Post-Halloween Detox Smoothies

There’s no shame in feeding your inner kid all the sugar its heart desires, but it’s a new day and your body could likely use a tiny reset.

An easy way to pack your system with a ton of good-for-you ingredients to flush out all the chocolate? Smoothies! Just load up your blender, let it whirl and drink your way back to your best November self.

If you’re feeling bloated…

Get some good bacteria into your gut, STAT. If you’re sensitive to lactose, opt for something like kefir or coconut yogurt, or go full Greek if you’re not. Adding bananas to the mix might be a good idea, too, as they’re high in potassium, which helps stabilize sodium levels, which then prevents water retention.

Ingredients

• 1 banana
• 1 cup kefir or yogurt
• 1 date, pitted and chopped
• ½-inch piece of ginger, peeled and chopped
• 1 tbsp fresh mint
• ½ cup frozen blueberries

If you’re not into the idea of kefir or coconut yogurt, simply add a probiotic directly to the smoothie by breaking a capsule of your daily probiotic open over the blender. Just make sure to supplement for the missing liquid with some water (coconut or otherwise) and a handful of ice.

If you’re feeling dehydrated….

Whether it was salty snacks or a few drinks at a party, you may be feeling a bit like one of the raisins the weird family in your neighborhood always gave out to be “healthy.” If your body is telling you it’s craving water, load up on ingredients that are packed with water, like cucumbers and apples.

Ingredients

• ½ large cucumber, peeled and cut into large pieces (Don’t chop too finely—you don’t want to seeds and liquid to seep out.)
• 1 cup fresh spinach
• ½ green apple, cored and peeled
• ½-inch piece of ginger, peeled and chopped
• ½ cup frozen pineapple
• ¼ cup ice cubes
• 1 cup coconut water
• 1 tbsp chia seeds (optional)
• 1 tbsp coconut oil (optional, for sweetness)

Add all ingredients to blender and blend until smooth. If you find the frozen pineapple is making it difficult to blend, feel free to add more coconut water or cold water. Drink up!

If you feel like you’re in the middle of a sugar crash…

Protein is your friend! It’ll fill you up, push that lingering sugar out of your stomach and give you the energy kick you need to fight that last bit of post-candy crush. Instead of using protein powder here, think of ways to add natural protein to your smoothie via oats, spinach, almond butter, etc.

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk or yogurt
• ½ cup pumpkin puree (So seasonally appropriate!)
• 1 tsp honey or agave
• 1 cup spinach or kale
• ½ medium banana
• 1 tbsp unsalted almond butter
• ¼ cup oats, uncooked

Blend and drink! Feel free to add more almond milk if you find the uncooked oats are making the smoothie too thick for your liking.

If you need a bit more sugar…

No judgement! But before reaching for trick-or-treat leftovers, consider getting your sugar from a natural source — like beets — so your body can process it in a more natural way. Plus, these red beauties are packed with iron, fiber and folic acid, all of which will help get your system back on track.

Ingredients

• 1 Granny Smith apple, cored and chopped (any tart apple will do)
• 1 cup cubed beets (You can find frozen beets in most markets, but you can also roast a beet yourself if you’d like — just don’t add any oil or seasoning.)
• ½ cucumber, peeled and cut into large chunks
• 1-inch piece of ginger, peeled and chopped
• Juice of one lemon
• ¼ cup apple cider (A good excuse to use up the stuff you brought back from the orchard!)
• ¾ cup water

Add all ingredients to blender and blend until smooth. If you used non-frozen beets, you may want to add a handful of ice to the mix so it has more of a frozen smoothie consistency. Also feel free to throw in some spinach if you’re craving greens along with your sugar.

+ Find additional superfood recipes + more here!

Photos by Julie O’Boyle.