With the smell of Summer in the air, and the hope of it arriving in the not too distant future, we thought we would get you into the Summer mood by sharing five of our favourite, easy-to-make smoothies with you. On a hot day, there is nothing more refreshing and satisfying than a fruity, cold smoothie. And they’re healthy too! In no specific order, here is our top five:

1. The Mango Tango

½ cup chopped ripe mango

½ cup plain low-fat yogurt

½ cup of milk or mango juice

1 tablespoon honey

1 cup of crushed ice

Combine the ingredients and blend until smooth.

Health benefits: Low in calories and high in dietary fibre, mangoes are packed with vitamins, antioxidants and minerals. Recent studies suggest they are also powerful cancer-fighters.

2. The Strawberry Supreme

½ cup frozen or fresh strawberries

½ cup strawberry yoghurt

½ cup of strawberry / berry juice

1 cup of crushed ice

Combine the ingredients and blend until smooth.

Health benefits: Interestingly, the nutritional benefits of strawberries come directly from the bright red color of the fruit. The red is made by anthocyanins, which are incredible antioxidants that protect your heart, have anti-inflammatory properties, and are known to protect against cancer.

3. The Banana Blaster

1 ripe banana

½ cup non-fat yogurt

1 tablespoon of honey

1 cup of crushed ice

Combine the ingredients and blend until smooth.

Health benefits: Bananas contain potassium which helps to keep the heart healthy. In addition, bananas are also good for the nervous system.

4. The Nutter

1 ripe banana

½ cup of low-fat yogurt

2 tablespoons of peanut butter OR ¼ cup of nuts

1 cup of crushed ice

Combine the ingredients and blend until smooth.

Health benefits: Rich in nuts, this smoothie will give you protein to keep you going. Also, researchers found that people who eat nuts regularly have lower risks of heart disease.

5. The Tropical Typhoon

½ cup of low-fat yoghurt

¼ cup of fruit juice

1 cup of crushed ice

½ cup of cubed fruit: papaya, apple, berries, mango, sweet melon, oranges, etc

½ a banana

Combine the ingredients and blend until smooth.

Health benefits: No matter which fruits you choose to add to this smoothie, all fruits are high in vitamins and minerals to keep you in top shape.

Smoothie Tips:

¬    If you can, freeze the fruit beforehand, it just adds to the icy texture of the smoothie.

¬    Always use non-fat or low-fat yoghurt to lower the fat content. Use a non-sweetened / Bulgarian yoghurt to lower the sugar content.

¬    Ripe fruit will always give the best flavours.

¬    If your blender is strong enough, you can use ice blocks instead of crushed ice.

¬    Use a handheld or counter top blender to create a smooth, creamy texture.

¬    If your smoothie is too thick, add a little bit of milk or fruit juice.

¬    Adding banana to a smoothie is a great way to make it sweet while still keeping it healthy.

¬    Honey is also a tasty alternative to add sweetness to your smoothie.

¬    Crushed seeds and nuts can be added to any smoothie to give it a nutty taste and a crunchy texture.

¬    A smoothie can easily be enjoyed as a meal.  A breakfast smoothie can keep you going ‘til lunch. For fibre, add some oats. For protein, nuts and seeds are a great addition.

¬    For unusual tastes, you can add ingredients like ground cinnamon, crushed mint leaves, granulated coffee, lemon juice, vanilla essence, and any other ingredient that captures your fancy.


To survive the boiling Cape Town Summer months, come and enjoy a smoothie at Life Café with friends. Choose from Berry & Banana , Apple & Mint and Banana & vanilla.