Invest In Good Blender
First of all, before we even get started I want to mention that if you are SERIOUS about smoothies, the best advice I can give is to invest in a good blender especially if you will be using ingredients that are fibrous, like kale or collard greens.
I have had the same Vitamix for almost 5 years and they are honestly my absolute favorite. YES, they are expensive, BUT they create the smoothest consistency especially for green smoothies.
They arent the only options out there, however.
Ninja Blenders are also great, and a little bit less expensive. I cant vouch for the durability or longevity, but from what clients and friends say about them is that they are an amazing choice as well.
Lastly, Ill mention the NutriBullet. We have had these in the past and while they are great, they dont seem to last as long, and they definitely dont blend up the fibrous stuff quite like the Vitamix. But they are a powerful little blender if you wont be making smoothies from super hearty veggies.
Make Ahead Freezer Smoothie Packs Two Ways
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These Make Ahead Freezer Smoothie Packs are an easy, delicious way to prep smoothies in advance, so that when youre ready to blend you can just grab and dump!
All you need to do is add avocado or yogurt, ice and milk, water or juice of choice.
How To Make Smoothies //
I like to make a batch of 3 or 4 almond milk smoothies at a time. If I make 5, it is too much for the blender.
Keep your make ahead almond milk smoothies in the freezer until you need a quick breakfast on the go. The consistency is best if you allow them to thaw at room temperature. I dont recommend thawing them in the refrigerator unless you prefer very loose smoothies.
Read Also: Stonyfield Yogurt Smoothie Nutrition Facts
Frozen Smoothie Meal Prep
Smoothie recipes are easy to make ahead of time for frozen meal prep. All you need to start is frozen fruit and a liquid-like juice or milk. A good smoothie ratio to work with is 1 part liquid, 2 parts solid fruit or vegetables. This is a good base to go off when making your own smoothie. Then, consider adding in other ingredients like yogurt, nut butter, and seeds in smaller amounts. Some ingredients to include in your frozen meal prep smoothies other than fruit can include:
- Hemp, flax, or chia seeds for fiber and nutrients.
- For liquid, try almond milk, coconut milk, coconut water, or fruit juice.
- Honey, maple syrup, or dates for sweetness.
- Avocado, nut butter, seed butter, or yogurt, for fat and creaminess.
- Lemon juice, ginger, turmeric, or vanilla, for aromatics.
Frozen meal prep like smoothies makes it convenient to eat healthy and enjoy good food. Meal prep smoothies similar to how you would make them on the spot. First, add solids like fruit, leafy greens, nuts, and seeds to a freezer safe bag. Freeze overnight, then add to a blender. Add in your liquids like plant milk, and other ingredients like avocado, nut butter, or yogurt. Then blend!
How To Up Your Veggie Intake
For an extra dose of veggies and protein in my smoothie, I add frozen spinach and yogurt cubes that have been made ahead. This step can be completed anytime and is so simple and totally worth the few minutes it takes to prepare! Whenever I have extra spinach or kale that is about to go bad or needs to be used, I blend it up with water in the Vitamix to make frozen veggie cubes. Like so many, I struggle to get enough vegetables in my daily diet, but adding 1-2 of these spinach cubes to your smoothie is a super easy way to get in a healthy dose of undetectable veggies! Check out these silicone ice cube trays I use to make the spinach and yogurt cubes.
Recommended Reading: Weight Loss Supplements For Smoothies
Recipe For Smoothie To Prepare Food
These recipes work especially well for preparing meals, either to prepare them completely in advance or as smoothie packages.
You can use fresh or frozen berries in this simple strawberry smoothie and the results will have a structure similar to drinking yogurt. To make it thicker and try different flavor options, see the Notes at the end of the recipe.
Get the recipe
The use of frozen watermelon ensures a cool, creamy smoothie that blends easily into the blender. Plan to freeze the watermelon for at least 6 hours before you want to make the smoothie.
Get the recipe
Make Your Smoothies Taste Amazing
There are a few keys for making delicious smoothies every time:
Read Also: What’s In A Strawberry Banana Smoothie
Make Ahead Smoothies //
One day, I got the idea to make a big batch of smoothies and then individually freeze them. I didnt know if it would work, or if they would still be good after they thawed, but they are.
Wes pulls one out of the freezer when he wakes up, leaves it on the counter, goes for a run, gets dressed, and hops into the car for a good DC commute. By that time, it has begun to thaw, and he drinks it on his way to work. The pre-made smoothies make our mornings just a little easier. There is less to clean up. Plus, they are easy to grab and go.
These smoothies are also great to pack in your childs lunchbox. By lunchtime, the smoothie should be thawed enough for them to drink. A nice change from the normal peanut butter and jelly.
Try Our Favorite Nutrition Boosters
Enhance any smoothie with some additional nutritious ingredients to really make it your own. Dont be afraid to experiment a little! Here are a few suggestions that you can add to this immune boosting smoothie:
- Matcha: if youre a green tea lover, you can add a teaspoon of matcha to your smoothie for green color, antioxidants and earthy flavor. Its so good!
- Flaxseed meal: this is one of my favorite ingredients to add to smoothies for a little boost of fiber and minerals, and is especially great for nursing mamas as flaxseed can help increase milk supply. Usually, a tablespoon is plenty! Heres a brand I love.
- Chia seeds: feel free to add in a tablespoon of chia seeds to your smoothie for a boost of healthy fats and fiber.
- Hemp seeds: if youve been wondering what to do with those hemp seeds lurking in your cupboard, feel free to throw in a tablespoon into your smoothie for a boost of healthy fats, omegas and minerals.
- Protein: make this a post-workout smoothie and boost the protein by adding 1/2 cup greek yogurt or 1 scoop of your favorite protein powder. I recommend Vital Protein collagen peptides or Four Sigmatic Protein Powder.
Recommended Reading: Fit Flavors Smoothie Bar Menu
How Do You Make A Smooth Smoothie
A tasty smoothie has to have the right consistency, which depends a little on personal preference. Fortunately, adjustments are a breeze.
If your smoothie is too thick, add more liquid. We personally prefer an unsweetened milk beverage over water so that it doesnt water down the flavor.
If your smoothie is too thin, then add more solid contents. This could be more fresh fruit, nut butters, dairy like yogurt, or even oats.
Your blender can play a factor too. A higher power blender can cut through the frozen fruits and some of the more solid ingredients better, creating the smooth texture youre looking for.
Also, it helps to start at the low setting then move upward to a higher setting, rather than starting out on high right off the bat.
Check our tips below on how to blend smoothies to get the best results.
How Long Can You Keep Smoothies In The Freezer Or Fridge
If you stock your freezer with your meal prep smoothies or smoothie packs, you can store them for up to 3 months.
For smoothie packs kept in the refrigerator, its best to use them within 5-7 days.
And for smoothies made ahead of time in mason jars, you should consume them within 3 hours, unless frozen.
Also Check: The 10 Day Green Smoothie Cleanse
Prep Day: 4 Simple Ways To Make Smoothies In Advance
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Today, lets turn our attention to prep day and smoothies!
Im going to be totally honest
Some weeks I just dont feel like heating up the oven and baking muffins, making soup, or cooking a whole chicken . When those weeks hit, I remind myself about my reasons for prepping. If I just cant pull myself out of the prep day blues, I turn to easy foods that can be prepped without an oven: chopping fruits and vegetables, making fruit parfaits, washing greens, or blending smoothies. Even these small tasks can make a huge difference in our weekly schedule and the food we enjoy.
Before I share the smoothie prep details, lets focus on the main reasons why you should think about making smoothies during your prep time. After all, if youre going to include a task on your prep day printable or mental plan, it must help maximize your time throughout the week
How To Make Healthy Smoothies
Making healthy smoothies is a much simpler process than you would imagine, and this post will show you how to make 7 different kinds of healthy smoothies that youâre going to love!
I think many people have misconceptions about what healthy smoothies really are. I know when I was younger, I thought that healthy smoothies were the ones you got at Booster Juice. Sadly, I would order a large smoothie from there or Starbucks after a night of partying and think I was replenishing my body with healthy food. Little did I know these smoothies were often filled with sugary frozen yogurt and can contain up to 460 calories .
To make genuinely healthy smoothies, you have to be careful with the ingredients you use. This post will educate you on how to choose the highest-quality ingredients to ensure that youâre getting the nutritional benefits you should be getting with fruit-filled smoothies.
As long as you stock your freezer with frozen fruit and keep a few handy base ingredients on hand in the fridge each week, smoothie making is super easy and nutritious.
These 14 smoothie freezer packs will give you an entire weeks worth of variety, flavor, nutrition, and fruit smoothie satisfaction.
Don’t Miss: What Goes In A Healthy Smoothie
How To Meal Prep Smoothies For A Week
First, gather the following items: measuring cups, quart bags or canning jars , a permanent marker, your favorite fruit and leafy greens and either my blog or the Daily Blends Smoothie App. These items will make meal prepping smoothies a breeze. Next:
When you’re ready to use your meal prepped smoothies, remove smoothie pack from freezer. Add liquid base to container or bag . You can also thaw for a few minutes on the counter or in warm water. This helps the fruit and greens come out of the container more easily. Pour into blender and blend until smooth.
Can You Meal Prep Smoothies
Absolutely! You can use fresh or frozen fruits galore. If you are adding any leafy vegetables like spinach or kale I recommend cooking them in boiling water for a few seconds and drying before freezing. This keeps them fresh in the freezer for months at a time.
Basically, its creating a bunch of frozen smoothie packs. I personally already use frozen fruit for this but you can slice up and freeze other fresh fruits like mango, strawberries, bananas, and more.
Also Check: How To Make A Delicious Fruit Smoothie
Smoothie Meal Prep: The Fruit And Other Ingredients
I like my smoothies frozen so for me it makes sense to prep the fruit ahead of time and place them in the freezer. In my opinion, the fruit blends up in the blender more smoothly than adding ice. But storing it in the freezer also keeps the fruit fresh until you are ready to use, so you dont have to worry about your fruit going bad and saves you money in the long run!
How To Prepare Make Ahead Smoothie Packets
Chop and freeze fresh fruit or use already frozen fruit.
Make veggie and yogurt cubes
Combine desired fruit combos with veggie and yogurt cubes in freezer bags for your make ahead smoothie packets.
When ready to prepare, add pre-made frozen smoothie packets to the blender with desired liquid and any add-ins for an extra nutrient boost.
Also Check: Healthy Smoothies With Oat Milk
Preparing These Smoothies With A Normal Blender
If you don’t have a bender that can safely screw onto mason jars, you can simply do the same thing using a freezer bag or even simple sandwich bags if you will be using them up quickly.
Just grab the bag out of the freezer and dump the contents into your blender with a cup of milk, blend, and you’re done!
Since I made up a bunch of different flavors, we arent getting bored and it is fun to try a new one every time. The hardest part is deciding which flavor to enjoy!
*Make sure that you follow safety directions and only use jars compatible with your blender! Other glass jars may fit on your blender, but many are not strong enough and could possibly break while blending.
If you like the idea of prepping healthy breakfasts, you’ll love my make-ahead easy chia pudding or my quick and easy oatmeal mug muffins! Be sure to check out all my vegan breakfast prep ideas.
Be sure to for new vegan recipes!
Two Surprisingly Simple Secrets To A Better Make
Google “making smoothies ahead of time,” and you’ll find plenty of tips and tricks. There’s the pre-freeze method: Freeze a bunch of pre-portioned stuff in a bag, pull it out, add liquid, and pray your blender’s blade can tackle it all. Then there’s the post-freeze method: Blend first, then transfer your smoothie into a plastic bag or other freezer-safe container, and freeze. In that case, you have to transfer the concoction from the freezer to the fridge the night before to thawor you’ll wake up to a breakfast popsicle.
But there’s a better, easier make-ahead smoothie method in townand you can forget your smoothie packs altogether. And ditch the smoothie pops.
Don’t Miss: Tropical Smoothie Cafe Columbia Md
Immune Boosting Wellness Smoothie
Immune boosting wellness smoothie packed with nourishing ingredients like fresh ginger, turmeric root, spinach, raw or manuka honey, pineapple, banana and black pepper. This immune boosting smoothie is great for digestion, packs anti-inflammatories and tastes delicious! Enjoy it for an easy, refreshing breakfast or snack whenever youre feeling under the weather.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I make a small commission off items you purchase at no additional cost to you. Please read my policy page.
I first started making this immune boosting green smoothie a few years back after my best friend Callie visited me from LA. Shes always coming to me with the latest and greatest wellness ideas and made me this wellness drink a few times while she was here. I was skeptical at first because I wasnt used to using real turmeric root in anything except my famous chicken soup, and was nervous to try it in a smoothie.
Upon my first sip, I realized what a game-changer this recipe was and how much I love using fresh turmeric in recipes.
I come back to this immune boosting smoothie, or wellness drink, time and time again whenever Im feeling a little under the weather. Its refreshing, flavorful and packed with nourishing ingredients that make you feel dang good. Absolutely perfect for postpartum, too!