Healthy smoothie recipes for hot days

Smoothies are the perfect remedy for scorching temperatures and also a great way to pack a wide variety of nutrients into one, easy-to-digest format. One of my favourite things to do is experiment with different flavours. It’s so easy to get in a smoothie rut, but a variety of ingredients will ensure you get a range of vitamins and minerals and also keep your tastebuds excited.

Today, I’m sharing two of my favourite easy summer smoothie recipes:

Purple Berry Basil Smoothie If you’re skeptical that basil will taste good in a sweet recipe, just trust me on this one. As an added bonus, fresh basil contains anti-inflammatory compounds and is great for individuals who suffer from inflammatory health conditions like rheumatoid arthritis. Basil is also a great source of magnesium, iron, calcium, vitamin C, and potassium making it a nutritious addition to your summer smoothies. Add a tablespoon of chia seeds and you will pack in essential fatty acids for an extra burst of nutrition.

Ingredients: 1/4 cup loosely packed fresh basil 1 tbsp chia seeds or ground flax 3/4 cup fresh or frozen pitted sweet cherries 1/2 cup fresh or frozen strawberries 1 cup almond milk, or more if necessary

1. Add all ingredients into the blender and blend until smooth.

2. Add more almond milk if desired.

Yield: 1.5-2 cups

Pretty in Pink smoothie (shown) This next recipe is inspired by the Pink Flamingo smoothie served at the wonderful Fresh restaurant here in Toronto. My husband fell in love with this smoothie last summer so I whipped up my own version at home one evening. With just three ingredients, it doesn’t get any easier. It’s made with a base of watermelon, making it a lovely summer refresher while being packed with antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin A, and lycopene which is beneficial in the prevention of prostate, breast, lung and colorectal cancers.

Ingredients 3 cups watermelon, seeded and chopped into large chunks 1/2 cup fresh or frozen strawberries 1 large peeled, frozen banana

Directions Add all ingredients into blender and blend until smooth.

Yield: 3 cups

Read more: 5 health benefits of watermelon

Angela Liddon is the creator of Oh She Glows — an inspiring, healthy vegan recipe website — and one of Chatelaine's Women of the Year 2011. Angela’s passion for healthy vegan food is contagious and she’s eager to show others that vegan (and often gluten-free) food can blow your taste buds away.