I love smoothies any time of day, but on particularly hot days, they just hit differently. An ice-cold smoothie will refresh and rehydrate you while also giving your body the fiber, protein, and nutrients it needs to power through your day.

Yes, all of that can come from a healthy smoothie!

Now, there are all sorts of ways to make smoothies ranging from the types of fruits you add to what kind of liquid you use.

During those seasonal months, I find myself leaning towards smoothies flavored like apple pie while in the summer months, I have this recipe for piña colada oatmeal smoothie. When I am craving something on the sweet, I tend to reach for berries.

Raspberries specifically are really high in antioxidants, and basically, help your body fight free radicals that will damage your cells. I'm sure you can use your favorite types of berries in this recipe, but I just love both the taste and color of raspberries - especially with the nutty chia seeds!

Ingredients For Raspberry Chia Smoothie

There are only a small amount of whole ingredients in this nutrient-dense smoothie. Here's a bit more information about what I used:

• Raspberries: I used frozen raspberries because it gives the smoothie the perfect consistency.
• Banana: Bananas are amazing in smoothies! They give it a creamy texture without altering the taste much. Always use really ripe bananas because they blend the best.
• Chia Seeds: The chia seeds help the smoothie to have a smoother texture. They are also really high in fiber, healthy fats, and protein.
• Flax Seeds: These are fantastic for your brain and heart health. Flax seeds are an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids and are known to help lower bad cholesterol levels too.
• Almond Butter: This nut butter gives the smoothie even more protein! Use unsweetened, smooth almond butter for the best taste.
• Almond Milk: Try to use unsweetened almond milk. For the best taste, use vanilla-flavored almond milk.