5 Perfect Post-Run Smoothies

According to Amanda Brooks, a personal trainer, avid runner and creator of Run to the Finish, these are a few reasons why smoothies make for the perfect post-run recovery snack:

They’re easy and fast.
They allow your body to quickly absorb and digest nutrients.
They can help in using up left-over produce.
They’re, (and this, she says, is a highly technical term) yummy.

Oh yeah, and she also likes them for the fact that you can create essentially the same thing you’d get from a fancy smoothie bar without having to shell out a whole lot of cash.

We asked Brooks to share her top five favorite smoothies; the recipes she loves to blend up most after a run. Add the ingredients to your blender, mix them up and enjoy.

1. Beet It
Good for: Detoxing and reducing inflammation
Ingredients: Beets, cucumber, green apple, spinach, carrot, ginger and vanilla protein powder

2. Kalicious
Good for: Creating an at-home version of an overly-priced Whole Foods smoothie
Ingredients: 1 Green apple, 1 cup spinach, 1/2 banana, 1 cup kale, 1/4 cucumber, 1 celery stick (add water to thin out consistency)

3. Mochaccino Dream
Good for: Busy runners who have a fully scheduled day post-run
Ingredients: 1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk, Vega Mocha Protein Powder, 2 cups spinach, 1/2 banana

4. Cranberry Orange Smooth Moves
Good for: A vitamin C boost for an improved immune system
Ingredients: 1 small orange, 2 to 3 baby carrots, 1/4 cup cranberries, 1 cup kale, fresh-squeezed lemon juice, 1 cup cashew milk

5. Tropical Refresher
Good for: Replenishing electrolytes and a sweet, cool treat after a hot summer run
Ingredients: 1/2 frozen banana, couple pieces pineapple, 1 cup coconut water, 1 cup spinach, 1 cup kale, 2 tablespoons hemp seeds (add water to thin out consistency)

For more smoothie recipes visit RuntotheFinish.com.