It seems that no matter where you look, someone is sporting a water bottle or cold cup full of fruits, vegetables, and protein powder. Power smoothies have become increasingly popular with people looking for a way to start their day with one of these nutritious packed “grab-and-go” meals.

The benefits of smoothies are countless, but it’s probably the appeal of convenience and the fact that they are easy to make, that has us chopping, blending and drinking our way to better health. Not to mention that they’re portable and the majority of the ingredients can be prepared ahead of time (which saves tons of time in the morning), these delicious drinks are a great way to start the day.

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So how do you get yourself started on the smoothie craze just as summer is beginning?

Check out the following tips and bonus recipes to help you with planning, preparing and making your own smoothie in minutes.

Prep ingredients ahead of time. Having pre-made zip-lock bags or mason jars packed full of cut-up fruits and vegetables eliminates a lot of the fuss in the morning. Make sure you have a good stash of freezer-safe zip-lock bags (gallon size) or mason jars for storage. Fill your fridge with fruits and vegetables such as kale, avocado, beets, carrots, spinach, mango, blueberries, pineapple, melon, apples, pears, raspberries, strawberries, grapes, cranberries, bananas and peaches.

Chop and measure ingredients. Cut the fruit and vegetables into small enough portions so they blend with ease! Then separate them out with the appropriate amount of each ingredient you wish to include in your smoothie.

Fill bags or jars with cut-up fruits and vegetables. If you are using mason jars, start with your fruit on the bottom and then add vegetables (if they are called for in the recipe you are using). And if you make several combinations, label the bags or jars with the ingredients for quick reference.

Place bags or jars in fridge or freezer. You might want to leave a few bags or jars in the fridge, if you plan on using them right away. Otherwise, put the smoothie packs in the freezer. Using frozen ingredients also gives the shake a thicker consistency.

Make your smoothie! Remove the bag or jar from freezer or fridge and add to the blender along with your liquid of choice (unsweetened almond milk, coconut milk, water, milk, juice, etc). You can also add any of the following ingredients for a little extra nutritious boost: greek yogurt, flax meal, chia seeds, protein powder, coconut flakes, and ground natural peanut or almond butter.

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Related: How to Help Your Kids Eat Better (Hint: No Battles Involved)

And with summer here now, it’s a great time to try some tasty new recipes.

Here are a few to get you in the mood for sunshine and hot weather.

Pineapple Perfection
1 cup of unsweetened coconut milk
1 cup of fresh or frozen pineapple
1/2 cup of low-fat greek yogurt
1/2 cup berries of your choice (blueberries, raspberries, strawberries) or 1/2 banana
**Can also add 1 scoop of protein powder (vegan, whey, egg white, etc.)

Put all ingredients in the blender with some ice (if fruit is not frozen) and blend until smooth.

 Kale Delight
1 cup of unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1 1/2 cups of kale
1 tablespoon of flaxseed
1 cup of fresh or frozen peaches
1/2 cup of watermelon, strawberries or pineapple
**Can also add 1 scoop of protein powder (vegan, whey, egg white, etc.)

Put all ingredients in the blender with some ice (if fruit is not frozen) and blend until smooth.

Sara Hermanson is a freelance writer in Washington State whose focus is health, wellness, fitness and parenting.