Strawberry Yogurt Smoothie

Enjoy the amazing gut-healing properties of this strawberry yogurt smoothie without having to give up on flavour. Banana, strawberries, yogurt, almond milk and agave syrup deliver a thick and creamy smoothie that will satisfy every one of your morning cravings.

5 Reasons to Love This Strawberry Smoothie

Smoothies are the perfect compromise between having a nutritious breakfast and making your mornings as time-efficient as possible. Here's why:

1. You can make it a day ahead
2. Perfect for enjoying on the go
3. It requires almost no washing up
4. It's packed with nutritious ingredients
5. When made with probiotic yogurt, this smoothie is not only sweet and tasty, but kind to your gut as well

Ingredients You’ll Need to Make This Strawberry Yogurt Smoothie

Bananas - an excellent source of fibre, antioxidants and nutrients. Plus, they’re naturally very sweet and creamy, which makes them the perfect addition to any smoothie. If you’re using fresh strawberries in this recipe, you can use a frozen banana, and if you’re using frozen strawberries, it’s best to use a fresh banana. If both fruits are frozen, the smoothie will turn out a bit too thick.

Strawberries - packed with vitamin C, manganese, potassium and antioxidants, strawberries are not only delicious but good for you as well. I like to use frozen strawberries because they’re ripe and delicious no matter what time of the year you’re making the smoothie.

Plant-based milk - add more or less milk to make the smoothie as thick or thin as you want it. I used almond milk in the photos here, but you can use your favourite plant-based milk - soy, oat and rice all taste great.

Agave syrup - add agave syrup or honey (if not strictly vegan) if you like your smoothie on the sweeter side. Leave it out if you’re avoiding added sugar.

Probiotic yogurt - yes, plant-based yogurt can be probiotic, and you can read all about probiotics below. For this recipe. I used unsweetened Greek soy yogurt.

What Are Probiotics?

Your body is full of bacteria, most of which resides in your gut. The trick, though, is not in eliminating it, but in maintaining the right balance of good and bad bacteria. When you lose some of your good bacteria, for example by taking antibiotics, you’re more likely to suffer from poor digestion, weak immune system, skin problems, and even weight gain.

Probiotics are live microorganisms that help you restore the balance of good and bad bacteria, and provide numerous other health benefits. Probiotics can:

• Help prevent and treat diarrhea
• Reduce the severity of certain allergies and eczema
• Reduce symptoms of certain digestive disorders, such as IBS
• Help keep your heart healthy by lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol and blood pressure
• Boost your immune system

You can find probiotics in supplements and certain foods. Probiotic foods include yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, tempeh, kimchi, miso, and more. This recipe for strawberry yogurt smoothie calls for probiotic yogurt, which is the essential ingredient if you want to enjoy it for its gut-healing properties.

Is Probiotic Yogurt Vegan?

It can be. Probiotics are created during a bacterial fermentation process regardless of whether or not the source of yogurt is dairy or non-dairy. A lot of non-dairy probiotics are soy-based, but there are also other plant-based options out there, such as almond or coconut.

Many commercially available yogurts, dairy and non-dairy, however, are pasteurised, so you need to pay attention to the ingredients on the label to make sure your yogurt is made with probiotics.

Make Your Own Vegan Probiotic Yogurt

Did you know you can make your own plant-based yogurt? It's a lot easier than it sounds, and requires no special equipment or knowledge. Here's a quick guide on how to make vegan yogurt.

How Do I Know If My Yogurt Is Probiotic?

Not all store-bought yogurts are probiotic, so keep an eye out for the following terms when buying your yogurt.

When yogurt is made, manufacturers use certain probiotics, or live cultures, to ferment milk and give it that distinct sour taste. The key to buying the right yogurt is in making sure that it contains live and active cultures. The label on the container will usually say something like “Live/Active Cultures”.

For yogurt to be healthy, it must have at least 100 million cultures per gram at the time of manufacture, which is usually stated on the label. On the other hand, if you see the words “heat treated”, this means that the live bacteria have been killed (in favour of longer shelf life), so steer clear.

How to Make Strawberry Yogurt Smoothie

Place all of the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Adjust the mixture with ice or more milk as needed. Pour in a glass, and enjoy!

Strawberry Yogurt Smoothie FAQs

How many servings does this make?

This recipe makes 2 smoothies.

Can I make this strawberry smoothie ahead of time?

Yes, you can make this up to 24 hours ahead. Store it in an airtight jar or bottle in the fridge.

Can I make this smoothie ahead and freeze it?

Yes! Prepare the smoothie as directed, pour into an ice cube tray, and freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to enjoy, add the smoothie ice cubes to the blender with a little water or almond milk, and blend.

How many calories are in one smoothie?

One serving of this smoothie has about 200 calories, but this depends on the yogurt you’re using. If you want the smoothie to be lower in calories and far, use low-fat or even fat-free yogurt.

Is this smoothie vegan?

Yes if you make it with plant-based yogurt. I used unsweetened Greek soy yogurt.

Can I use fresh strawberries?

Yes, but then I recommend using frozen banana. If you’re using both fresh bananas and strawberries, add a few cubes of ice to the smoothie to make it cooler and thicker.

Can I use frozen bananas?

Yes, but then it’s better to use fresh strawberries. If both bananas and strawberries are frozen, the smoothie might be a bit too thick. You can also add a bit more milk or a splash of water to make it thinner.

Is this smoothie sugar free?

Bananas and even strawberries contain naturally occurring sugars, so this smoothie can’t be completely sugar free. But you can make it without any added sugar if you omit the one tablespoon of agave syrup and make sure you’re using natural, unsweetened yogurt.

Other Healthy Smoothie Recipes

• Healthy Breakfast Strawberry Banana Smoothie
• Strawberry Banana Peach Smoothie
• Pineapple Strawberry Smoothie
• Strawberry Breakfast Protein Smoothie
• Green Detox Smoothie