10 Healthy Drinks To Start Your Day Slideshow
Almond Milk
This popular, low-calorie cow's milk alternative is a good source of calcium, magnesium, and vitamin E. Although commercial varieties are widely available on the market today (stick to the unsweetened original flavor if you're buying pre-made), it's surprisingly easy to make at home — and better for you too. Plus, you can choose to embellish the milk's nutty, slightly sweet flavor with ingredients like vanilla, cinnamon, and honey.
Tea-Licious Smoothie
This refreshing combination of peppermint tea and citrus from the fresh orange and grapefruit is the perfect low-calorie and low-fat pick-me-up.
Banana Pear Lassi
This delicious take on the popular Indian yogurt drink adds in potassium-rich bananas and fresh pear, which is great for a quick energy boost (just what you need for your morning commute). Keep the whole process super efficient with one of these handy single-serve blenders that doubles as a to-go cup.
Rose Hip Tea
Orange juice is the obvious morning drink choice when you're looking for a dose of vitamin C, but this herbal tea is also a great source of the vitamin — plus you get the caffeine boost. (And for the very on-the-go types, there's even a thermos that let's you steep mid-travel.)
Watermelon, Lime, & Lemongrass Juice
Why spend the money on store-bought juice when making it at home is so easy? This refreshing drink is made with three cups of potassium-rich watermelon. Plus, it includes fresh ginger which is a good source for serveral minerals and is known for being a natural antibiotic for the whole body.
Banana Cinnamon Smoothie
This tasty smoothie is full of good-for-you ingredients: bananas, non-fat Greek yogurt, and almond milk. The addition of cinnamon makes it taste like a Mexican horchata, and the spice's health benefits are wide-ranging, including everything from boosting memory to curing a cold.
Ginger Berry Smoothie
You can't go wrong with this health-conscious combo: Ginger is great for digestion, while berries are super high in antioxidants. There's a good amount of protein in the almond milk and Greek yogurt, but if you need it to be more filling, add a scoop of whey protein (best in vanilla flavor). Using frozen berries is cost-efficient and helpful when berries are out of season.
Apple à la Mode Smoothie
Make the most of upcoming apple season with this rich, delicious smoothie which features non-fat frozen yogurt, unsweetened homemade applesauce, and apple juice. The favorite fall fruit is packed with pectin, a soluble fiber that helps reduce cholesterol.
Strawberry Lemonade
While commercial lemonades are often full of sugar, this version doesn't contain any at all, yet manages to still stay sweet by mixing in fresh strawberries.
Apricot Zinger
Although originally conceived as a "mocktail," this aromatic drink works just as well as an a.m. beverage. At only 130 calories per serving, it keeps things healthy by using agave syrup as a sweetener and fresh apricot juice.