When one is lying immobile on one’s couch surrounded by an avalanche of used tissues, researching top cold-fighting foods (and eating Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup) feels like a worthy use of the limited energy that arrives between naps. According to my friends Google and WebMD, vitamin C, vitamin D, and zinc are essential to beating a cold. Therefore, from my sickbed, I went on a digital scavenger hunt for foods that were: The result? A simple, nutrient-packed strawberry kiwi smoothie that required nothing more from me than the push of a button.

How to Make a Strawberry Kiwi Smoothie

A cold remedy smoothie loaded with all of vitamin C, vitamin D, and zinc is just what the doctor orders. Today’s strawberry kiwi smoothie boasts all three. Whether you are feeling under the weather, want an easy way to consume three healthy food groups at once (fruit, dairy, and whole grains), or just love smoothies, this smoothie recipe is a pleaser. (This Carrot Smoothie is another crowd-pleaser.)

The Ingredients

Strawberries. One serving of strawberries contains about 51mg of vitamin C—that’s about half of your daily requirement. Using strawberries for our cold-fighting smoothie base was a no-brainer if you ask me. (They’re always great in this classic Strawberry Smoothie).Kiwi. Rich in vitamins and antioxidants, these sweet, juicy, and lightly tart little green cuties are perfect for smoothies and snacking. Orange. Provides nice acidity and an extra punch of immune-boosting vitamin C (I also like to add them to this Peach Smoothie).Banana. Provides fiber, potassium, and naturally sweetens the smoothie. Pro tip: use a frozen banana to help make the smoothie super smooth and extra thick.Oatmeal. Contain zinc, fiber, and make this smoothie filling and satisfying. (Try them in this Oatmeal Smoothie next.)Milk. Milk is a good source of vitamin D, and it makes our smoothie nice and creamy too. If you’re looking for a non-dairy option, many brands of soy milk, almond milk, coconut milk, and rice milk are now fortified with vitamin D. Ice. an optional addition that cools things down and makes your smoothie frosty. Honey. A spoonful of sugar honey helps the medicine go down.

The Directions

Tools Used to Make This Recipe

High-Powered Blender. I recently acquired this unbelievably powerful blender, and it whips this strawberry kiwi smoothie (and this Watermelon Smoothie) together in seconds. Standard Blender. If you’re not ready to splurge on anything too crazy, I’ve also used and can recommend this more affordable KitchenAid and this Ninja blender.

Now get blending—doctor’s orders!

More Healthy Smoothie Recipes

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