When it is scorching outside, the last thing you want is to stand at the stove. That is why summer is the season of smoothies and shakes - refreshing, full of seasonal fruit, and ready in a couple of minutes. But between a healthy drink and a liquid dessert loaded with sugar, the difference is in the details.

First, it helps to know the difference. Smoothies are fruit and vegetables blended with a liquid - water or plant milk - and have a thicker texture. Shakes are mostly dairy-based - milk, yoghurt - and are creamy. Both can be healthy or packed with calories, depending on what you throw in.

Ideas worth trying? For a smoothie, go for watermelon, strawberry and mint with lime, or peach, carrot and orange with fresh ginger. For a creamy shake - banana, Greek yoghurt and cinnamon, or mango with coconut milk and lime. The key is seasonal fruit that is high in water, which refreshes naturally with no need for added sugar.

And here are the most common mistakes: too many ingredients at once (stick to three or four), pointless sweeteners, and drinking it long after you made it. Best is right away - fresh, cold, with plenty of ice. A frozen banana or a bit of oats gives you texture without any artificial extras. Simple, fast and genuinely summery - without a single moment at the stove.