
3. Coconut milk
4. Almond milk
5. Soy milk
6. Oat milk (not gluten-free!)
7. Cow milk (not vegan or lactose-free!)
8. Juice

If you’re adventurous, you can also experiment with other liquids like tea or even coffee!

3) Binding Agents

Binding agents are the secret ingredient that makes smoothies smooth and creamy! These ingredients are high in fiber and help to combine the other ingredients in the smoothie, creating the desired smooth and thick consistency.

They also add volume to the smoothie, making it more filling and satisfying. Plus, binding agents add serious nutritional value to your smoothie, providing essential vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients.

So don’t skimp on the binding agents – they’re the key to a delicious and satisfying smoothie!

Here is a list of the eleven most common binding agents for smoothies:

1. Avocados
2. Peanut and almond butter
3. Plant-based yogurts
4. Milk-based yogurt (not vegan or lactose-free!)
5. Cottage cheese (not vegan or lactose-free!)
6. Frozen fruits
7. Oats (not gluten-free!)
8. Chia seeds
9. Flaxseeds
10. Psyllium husk
11. Protein powder

In addition to these ingredients, you can experiment with other binding agents, such as egg whites, cornstarch, or leafy greens.

4) Extras

Taste-enhancing ingredients like honey, maple syrup, dates, and vanilla extract can be added for sweetness. Spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, and ginger can also be added for extra flavor. Here’s a list of ideas:

• Nuts: Almonds, walnuts, cashews, pecans, macadamias, brazil nuts, chestnuts
• Seeds: Chia seeds, flaxseeds, hemp seeds
• Dry fruits: Dates, raisins, apricots, figs, prunes, goji berries
• Powder: Cacao, matcha, maca, coconut
• Natural Sweeteners: Honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar, agave nectar, date syrup
• Spices: Cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg, turmeric, cardamom, ginger

To make your smoothie look more appetizing, choose your preferred colorful toppings from this list, such as fruits, nuts, seeds, or granola. For example, drizzle honey or agave syrup, sprinkle with cinnamon or nutmeg, or add a swirl of nut butter or coconut cream plus a sprig of mint or a slice of lemon. Et voilà!

Recommended: Pimp Your Smoothie – Dr. Greger’s Daily Dozens

If you want to dive even deeper into the anatomy of a perfect smoothie, binding agents, blending agents, and all the secrets you want to know, feel free to check out our full guide on the WeirdSmoothie blog.

Should You Use Frozen Ingredients?

Here’s a little-known secret: Use at least one frozen ingredient in your smoothie recipe — or a handful of ice cubes — to make your smoothie thicker and give it a delicious chill!

There are many benefits of freezing your smoothie ingredients:

• Nutrition: Freezing your ingredients helps to preserve their nutritional content. Frozen fruits and vegetables retain vitamins and minerals longer than fruits that are not frozen.
• Antibacterial: Freezing food can reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses. Freezing kills many of the bacteria and organisms that cause food to spoil.
• Zero Preservatives: Frozen food is free from preservatives, i.e., it’s more natural!
• Shelf Life: Freezing can extend the shelf life of fruits and vegetables, so they stay fresh for months.
• Seasonality: You don’t have to go vitamin-free during winter but eat healthy (frozen) fruits and vegetables all year without excessive long-distance transportation.
• Plastic Waste: You can prepare zero-waste smoothies easily by purchasing raw ingredients, cutting them, and saving them in handy and reusable boxes. No plastic!
• Food Waste: Freezing food can reduce food waste. Fruits and vegetables can be frozen and blended later, rather than throwing out any leftovers.
• Convenience: The last thing you want to do is cut ingredients during a hectic day. Freezing food is super convenient and allows for easier meal preparation. Pre-frozen ingredients can make meals much faster to prepare.
• Money: You save money because you can purchase larger amounts of ingredients at a discount and have zero food waste.

You can either buy frozen fruits and veggies or cut them into handy portions and freeze them for future use.

Sustainability Tip: Freezing food could reduce global food waste by an astonishing 83%! Roughly one-third of food is thrown away worldwide, and 45% are fruits and vegetables. Freezing can largely eliminate this waste. (Martindale and Schiebel, British Food Journal 2017)

The following three blood orange carrot elderberry smoothie recipe variations are sure to tantalize your taste buds. So what are you waiting for? Get your blender out and get ready for a refreshingly delicious start to your day!

Blood Orange Carrot Elderberry Smoothie Recipe

YIELD: 2 Servings

PREP TIME: 5 Minutes

Our base recipe is easy, healthy, and oh-so-yummy. But if you’re looking for something to cool you down in the summer heat or warm you up on a cold winter day, we’ve got you covered with two season-inspired recipe variations.

---

Variation #1 – Base Smoothie

• 2 blood oranges, pitted and peeled
• 2 cups of sliced carrots
• 1 cup of fresh elderberries OR 2 tablespoons of elderberry syrup
• 2 cups of water
• (Optional) 1/2 a cup of unsweetened plant-based yogurt

Variation #2 – Refreshing Summer Smoothie

• 2 blood oranges, pitted and peeled
• 2 cups of sliced carrots
• 1 cup of fresh elderberries OR 2 tablespoons of elderberry syrup
• 2 cups of cold water
• 1/2 cup of lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons of flaxseeds
• 1/2 cup of vegan greek yogurt
• (Optional) 1/2 cup of ice cubes or crushed ice

Variation #3 – Cozy Winter Smoothie

• 2 blood oranges, pitted and peeled
• 2 cups of sliced carrots
• 1 cup of fresh elderberries OR 2 tablespoons of elderberry syrup
• 2 cups of hot tea
• 1/2 cup of plant-based yogurt
• 2 teaspoons of cashew butter
• 2 teaspoons of flaxseeds
• 1/2 cup of raw macadamias
• 1/2 teaspoon of ground nutmeg
• 2 teaspoons of honey

Instructions

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
Pour into glasses and decorate with some leftover ingredients.
Serve and enjoy!

Tips

Add at least one frozen ingredient or a handful of ice cubes to make your smoothie extra creamy and thick!
Add more water to reduce the thickness of your smoothie!
See Problems and Solutions

Do you want to make this smoothie even healthier? Check out our amazing selection of healthy bowl ideas based on this smoothie. Scroll down or jump right in!

Are you looking for the best blender for your kitchen? Look no further! We have scoured the market to bring you an unbiased comparison of the top blenders available. Find out which blender will best meet your needs and budget.

Recommended Guide: The Ultimate Blender Showdown: Who Will Come Out on Top?

Blood Orange Carrot Elderberry Smoothie Calories — A Not-So-Guilty Pleasure

A homemade blood orange carrot elderberry smoothie typically has roughly 97 calories per serving (200 ml, one glass).

The amount of calories you need per day varies depending on your gender, age, height, weight, activity level, and overall health.

• The average woman needs about 2,000–2,400 calories per day to maintain her weight, and 1,500–1,800 calories per day to lose 1 pound (0.45 kg) of weight per week.
• The average man needs around 2,500 to 3,000 calories per day to maintain his weight, and 1,800-2,300 calories per day to lose 1 pound (0.45 kg) of weight per week.

Compare one large cup of the blood orange carrot elderberry smoothie (97 calories) with one cappuccino (80 calories), one small serving of red wine (105 calories), and one 500 ml glass of beer (218 calories).

If you’re interested in shredding some pounds, feel free to check out our popular WeirdSmoothie guide on weight loss!

Blood Orange Carrot Elderberry Smoothie Nutrition per 100 Grams

Nutrition information isn’t always accurate – we use generalized estimates!

Save Time and Money with These 10 Tricks

Costs: You can expect to pay roughly $2 USD for one cup of the basic blood orange carrot elderberry smoothie. If you use advanced ingredients such as chia seeds and nuts, the cost of one glass will increase by another +$2 USD to $4 USD. Note that these are only rough estimates because the costs depend on your location and the quality of the ingredients.

Still too expensive? These ten tricks will help you save money and time:

1. Buy pre-cut frozen fruits or vegetables, saving you time on prep work.
2. Freeze fresh ingredients before they expire and spoil — even nuts retain their nutrients longer when refrigerated.
3. Buy in bulk so you can save money on each individual item.
4. Make large batches of smoothies so you only have to do the prep and clean up once.
5. Use a powerful blender to make a large batch at once.
6. Don’t try to be exact with the measurements. Rough guesses will do to save time and minimize clean-up!
7. Drink the smoothie directly out of the blender, so you don’t have to clean your glasses after. (Just kidding.)
8. Use water instead of milk to reduce the costs per cup significantly.
9. Use Greek yogurt instead of regular yogurt, as it has more protein and will fill you up faster.
10. Add nuts and seeds for more protein, which are cheaper than protein powder.

And don’t be penny-wise but pound-foolish! A healthy lifestyle will save you tens of thousands of dollars in direct health costs, add years to your life, and make you more productive in the time you have!

Sustainability Tip: Shop seasonally and regionally for fresh ingredients to save money! When on sale, stock up, wash, portion, and freeze for future use. Your wallet and the environment will thank you!

Want more sustainability tips? Sure, find them on the WeirdSmoothie blog!

Typical Mistakes and Problems

Problem: My smoothie is too thick.
Solution: Add more liquids or other blending agents.

Problem: My smoothie is too thin.
Solution: Add a binding agents to make it thicker, such as banana, avocado, nut butter, chia seeds, and frozen fruits.

Problem: My smoothie is too grainy.
Solution: Add more blending agents (liquids) and binding agents (e.g., avocados, bananas, and peanut butter) to make it creamier. If nothing works, you may need to buy a better blender or change the knives.

Problem: My smoothie is too smooth.
Solution: Congratulations. This is what it’s all about!

Problem: My smoothie is too bitter.
Solution: Add natural “sweeteners” such as bananas, dates, or honey.

Problem: My smoothie is too sweet.
Solution: Add lemon or lime juice, grapefruits, pomegranate, or plain yogurt to balance the sweetness.

Problem: I have leftovers.
Solution: Put it into the refrigerator and drink it within 24 hours to avoid losing too many nutrients. Or put it into the freezer and save it for up to three months. Your kids will love the smoothie ice cream.

Recommended Article: The Most Common Problems and Solutions When Creating Smoothies

Kickstart Your Day With This Amazing Blood Orange Carrot Elderberry Smoothie Bowl!

When I sip a smoothie, it’s not as satisfying as a meal. Science backs this up: Chewing releases saliva that helps break down food, so no smoothie can replace a proper meal.

You can use the blood orange carrot elderberry smoothie as a basis for your innovative blood orange carrot elderberry smoothie bowl!

Follow the blood orange carrot elderberry smoothie recipe as outlined before. Then add your favorite unblended ingredients such as nuts, seeds, and peanut butter. Sprinkle in some oatmeal or healthy muesli. Superfoods such as berries, chia seeds, or flaxseeds are a perfect addition. Ta-da! Your blood orange carrot elderberry smoothie bowl!

Do you need more inspiration? Choose your favorites or be adventurous:

• Nuts and nut butter: Almonds, walnuts, cashews, pecans, macadamias, brazil nuts, chestnuts
• Seeds: Chia seeds, flaxseeds, hemp seeds, psyllium husk
• Dry fruits: Dates, raisins, apricots, figs, prunes, goji berries
• Sliced fresh fruits: bananas, berries, pineapple, mango
• Powder: Cacao, matcha, maca, coconut
• Natural Sweeteners: Honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar, agave nectar, date syrup
• Spices: Cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg, turmeric, cardamom, ginger
• Muesli: Oats, Cornflakes, Granola, Cereal

Recommended Article: Secrets of Creating Delicious and Healthy Smoothie Bowls

More Smoothie Recipes You May Like

If you liked this recipe, you’ll love our other delicious — and, yes, sometimes weird — smoothies:

• Blackberry Parsley Smoothie
• Coconut Watermelon Smoothie
• Apple Grapefruit Parsley Smoothie
• Coconut Lemon Lime Smoothie
• Melon Orange Smoothie
• Ginger Nectarine Smoothie
• Apricot Watermelon Smoothie
• Pear Persimmon Spinach Smoothie
• Dragon Fruit Elderberry Watermelon Smoothie
• Celery Lettuce Smoothie

Sip Your Way to a Better Health — Nine Benefits of Smoothies

Thanks and Bye!

Drinking the Banana Cacao Smoothie is fun, but cleaning it up—not so much. Anyways, thanks for checking out our weird smoothie recipe. I hope to see you around soon to check out one of our weird smoothie recipes!

You’ll also get tips to upgrade your elderberry melon watermelon smoothie to a healthy breakfast bowl by sprinkling superfoods into it – This keeps you and your loved ones energetic and fresh throughout the day.

Ready? Let’s get started!

Do you want to know more about the ingredients and health benefits? Keep reading!

Discover The Deliciousness Of The Elderberry Melon Watermelon Smoothie!

Why should you try the elderberry melon watermelon smoothie?

(1) Because it works with most diets (vegan and more)! Diets

(2) Because it keeps you healthy and beautiful! Beauty and Health Benefits

(3) Because it only needs 3 ingredients! Ingredients

(4) Because it only takes 5 minutes to make! Recipe

(5) Because one cup has only 77 calories and is packed with vital nutrients! Calories and Nutrition Table

(6) Because it’s easily affordable! Save Money

(7) Because you can pimp it with superfoods and use it as a healthy baseline for our delicious breakfast bowls! Bowls

So why not?

Which Diets Apply to the Elderberry Melon Watermelon Smoothie?

The following diets apply to the basic elderberry melon watermelon smoothie recipe of just elderberry, melon, and watermelon, and water:

Do you want to learn more about these and other diets? Feel free to dive into our full guide on the WeirdSmoothie blog — it’s super informative!

Recommended Guide: An Overview of Dietary Plans

As you can see, the elderberry melon watermelon smoothie adheres to the principles of many popular dietary plans.

Why should you care about any of those? Here are the seven top benefits of choosing a healthy diet:

1. Improved Energy Levels: Eating a healthy diet can give you the energy to stay productive and alert throughout the day.
2. Weight Management: Eating healthily can help you get your dream weight.
3. Improved Mood: A balanced diet helps to keep your hormones in check, improving your mood and reducing stress.
4. Reduced Risk of Chronic Diseases: Eating a healthy diet can reduce your risk of developing chronic diseases like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.
5. Improved Digestive Health: It can improve your digestion and help prevent digestive problems like constipation, diarrhea, and heartburn.
6. Improved Immune Function: A healthy diet can boost your immune system, making you less susceptible to illnesses.
7. Improved Heart Health: Lastly, it can reduce cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and other risk factors for heart disease.

Below, I’ll give you some variants that may influence these dietary considerations. But now let’s dive right into the health benefits, specifically, of the elderberry melon watermelon smoothie:

Feel Good Inside And Out With This Elderberry Melon Watermelon Smoothie Recipe!

Unlock your inner radiance with the elderberry melon watermelon smoothie! Enjoy a healthier life today by sipping on this nutritious blend. In particular, here are the beauty benefits of the elderberry melon watermelon smoothie:

Elderberries are a wealthy source of skincare benefits. Packed with antioxidants and flavonoids, elderberries can help protect your skin from damage caused by free radicals, reduce the appearance of wrinkles and soothe and calm sensitive skin. Plus, they contain vitamin A to nourish and moisturize. With all these wonderful features, it’s no wonder elderberries are a popular choice for skincare products. Try adding elderberries to your diet for healthier, brighter skin!

Melons aren’t just a delicious treat for your taste buds but also for your skin and overall beauty! They are rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that nourish the skin and boost collagen production, leading to a smooth and radiant complexion. Their high water content hydrates the skin, and their Vitamins C and A help reduce fine lines, wrinkles, and acne. Plus, their potassium helps to balance fluids in the body, resulting in a brighter complexion. Melons make you shine from the inside out!

Rich in antioxidants, lycopene, and vitamin C, watermelon can help combat free radical damage and increase skin elasticity. Vitamin C increases collagen production, which can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, resulting in a firmer, brighter complexion.

Health Benefits

In a Nutshell: The elderberry melon watermelon smoothie has multiple health benefits. Elderberries are rich in antioxidants and vitamins that can boost your immune system, tame inflammation, lessen stress, protect your heart, and even help prevent and ease cold and flu symptoms. Melons are a low-calorie, nutrient-dense food that can boost the immune system, protect against disease, aid digestion, improve heart health, and even help control blood sugar levels. Citrulline, an amino acid found in watermelon, has been shown to help circulate blood throughout the body and may even reduce blood pressure.

Elderberries are a natural immune booster packed with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. According to research, they may help reduce cold and flu symptoms, improve heart health, and even have anticancer effects. They’re definitely worth considering as a natural addition to your healthcare routine!

Melons are not only delicious but also a powerhouse of health benefits! These juicy fruits are low in calories and high in Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and potassium. They also contain antioxidants that can boost your immune system, protect against disease, and promote overall well-being. Melons can also aid digestion, improve heart health, and even help control blood sugar levels. Eating a melon as a snack or adding it to your smoothie can be a simple and tasty way to promote your health and well-being.

Watermelon is an exceptionally nutritious fruit containing various nutrients, plant compounds, and health benefits. It is a great way to stay hydrated, providing electrolytes and minerals. It has beneficial antioxidant properties that may help protect the body from cancer, inflammation, oxidative stress, and macular degeneration. Furthermore, it may help support heart health and promote relief of muscle soreness, as well as benefit skin health.

These are only some of the plenty of health benefits. Find more on our detailed health guide on the WeirdSmoothie blog. As with everything, you shouldn’t consume smoothies too excessively because, in the wrong dose, everything becomes unhealthy, even water!

Paracelsus: “There is nothing without poison; only the dose makes a thing non-poisonous.”

Ingredients – Anatomy of a Perfect Smoothie

Making a tasty smoothie is super easy—if you use good ingredients and blend them the right way. In addition to the base ingredients, we use blending and binding agents to create the perfect thickness and consistency.

Here are the base ingredients of a simple and healthy elderberry melon watermelon smoothie:

• Base Ingredient #1: Elderberry
• Base Ingredient #2: Melon
• Base Ingredient #3: Watermelon
• Blending Agent: Water

Now, this would be the base smoothie — nothing more is needed!

But now comes the fun part: Use variations of blending and binding agents to make your smoothie more interesting, healthy, and delicious!

Do you want to know the secret formula to your perfect smoothie? Here it is: 1 + 2 + 3 + 4.

1. Base Ingredients: Fruits or vegetables. For this recipe, elderberry, melon, and watermelon.
2. Blending Agents: Water, vegan milk alternatives (soy, almond, oat, pea), cow milk, coconut water, or other liquids
3. Binding Agents: Avocado, vegan yogurt alternatives (soy, almond, oat, pea), yogurt, nut butter (peanut, almond), or cottage cheese
4. Extras: Superfoods and toppings such as chia seeds, nuts, flaxseeds, herbs, cacao powder

Let’s dive into each of those next. The perfect smoothie starts with the perfect ingredients!

Use Organic Ingredients! They are free from synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. Many people believe these chemicals are harmful to our health, so eating organic foods can help reduce our exposure to them. Organic foods also tend to be fresher and less processed, so they can retain more natural vitamins and minerals.

1) Base Ingredients – Fruits and Vegetables

Creating smoothies with your family is an easy and fun way to get your daily dose of delicious and nutritious fruits and vegetables! These base ingredients provide a flavor base and serve as the building blocks for a healthy snack or meal. And why not get creative in the kitchen and let your loved ones pick out their favorite fruits and veggies for a smoothie that will make them happy?

Elderberry Melon Watermelon Smoothie Flavors:

• Elderberries are a unique and delicious balance of earthy and tart-like flavors, making them an excellent complement to both sweet and tart fruits. Reminiscent of a blend of blackberries and blueberries, they create a flavorful base for smoothies!
• Melon is the quintessential summer fruit — its sweet, juicy, and slightly musky taste is both invigorating and satisfying. Imagine biting into a perfectly ripe melon on a hot summer day, like a refreshing burst of nature’s candy in your mouth as the sweet aroma fills your nose. Whether you prefer cantaloupe, honeydew, or watermelon, the flavor of this fruit is a true taste of summer.
• Watermelon is unique because it combines three distinct flavors – bitter, sweet, and sour. The bitter taste is strong enough to balance out the sweetness and the sourness helps make the bitterness more palatable. All three flavors combine to create a subtle and delicious taste.

Yummy! This delicious and nutritious smoothie not only tastes great — it keeps you and your loved ones healthy, energetic, and radiant. Beauty and Health Benefits

2) Blending Agents – Liquids

Liquids are a crucial component of smoothies because they help to blend the other ingredients together and create a smooth, drinkable consistency. Without enough liquid, your smoothie will be too thick and difficult to drink.

Beware! Two of my blenders got destroyed because I tried to blend too many hard ingredients and the thickness broke the blender knives. If you’re looking for a high-powered blender, feel free to check out our ultimate blender guide.

The type of liquid you use in your smoothie can also affect its flavor and nutritional content, so choosing a liquid that will complement your other ingredients is important.

Here is a list of the eight most common blending agents for smoothies:

1. Water
2. Coconut water
3. Coconut milk
4. Almond milk
5. Soy milk
6. Oat milk (not gluten-free!)
7. Cow milk (not vegan or lactose-free!)
8. Juice

If you’re adventurous, you can also experiment with other liquids like tea or even coffee!

3) Binding Agents

Binding agents are the secret ingredient that makes smoothies smooth and creamy! These ingredients are high in fiber and help to combine the other ingredients in the smoothie, creating the desired smooth and thick consistency.

They also add volume to the smoothie, making it more filling and satisfying. Plus, binding agents add serious nutritional value to your smoothie, providing essential vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients.

So don’t skimp on the binding agents – they’re the key to a delicious and satisfying smoothie!

Here is a list of the eleven most common binding agents for smoothies:

1. Avocados
2. Peanut and almond butter
3. Plant-based yogurts
4. Milk-based yogurt (not vegan or lactose-free!)
5. Cottage cheese (not vegan or lactose-free!)
6. Frozen fruits
7. Oats (not gluten-free!)
8. Chia seeds
9. Flaxseeds
10. Psyllium husk
11. Protein powder

In addition to these ingredients, you can experiment with other binding agents, such as egg whites, cornstarch, or leafy greens.

4) Extras

Taste-enhancing ingredients like honey, maple syrup, dates, and vanilla extract can be added for sweetness. Spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, and ginger can also be added for extra flavor. Here’s a list of ideas:

• Nuts: Almonds, walnuts, cashews, pecans, macadamias, brazil nuts, chestnuts
• Seeds: Chia seeds, flaxseeds, hemp seeds
• Dry fruits: Dates, raisins, apricots, figs, prunes, goji berries
• Powder: Cacao, matcha, maca, coconut
• Natural Sweeteners: Honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar, agave nectar, date syrup
• Spices: Cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg, turmeric, cardamom, ginger

To make your smoothie look more appetizing, choose your preferred colorful toppings from this list, such as fruits, nuts, seeds, or granola. For example, drizzle honey or agave syrup, sprinkle with cinnamon or nutmeg, or add a swirl of nut butter or coconut cream plus a sprig of mint or a slice of lemon. Et voilà!

Recommended: Pimp Your Smoothie – Dr. Greger’s Daily Dozens

If you want to dive even deeper into the anatomy of a perfect smoothie, binding agents, blending agents, and all the secrets you want to know, feel free to check out our full guide on the WeirdSmoothie blog.

Should You Use Frozen Ingredients?

Here’s a little-known secret: Use at least one frozen ingredient in your smoothie recipe — or a handful of ice cubes — to make your smoothie thicker and give it a delicious chill!

There are many benefits of freezing your smoothie ingredients:

• Nutrition: Freezing your ingredients helps to preserve their nutritional content. Frozen fruits and vegetables retain vitamins and minerals longer than fruits that are not frozen.
• Antibacterial: Freezing food can reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses. Freezing kills many of the bacteria and organisms that cause food to spoil.
• Zero Preservatives: Frozen food is free from preservatives, i.e., it’s more natural!
• Shelf Life: Freezing can extend the shelf life of fruits and vegetables, so they stay fresh for months.
• Seasonality: You don’t have to go vitamin-free during winter but eat healthy (frozen) fruits and vegetables all year without excessive long-distance transportation.
• Plastic Waste: You can prepare zero-waste smoothies easily by purchasing raw ingredients, cutting them, and saving them in handy and reusable boxes. No plastic!
• Food Waste: Freezing food can reduce food waste. Fruits and vegetables can be frozen and blended later, rather than throwing out any leftovers.
• Convenience: The last thing you want to do is cut ingredients during a hectic day. Freezing food is super convenient and allows for easier meal preparation. Pre-frozen ingredients can make meals much faster to prepare.
• Money: You save money because you can purchase larger amounts of ingredients at a discount and have zero food waste.

You can either buy frozen fruits and veggies or cut them into handy portions and freeze them for future use.

Sustainability Tip: Freezing food could reduce global food waste by an astonishing 83%! Roughly one-third of food is thrown away worldwide, and 45% are fruits and vegetables. Freezing can largely eliminate this waste. (Martindale and Schiebel, British Food Journal 2017)

The following three elderberry melon watermelon smoothie recipe variations are sure to tantalize your taste buds. So what are you waiting for? Get your blender out and get ready for a refreshingly delicious start to your day!

Elderberry Melon Watermelon Smoothie Recipe

YIELD: 2 Servings

PREP TIME: 5 Minutes

Our base recipe is easy, healthy, and oh-so-yummy. But if you’re looking for something to cool you down in the summer heat or warm you up on a cold winter day, we’ve got you covered with two season-inspired recipe variations.

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Variation #1 – Base Smoothie

• 1 cup of fresh elderberries OR 2 tablespoons of elderberry syrup
• 2 cups of cubed, seedless melon (cantaloupe or honeydew)
• 2 cups seedless watermelon, cut into chunks
• 2 cups of water
• (Optional) 1/2 a cup of unsweetened plant-based yogurt

Variation #2 – Refreshing Summer Smoothie

• 1 cup of fresh elderberries OR 2 tablespoons of elderberry syrup
• 2 cups of cubed, seedless melon (cantaloupe or honeydew)
• 2 cups seedless watermelon, cut into chunks
• 2 cups of cold water
• 1/2 cup of pineapple juice
• 2 tablespoons of flaxseeds
• 1/2 cup of vegan greek yogurt
• (Optional) 1/2 cup of ice cubes or crushed ice

Variation #3 – Cozy Winter Smoothie

• 1 cup of fresh elderberries OR 2 tablespoons of elderberry syrup
• 2 cups of cubed, seedless melon (cantaloupe or honeydew)
• 2 cups seedless watermelon, cut into chunks
• 2 cups of warm unsweetened almond milk
• 1/2 cup of plant-based yogurt
• 2 teaspoons of almond butter
• 2 teaspoons of flaxseeds
• 1/2 cup of pitted dates
• 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons of honey

Instructions

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
Pour into glasses and decorate with some leftover ingredients.
Serve and enjoy!

Tips

Add at least one frozen ingredient or a handful of ice cubes to make your smoothie extra creamy and thick!
Add more water to reduce the thickness of your smoothie!
See Problems and Solutions

Do you want to make this smoothie even healthier? Check out our amazing selection of healthy bowl ideas based on this smoothie. Scroll down or jump right in!

Are you looking for the best blender for your kitchen? Look no further! We have scoured the market to bring you an unbiased comparison of the top blenders available. Find out which blender will best meet your needs and budget.

Recommended Guide: The Ultimate Blender Showdown: Who Will Come Out on Top?

Elderberry Melon Watermelon Smoothie Calories — A Not-So-Guilty Pleasure

A homemade elderberry melon watermelon smoothie typically has roughly 77 calories per serving (200 ml, one glass).

The amount of calories you need per day varies depending on your gender, age, height, weight, activity level, and overall health.

• The average woman needs about 2,000–2,400 calories per day to maintain her weight, and 1,500–1,800 calories per day to lose 1 pound (0.45 kg) of weight per week.
• The average man needs around 2,500 to 3,000 calories per day to maintain his weight, and 1,800-2,300 calories per day to lose 1 pound (0.45 kg) of weight per week.

Compare one large cup of the elderberry melon watermelon smoothie (77 calories) with one cappuccino (80 calories), one small serving of red wine (105 calories), and one 500 ml glass of beer (218 calories).

If you’re interested in shredding some pounds, feel free to check out our popular WeirdSmoothie guide on weight loss!

Elderberry Melon Watermelon Smoothie Nutrition per 100 Grams

Nutrition information isn’t always accurate – we use generalized estimates!

Save Time and Money with These 10 Tricks

Costs: You can expect to pay roughly $2 USD for one cup of the basic elderberry melon watermelon smoothie. If you use advanced ingredients such as chia seeds and nuts, the cost of one glass will increase by another +$2 USD to $4 USD. Note that these are only rough estimates because the costs depend on your location and the quality of the ingredients.

Still too expensive? These ten tricks will help you save money and time:

1. Buy pre-cut frozen fruits or vegetables, saving you time on prep work.
2. Freeze fresh ingredients before they expire and spoil — even nuts retain their nutrients longer when refrigerated.
3. Buy in bulk so you can save money on each individual item.
4. Make large batches of smoothies so you only have to do the prep and clean up once.
5. Use a powerful blender to make a large batch at once.
6. Don’t try to be exact with the measurements. Rough guesses will do to save time and minimize clean-up!
7. Drink the smoothie directly out of the blender, so you don’t have to clean your glasses after. (Just kidding.)
8. Use water instead of milk to reduce the costs per cup significantly.
9. Use Greek yogurt instead of regular yogurt, as it has more protein and will fill you up faster.
10. Add nuts and seeds for more protein, which are cheaper than protein powder.

And don’t be penny-wise but pound-foolish! A healthy lifestyle will save you tens of thousands of dollars in direct health costs, add years to your life, and make you more productive in the time you have!

Sustainability Tip: Shop seasonally and regionally for fresh ingredients to save money! When on sale, stock up, wash, portion, and freeze for future use. Your wallet and the environment will thank you!

Want more sustainability tips? Sure, find them on the WeirdSmoothie blog!

Typical Mistakes and Problems

Problem: My smoothie is too thick.
Solution: Add more liquids or other blending agents.

Problem: My smoothie is too thin.
Solution: Add a binding agents to make it thicker, such as banana, avocado, nut butter, chia seeds, and frozen fruits.

Problem: My smoothie is too grainy.
Solution: Add more blending agents (liquids) and binding agents (e.g., avocados, bananas, and peanut butter) to make it creamier. If nothing works, you may need to buy a better blender or change the knives.

Problem: My smoothie is too smooth.
Solution: Congratulations. This is what it’s all about!

Problem: My smoothie is too bitter.
Solution: Add natural “sweeteners” such as bananas, dates, or honey.

Problem: My smoothie is too sweet.
Solution: Add lemon or lime juice, grapefruits, pomegranate, or plain yogurt to balance the sweetness.

Problem: I have leftovers.
Solution: Put it into the refrigerator and drink it within 24 hours to avoid losing too many nutrients. Or put it into the freezer and save it for up to three months. Your kids will love the smoothie ice cream.

Recommended Article: The Most Common Problems and Solutions When Creating Smoothies

The Perfect Elderberry Melon Watermelon Smoothie Bowl For A Healthy Breakfast

When I sip a smoothie, it’s not as satisfying as a meal. Science backs this up: Chewing releases saliva that helps break down food, so no smoothie can replace a proper meal.

You can use the elderberry melon watermelon smoothie as a basis for your innovative elderberry melon watermelon smoothie bowl!

Follow the elderberry melon watermelon smoothie recipe as outlined before. Then add your favorite unblended ingredients such as nuts, seeds, and peanut butter. Sprinkle in some oatmeal or healthy muesli. Superfoods such as berries, chia seeds, or flaxseeds are a perfect addition. Ta-da! Your elderberry melon watermelon smoothie bowl!

Do you need more inspiration? Choose your favorites or be adventurous:

• Nuts and nut butter: Almonds, walnuts, cashews, pecans, macadamias, brazil nuts, chestnuts
• Seeds: Chia seeds, flaxseeds, hemp seeds, psyllium husk
• Dry fruits: Dates, raisins, apricots, figs, prunes, goji berries
• Sliced fresh fruits: bananas, berries, pineapple, mango
• Powder: Cacao, matcha, maca, coconut
• Natural Sweeteners: Honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar, agave nectar, date syrup
• Spices: Cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg, turmeric, cardamom, ginger
• Muesli: Oats, Cornflakes, Granola, Cereal

Recommended Article: Secrets of Creating Delicious and Healthy Smoothie Bowls

More Smoothie Recipes You May Like

If you liked this recipe, you’ll love our other delicious — and, yes, sometimes weird — smoothies:

• Banana Grapefruit Raspberry Smoothie
• Guava Lime Passion Fruit Smoothie
• Avocado Elderberry Papaya Smoothie
• Ginger Lingonberry Smoothie
• Coconut Melon Smoothie
• Celery Ginger Smoothie
• Avocado Cranberry Watermelon Smoothie
• Kiwi Lingonberry Smoothie
• Cranberry Orange Parsley Smoothie
• Apple Celery Smoothie

Sip Your Way to a Better Health — Nine Benefits of Smoothies

Thanks and Bye!

Drinking the Banana Cacao Smoothie is fun, but cleaning it up—not so much. Anyways, thanks for checking out our weird smoothie recipe. I hope to see you around soon to check out one of our weird smoothie recipes!

You’ll also get tips to upgrade your apple blood orange elderberry smoothie to a healthy breakfast bowl by sprinkling superfoods into it – This keeps you and your loved ones energetic and fresh throughout the day.

Ready? Let’s get started!

Do you want to know more about the ingredients and health benefits? Keep reading!

Get Ready To Be Wowed By The Apple Blood Orange Elderberry Smoothie!

Why should you try the apple blood orange elderberry smoothie?

(1) Because it works with most diets (vegan and more)! Diets

(2) Because it keeps you healthy and beautiful! Beauty and Health Benefits

(3) Because it only needs 3 ingredients! Ingredients

(4) Because it only takes 5 minutes to make! Recipe

(5) Because one cup has only 125 calories and is packed with vital nutrients! Calories and Nutrition Table

(6) Because it’s easily affordable! Save Money

(7) Because you can pimp it with superfoods and use it as a healthy baseline for our delicious breakfast bowls! Bowls

So why not?

Which Diets Apply to the Apple Blood Orange Elderberry Smoothie?

The following diets apply to the basic apple blood orange elderberry smoothie recipe of just apple, blood orange, and elderberry, and water:

Do you want to learn more about these and other diets? Feel free to dive into our full guide on the WeirdSmoothie blog — it’s super informative!

Recommended Guide: An Overview of Dietary Plans

As you can see, the apple blood orange elderberry smoothie adheres to the principles of many popular dietary plans.

Why should you care about any of those? Here are the seven top benefits of choosing a healthy diet:

1. Improved Energy Levels: Eating a healthy diet can give you the energy to stay productive and alert throughout the day.
2. Weight Management: Eating healthily can help you get your dream weight.
3. Improved Mood: A balanced diet helps to keep your hormones in check, improving your mood and reducing stress.
4. Reduced Risk of Chronic Diseases: Eating a healthy diet can reduce your risk of developing chronic diseases like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.
5. Improved Digestive Health: It can improve your digestion and help prevent digestive problems like constipation, diarrhea, and heartburn.
6. Improved Immune Function: A healthy diet can boost your immune system, making you less susceptible to illnesses.
7. Improved Heart Health: Lastly, it can reduce cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and other risk factors for heart disease.

Below, I’ll give you some variants that may influence these dietary considerations. But now let’s dive right into the health benefits, specifically, of the apple blood orange elderberry smoothie:

Feel Good Inside And Out With This Apple Blood Orange Elderberry Smoothie Recipe!

Unlock your inner radiance with the apple blood orange elderberry smoothie! Enjoy a healthier life today by sipping on this nutritious blend. In particular, here are the beauty benefits of the apple blood orange elderberry smoothie:

Dive into the beauty benefits of apples! Packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, apples are a powerhouse for healthy skin. Get your daily dose of vitamin C to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays, boost collagen production, and achieve a youthful complexion. Plus, the anti-inflammatory properties of apples help to reduce redness and puffiness. Not to mention, apples can help reduce wrinkles, fine lines, and blemishes – so start munching away for a glowing complexion!

Blood oranges are a delicious treat that provide fantastic beauty benefits! Packed with antioxidants, lycopene, and Vitamin C, they help protect the skin from environmental damage and reduce inflammation, brightening skin tone and fighting off wrinkles for a youthful glow. Enjoy the taste and beauty benefits of this sweet treat!

Elderberries are a wealthy source of skincare benefits. Packed with antioxidants and flavonoids, elderberries can help protect your skin from damage caused by free radicals, reduce the appearance of wrinkles and soothe and calm sensitive skin. Plus, they contain vitamin A to nourish and moisturize. With all these wonderful features, it’s no wonder elderberries are a popular choice for skincare products. Try adding elderberries to your diet for healthier, brighter skin!

Health Benefits

In a Nutshell: The apple blood orange elderberry smoothie has multiple health benefits. Apples are a great source of dietary fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants, which can help protect against chronic diseases and support overall health and wellbeing. Blood oranges can provide a range of health benefits, including improved heart health, increased immunity, and reduced inflammation. Elderberries are rich in antioxidants and vitamins that can boost your immune system, tame inflammation, lessen stress, protect your heart, and even help prevent and ease cold and flu symptoms.

Apples are a nutritional powerhouse, packed with vitamins, minerals, and fiber! Eating apples can promote good digestive health, improve heart health, reduce the risk of stroke, and even help with weight loss. Plus, apples contain antioxidants which protect cells from damage and reduce the risk of chronic diseases like cancer and diabetes. Apples are also a great source of pectin, a type of fiber that helps to reduce cholesterol, regulate blood sugar levels, and keep your digestive system running smoothly. So grab an apple and enjoy all of the amazing benefits!

Blood oranges are a great source of Vitamin C, which helps to boost the immune system and fight off infection. They also contain potent antioxidants, which prevent certain types of cancer and reduce inflammation throughout the body. In addition, blood oranges contain folate and potassium, which can help control blood pressure and protect against heart disease. So, make sure to include blood oranges in your diet for their fantastic health benefits!

Elderberries are a natural immune booster packed with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. According to research, they may help reduce cold and flu symptoms, improve heart health, and even have anticancer effects. They’re definitely worth considering as a natural addition to your healthcare routine!

These are only some of the plenty of health benefits. Find more on our detailed health guide on the WeirdSmoothie blog. As with everything, you shouldn’t consume smoothies too excessively because, in the wrong dose, everything becomes unhealthy, even water!

Paracelsus: “There is nothing without poison; only the dose makes a thing non-poisonous.”

Ingredients – Anatomy of a Perfect Smoothie

Making a tasty smoothie is super easy—if you use good ingredients and blend them the right way. In addition to the base ingredients, we use blending and binding agents to create the perfect thickness and consistency.

Here are the base ingredients of a simple and healthy apple blood orange elderberry smoothie:

• Base Ingredient #1: Apple
• Base Ingredient #2: Blood orange
• Base Ingredient #3: Elderberry
• Blending Agent: Water

Now, this would be the base smoothie — nothing more is needed!

But now comes the fun part: Use variations of blending and binding agents to make your smoothie more interesting, healthy, and delicious!

Do you want to know the secret formula to your perfect smoothie? Here it is: 1 + 2 + 3 + 4.

1. Base Ingredients: Fruits or vegetables. For this recipe, apple, blood orange, and elderberry.
2. Blending Agents: Water, vegan milk alternatives (soy, almond, oat, pea), cow milk, coconut water, or other liquids
3. Binding Agents: Avocado, vegan yogurt alternatives (soy, almond, oat, pea), yogurt, nut butter (peanut, almond), or cottage cheese
4. Extras: Superfoods and toppings such as chia seeds, nuts, flaxseeds, herbs, cacao powder

Let’s dive into each of those next. The perfect smoothie starts with the perfect ingredients!

Use Organic Ingredients! They are free from synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. Many people believe these chemicals are harmful to our health, so eating organic foods can help reduce our exposure to them. Organic foods also tend to be fresher and less processed, so they can retain more natural vitamins and minerals.

1) Base Ingredients – Fruits and Vegetables

Creating smoothies with your family is an easy and fun way to get your daily dose of delicious and nutritious fruits and vegetables! These base ingredients provide a flavor base and serve as the building blocks for a healthy snack or meal. And why not get creative in the kitchen and let your loved ones pick out their favorite fruits and veggies for a smoothie that will make them happy?

Apple Blood Orange Elderberry Smoothie Flavors:

• Apples taste sweet and tart with a slightly floral aroma. They have a crispy, juicy texture and can range in flavor from tart Granny Smith apples to sweeter varieties such as Honeycrisp or Gala.
• The flavor of blood oranges can be described as a mix of navel oranges and raspberries, with a more floral and tart taste. Compared to regular oranges, they are often sweeter and less acidic.
• Elderberries are a unique and delicious balance of earthy and tart-like flavors, making them an excellent complement to both sweet and tart fruits. Reminiscent of a blend of blackberries and blueberries, they create a flavorful base for smoothies!

Yummy! This delicious and nutritious smoothie not only tastes great — it keeps you and your loved ones healthy, energetic, and radiant. Beauty and Health Benefits

2) Blending Agents – Liquids

Liquids are a crucial component of smoothies because they help to blend the other ingredients together and create a smooth, drinkable consistency. Without enough liquid, your smoothie will be too thick and difficult to drink.

Beware! Two of my blenders got destroyed because I tried to blend too many hard ingredients and the thickness broke the blender knives. If you’re looking for a high-powered blender, feel free to check out our ultimate blender guide.

The type of liquid you use in your smoothie can also affect its flavor and nutritional content, so choosing a liquid that will complement your other ingredients is important.

Here is a list of the eight most common blending agents for smoothies:

1. Water
2. Coconut water
3. Coconut milk
4. Almond milk
5. Soy milk
6. Oat milk (not gluten-free!)
7. Cow milk (not vegan or lactose-free!)
8. Juice

If you’re adventurous, you can also experiment with other liquids like tea or even coffee!

3) Binding Agents

Binding agents are the secret ingredient that makes smoothies smooth and creamy! These ingredients are high in fiber and help to combine the other ingredients in the smoothie, creating the desired smooth and thick consistency.

They also add volume to the smoothie, making it more filling and satisfying. Plus, binding agents add serious nutritional value to your smoothie, providing essential vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients.

So don’t skimp on the binding agents – they’re the key to a delicious and satisfying smoothie!

Here is a list of the eleven most common binding agents for smoothies:

1. Avocados
2. Peanut and almond butter
3. Plant-based yogurts
4. Milk-based yogurt (not vegan or lactose-free!)
5. Cottage cheese (not vegan or lactose-free!)
6. Frozen fruits
7. Oats (not gluten-free!)
8. Chia seeds
9. Flaxseeds
10. Psyllium husk
11. Protein powder

In addition to these ingredients, you can experiment with other binding agents, such as egg whites, cornstarch, or leafy greens.

4) Extras

Taste-enhancing ingredients like honey, maple syrup, dates, and vanilla extract can be added for sweetness. Spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, and ginger can also be added for extra flavor. Here’s a list of ideas:

• Nuts: Almonds, walnuts, cashews, pecans, macadamias, brazil nuts, chestnuts
• Seeds: Chia seeds, flaxseeds, hemp seeds
• Dry fruits: Dates, raisins, apricots, figs, prunes, goji berries
• Powder: Cacao, matcha, maca, coconut
• Natural Sweeteners: Honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar, agave nectar, date syrup
• Spices: Cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg, turmeric, cardamom, ginger

To make your smoothie look more appetizing, choose your preferred colorful toppings from this list, such as fruits, nuts, seeds, or granola. For example, drizzle honey or agave syrup, sprinkle with cinnamon or nutmeg, or add a swirl of nut butter or coconut cream plus a sprig of mint or a slice of lemon. Et voilà!

Recommended: Pimp Your Smoothie – Dr. Greger’s Daily Dozens

If you want to dive even deeper into the anatomy of a perfect smoothie, binding agents, blending agents, and all the secrets you want to know, feel free to check out our full guide on the WeirdSmoothie blog.

Should You Use Frozen Ingredients?

Here’s a little-known secret: Use at least one frozen ingredient in your smoothie recipe — or a handful of ice cubes — to make your smoothie thicker and give it a delicious chill!

There are many benefits of freezing your smoothie ingredients:

• Nutrition: Freezing your ingredients helps to preserve their nutritional content. Frozen fruits and vegetables retain vitamins and minerals longer than fruits that are not frozen.
• Antibacterial: Freezing food can reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses. Freezing kills many of the bacteria and organisms that cause food to spoil.
• Zero Preservatives: Frozen food is free from preservatives, i.e., it’s more natural!
• Shelf Life: Freezing can extend the shelf life of fruits and vegetables, so they stay fresh for months.
• Seasonality: You don’t have to go vitamin-free during winter but eat healthy (frozen) fruits and vegetables all year without excessive long-distance transportation.
• Plastic Waste: You can prepare zero-waste smoothies easily by purchasing raw ingredients, cutting them, and saving them in handy and reusable boxes. No plastic!
• Food Waste: Freezing food can reduce food waste. Fruits and vegetables can be frozen and blended later, rather than throwing out any leftovers.
• Convenience: The last thing you want to do is cut ingredients during a hectic day. Freezing food is super convenient and allows for easier meal preparation. Pre-frozen ingredients can make meals much faster to prepare.
• Money: You save money because you can purchase larger amounts of ingredients at a discount and have zero food waste.

You can either buy frozen fruits and veggies or cut them into handy portions and freeze them for future use.

Sustainability Tip: Freezing food could reduce global food waste by an astonishing 83%! Roughly one-third of food is thrown away worldwide, and 45% are fruits and vegetables. Freezing can largely eliminate this waste. (Martindale and Schiebel, British Food Journal 2017)

The following three apple blood orange elderberry smoothie recipe variations are sure to tantalize your taste buds. So what are you waiting for? Get your blender out and get ready for a refreshingly delicious start to your day!

Apple Blood Orange Elderberry Smoothie Recipe

YIELD: 2 Servings

PREP TIME: 5 Minutes

Our base recipe is easy, healthy, and oh-so-yummy. But if you’re looking for something to cool you down in the summer heat or warm you up on a cold winter day, we’ve got you covered with two season-inspired recipe variations.

---

Variation #1 – Base Smoothie

• 2 cored apples with peel
• 2 blood oranges, pitted and peeled
• 1 cup of fresh elderberries OR 2 tablespoons of elderberry syrup
• 2 cups of water
• (Optional) 1/2 a cup of unsweetened plant-based yogurt

Variation #2 – Refreshing Summer Smoothie

• 2 cored apples with peel
• 2 blood oranges, pitted and peeled
• 1 cup of fresh elderberries OR 2 tablespoons of elderberry syrup
• 2 cup of iced tea
• 1/2 cup of orange juice
• 2 tablespoons of dried goji berries
• 1/2 cup of vegan greek yogurt
• (Optional) 1/2 cup of ice cubes or crushed ice

Variation #3 – Cozy Winter Smoothie

• 2 cored apples with peel
• 2 blood oranges, pitted and peeled
• 1 cup of fresh elderberries OR 2 tablespoons of elderberry syrup
• 2 cups of hot tea
• 1/2 cup of plant-based yogurt
• 2 teaspoons of peanut butter
• 2 teaspoons of flaxseeds
• 1/2 cup of raw macadamias
• 1/2 teaspoon of ground nutmeg
• 2 teaspoons of maple syrup

Instructions

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
Pour into glasses and decorate with some leftover ingredients.
Serve and enjoy!

Tips

Add at least one frozen ingredient or a handful of ice cubes to make your smoothie extra creamy and thick!
Add more water to reduce the thickness of your smoothie!
See Problems and Solutions

Do you want to make this smoothie even healthier? Check out our amazing selection of healthy bowl ideas based on this smoothie. Scroll down or jump right in!

Are you looking for the best blender for your kitchen? Look no further! We have scoured the market to bring you an unbiased comparison of the top blenders available. Find out which blender will best meet your needs and budget.

Recommended Guide: The Ultimate Blender Showdown: Who Will Come Out on Top?

Apple Blood Orange Elderberry Smoothie Calories — A Not-So-Guilty Pleasure

A homemade apple blood orange elderberry smoothie typically has roughly 125 calories per serving (200 ml, one glass).

The amount of calories you need per day varies depending on your gender, age, height, weight, activity level, and overall health.

• The average woman needs about 2,000–2,400 calories per day to maintain her weight, and 1,500–1,800 calories per day to lose 1 pound (0.45 kg) of weight per week.
• The average man needs around 2,500 to 3,000 calories per day to maintain his weight, and 1,800-2,300 calories per day to lose 1 pound (0.45 kg) of weight per week.

Compare one large cup of the apple blood orange elderberry smoothie (125 calories) with one cappuccino (80 calories), one small serving of red wine (105 calories), and one 500 ml glass of beer (218 calories).

If you’re interested in shredding some pounds, feel free to check out our popular WeirdSmoothie guide on weight loss!

Apple Blood Orange Elderberry Smoothie Nutrition per 100 Grams

Nutrition information isn’t always accurate – we use generalized estimates!

Save Time and Money with These 10 Tricks

Costs: You can expect to pay roughly $2 USD for one cup of the basic apple blood orange elderberry smoothie. If you use advanced ingredients such as chia seeds and nuts, the cost of one glass will increase by another +$2 USD to $4 USD. Note that these are only rough estimates because the costs depend on your location and the quality of the ingredients.

Still too expensive? These ten tricks will help you save money and time:

1. Buy pre-cut frozen fruits or vegetables, saving you time on prep work.
2. Freeze fresh ingredients before they expire and spoil — even nuts retain their nutrients longer when refrigerated.
3. Buy in bulk so you can save money on each individual item.
4. Make large batches of smoothies so you only have to do the prep and clean up once.
5. Use a powerful blender to make a large batch at once.
6. Don’t try to be exact with the measurements. Rough guesses will do to save time and minimize clean-up!
7. Drink the smoothie directly out of the blender, so you don’t have to clean your glasses after. (Just kidding.)
8. Use water instead of milk to reduce the costs per cup significantly.
9. Use Greek yogurt instead of regular yogurt, as it has more protein and will fill you up faster.
10. Add nuts and seeds for more protein, which are cheaper than protein powder.

And don’t be penny-wise but pound-foolish! A healthy lifestyle will save you tens of thousands of dollars in direct health costs, add years to your life, and make you more productive in the time you have!

Sustainability Tip: Shop seasonally and regionally for fresh ingredients to save money! When on sale, stock up, wash, portion, and freeze for future use. Your wallet and the environment will thank you!

Want more sustainability tips? Sure, find them on the WeirdSmoothie blog!

Typical Mistakes and Problems

Problem: My smoothie is too thick.
Solution: Add more liquids or other blending agents.

Problem: My smoothie is too thin.
Solution: Add a binding agents to make it thicker, such as banana, avocado, nut butter, chia seeds, and frozen fruits.

Problem: My smoothie is too grainy.
Solution: Add more blending agents (liquids) and binding agents (e.g., avocados, bananas, and peanut butter) to make it creamier. If nothing works, you may need to buy a better blender or change the knives.

Problem: My smoothie is too smooth.
Solution: Congratulations. This is what it’s all about!

Problem: My smoothie is too bitter.
Solution: Add natural “sweeteners” such as bananas, dates, or honey.

Problem: My smoothie is too sweet.
Solution: Add lemon or lime juice, grapefruits, pomegranate, or plain yogurt to balance the sweetness.

Problem: I have leftovers.
Solution: Put it into the refrigerator and drink it within 24 hours to avoid losing too many nutrients. Or put it into the freezer and save it for up to three months. Your kids will love the smoothie ice cream.

Recommended Article: The Most Common Problems and Solutions When Creating Smoothies

The Perfect Apple Blood Orange Elderberry Smoothie Bowl For A Healthy Breakfast

When I sip a smoothie, it’s not as satisfying as a meal. Science backs this up: Chewing releases saliva that helps break down food, so no smoothie can replace a proper meal.

You can use the apple blood orange elderberry smoothie as a basis for your innovative apple blood orange elderberry smoothie bowl!

Follow the apple blood orange elderberry smoothie recipe as outlined before. Then add your favorite unblended ingredients such as nuts, seeds, and peanut butter. Sprinkle in some oatmeal or healthy muesli. Superfoods such as berries, chia seeds, or flaxseeds are a perfect addition. Ta-da! Your apple blood orange elderberry smoothie bowl!

Do you need more inspiration? Choose your favorites or be adventurous:

• Nuts and nut butter: Almonds, walnuts, cashews, pecans, macadamias, brazil nuts, chestnuts
• Seeds: Chia seeds, flaxseeds, hemp seeds, psyllium husk
• Dry fruits: Dates, raisins, apricots, figs, prunes, goji berries
• Sliced fresh fruits: bananas, berries, pineapple, mango
• Powder: Cacao, matcha, maca, coconut
• Natural Sweeteners: Honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar, agave nectar, date syrup
• Spices: Cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg, turmeric, cardamom, ginger
• Muesli: Oats, Cornflakes, Granola, Cereal

Recommended Article: Secrets of Creating Delicious and Healthy Smoothie Bowls

More Smoothie Recipes You May Like

If you liked this recipe, you’ll love our other delicious — and, yes, sometimes weird — smoothies:

• Apricot Lingonberry Raspberry Smoothie
• Cucumber Fig Smoothie
• Grapefruit Kiwi Lettuce Smoothie
• Lime Peach Smoothie
• Avocado Cucumber Smoothie
• Apple Watermelon Smoothie
• Avocado Ginger Smoothie
• Dragon Fruit Watermelon Smoothie
• Beet Blackberry Cucumber Smoothie
• Apricot Pear Smoothie

Sip Your Way to a Better Health — Nine Benefits of Smoothies

Thanks and Bye!

Drinking the Banana Cacao Smoothie is fun, but cleaning it up—not so much. Anyways, thanks for checking out our weird smoothie recipe. I hope to see you around soon to check out one of our weird smoothie recipes!

You’ll also get tips to upgrade your blood orange celery elderberry smoothie to a healthy breakfast bowl by sprinkling superfoods into it – This keeps you and your loved ones energetic and fresh throughout the day.

Ready? Let’s get started!

Do you want to know more about the ingredients and health benefits? Keep reading!

Prepare To Fall Head Over Heels For This Blood Orange Celery Elderberry Smoothie!

Why should you try the blood orange celery elderberry smoothie?

(1) Because it works with most diets (vegan and more)! Diets

(2) Because it keeps you healthy and beautiful! Beauty and Health Benefits

(3) Because it only needs 3 ingredients! Ingredients

(4) Because it only takes 5 minutes to make! Recipe

(5) Because one cup has only 91 calories and is packed with vital nutrients! Calories and Nutrition Table

(6) Because it’s easily affordable! Save Money

(7) Because you can pimp it with superfoods and use it as a healthy baseline for our delicious breakfast bowls! Bowls

So why not?

Which Diets Apply to the Blood Orange Celery Elderberry Smoothie?

The following diets apply to the basic blood orange celery elderberry smoothie recipe of just blood orange, celery, and elderberry, and water:

Do you want to learn more about these and other diets? Feel free to dive into our full guide on the WeirdSmoothie blog — it’s super informative!

Recommended Guide: An Overview of Dietary Plans

As you can see, the blood orange celery elderberry smoothie adheres to the principles of many popular dietary plans.

Why should you care about any of those? Here are the seven top benefits of choosing a healthy diet:

1. Improved Energy Levels: Eating a healthy diet can give you the energy to stay productive and alert throughout the day.
2. Weight Management: Eating healthily can help you get your dream weight.
3. Improved Mood: A balanced diet helps to keep your hormones in check, improving your mood and reducing stress.
4. Reduced Risk of Chronic Diseases: Eating a healthy diet can reduce your risk of developing chronic diseases like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.
5. Improved Digestive Health: It can improve your digestion and help prevent digestive problems like constipation, diarrhea, and heartburn.
6. Improved Immune Function: A healthy diet can boost your immune system, making you less susceptible to illnesses.
7. Improved Heart Health: Lastly, it can reduce cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and other risk factors for heart disease.

Below, I’ll give you some variants that may influence these dietary considerations. But now let’s dive right into the health benefits, specifically, of the blood orange celery elderberry smoothie:

Say Goodbye To Dull Skin With This Deliciously Nutritious Smoothie!

Unlock your inner radiance with the blood orange celery elderberry smoothie! Enjoy a healthier life today by sipping on this nutritious blend. In particular, here are the beauty benefits of the blood orange celery elderberry smoothie:

Blood oranges are a delicious treat that provide fantastic beauty benefits! Packed with antioxidants, lycopene, and Vitamin C, they help protect the skin from environmental damage and reduce inflammation, brightening skin tone and fighting off wrinkles for a youthful glow. Enjoy the taste and beauty benefits of this sweet treat!

Celery is an excellent source of hydrating electrolytes and is a powerful anti-inflammatory agent. It is rich in Vitamin A which helps to improve skin tone and texture making it look more youthful, and its detoxifying properties help to clear the complexion. Additionally, celery helps to reduce inflammation and bacterial growth to help fight acne breakouts, providing a range of beauty benefits.

Elderberries are a wealthy source of skincare benefits. Packed with antioxidants and flavonoids, elderberries can help protect your skin from damage caused by free radicals, reduce the appearance of wrinkles and soothe and calm sensitive skin. Plus, they contain vitamin A to nourish and moisturize. With all these wonderful features, it’s no wonder elderberries are a popular choice for skincare products. Try adding elderberries to your diet for healthier, brighter skin!

Health Benefits

In a Nutshell: The blood orange celery elderberry smoothie has multiple health benefits. Blood oranges can provide a range of health benefits, including improved heart health, increased immunity, and reduced inflammation. Celery can reduce inflammation, cleanse the liver, lower blood pressure, and provide essential vitamins and minerals for optimal health. Elderberries are rich in antioxidants and vitamins that can boost your immune system, tame inflammation, lessen stress, protect your heart, and even help prevent and ease cold and flu symptoms.

Blood oranges are a great source of Vitamin C, which helps to boost the immune system and fight off infection. They also contain potent antioxidants, which prevent certain types of cancer and reduce inflammation throughout the body. In addition, blood oranges contain folate and potassium, which can help control blood pressure and protect against heart disease. So, make sure to include blood oranges in your diet for their fantastic health benefits!

Celery has been hailed as a wonder vegetable with a long list of impressive health benefits, and drinking a celery smoothie is a great way to incorporate it into your diet! Not only is celery low in calories and high in essential vitamins and minerals, it’s also packed with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, making it an ideal choice for a healthy, revitalizing beverage. One of the most significant benefits of celery smoothies is that they can help promote weight loss. Not only is celery low in calories, it also helps to boost your metabolism. In addition, celery also contains fiber, which helps to keep you fuller for longer and prevent cravings.

Elderberries are a natural immune booster packed with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. According to research, they may help reduce cold and flu symptoms, improve heart health, and even have anticancer effects. They’re definitely worth considering as a natural addition to your healthcare routine!

These are only some of the plenty of health benefits. Find more on our detailed health guide on the WeirdSmoothie blog. As with everything, you shouldn’t consume smoothies too excessively because, in the wrong dose, everything becomes unhealthy, even water!

Paracelsus: “There is nothing without poison; only the dose makes a thing non-poisonous.”

Ingredients – Anatomy of a Perfect Smoothie

Making a tasty smoothie is super easy—if you use good ingredients and blend them the right way. In addition to the base ingredients, we use blending and binding agents to create the perfect thickness and consistency.

Here are the base ingredients of a simple and healthy blood orange celery elderberry smoothie:

• Base Ingredient #1: Blood orange
• Base Ingredient #2: Celery
• Base Ingredient #3: Elderberry
• Blending Agent: Water

Now, this would be the base smoothie — nothing more is needed!

But now comes the fun part: Use variations of blending and binding agents to make your smoothie more interesting, healthy, and delicious!

Do you want to know the secret formula to your perfect smoothie? Here it is: 1 + 2 + 3 + 4.

1. Base Ingredients: Fruits or vegetables. For this recipe, blood orange, celery, and elderberry.
2. Blending Agents: Water, vegan milk alternatives (soy, almond, oat, pea), cow milk, coconut water, or other liquids
3. Binding Agents: Avocado, vegan yogurt alternatives (soy, almond, oat, pea), yogurt, nut butter (peanut, almond), or cottage cheese
4. Extras: Superfoods and toppings such as chia seeds, nuts, flaxseeds, herbs, cacao powder

Let’s dive into each of those next. The perfect smoothie starts with the perfect ingredients!

Use Organic Ingredients! They are free from synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. Many people believe these chemicals are harmful to our health, so eating organic foods can help reduce our exposure to them. Organic foods also tend to be fresher and less processed, so they can retain more natural vitamins and minerals.

1) Base Ingredients – Fruits and Vegetables

Creating smoothies with your family is an easy and fun way to get your daily dose of delicious and nutritious fruits and vegetables! These base ingredients provide a flavor base and serve as the building blocks for a healthy snack or meal. And why not get creative in the kitchen and let your loved ones pick out their favorite fruits and veggies for a smoothie that will make them happy?

Blood Orange Celery Elderberry Smoothie Flavors:

• The flavor of blood oranges can be described as a mix of navel oranges and raspberries, with a more floral and tart taste. Compared to regular oranges, they are often sweeter and less acidic.
• Celery is a fragrant and mild-tasting vegetable, with earthy-grassy leaves that may range from bitter to bland in flavor. Stalks are grassy with a hint of salt, and the best of them may even be slightly sweet.
• Elderberries are a unique and delicious balance of earthy and tart-like flavors, making them an excellent complement to both sweet and tart fruits. Reminiscent of a blend of blackberries and blueberries, they create a flavorful base for smoothies!

Yummy! This delicious and nutritious smoothie not only tastes great — it keeps you and your loved ones healthy, energetic, and radiant. Beauty and Health Benefits

2) Blending Agents – Liquids

Liquids are a crucial component of smoothies because they help to blend the other ingredients together and create a smooth, drinkable consistency. Without enough liquid, your smoothie will be too thick and difficult to drink.

Beware! Two of my blenders got destroyed because I tried to blend too many hard ingredients and the thickness broke the blender knives. If you’re looking for a high-powered blender, feel free to check out our ultimate blender guide.

The type of liquid you use in your smoothie can also affect its flavor and nutritional content, so choosing a liquid that will complement your other ingredients is important.

Here is a list of the eight most common blending agents for smoothies:

1. Water
2. Coconut water
3. Coconut milk
4. Almond milk
5. Soy milk
6. Oat milk (not gluten-free!)
7. Cow milk (not vegan or lactose-free!)
8. Juice

If you’re adventurous, you can also experiment with other liquids like tea or even coffee!

3) Binding Agents

Binding agents are the secret ingredient that makes smoothies smooth and creamy! These ingredients are high in fiber and help to combine the other ingredients in the smoothie, creating the desired smooth and thick consistency.

They also add volume to the smoothie, making it more filling and satisfying. Plus, binding agents add serious nutritional value to your smoothie, providing essential vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients.

So don’t skimp on the binding agents – they’re the key to a delicious and satisfying smoothie!

Here is a list of the eleven most common binding agents for smoothies:

1. Avocados
2. Peanut and almond butter
3. Plant-based yogurts
4. Milk-based yogurt (not vegan or lactose-free!)
5. Cottage cheese (not vegan or lactose-free!)
6. Frozen fruits
7. Oats (not gluten-free!)
8. Chia seeds
9. Flaxseeds
10. Psyllium husk
11. Protein powder

In addition to these ingredients, you can experiment with other binding agents, such as egg whites, cornstarch, or leafy greens.

4) Extras

Taste-enhancing ingredients like honey, maple syrup, dates, and vanilla extract can be added for sweetness. Spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, and ginger can also be added for extra flavor. Here’s a list of ideas:

• Nuts: Almonds, walnuts, cashews, pecans, macadamias, brazil nuts, chestnuts
• Seeds: Chia seeds, flaxseeds, hemp seeds
• Dry fruits: Dates, raisins, apricots, figs, prunes, goji berries
• Powder: Cacao, matcha, maca, coconut
• Natural Sweeteners: Honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar, agave nectar, date syrup
• Spices: Cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg, turmeric, cardamom, ginger

To make your smoothie look more appetizing, choose your preferred colorful toppings from this list, such as fruits, nuts, seeds, or granola. For example, drizzle honey or agave syrup, sprinkle with cinnamon or nutmeg, or add a swirl of nut butter or coconut cream plus a sprig of mint or a slice of lemon. Et voilà!

Recommended: Pimp Your Smoothie – Dr. Greger’s Daily Dozens

If you want to dive even deeper into the anatomy of a perfect smoothie, binding agents, blending agents, and all the secrets you want to know, feel free to check out our full guide on the WeirdSmoothie blog.

Should You Use Frozen Ingredients?

Here’s a little-known secret: Use at least one frozen ingredient in your smoothie recipe — or a handful of ice cubes — to make your smoothie thicker and give it a delicious chill!

There are many benefits of freezing your smoothie ingredients:

• Nutrition: Freezing your ingredients helps to preserve their nutritional content. Frozen fruits and vegetables retain vitamins and minerals longer than fruits that are not frozen.
• Antibacterial: Freezing food can reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses. Freezing kills many of the bacteria and organisms that cause food to spoil.
• Zero Preservatives: Frozen food is free from preservatives, i.e., it’s more natural!
• Shelf Life: Freezing can extend the shelf life of fruits and vegetables, so they stay fresh for months.
• Seasonality: You don’t have to go vitamin-free during winter but eat healthy (frozen) fruits and vegetables all year without excessive long-distance transportation.
• Plastic Waste: You can prepare zero-waste smoothies easily by purchasing raw ingredients, cutting them, and saving them in handy and reusable boxes. No plastic!
• Food Waste: Freezing food can reduce food waste. Fruits and vegetables can be frozen and blended later, rather than throwing out any leftovers.
• Convenience: The last thing you want to do is cut ingredients during a hectic day. Freezing food is super convenient and allows for easier meal preparation. Pre-frozen ingredients can make meals much faster to prepare.
• Money: You save money because you can purchase larger amounts of ingredients at a discount and have zero food waste.

You can either buy frozen fruits and veggies or cut them into handy portions and freeze them for future use.

Sustainability Tip: Freezing food could reduce global food waste by an astonishing 83%! Roughly one-third of food is thrown away worldwide, and 45% are fruits and vegetables. Freezing can largely eliminate this waste. (Martindale and Schiebel, British Food Journal 2017)

The following three blood orange celery elderberry smoothie recipe variations are sure to tantalize your taste buds. So what are you waiting for? Get your blender out and get ready for a refreshingly delicious start to your day!

Blood Orange Celery Elderberry Smoothie Recipe

YIELD: 2 Servings

PREP TIME: 5 Minutes

Our base recipe is easy, healthy, and oh-so-yummy. But if you’re looking for something to cool you down in the summer heat or warm you up on a cold winter day, we’ve got you covered with two season-inspired recipe variations.

---

Variation #1 – Base Smoothie

• 2 blood oranges, pitted and peeled
• 1 cup chopped celery
• 1 cup of fresh elderberries OR 2 tablespoons of elderberry syrup
• 2 cups of water
• (Optional) 1/2 a cup of unsweetened plant-based yogurt

Variation #2 – Refreshing Summer Smoothie

• 2 blood oranges, pitted and peeled
• 1 cup chopped celery
• 1 cup of fresh elderberries OR 2 tablespoons of elderberry syrup
• 2 cup of iced tea
• 1/2 cup of orange juice
• 2 tablespoons of dried goji berries
• 1/2 cup of vegan greek yogurt
• (Optional) 1/2 cup of ice cubes or crushed ice

Variation #3 – Cozy Winter Smoothie

• 2 blood oranges, pitted and peeled
• 1 cup chopped celery
• 1 cup of fresh elderberries OR 2 tablespoons of elderberry syrup
• 2 cups of warm unsweetened almond milk
• 1/2 cup of plant-based yogurt
• 2 teaspoons of peanut butter
• 2 teaspoons of chia seeds
• 1/2 cup of pitted dates
• 1/2 teaspoon of ground nutmeg
• 2 teaspoons of maple syrup

Instructions

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
Pour into glasses and decorate with some leftover ingredients.
Serve and enjoy!

Tips

Add at least one frozen ingredient or a handful of ice cubes to make your smoothie extra creamy and thick!
Add more water to reduce the thickness of your smoothie!
See Problems and Solutions

Do you want to make this smoothie even healthier? Check out our amazing selection of healthy bowl ideas based on this smoothie. Scroll down or jump right in!

Are you looking for the best blender for your kitchen? Look no further! We have scoured the market to bring you an unbiased comparison of the top blenders available. Find out which blender will best meet your needs and budget.

Recommended Guide: The Ultimate Blender Showdown: Who Will Come Out on Top?

Blood Orange Celery Elderberry Smoothie Calories — A Not-So-Guilty Pleasure

A homemade blood orange celery elderberry smoothie typically has roughly 91 calories per serving (200 ml, one glass).

The amount of calories you need per day varies depending on your gender, age, height, weight, activity level, and overall health.

• The average woman needs about 2,000–2,400 calories per day to maintain her weight, and 1,500–1,800 calories per day to lose 1 pound (0.45 kg) of weight per week.
• The average man needs around 2,500 to 3,000 calories per day to maintain his weight, and 1,800-2,300 calories per day to lose 1 pound (0.45 kg) of weight per week.

Compare one large cup of the blood orange celery elderberry smoothie (91 calories) with one cappuccino (80 calories), one small serving of red wine (105 calories), and one 500 ml glass of beer (218 calories).

If you’re interested in shredding some pounds, feel free to check out our popular WeirdSmoothie guide on weight loss!

Blood Orange Celery Elderberry Smoothie Nutrition per 100 Grams

Nutrition information isn’t always accurate – we use generalized estimates!

Save Time and Money with These 10 Tricks

Costs: You can expect to pay roughly $2 USD for one cup of the basic blood orange celery elderberry smoothie. If you use advanced ingredients such as chia seeds and nuts, the cost of one glass will increase by another +$2 USD to $4 USD. Note that these are only rough estimates because the costs depend on your location and the quality of the ingredients.

Still too expensive? These ten tricks will help you save money and time:

1. Buy pre-cut frozen fruits or vegetables, saving you time on prep work.
2. Freeze fresh ingredients before they expire and spoil — even nuts retain their nutrients longer when refrigerated.
3. Buy in bulk so you can save money on each individual item.
4. Make large batches of smoothies so you only have to do the prep and clean up once.
5. Use a powerful blender to make a large batch at once.
6. Don’t try to be exact with the measurements. Rough guesses will do to save time and minimize clean-up!
7. Drink the smoothie directly out of the blender, so you don’t have to clean your glasses after. (Just kidding.)
8. Use water instead of milk to reduce the costs per cup significantly.
9. Use Greek yogurt instead of regular yogurt, as it has more protein and will fill you up faster.
10. Add nuts and seeds for more protein, which are cheaper than protein powder.

And don’t be penny-wise but pound-foolish! A healthy lifestyle will save you tens of thousands of dollars in direct health costs, add years to your life, and make you more productive in the time you have!

Sustainability Tip: Shop seasonally and regionally for fresh ingredients to save money! When on sale, stock up, wash, portion, and freeze for future use. Your wallet and the environment will thank you!

Want more sustainability tips? Sure, find them on the WeirdSmoothie blog!

Typical Mistakes and Problems

Problem: My smoothie is too thick.
Solution: Add more liquids or other blending agents.

Problem: My smoothie is too thin.
Solution: Add a binding agents to make it thicker, such as banana, avocado, nut butter, chia seeds, and frozen fruits.

Problem: My smoothie is too grainy.
Solution: Add more blending agents (liquids) and binding agents (e.g., avocados, bananas, and peanut butter) to make it creamier. If nothing works, you may need to buy a better blender or change the knives.

Problem: My smoothie is too smooth.
Solution: Congratulations. This is what it’s all about!

Problem: My smoothie is too bitter.
Solution: Add natural “sweeteners” such as bananas, dates, or honey.

Problem: My smoothie is too sweet.
Solution: Add lemon or lime juice, grapefruits, pomegranate, or plain yogurt to balance the sweetness.

Problem: I have leftovers.
Solution: Put it into the refrigerator and drink it within 24 hours to avoid losing too many nutrients. Or put it into the freezer and save it for up to three months. Your kids will love the smoothie ice cream.

Recommended Article: The Most Common Problems and Solutions When Creating Smoothies

Wake Up To A Refreshing Blood Orange Celery Elderberry Smoothie Bowl

When I sip a smoothie, it’s not as satisfying as a meal. Science backs this up: Chewing releases saliva that helps break down food, so no smoothie can replace a proper meal.

You can use the blood orange celery elderberry smoothie as a basis for your innovative blood orange celery elderberry smoothie bowl!

Follow the blood orange celery elderberry smoothie recipe as outlined before. Then add your favorite unblended ingredients such as nuts, seeds, and peanut butter. Sprinkle in some oatmeal or healthy muesli. Superfoods such as berries, chia seeds, or flaxseeds are a perfect addition. Ta-da! Your blood orange celery elderberry smoothie bowl!

Do you need more inspiration? Choose your favorites or be adventurous:

• Nuts and nut butter: Almonds, walnuts, cashews, pecans, macadamias, brazil nuts, chestnuts
• Seeds: Chia seeds, flaxseeds, hemp seeds, psyllium husk
• Dry fruits: Dates, raisins, apricots, figs, prunes, goji berries
• Sliced fresh fruits: bananas, berries, pineapple, mango
• Powder: Cacao, matcha, maca, coconut
• Natural Sweeteners: Honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar, agave nectar, date syrup
• Spices: Cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg, turmeric, cardamom, ginger
• Muesli: Oats, Cornflakes, Granola, Cereal

Recommended Article: Secrets of Creating Delicious and Healthy Smoothie Bowls

More Smoothie Recipes You May Like

If you liked this recipe, you’ll love our other delicious — and, yes, sometimes weird — smoothies:

• Kumquat Lime Papaya Smoothie
• Avocado Kale Pineapple Smoothie
• Dragon Fruit Mango Smoothie
• Bell Pepper Spinach Smoothie
• Cucumber Kiwi Smoothie
• Peach Pineapple Smoothie
• Kiwi Lime Smoothie
• Cherry Nectarine Smoothie
• Coconut Passion Fruit Smoothie
• Celery Lingonberry Smoothie

Sip Your Way to a Better Health — Nine Benefits of Smoothies

Thanks and Bye!

Drinking the Banana Cacao Smoothie is fun, but cleaning it up—not so much. Anyways, thanks for checking out our weird smoothie recipe. I hope to see you around soon to check out one of our weird smoothie recipes!

You’ll also get tips to upgrade your avocado elderberry kale smoothie to a healthy breakfast bowl by sprinkling superfoods into it – This keeps you and your loved ones energetic and fresh throughout the day.

Ready? Let’s get started!

Do you want to know more about the ingredients and health benefits? Keep reading!

Your Taste Buds Are Going To Love The Avocado Elderberry Kale Smoothie!

Why should you try the avocado elderberry kale smoothie?

(1) Because it works with most diets (vegan and more)! Diets

(2) Because it keeps you healthy and beautiful! Beauty and Health Benefits

(3) Because it only needs 3 ingredients! Ingredients

(4) Because it only takes 5 minutes to make! Recipe

(5) Because one cup has only 185 calories and is packed with vital nutrients! Calories and Nutrition Table

(6) Because it’s easily affordable! Save Money

(7) Because you can pimp it with superfoods and use it as a healthy baseline for our delicious breakfast bowls! Bowls

So why not?

Which Diets Apply to the Avocado Elderberry Kale Smoothie?

The following diets apply to the basic avocado elderberry kale smoothie recipe of just avocado, elderberry, and kale, and water:

Do you want to learn more about these and other diets? Feel free to dive into our full guide on the WeirdSmoothie blog — it’s super informative!

Recommended Guide: An Overview of Dietary Plans

As you can see, the avocado elderberry kale smoothie adheres to the principles of many popular dietary plans.

Why should you care about any of those? Here are the seven top benefits of choosing a healthy diet:

1. Improved Energy Levels: Eating a healthy diet can give you the energy to stay productive and alert throughout the day.
2. Weight Management: Eating healthily can help you get your dream weight.
3. Improved Mood: A balanced diet helps to keep your hormones in check, improving your mood and reducing stress.
4. Reduced Risk of Chronic Diseases: Eating a healthy diet can reduce your risk of developing chronic diseases like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.
5. Improved Digestive Health: It can improve your digestion and help prevent digestive problems like constipation, diarrhea, and heartburn.
6. Improved Immune Function: A healthy diet can boost your immune system, making you less susceptible to illnesses.
7. Improved Heart Health: Lastly, it can reduce cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and other risk factors for heart disease.

Below, I’ll give you some variants that may influence these dietary considerations. But now let’s dive right into the health benefits, specifically, of the avocado elderberry kale smoothie:

The Natural Way To Get That Healthy Glow!

Unlock your inner radiance with the avocado elderberry kale smoothie! Enjoy a healthier life today by sipping on this nutritious blend. In particular, here are the beauty benefits of the avocado elderberry kale smoothie:

Avocado is one of nature’s marvels and can do wonders for your beauty routine too! Packed with essential vitamins, minerals, healthy fats, and antioxidants, drinking avocado can help keep your skin looking healthy and vibrant. It keeps your skin hydrated and reduces inflammation and the appearance of wrinkles. Plus, it’s loaded with healthy fats to nourish your hair and nails. So if you’re looking for a natural way to boost your beauty routine, grab an avocado and start sipping—your skin will thank you!

Elderberries are a wealthy source of skincare benefits. Packed with antioxidants and flavonoids, elderberries can help protect your skin from damage caused by free radicals, reduce the appearance of wrinkles and soothe and calm sensitive skin. Plus, they contain vitamin A to nourish and moisturize. With all these wonderful features, it’s no wonder elderberries are a popular choice for skincare products. Try adding elderberries to your diet for healthier, brighter skin!

Kale is more than just a delicious addition to your diet – it can also help you look healthy and radiant. Kale is rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, which help protect the skin from damage by pollution and UV radiation. Its omega-3 fatty acids moisturize and nourish the skin from within. It is also rich in vitamins A, C, and E, making your complexion smooth and glowing. Plus, its high vitamin K levels reduce dark circles and under-eye bags, giving you a brighter and more youthful appearance.

Health Benefits

In a Nutshell: The avocado elderberry kale smoothie has multiple health benefits. Drinking avocado can help improve overall health by providing essential vitamins and minerals, as well as healthy fats that can help lower cholesterol and blood pressure. Elderberries are rich in antioxidants and vitamins that can boost your immune system, tame inflammation, lessen stress, protect your heart, and even help prevent and ease cold and flu symptoms. Kale is one of the most nutritious leafy greens available: It is a great choice for weight management, blood sugar control, and heart health.

Avocado is a superfood full of health benefits that can help you stay on top of your well-being! This creamy, green fruit is packed with essential vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin K, folate, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and potassium. It’s also high in healthy fats which help to keep your heart healthy and your cholesterol in check. Plus, avocado has been shown to help reduce inflammation, aid in digestion, and protect against certain types of cancers. With all these amazing benefits, it’s no wonder why avocado has become a staple in many healthy diets. So, make sure to include this nutritious powerhouse in your meals and drinks to help your body stay healthy and happy!

Elderberries are a natural immune booster packed with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. According to research, they may help reduce cold and flu symptoms, improve heart health, and even have anticancer effects. They’re definitely worth considering as a natural addition to your healthcare routine!

Kale is a superfood that’s packed with nutrients and has numerous health benefits. It’s high in vitamins C and K, and a good source of vitamins A and B6. Its antioxidants and fiber can help reduce the risk of chronic diseases and support healthy digestion. Plus, kale is low in calories and has a low glycemic index, making it a great choice for weight management and blood sugar control. In short, kale is a healthy and delicious addition to any diet.

These are only some of the plenty of health benefits. Find more on our detailed health guide on the WeirdSmoothie blog. As with everything, you shouldn’t consume smoothies too excessively because, in the wrong dose, everything becomes unhealthy, even water!

Paracelsus: “There is nothing without poison; only the dose makes a thing non-poisonous.”

Ingredients – Anatomy of a Perfect Smoothie

Making a tasty smoothie is super easy—if you use good ingredients and blend them the right way. In addition to the base ingredients, we use blending and binding agents to create the perfect thickness and consistency.

Here are the base ingredients of a simple and healthy avocado elderberry kale smoothie:

• Base Ingredient #1: Avocado
• Base Ingredient #2: Elderberry
• Base Ingredient #3: Kale
• Blending Agent: Water

Now, this would be the base smoothie — nothing more is needed!

But now comes the fun part: Use variations of blending and binding agents to make your smoothie more interesting, healthy, and delicious!

Do you want to know the secret formula to your perfect smoothie? Here it is: 1 + 2 + 3 + 4.

1. Base Ingredients: Fruits or vegetables. For this recipe, avocado, elderberry, and kale.
2. Blending Agents: Water, vegan milk alternatives (soy, almond, oat, pea), cow milk, coconut water, or other liquids
3. Binding Agents: Avocado, vegan yogurt alternatives (soy, almond, oat, pea), yogurt, nut butter (peanut, almond), or cottage cheese
4. Extras: Superfoods and toppings such as chia seeds, nuts, flaxseeds, herbs, cacao powder

Let’s dive into each of those next. The perfect smoothie starts with the perfect ingredients!

Use Organic Ingredients! They are free from synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. Many people believe these chemicals are harmful to our health, so eating organic foods can help reduce our exposure to them. Organic foods also tend to be fresher and less processed, so they can retain more natural vitamins and minerals.

1) Base Ingredients – Fruits and Vegetables

Creating smoothies with your family is an easy and fun way to get your daily dose of delicious and nutritious fruits and vegetables! These base ingredients provide a flavor base and serve as the building blocks for a healthy snack or meal. And why not get creative in the kitchen and let your loved ones pick out their favorite fruits and veggies for a smoothie that will make them happy?

Avocado Elderberry Kale Smoothie Flavors:

• Avocado has a creamy, buttery flavor with a hint of nuttiness, making it an ideal addition to any dish. It has a unique, distinct taste that is a perfect balance of savory and sweet, making it a crowd-pleasing favorite.
• Elderberries are a unique and delicious balance of earthy and tart-like flavors, making them an excellent complement to both sweet and tart fruits. Reminiscent of a blend of blackberries and blueberries, they create a flavorful base for smoothies!
• Kale has a robust and distinct flavor, making it a popular choice among vegetable lovers. Its leaves are crunchy and dry and have a slightly bitter and earthy flavor. Young kale has softer, thinner leaves with a mild taste. This hearty green is an excellent alternative to spicy arugula, providing a unique and flavorful experience.

Yummy! This delicious and nutritious smoothie not only tastes great — it keeps you and your loved ones healthy, energetic, and radiant. Beauty and Health Benefits

2) Blending Agents – Liquids

Liquids are a crucial component of smoothies because they help to blend the other ingredients together and create a smooth, drinkable consistency. Without enough liquid, your smoothie will be too thick and difficult to drink.

Beware! Two of my blenders got destroyed because I tried to blend too many hard ingredients and the thickness broke the blender knives. If you’re looking for a high-powered blender, feel free to check out our ultimate blender guide.

The type of liquid you use in your smoothie can also affect its flavor and nutritional content, so choosing a liquid that will complement your other ingredients is important.

Here is a list of the eight most common blending agents for smoothies:

1. Water
2. Coconut water
3. Coconut milk
4. Almond milk
5. Soy milk
6. Oat milk (not gluten-free!)
7. Cow milk (not vegan or lactose-free!)
8. Juice

If you’re adventurous, you can also experiment with other liquids like tea or even coffee!

3) Binding Agents

Binding agents are the secret ingredient that makes smoothies smooth and creamy! These ingredients are high in fiber and help to combine the other ingredients in the smoothie, creating the desired smooth and thick consistency.

They also add volume to the smoothie, making it more filling and satisfying. Plus, binding agents add serious nutritional value to your smoothie, providing essential vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients.

So don’t skimp on the binding agents – they’re the key to a delicious and satisfying smoothie!

Here is a list of the eleven most common binding agents for smoothies:

1. Avocados
2. Peanut and almond butter
3. Plant-based yogurts
4. Milk-based yogurt (not vegan or lactose-free!)
5. Cottage cheese (not vegan or lactose-free!)
6. Frozen fruits
7. Oats (not gluten-free!)
8. Chia seeds
9. Flaxseeds
10. Psyllium husk
11. Protein powder

In addition to these ingredients, you can experiment with other binding agents, such as egg whites, cornstarch, or leafy greens.

4) Extras

Taste-enhancing ingredients like honey, maple syrup, dates, and vanilla extract can be added for sweetness. Spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, and ginger can also be added for extra flavor. Here’s a list of ideas:

• Nuts: Almonds, walnuts, cashews, pecans, macadamias, brazil nuts, chestnuts
• Seeds: Chia seeds, flaxseeds, hemp seeds
• Dry fruits: Dates, raisins, apricots, figs, prunes, goji berries
• Powder: Cacao, matcha, maca, coconut
• Natural Sweeteners: Honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar, agave nectar, date syrup
• Spices: Cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg, turmeric, cardamom, ginger

To make your smoothie look more appetizing, choose your preferred colorful toppings from this list, such as fruits, nuts, seeds, or granola. For example, drizzle honey or agave syrup, sprinkle with cinnamon or nutmeg, or add a swirl of nut butter or coconut cream plus a sprig of mint or a slice of lemon. Et voilà!

Recommended: Pimp Your Smoothie – Dr. Greger’s Daily Dozens

If you want to dive even deeper into the anatomy of a perfect smoothie, binding agents, blending agents, and all the secrets you want to know, feel free to check out our full guide on the WeirdSmoothie blog.

Should You Use Frozen Ingredients?

Here’s a little-known secret: Use at least one frozen ingredient in your smoothie recipe — or a handful of ice cubes — to make your smoothie thicker and give it a delicious chill!

There are many benefits of freezing your smoothie ingredients:

• Nutrition: Freezing your ingredients helps to preserve their nutritional content. Frozen fruits and vegetables retain vitamins and minerals longer than fruits that are not frozen.
• Antibacterial: Freezing food can reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses. Freezing kills many of the bacteria and organisms that cause food to spoil.
• Zero Preservatives: Frozen food is free from preservatives, i.e., it’s more natural!
• Shelf Life: Freezing can extend the shelf life of fruits and vegetables, so they stay fresh for months.
• Seasonality: You don’t have to go vitamin-free during winter but eat healthy (frozen) fruits and vegetables all year without excessive long-distance transportation.
• Plastic Waste: You can prepare zero-waste smoothies easily by purchasing raw ingredients, cutting them, and saving them in handy and reusable boxes. No plastic!
• Food Waste: Freezing food can reduce food waste. Fruits and vegetables can be frozen and blended later, rather than throwing out any leftovers.
• Convenience: The last thing you want to do is cut ingredients during a hectic day. Freezing food is super convenient and allows for easier meal preparation. Pre-frozen ingredients can make meals much faster to prepare.
• Money: You save money because you can purchase larger amounts of ingredients at a discount and have zero food waste.

You can either buy frozen fruits and veggies or cut them into handy portions and freeze them for future use.

Sustainability Tip: Freezing food could reduce global food waste by an astonishing 83%! Roughly one-third of food is thrown away worldwide, and 45% are fruits and vegetables. Freezing can largely eliminate this waste. (Martindale and Schiebel, British Food Journal 2017)

The following three avocado elderberry kale smoothie recipe variations are sure to tantalize your taste buds. So what are you waiting for? Get your blender out and get ready for a refreshingly delicious start to your day!

Avocado Elderberry Kale Smoothie Recipe

YIELD: 2 Servings

PREP TIME: 5 Minutes

Our base recipe is easy, healthy, and oh-so-yummy. But if you’re looking for something to cool you down in the summer heat or warm you up on a cold winter day, we’ve got you covered with two season-inspired recipe variations.

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Variation #1 – Base Smoothie

• 1 ripe avocado, pitted and peeled
• 1 cup of fresh elderberries OR 2 tablespoons of elderberry syrup
• 2 cups of lightly packed chopped kale leaves
• 2 cups of water
• (Optional) 1/2 a cup of unsweetened plant-based yogurt

Variation #2 – Refreshing Summer Smoothie

• 1 ripe avocado, pitted and peeled
• 1 cup of fresh elderberries OR 2 tablespoons of elderberry syrup
• 2 cups of lightly packed chopped kale leaves
• 2 cups of cold water
• 1/2 cup of orange juice
• 2 tablespoons of dried goji berries
• 2 tablespoons of coconut flakes (topping)
• (Optional) 1/2 cup of ice cubes or crushed ice

Variation #3 – Cozy Winter Smoothie

• 1 ripe avocado, pitted and peeled
• 1 cup of fresh elderberries OR 2 tablespoons of elderberry syrup
• 2 cups of lightly packed chopped kale leaves
• 2 cups of hot tea
• 1/2 cup of plant-based yogurt
• 2 teaspoons of cashew butter
• 2 teaspoons of hemp seeds
• 1/2 cup of raw walnuts
• 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons of agave nectar

Instructions

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
Pour into glasses and decorate with some leftover ingredients.
Serve and enjoy!

Tips

Add at least one frozen ingredient or a handful of ice cubes to make your smoothie extra creamy and thick!
Add more water to reduce the thickness of your smoothie!
See Problems and Solutions

Do you want to make this smoothie even healthier? Check out our amazing selection of healthy bowl ideas based on this smoothie. Scroll down or jump right in!

Are you looking for the best blender for your kitchen? Look no further! We have scoured the market to bring you an unbiased comparison of the top blenders available. Find out which blender will best meet your needs and budget.

Recommended Guide: The Ultimate Blender Showdown: Who Will Come Out on Top?

Avocado Elderberry Kale Smoothie Calories — A Not-So-Guilty Pleasure

A homemade avocado elderberry kale smoothie typically has roughly 185 calories per serving (200 ml, one glass).

The amount of calories you need per day varies depending on your gender, age, height, weight, activity level, and overall health.

• The average woman needs about 2,000–2,400 calories per day to maintain her weight, and 1,500–1,800 calories per day to lose 1 pound (0.45 kg) of weight per week.
• The average man needs around 2,500 to 3,000 calories per day to maintain his weight, and 1,800-2,300 calories per day to lose 1 pound (0.45 kg) of weight per week.

Compare one large cup of the avocado elderberry kale smoothie (185 calories) with one cappuccino (80 calories), one small serving of red wine (105 calories), and one 500 ml glass of beer (218 calories).

If you’re interested in shredding some pounds, feel free to check out our popular WeirdSmoothie guide on weight loss!

Avocado Elderberry Kale Smoothie Nutrition per 100 Grams

Nutrition information isn’t always accurate – we use generalized estimates!

Save Time and Money with These 10 Tricks

Costs: You can expect to pay roughly $2 USD for one cup of the basic avocado elderberry kale smoothie. If you use advanced ingredients such as chia seeds and nuts, the cost of one glass will increase by another +$2 USD to $4 USD. Note that these are only rough estimates because the costs depend on your location and the quality of the ingredients.

Still too expensive? These ten tricks will help you save money and time:

1. Buy pre-cut frozen fruits or vegetables, saving you time on prep work.
2. Freeze fresh ingredients before they expire and spoil — even nuts retain their nutrients longer when refrigerated.
3. Buy in bulk so you can save money on each individual item.
4. Make large batches of smoothies so you only have to do the prep and clean up once.
5. Use a powerful blender to make a large batch at once.
6. Don’t try to be exact with the measurements. Rough guesses will do to save time and minimize clean-up!
7. Drink the smoothie directly out of the blender, so you don’t have to clean your glasses after. (Just kidding.)
8. Use water instead of milk to reduce the costs per cup significantly.
9. Use Greek yogurt instead of regular yogurt, as it has more protein and will fill you up faster.
10. Add nuts and seeds for more protein, which are cheaper than protein powder.

And don’t be penny-wise but pound-foolish! A healthy lifestyle will save you tens of thousands of dollars in direct health costs, add years to your life, and make you more productive in the time you have!

Sustainability Tip: Shop seasonally and regionally for fresh ingredients to save money! When on sale, stock up, wash, portion, and freeze for future use. Your wallet and the environment will thank you!

Want more sustainability tips? Sure, find them on the WeirdSmoothie blog!

Typical Mistakes and Problems

Problem: My smoothie is too thick.
Solution: Add more liquids or other blending agents.

Problem: My smoothie is too thin.
Solution: Add a binding agents to make it thicker, such as banana, avocado, nut butter, chia seeds, and frozen fruits.

Problem: My smoothie is too grainy.
Solution: Add more blending agents (liquids) and binding agents (e.g., avocados, bananas, and peanut butter) to make it creamier. If nothing works, you may need to buy a better blender or change the knives.

Problem: My smoothie is too smooth.
Solution: Congratulations. This is what it’s all about!

Problem: My smoothie is too bitter.
Solution: Add natural “sweeteners” such as bananas, dates, or honey.

Problem: My smoothie is too sweet.
Solution: Add lemon or lime juice, grapefruits, pomegranate, or plain yogurt to balance the sweetness.

Problem: I have leftovers.
Solution: Put it into the refrigerator and drink it within 24 hours to avoid losing too many nutrients. Or put it into the freezer and save it for up to three months. Your kids will love the smoothie ice cream.

Recommended Article: The Most Common Problems and Solutions When Creating Smoothies

Wake Up To A Refreshing Avocado Elderberry Kale Smoothie Bowl

When I sip a smoothie, it’s not as satisfying as a meal. Science backs this up: Chewing releases saliva that helps break down food, so no smoothie can replace a proper meal.

You can use the avocado elderberry kale smoothie as a basis for your innovative avocado elderberry kale smoothie bowl!

Follow the avocado elderberry kale smoothie recipe as outlined before. Then add your favorite unblended ingredients such as nuts, seeds, and peanut butter. Sprinkle in some oatmeal or healthy muesli. Superfoods such as berries, chia seeds, or flaxseeds are a perfect addition. Ta-da! Your avocado elderberry kale smoothie bowl!

Do you need more inspiration? Choose your favorites or be adventurous:

• Nuts and nut butter: Almonds, walnuts, cashews, pecans, macadamias, brazil nuts, chestnuts
• Seeds: Chia seeds, flaxseeds, hemp seeds, psyllium husk
• Dry fruits: Dates, raisins, apricots, figs, prunes, goji berries
• Sliced fresh fruits: bananas, berries, pineapple, mango
• Powder: Cacao, matcha, maca, coconut
• Natural Sweeteners: Honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar, agave nectar, date syrup
• Spices: Cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg, turmeric, cardamom, ginger
• Muesli: Oats, Cornflakes, Granola, Cereal

Recommended Article: Secrets of Creating Delicious and Healthy Smoothie Bowls

More Smoothie Recipes You May Like

If you liked this recipe, you’ll love our other delicious — and, yes, sometimes weird — smoothies:

• Ginger Parsley Smoothie
• Avocado Lettuce Nectarine Smoothie
• Carrot Persimmon Pomegranate Smoothie
• Fig Pineapple Smoothie
• Fig Grape Plum Smoothie
• Grape Watermelon Smoothie
• Blueberry Cherry Papaya Smoothie
• Blueberry Melon Smoothie
• Acai Kumquat Smoothie
• Elderberry Grapefruit Smoothie

Sip Your Way to a Better Health — Nine Benefits of Smoothies

Thanks and Bye!

Drinking the Banana Cacao Smoothie is fun, but cleaning it up—not so much. Anyways, thanks for checking out our weird smoothie recipe. I hope to see you around soon to check out one of our weird smoothie recipes!