Strike The Right Ratio:
Striking the right ratio is important when making a smoothie that you’ll actually enjoy drinking. I suggest this ratio as you’re starting out:
- A handful of greens / vegetables
- 1 tablespoon of smoothie boosters
As you start to experiment, you can work to increase the amount of vegetables and decrease the amount of fruit to suit your tastes. Do this process gradually to allow your tastebuds to adjust.
List Of Healthy Superfoods:
- Kale insanely low in calories, powerful anti-oxidant with anti-inflammatory properties, and helpful for arthritis and autoimmune diseases
- Spinach the beauty of spinach lies in how easy it is to disguise the taste. Its mild tasting yet packed with vitamins, has anti-cancerous properties, and is one of the healthiest foods on the planet
- Blueberries – one of the highest antioxidant capacities of all fruit which helps to combat free radicals in your body
- Strawberries – just one serving provides more vitamin c than an orange while being low in natural sugars
- Greek Yogurt – double the protein and half the carbs as regular yogurt
- Cucumber since its 95% water, its an incredible detoxifier and helps with liver and kidney function
- Lemon one of the most important items to stock in your kitchen as its a highly effective cleansing agent and cuts through the bitterness of greens
- Banana an essential in smoothies as it adds creaminess, a touch of sweetness, and helps you feel full longer plus, its rich in potassium and fiber and gives you natural energy
- Turmeric – anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties
- Ginger – aids in digestion and supports the immune system
- Chia + Flaxseeds – rich is Omega-3 and fiber benefits
If you are looking to add fruit and vegetable JUICE recipes to your diet as well, .
For extra detoxification benefits, a lemon turmeric flush first thing in the morning will do the trick. This isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s super simple.
Whats The Best Blender For Making Smoothies
Blenders have gotten so advanced in the past few years, that its hard to pick one that wont blend up a great smoothie! If youre blender shopping, here are the three blenders we recommend for daily smoothie-making:
- MOST AFFORDABLE: Cuisinart Immersion/Stick BlenderDont let its small size fool you, this tiny handheld blender is packed full of power, and will easily make a smoothie for you every day! Its perfect if youre limited on counter space.
- MEDIUM: Ninja Professional BlenderFor under $100, you get an incredibly powerful blender that makes a dreamy, creamy smoothie. This was the blender we used in the Wholefully test kitchen for years, and its a great starter-level, but still high-powered, blender.
- SPLURGE: Vitamix Professional BlenderA Vitamix is the top of the line when it comes to blenders, and its what we use every day in the Wholefully test kitchen. It comes with a hefty price tag , so if youre just blending a smoothie every now and again, there is no need to make the splurge. But if you do a lot of cooking or make a lot of smoothies or blended drinks, you might want to start saving your pennies for a Vitamix. Its a lifetime appliance that is a dream to use!
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Are Smoothies Good For You
Smoothies are an increasingly popular wellness trend and frequently marketed as a health food.
These versatile beverages are portable, family-friendly, and modifiable for any taste or dietary preference. Smoothies are easy to prepare yourself, but you can also purchase fresh or bottled ones from specialty cafés and most major grocery stores.
While some types are loaded with veggies and fruit, others pack sugar or other unhealthy ingredients. As such, you may wonder whether theyre a healthy choice.
This article explains everything you need to know about smoothies, including their potential health benefits and downsides, whether they aid weight loss, and tips for making nutritionally balanced versions at home.
Is It Healthy To Have A Smoothie Every Day
If youre looking to put your own blender to use and start making smoothies at home, youre already one step ahead with saving yourself money and ensuring you have full control over what goes into your drink. Enjoying a smoothie every day is totally fine if you make sure it has a good balance of nutrients.
That said, dietitians say its actually better to chew and swallow food rather than drinking it for fullness, so its probably best to limit your intake to one smoothie a day and enjoy proper meals and snacks throughout the day. And if youre aiming to make your smoothie a meal, try to include at least 25 grams of protein if its a snack, go for at least 10 grams of protein.
These delicious, healthy smoothies make it easier to eat right with nutrient-rich fruit and veggies, creamy milk, protein, probiotic-rich yogurt, and other nutritious ingredients. Just a note: Some of these recipes contain fruit juice or honey to up the sweetness, but if youre looking to cut added sugar from your diet, you can nix those ingredients.
Some of these recipes are from Smoothies & Juices, the new book from Preventions Healing Kitchen series. Give these recipes a try, and feel free to tweak and experiment to create your own perfect blend.
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How To Make A Smoothie Ahead Of Time
Although smoothies dont take a long time make, sometimes 10 minutes is too long when youre running out the door. Although you cant blend a smoothie ahead of time and stash it in the refrigerator because itll separate and discolor, you can freeze it in drinkable portions . Then thaw it overnight in the fridge to enjoy it the next morning or throw a frozen portion in your bag on your way to work. Chances are, itll thaw during your commute.
Calories And Nutritional Info
One serving of this mixed berry smoothie contains 160 calories, 42 grams carbs, 3 grams fat, and 3 grams protein.
While this mixed berry banana smoothie is not necessarily low in sugar or carbohydrates, its still relatively healthy. There are tons of nutritional benefits! This smoothie is a good source of calcium, potassium, dietary fiber, Vitamin C, probiotics, and antioxidants.
It is possible to lower the calories, carbohydrates, and sugar. Simply opt for a lower-calorie milk such as almond milk. Also, you can leave out the sweetener or replace it with Stevia extract or another non-nutritive sweetener.
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What Should I Put In My Smoothie
The great thing about a fruit smoothie recipe is that the customization opportunities are virtually endless. Heres a quick run through of what I usually put in my smoothies:
- Milk or Juice: you can use dairy milk, non-dairy milk, juice, or even coconut water really any liquid goes! You can even use cold tea.
- Greek Yogurt: yogurt is a great way to kick the protein up a notch and to make a deliciously thick and creamy texture. Dairy-free, plant-based yogurt works well, too, and you can skip it if you need .
- Banana: I love to keep frozen, sliced banana on-hand. The frozen banana makes it extra creamy and acts as a natural sweetener.
- Berries/Other Fruit: any frozen fruit work great in smoothies! Pineapple, mango, and berries are our favorites. You can even use watermelon like in this refreshing Watermelon Smoothie!
- Add-Ins: you can customize it with so many different add-ins. Protein powders, nuts or seeds, oats, extracts, sweeteners, even avocado!
The Basic Smoothie Recipe
Smoothies are fairly straightforward to make, says Sarah Adler, nutrition coach, founder of Simply Real Health and author of the Simply Real Health Cookbook. The key is getting the proportions for the base right and then choosing your favorite ingredients to add to it. Heres the perfect recipe for the base of a smoothie, according to Adler:
- ½ to 1 whole banana
- 1 to 2 cups greens
- ½ to 1 cup water or liquid
Err on the side of more banana if you like it sweeter and creamier, more greens if you want to boost the health factor, and more liquid if you want to easily sip it through a straw.
In addition the base, youll want to add more of your favorite ingredients for flavor, texture, and nutritive benefits. This can include:
- Frozen or fresh fruit:¼ to ½ cup of your favorite varieties
- Protein and/or healthy fat: 1 scoop of protein powder, 1 tablespoon of nut or seed butter, and/or ¼ avocado
- Crunch or texture: chia seeds or nuts
- Herbs and spices: 1/8 to ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg, cinnamon, turmeric, or whatever else you like to spice things up with
- Sweetener: Honey, maple syrup, or agave nectar
This is totally up to you! says Adler. Just remember that more ingredients doesnt necessarily mean a better smoothie. Choose flavors that will work togetherexperiment if you dont already have a preferenceand when in doubt, go simple. For example, banana, strawberry, yogurt, almond milk and ice isnt fussy but sure is tasty.
Here are seven simple steps to making a perfect smoothie:
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Expert Tips And Tricks
- Skip the bananas. An avocado can be substituted for a banana along with a tablespoon or two of sweetener.
- Go for the goat yogurt. If youre slightly lactose intolerant, goats milk yogurt is a wonderful alternative that tastes very similar to cows milk yogurt.
- Add and adjust. Start by adding a little bit of optional ingredients and then taste after each addition to make sure you still like the flavor!
- Sweeten it last. Youd be surprised how sweet fruit can be! Wait until the end to stir in any additional sweeteners.
- Pay attention to the blade. You want to add your softer ingredients closer to the blade and the harder ingredients further away from the blade for easier blending.
Ditch The Ice And Freeze Some Fruits
Want your green smoothieto be extra chilly? Freeze your favorite fruits like ripe bananas , grapes, pineapple or berries. This is also a great way to not waste ripe fruits . You can also freeze your leafy greens in a freezer-safe bag. Just make sure to add your frozen greens straight to the blender .
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Consider These Factors When Buying A Blender For Preparing Smoothies With Frozen Fruit
There are certain features of a blender you need to consider if you are getting it to prepare a smoothie. A high-grade blender must have an extraordinary built and best technology to give you the kind of smoothie you want.
Power
The blenders which are available now are much more fast and quick than the past blenders. Manufactures indicate the blenders power mostly in watts or sometimes horsepower. Watts can range anywhere from 300 to 1500.
High wattage blenders tend to cost more than low wattage blender for obvious reasons. So its likely that a more expensive blender equals to a better one. A suitable blender for a smoothie would consist of a wattage anywhere near 800-1000.
Blade
A blender for a smoothie should be equipped with sharp and large blades. Nowadays, the blenders come with two varieties of the blade to make it more multipurpose. Look for effective extraction blades that can cut through frozen fruits effortlessly.
Jars
Various sizes of jar will help you if you want to make a smoothie in smaller or larger quantities. If you want to prepare a serving for one, get a blender with a jar with a capacity 25oz. If your requirements call for large quantities, be sure to buy no less than 45oz.
Several accessories that come along with the blenders are a different kind of lids. These lids allow you to switch the blending jar to a sipper. So not only can you pop the smoothie in the jar, but you can consume the smoothie in it too.
Speed
How To Blend The Perfect Smoothie
Depending on the strength of your blender , the order you put your ingredients in the blender could influence the overall texture. Heres how we like to layer ingredients into the blender:
Start the blender off slowly, then gradually increase the speed. Blend for 30 to 60 seconds until the smoothie is as smooth as possible.
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Guest Post: How To Make A Simple Green Smoothie
We have a super simple and healthy recipe weve been itchin to share with you!!! As a crazy-busy passionate mom, Ive been known to fuel my body with processed junk. Like those days when we found ourselves at Starbucks twice in one dayor driving through Taco Bell for dinner .
I was starved for time, low on energy and just.overwhelmed.
Can you relate?
Well, I discovered something that quickly changed our lives green smoothies. This blended drink of fresh fruits and dark leafy greens gave us energy, a fast healthy meal, and transformed our bodies from the inside out.
No joke. And we made this healthy habit really stick for the past 2 1/2 years and going strong. Now we have over 500,000 people from all around the world hooked on the green smoothie lifestyle too. I hope youll join us!
Detox Green Smoothie With Chia Seeds
If you havent tried chia seeds yet, heres a great opportunity. These tiny but mighty seeds are packed with omega-3 fatty acids that are great for your heart. They also help you stay fuller longer, thanks to their plant protein power. Combined with spinach, unsweetened almond milk, frozen pineapple, and naturally sweet banana, this tasty mixture is the ultimate breakfast treat.
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Banana Strawberry Soy Smoothie
Satisfy your sweet tooth and boost your protein intake with this fruit soy smoothie. Soy is a natural source of high quality protein and healthy fats, and there is some evidence that it may even
- 1/2 cup plain regular or nondairy yogurt
- 1 cup regular or nondairy milk
Blend together until smooth. If youre looking for a thicker consistency, add a few ice cubes before blending.
Green Smoothie Health Benefits
While all green smoothies are nutritional powerhouses and full of amazing benefits, this one is especially great for your skin, thanks to these three ingredients. These foods help to nourish your skin and give that healthy glow. So I love including these skin foods in my daily smoothie!
- Spinach: It has high levels of folate, which helps to maintain and repair DNA great for renewing skin!
- Avocado: Its full of monounsaturated fatty acids, which are the good fats that help keep your skin moist and hydrated.
- Almond Milk: Almonds are most often associated with skin care, and thats because theyre loaded with vitamin E. If you use good almond milk thats made mostly from almonds and water, youre reaping the benefits of vitamin E. Its great for repairing skin and defending against sun damage.
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Sweeten A Smoothie With Natural Sweeteners
Natural sweeteners should be our topmost priority if we wish to choose a healthier lifestyle and still satisfy our sweet tooth. All the natural sweeteners contain some amounts of added nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and different enzymes. Natural sweeteners are generally safer than that of refined sugar. However, when used excessively, they can prove to be equally as harmful as refined sugar, so as with most things, moderation is key.
Natural sweeteners tend to be sweeter than refined sugars, so a little goes a long way. When making smoothie recipes using natural sweeteners, it is always better to add little, try it, and increase only if necessary. You can always adjust the quantity to your taste. Below, you will find a list of some of our favorite natural sweeteners, all natural staples you need stocked in your pantry.
How To Make A Smoothie With Frozen Fruit
As we mentioned, making a smoothie with frozen fruit is a great way to go. Its an especially good move at the times of year when your favorite fruits arent in season.
And since you want your smoothie to be cold and frosty, theres no fuss here. Just throw your favorite frozen fruits into your smoothie and blend. You might even find that you need little or no ice because youre getting the coldness and iciness from your frozen fruit.
Bananas, mangos and blueberries always come out best frozen! says Adler. Strawberries and raspberries tend to be more bitter and have more seeds. So for those, you might want to go fresh.
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How To Make A Smoothie In A Blender
Smoothie aficionados will tell you a blender is the way to go for smoothie making. A good quality blender is going to break up your ice, pulverize your fruit, and yield a not-too-thick, not-too-thin smoothie consistency. Plus, a blender is an incredibly useful multipurpose kitchen tool to own for way more than just smoothies.
A great blender is the one thing I think every healthy kitchen needs, says Alder. You can make amazing soups, desserts, smoothies, sauces, and more in it. And clean-up is effortless.
Super Easy Fruit Smoothie Recipes
Oh yes, fruit combinations are endless in smoothies! And that makes it all the more fun to experiment with new flavors and vibrant colors. Just remember to make the most of whats in season. Stock up on mangos in the summer and persimmons in the winter. Then blend those with year round fruits such as bananas or apples to create easy, tasty, and refreshing options.
- Strawberry Banana Smoothie: This is a classic combo that never fails and can be enjoyed all year round!
- Mango Smoothie: Mangos are blended with bananas and milk for a sweet and creamy summertime recipe.
- Mandarin Breakfast Smoothie: This creamsicle dream is brimming with Vitamin C, and plenty of power ingredients to kickstart your morning!
- Strawberry Acai Smoothie: If youve got frozen acai packs, blend them with strawberries and bananas to create a vitamin-packed smoothie.
- Peach Breakfast Smoothie: Enjoy the best of peach season with a breakfast smoothie full of creamy yogurt, chia seeds, and a few easy spices.
- Almond Orange Smoothie: Oranges, bananas, almond butter, and vanilla beans make for a simple smoothie thats packed with flavor and nutrients. Bonus, it tastes like an Orange Julius!
- Post Workout Green Smoothie: Try this easy combo of spinach, apples, bananas, avocado, and protein powder to complete your workout routine.
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