Sometimes optimum nutrition can seem complicated. Spartan smoothies make it very simple.

Blending ingredients into liquid meals is one of the quickest and easiest ways to incorporate large amounts of nutrient-dense foods into your daily regime. Not only are smoothies incredibly simple to prepare, but they allow our bodies to efficiently digest and assimilate all of the valuable nutrition contained in each ingredient.

Related: 5 Mistakes You’re Making With Your Smoothies

A smoothie makes for the perfect pre- and post-workout meal. Before a bout of training or racing, we want our bodies to divert all energy toward physical performance, rather than digestion. Smoothies free up this precious digestive energy, allowing for quick absorption of our food. The same goes for post-exercise eating. After beating our bodies down through training, it’s important to replenish nutrients quickly and repair tissue damage. Smoothies are the perfect vehicle for delivering muscle-building protein, glycogen-replenishing carbohydrates, and anti-inflammatory omega-3 fats.

5 Spartan Smoothies to Fuel Up Pre and Post Workout

Try one of these five simple Spartan smoothies before or after your next workout.

1. Avocado Smoothie

Ingredients

• 1 banana, frozen
• ½ avocado
• 1 scoop chocolate protein powder
• 1½ cups almond milk
• ¼ tsp cinnamon
• pinch of sea salt

Directions

• Add banana, avocado, protein powder, almond milk, cinnamon, and salt to blender.
• Blend for 10–15 seconds.
• Pour into a glass and enjoy.

Related: Green Machine Smoothie

2. Coco-Berry Smoothie

Ingredients

• pinch of sea salt
• 1 banana, fresh or frozen
• 1 cup strawberries, fresh or frozen
• 1 tbsp coconut oil
• 3 tbsp ground flaxseeds
• 1½ cups coconut milk
• pinch of sea salt

Directions

• Add banana, strawberries, flaxseeds, coconut milk, and salt to blender.
• Blend for 10-15 seconds.
• Add coconut oil and blend for additional 10 seconds.
• Pour into a glass and enjoy.

3. Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

Ingredients

• 1 banana, frozen
• 2 tbsp peanut butter
• ¾ cup Greek yogurt, plain 0%
• 1 cup water

Directions

• Add banana, peanut butter, Greek yogurt and water to blender.
• Blend for 10-15 seconds.
• Pour into a glass and enjoy.

Related: 3 Post-Workout Nut Butter Smoothie Recipes

4. Mango Chia Smoothie

Ingredients

• 1 banana, frozen
• ½ cup mango, frozen
• 1½ cups almond milk
• 2 tbsp chia seeds

Directions

• Add banana, mango, almond milk and chia seeds to blender.
• Blend for 10-15 seconds.
• Pour into a glass and enjoy.

5. Peaches and Cream Smoothie

Ingredients

• 1 cup peaches, frozen
• 1½ cups coconut milk
• ½ cup Greek yogurt, plain 0%
• 1 tbsp honey

Directions

• Add peaches, coconut milk, Greek yogurt and honey to blender.
• Blend for 10-15 seconds.
• Pour into a glass and enjoy.

Healthy eating need not be a complicated and time-consuming practice. Incorporating smoothies into your daily diet is a simple meal strategy that will ensure you’re consuming an abundance of fruits, greens, protein, and healthy fats. You’ve got the recipes; now get out the blender and make it happen.

Related: 3 Protein Smoothie Recipes That Little Spartans Will Love

Food Is Not Complicated

Spartan Race exists to rip millions of people off the couch and teach them that anything is possible with hard work and perseverance. Good nutrition, like any other goal, takes knowledge, commitment and discipline.

For Spartans, food provides energy and nutrients that support an active, healthy life—that’s all there is to it. Smoothies made out of whole-food, unprocessed ingredients provide a simple way to maximize nutrition and energy.

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