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.
Blueberry And Spinach Superfood Green Smoothie
The Spruce
All-natural, vegan, low-calorie, and raw, this superfood smoothie is nutritious and delicious. Antioxidant-rich blueberries and iron-rich spinach will start your day off right. This drink doesn’t contain any sweeteners, but you can add a touch of honey or use fruit juice as the liquid if you like. Using a very ripe banana will naturally sweeten things up, too.
They’re Great For Breakfast Or An Afternoon Pick
The Spruce
Smoothies are a convenient and colorful way to start your day, but some recipes can be filled with added sugar and fat. For a healthy meal or snack, stick to the basics: fruit and veggies.
Every successful smoothie contains two main ingredients: fruit and/or vegetables and a liquid, such as fruit juice, vegetable juice, or milk. Other possible ingredients include yogurt, nut butter, seeds, spices, herbs, and more. Many smoothies also include a few ice cubes to keep the mixture nice and cold. Often, recipes can be tweaked to meet different dietary requirements or tastesfeel free to swap out dairy products for non-dairy ones or change up the spices and juices.
All of these smoothies recipes are loaded with good-for-you vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, fiber, and protein. They’re made with only natural ingredients and range in flavors from mango to chocolate to veggie. You’re sure to find a breakfast smoothie for every day of the week.
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What If I Dont Like Bananas
Bananas are the backbone of my simple smoothie recipes — to me, they add so much creaminess and natural sweetness for an affordable price. But, if theyre not your thing, you can add some Greek yogurt with a sweetener and ice, OR do half an avocado with a sweetener and ice. Those two combos will replace a banana nicely in a smoothie and still give you a rich, creamy texture.
Make any of these 8 Simple Smoothie Recipes today for you or your family and enjoy the balance of vegetables and fruits in these creamy, refreshing drinks!
Now you are a smoothie making expert and I hope that you have found some great smoothie inspiration to get you comfortable with making smoothies at home.
This is just a starting point though, feel free to play around with these base recipes and come up with your own favorite smoothie recipes to meet your needs and preferences!
Can Smoothies Replace A Meal
If its a well-balanced smoothie with a good amount of protein, fiber and healthy fats you can absolutely use it as a meal replacement. I aim for around 400-500 calories and at least 12-15 grams of protein if Im having a smoothie as a meal. See my protein shake recipes to get some ideas.
I like to enjoy a smoothie for breakfast or a snack, but it usually isnt filling or satisfying enough for me for lunch or dinner. This strawberry banana smoothie is a great snack option because its less than 200 calories and has 7 grams of protein!
Ive also found that sometimes a smoothie bowl is more filling for me. I like to top them with things to chew and eat the smoothie with a spoon. The process of eating with a spoon and having something to chew makes my brain register the smoothie as a meal and it feels more satisfying. New to smoothie bowls? Try this healthy smoothie bowl as a starter recipe and then try my acai bowl or dragon fruit smoothie bowl.
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The Best Green Smoothie
Okay, lets be real. We all want to add a little more green into our lives. However, sometimes it can be hard to gag down. Change all of that with this 5-star smoothie recipe. Not only is this smoothie incredibly delicious, but its also packed with nutrients. Chug those greens the easy way!
How Can I Interest My Kids In Healthy Smoothies
The biggest way to get kids on board with anything is to make it fun and involve them!
- Set up a smoothie bar: Let your kids help with selecting what ingredients go into the smoothies, and also choosing fun and healthy toppings, like chia seeds, flax meal, sliced almonds, and fresh fruit! They will be more likely to try it if its their creation!
- Play smoothie shop: On weekend mornings, or whenever you have time. Play smoothie shop with your kids! Let them take your order, and help make the smoothies as much as they are able to, by age.
- Ask for their help in the kitchen!: Kids are amazing helpers, especially in the kitchen! They are naturally curious, and love to spend time together. Nurture this, and show them all of your favorite healthy cooking tips!
- Work in your garden/ get groceries as a family: My daughter has always loved helping in the garden. Its a great time to discuss our food and where it comes from! If you arent able to take your little ones to the grocery store, let them help you compile the grocery list.
- Read about fruits and veggies: There are tons of childrens books on about fruits, veggies, farming, and eating healthy!
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Blueberry Banana Blast Smoothie
The blueberry banana smoothie is full of healthy antioxidants, iron, potassium, and fiber. It has a really sweet taste, but there isn’t any added sweetener in it. It doesn’t need it! The blueberries and bananas are sweet enough. The chia seeds and almond butter add a nutty undertone and plenty of protein to make this a wonderful breakfast smoothie.
How Do You Make A Smoothie From Scratch
In short, making a smoothie is as simple as tossing ingredients into the blender and letting it do the work. The harder part is deciding what, and how much, goes into the pitcher.
A homemade smoothie can be as simple or complex as you choose to make it.
You can make an easy 2-ingredient strawberry smoothie by blending together frozen strawberries and a bit of milk. Or you could get really complicated and make a 12 ingredient mega smoothie with enough calories to last the day.
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Are Homemade Smoothies Good For You
Whether or not a smoothie is good for you depends on your overall diet, what you add to your smoothie, and how often you are drinking them. Smoothies that are filled with fruits and vegetables, within your recommended calorie limit, and without a lot of added sugar, can very much be a healthy part of your diet.
Homemade Frozen Smoothie Packs
Smoothie packs are pre-packaged including everything that would found in a typical smoothie. All you do is blend it all together when you want to enjoy a smoothie.
Skip the expensive store-bought kinds and make your own. Simply add your favorite frozen fruit, vegetables, ice blocks and/or frozen milk blocks and keep in the freezer until ready to drink!
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How Can I Make My Smoothie Healthier
The smoothie recipes below are plain, but if you want to expand your smoothie horizons, go for it! Toss in chia seeds or protein powder or hemp seeds or flax or whatever else makes your heart happy. If you have a standard set of mix-ins you like, you can even freeze them into booster packsgreat for really quick and easy smoothies!
Chocolate Banana Coffee Smoothie With Turmeric
Get the many health benefits or turmeric by adding it to your morning smoothie. The active ingredient in turmeric is called curcumin. Curcumin has anti-inflammatory properties and has been shown to be beneficial in treating symptoms of Crohns disease, IBS and stomach ulcers. Just spin the ingredients together in a blender and you have a drink that gets your day going and fights inflammation.
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Best Blender For Smoothies
First things first, lets talk about the blender situation. I know there are hundreds of blenders on the market and it can be very daunting to find the right one for you. One thing I have learned with the handful of blenders that Ive owned is that quality matters. Usually, quality and price coincide and its totally true.
Ive found that the more expensive and higher quality blender I have, the more success I have with what I am makingespecially smoothies. The most recent and BEST blender I have ever had is a Vitamix.
We have the Vitamix 5200and it runs you about $430 on Amazon. I do not have a single bad thing to say about this beast. Its super powerful, easy to clean, and it makes making smoothies along with other things a breeze. I can tell you right now that this is the best blender I have ever owned and theres no turning back.
What Are The Health Benefits Of Green Smoothies
Kale – Insanely low in calories. Powerful anti-oxidant with anti-inflammatory properties. Helpful for arthritis and autoimmune diseases. Helps to create that youthful glow.
Spinach – The beauty of spinach lies in how easy it is to disguise the taste. It’s mild tasting yet packed with an abundance of vitamins, has anti-cancerous properties and is one of the healthiest foods on the planet.
Cucumber – Since it’s 95% water, its an incredible detoxifier. Helps with liver and kidney function.
Lemon – The “happy fruit” – one of the most important items to stock in your kitchen. It’s 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, it’s rich in potassium and fiber and gives you natural energy.
Pure Apple Juice – Since it’s packed with Vitamin C, it’s a friend to your immune system. The sweet juice counteracts the bitterness of the greens and leaves a refreshing taste.
If you want to up the ante on the health benefits, swap your apple juice with water and add a whole apple instead. You will be increasing your fiber as whole fruits are always preferable to juice. My kids definitely prefer the apple juice but we do both in our home.
This isn’t your overly sweet smoothie that you will be sipping for hours. It’s best consumed right away and use a straw because you will want to stir around all of the amazing blended whole foods.
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How Do I Make Smoothies If I Dont Like Bananas
Lucky for you, we have an entire post of recipes to make a smoothie without banana. Try those recipes, or tweak any of the recipes below by:
- Subbing in 1/2 cup additional plain Greek yogurt , plus 1 tablespoon additional sweetener and a handful of ice cubes in place of the frozen banana in these recipes.
- Other options: canned pineapple, sweetened yogurt, canned pears. Adding half a ripe avocado can really help make up for the creaminess that bananas usually add, too.
Add In Ideas To Make Your Smoothie Even Healthier
- Chia Seeds High in protein, antioxidants, omega-3, fiber, magnesium and potassium.
- Hemp Hearts High in protein, omega-3 and 6
- Flax Meal High in fiber, omega-3 and lignans
- Oats High in soluble fiber, iron, antioxidants. Also great for lowering cholesterol and low in fat.
- Almonds High in antioxidants and vitamin E. Can help lower harmful cholesterol.
- Spiralina Powder High in vitamin A and a natural source of chlorophyll.
- Matcha High in EGCG which is thought to promote heart health, brain health and weight loss. Also calms the mind and relaxes the body, among many other things.
- Turmeric High in anti-inflammatory properties. Also, increases antioxidant capacity of your body. Can be used fresh or in powder form.
- Ginger High in anti-inflammatory properties. Aids with nausea and upset stomach. Can be used fresh or in powder form.
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Skinny Oatmeal Cookie Smoothie
And here we have it! Yet another healthy smoothie version of your favorite dessert! If youre getting sick of eating oatmeal in the mornings, try using it in a shake instead! Because of the high fiber in oatmeal, it helps keep you feeling full and satiated longer while giving the smoothie a fun new texture.
Go Green With This Spinach Smoothie
Do you have a child in your life that wont touch vegetables? Or were you one of those kids that sat at the table and tried to fold your green beans into a napkin so you wouldnt have to eat your veggies? Have no fear, we have made a vegetable smoothie for all of you and it doesnt taste one bit like vegetables.
We wanted to create a healthy breakfast smoothie that was also a great option for people looking for a vegan smoothie recipe or spinach smoothie recipe. We recently posted the Best Breakfast Smoothie Recipe on FFF and it didnt have any greens in it, so we decided our next smoothie recipe had to be a filling and delicious green smoothie recipe.
Now, dont get me wrong, you can make this smoothie at any time of the day not just for breakfast! We usually blend up a smoothie for a post workout snack or if we are craving a lighter fare for dinner as well. Check out all of our favorite smoothie options for other smoothie inspiration.
This healthy green smoothie is a full meal in a glass! We have covered your healthy fats, a couple servings of vegetables, and topped it off with a little bit of sweetness for the nanners and dates. We really didnt miss a beat when developing this tasty glass of goodness. Check it out..
- Frozen Bananas
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Cinnamon Apple Breakfast Smoothie
Apples and cinnamon go together like peanut butter and bananas. What better way to enjoy these classic and comforting flavors than in this delicious, fiber-filled smoothie? Apples are among the richest sources of fiber thanks to a plant starch called pectin. Found in the skin and flesh of the apple, pectin makes this fruit ideal for blending because it adds a rich texture to smoothies. Combine apples with a few dashes of cinnamon and a few sprinkles of hemp seeds for an energizing and delicious morning or afternoon treat.
How To Make A Smoothie Without Bananas:
Bananas are the backbone of my simple smoothie recipes. They add so much creaminess, and natural sweetness while being inexpensive. That being said, I know not everyone likes/eats bananas. If you aren’t into bananas, you can add some Greek yogurt + sweetener + ice OR a half of an avocado + sweetener + ice. Those two combos will replace a banana nicely in a smoothie and still give you a nice rich and smooth texture.
Read Also: How To Make Homemade Fruit Smoothies
Healthy Energy Smoothie Recipes
Got a big day? Start it off right with these nourishing energy smoothie recipes.
Sure, I like a high stack of pancakes drenched in butter and maple syrup as much as the next person.
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But empty carbs and sugar can quickly lead to a crash and burn scenario.
Energy smoothies, on the other hand, are full of whole foods that fuel your body right.
These nutrients are precisely what youll need to nourish your body and energize yourself for the day.
Plus, it doesnt hurt that they taste amazing!
With a trusty blender, you can whip up a tasty energy smoothie in minutes and be ready to tackle the day.
Are Smoothies Good For Kids
“Smoothies can be a nice option for kids since they’re simple to make and give parents the opportunity to incorporate foods that their child may otherwise not eat,” says Sassos. Even if your kid makes a face at even the idea of spinach, he’ll probably love a “green monster smoothie” , especially if there are a few banana chunks in there to naturally sweeten it up. Another reason smoothies are great for parents is that you can make them ahead of time , or take the along in a spill-proof cup for a healthy between-games Saturday snack.
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What Is A Smoothie Bowl
A smoothie bowl is a smoothie eaten from a bowl instead of consumed from a cup. The biggest difference between a smoothie and a smoothie bowl is that smoothie bowls have toppings such as granola, seeds, and dried fruit, whereas normal smoothies dont.
Did you know, that ANY smoothie recipe can be turned into a smoothie bowl? Check out our favorite green smoothie recipes and ALL of our smoothies HERE.
What Is A Smoothie
A smoothie is a cold, blended drink made up of frozen fruit, liquid such as juice or milk, and other nutritional add-ins such as nut butter, protein powder, and protein powder.
Smoothies are a great way to pack in the nutrition without a lot of effort. There are many varieties of smoothies such as green smoothies, fruit smoothies, smoothies bowls, and more.
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