We know that it's be important to try to eat well following a diagnosis. One simple way to boost your nutrition is to drink smoothies! Smoothies are perfect for people living with cancer because they’re packed full of healthy fruits and vegetables and they’re also fast and easy to make.
If you’ve never tried to blend anything before, don’t worry. We’ve made a list of the 4 best smoothies to drink during cancer treatment and throughout the cancer journey.
But first, let us walk you through the basics of smoothie-making.
What is a smoothie?
Smoothies are made by combining ingredients in a blender. Nothing gets processed out of a smoothie. You drink everything you put in. This means that smoothies are full of fibre. Fibre can help to keep you full longer and will keep your blood sugar stable.
Why are smoothies good if you have cancer?
Smoothies are easy to sip – especially on days that you don’t feel like eating. They’re full of nutrients, vitamins, and healthy fruits and vegetables. If you choose ingredients with healthy fats and protein, your smoothie will keep you feeling full longer, too. This will help you to fight off nausea.
Basically, smoothies are a fast and convenient way to get a lot of healthy food into your body. You can use almost anything you have on-hand, and still end up with a tasty, convenient meal.
What should I put in my smoothie?
Anything can go into a smoothie if it tastes good to you!
Try following this simple formula and substitute ingredients with your favourite fruits and veggies:
- 2 cups of liquid (decaffeinated is best). Try water, milk or nut milk.
- 2 cups of fruit. Try bananas, berries, pineapple or mango.
- 1 cup of leafy green vegetables. Try spinach or kale (we promise you can’t taste it in the final smoothie mix!)
- A protein source. Try nuts, yogurt or protein powder. You’ll only need about 1 tablespoon of nuts or ½ cup of yogurt or protein powder.
What are some tips for blending smoothies?
- Add your liquids to the blender first. When you blend your smoothie, this will be gentler on the blender, and it will be easier to blend your ingredients.
- Keep it cold. Add ice or frozen fruits to the blender. Frozen fruits become very creamy when blended and they help to make the smoothie a bit thicker. Cold smoothies also taste very refreshing.
- Start blending at a low speed and gradually work up to a higher speed. This is easier on the blender (and a bit less noisy!)
- Don’t add extra sugar. The natural sugars in fruits will keep your smoothie sweet.
- Choose a nice variety of colourful fruits and vegetables to blend.
- Try adding different ingredients and discover what you love! Oatmeal, nut butter, fresh ginger, and spices like cinnamon and turmeric can be delicious.
Here are 4 simple smoothie recipes to try if you’re living with cancer:
Simple Summer Green Smoothie
- 2 cups cold water
- 1 peeled banana (fresh or frozen)
- 1 cup of mango chunks (fresh or frozen)
- 1 cup spinach
- ¼ cup plain or vanilla yogurt
Very Berry Smoothie
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 cup water
- ¼ cup plain or vanilla yogurt
- 1 peeled banana (fresh or frozen)
- 1 cup frozen berries (blueberries, raspberries or blackberries)
- 1 cup spinach
- 2 tablespoons oats
Tropical Smoothie
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup ice cubes
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- 2-3 kiwis (peeled)
- 1 diced pear (peeled and seeded)
- Optional: 1-2 tablespoons of honey
Zingy Ginger Smoothie
- 1 cup water
- ½ freshly juiced lemon
- 1 cup of spinach (or kale/baby chard)
- 2 celery ribs, roughly chopped
- 1 apple or pear roughly chopped
- ½ cup frozen pineapple
- ½ teaspoon freshly grated ginger
- 1 teaspoon chia seeds
Simply choose a recipe, add the ingredients to the blender in the order given, and blend away! A delicious, healthy drink awaits you.