Power Up With Proteinadd Protein To Your Smoothie
Another thing to add to smoothies besides fruit is protein powder. I would suggest choosing a protein powder based on the type of smoothie that you plan on making. For instance, if you are planning on making a fruit smoothie and simply want something besides fruit in it, you can choose to use a vanilla flavored protein powderbecause vanilla tends to work really well with most fruit smoothies! Or you could choose a neutral flavored protein powder.
The benefit to adding protein powder to your smoothies is that while fruit and veggie smoothies provide you with a lot of nutrients, they dont necessarily fie you lots of protein. In fact, unless youre making a green smoothie with kale or spinach, you are not going to get much protein at all.
There are a bunch of different options when it comes to adding protein powder to your smoothie. I have a whole article designed to help you figure out if you should use Whey, Soy, or Vegetable Protein powder. And I wrote another article that covers how to find a healthy whey protein without sucralose.
Heres the short version:
Whey protein is made from milk . Its the easiest to blend up. Its the easiest to absorb.
Vegetable Protein Powder is healthy, but its a bit harder to mix up. If youre adding protein powder straight to water I would suggest skipping it and choosing whey. But if youre blending up a green smoothie, or even a fruit smoothie, you can choose a vegetable protein such as one made by Vega.
Layering Ingredients In The Proper Sequence
Adding ingredients into the blender in the right order is key for breaking down those tough, fibrous, leafy, or icy ingredients into a smooth consistency. According to Vitamix, this is the recommended way to layer in each ingredient, depending on the size of your kitchen blender:
- Large containers : First add any wet ingredients , followed by dry goods, leafy greens, fresh fruits/vegetables, then frozen ingredients last.
- Small containers : First add frozen ingredients, fresh fruits/vegetables, leafy greens, dry goods, and wet ingredients last.
Spinach Is For Saladsand Smoothies
So, I used to be a firm believer that spinach was to be used in one thing: SALAD. I love me a good spinach salad! Really, I do!
But when I saw people start putting it in their smoothies, I was skeptical. Yes, very skeptical.
Especially when I had a conversation with a Facebook friend about this whole spinach salad/smoothie dilemma and she said, well, its not that bad in a smoothie, really.
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Tips For Making The Perfect Smoothie
Wondering how to make the perfect smoothie and enhance your blender technique? We have a few tips for making smoothies with a Ninja blender.
Fresh fruit and veggies always work best. If this isnt a possibility for you, use frozen. Never use canned veggies. These are filled with sodium for preservation and a lot of canned food can have the chemical BPA in it.
Most ninja blenders are able to chop up frozen fruits or veggies so you dont need to let them thaw. Plus, when using frozen food you wont need to add ice to your smoothie. The frozen fruit will make sure your smoothie is nice and cold.
Always peel and chop large veggies and fruits before putting them in your Ninja blender.
If your smoothie turns out too thick, try adding a bit more of the liquid ingredients. If your smoothie is too thin, add some more ice, yogurt, banana, nut butter, or avocado.
If youre on a diet or training, dont be afraid to throw in some protein powder or other health boosting powders.
If you need it sweeter then add honey, maple syrup, or agave nectar to your smoothie instead of sugar.
If you like a crunchy texture, try hemp seeds, chia seeds, or flax seeds to your concoction.
Yogurt and bananas will make your smoothies smooth and creamy.
If youre vegan or have a dairy intolerance, try almond milk, another nut milk, or coconut milk instead of actual dairy milk.
When you use fruit juices in your drink, get unsweetened or sugar-free options for a healthier smoothie.
Strawberry Banana Smoothie Ingredients:
To make this strawberry banana smoothie recipe, you will need the following ingredients :
- Frozen strawberries: Or you can sub in any other kind of frozen berries that you have on hand.
- Banana: I typically just use fresh bananas. But if you have frozen sliced bananas, you can omit some of the ice in this recipe.
- Milk: Any type of milk will work for this recipe cows milk, almond milk, oat milk, you name it.
- Ice: However much is needed to achieve your desired smoothie consistency.
- Optional add-ins: See ideas below!
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Orange Strawberry Squash Smoothie
This two-serving sipper is a delicious way to help you reach your daily fruit and veggie requirements. Like many smoothies, you could blend it into a drink or a smoothie bowl. If you want to make more of a meal out of it, add protein-rich enhancers, like protein powder or Greek yogurt.
This smoothie bowl packs 27 g of protein to power you through a long morning. Plus, wild blueberries are packed with antioxidants and fiber.
If a non-dairy smoothie is more your style, this one, with plant-based protein powder, makes a delicious and filling meal.
Cottage cheese provides the protein in this layered drink. Its made parfait-style so the smoothie and cottage cheese are kept separateperfect for days when you want to dig in with a spoon.
Sorbet Chocolate Syrup And Ice Cream
I am convinced that most of you do not add these ingredients to your green smoothies.
Though, if you make a smoothie for dessert using these things, I suggest you try to use healthier methods to prepare your blends. You can use most fruit to make a sorbet and you do not have to add any sugar whatsoever. Fruit is adequately sweet without having to add sugar.
When you simply can’t do without your favorite chocolate, my suggestion is that you use raw cacao in your green smoothie. This is a much better form of chocolate.
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Best Ninja Smoothie Recipes
These recipes are super easy and super fast to make. We chose our tastiest and healthiest 12 recipes for Ninja blenders to share with you. All these recipes are made for 24 ounce blender cups.
Our Tasty Ninja Blender Smoothie Options
Citrus Fun
- 2 cups of unsweetened coconut milk
- 1 orange, peeled, chunks
- 1 cup of tangerine, chunks
- 1 banana
- 1 tablespoon of agave nectar
Minty Fresh Green Tea
- 1 cup of unsweetened green tea
- 1 cup of coconut water
- 1 cucumber, sliced
- 1 tablespoon of flax seeds
Strawberry Mango
- 2 cups of pineapple juice
- 1/2 cup of plain or vanilla yogurt
- 1 cup of strawberries
- 1 cup of mango, chunks
- 1 tablespoon of agave nectar
Jolly Rancher
- 2 cups of orange juice
- 1 cup of watermelon, chunks
- 1 cup of green apple, peeled, chunks
- 1 tablespoon of agave nectar
Crazy Cherry Limeade
- 1 1/2 cups of almond milk
- 1/2 cup of lime juice
- 1 cup of cherries, pitted
- 1 tablespoon of agave nectar
- 1 tablespoon of chia seeds
Banana Oatmeal Breakfast
- 1 cup of almond milk
- 1 cup of vanilla low-fat yogurt
- 2 bananas
- 1 tablespoon of flax seeds
Chocolate Hazelnut Joy
- 1 1/2 cups of almond milk
- 1/2 cup of plain yogurt
- 1/2 cup of hazelnut butter
- 3 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/3 tablespoon of vanilla extract
- 1/3 tablespoon of almond extract
Apple Almond
- 1 cup of almond milk
- 1/2 cup of plain yogurt
- 1 red apple, peeled, chunks
- 1 banana
- 2 tablespoons of almond butter
Our Mind and Body Nurturing Ninja Smoothies
Morning Energy Booster
Fat Burner Juice
Bed Time Smoothie
Final Thoughts
Best Blenders For Smoothies
OK, youve got all of your smoothie ingredients prepped and ready to go, now how are you going to blend them up?
The key here is powerful.
You want to use a blender capable of completely mixing up all of the ingredients until they are smooth and creamy.
Here is a list of the best blenders for making fruit smoothies:
- Nutribullet A wonderful personal-sized blender option. Make sure you use the larger cup in order to fit all of the ingredients without going over the max fill line.
- Ninja Blender is also another great option!
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How To Make A Smoothie: The Only Guide You Need In 2021
If you want to learn how to make delicious and highly nutritious smoothies, youve come to the right place.
Whether youve never made a smoothie before and need step-by-step instructions, or you want to take your smoothie making skills to the next level, everything you need to know is outlined below.
Ive made thousands of delicious, creamy smoothies over the years and have turned it into sort of an art form. The good news is anybody can learn how to make smoothies as I have. Once you get the basics down, youll be creating smoothies like a master in no time.
This guide will teach you everything you need to know to make the smoothie recipes on Healthy Smoothie HQ, recipes you find elsewhere, and better yet, new recipes you dream up on your own.
Why Is Blending Fruit Bad
But when we blend or juice fruit, were breaking down the plant cell walls and exposing the natural sugars within. This effectively turns the sugars into free sugars, the type we are advised to cut back on. Free sugars may lead to dental decay, provide excess calories and cause a rapid rise in blood sugar levels.
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Make Sure You Have A Good Blender To Make This Frozen Fruit Smoothie
You want to make sure you have a good blender. I have been thru some cheap ones and they barely last a week. They just cant handle the ice and frozen fruit.
Dont waste your time like I did with these cheaper models, and just get something nice from the get go. It will save you time and money!
I have a Vitamix now and I love it. We have had it for many years and its still working to make smoothies and more! Its paid for itself time and time again with all the money I have saved making smoothies and milkshakes at home.
Now, it is pricey but its truly worth it. You wont have to keep replacing it like with the cheaper blenders. Amazon has several of them on sale right now for a great price.
If you just cant make it work in the budget, I recommend a Waring professional blender. I think it is the next best thing and it will get the job done. Now, it is not as good as the Vitamix but its a close second for a more reasonable price. Amazon has several Waring blenders on sale right now.
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.
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Are Smoothies Healthy For You
Before we dive into the quest of how to make a fruit smoothie, lets dive into the why. Our philosophy here at Wholefully is that smoothies can be an incredibly nourishing part of your diet. Just like with our juicing recipes, we say its always better to eat whole fruits and veggies where possible. But its not always possible! Smoothies do make it easy to pack in all the nutrients of your favorite produce into one drinkable cupwhich is great when youre on the go or short on time.
And lets be honest, smoothies are just freaking delicious! We are big believers that you also need to nourish your soul with your food, and if drinking a perfectly tangy and sweet smoothie brings a smile to your face, then thats healthy as healthy can be.
Should You Put Milk In A Smoothie
You absolutely do not need milk to make a smoothie. In fact, some of the most delicious smoothies I have ever made do not have any milk in them at all. Sometimes milk is a great way to help build your smoothies, but it also can easily water down the flavor depending on the type of smoothie you are making.
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The Best Liquid Bases To Put In Your Smoothies
You may have made your smoothies many times and use dozens of varieties of fruits and vegetables, and this time you want to add some liquids to your smoothies.
Many of you probably add water or ice cubes to give some liquid consistency to your smoothies. There are a lot of options available when choosing the right liquid bases.
The choice of a liquid for making a smoothie can make or break your smoothie. It can determine the right harmony which exists between all ingredients when they come to a blend. More on that, a base can add more nutrition, flavor, and support creaminess.
So without further ado, here are the best liquids you can put in smoothies:
Contents Summary
Adjusting The Blender Speed
Its best to gradually ramp up the speed on the blender. Start with medium speed for about 30 seconds. This gives the blades the chance to gradually break things up without burning out the motor. Use a plastic tamper to help push down all of the ingredients into the fast-moving blades at the bottom of the cup.
Turn the speed to high for 15 to 30 seconds for final processing. This is when I add any extra liquid or ice needed to help with blending. If the smoothie doesnt easily whirl and move, it needs a little more liquid, add small amounts at a time to keep thick but sippable consistency.
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How To Make A Smoothie
Smoothies are perfect for quick breakfasts and healthy snacks because they are so quick and easy to make! You just add all of the smoothie ingredients to your blender and blend until smooth. A high-powered blender, such as a Vitamix, isnt necessary, but if you plan to make smoothies often I think its a worthwhile investment.
How To Make Tropical Smoothie Cafe Smoothies
Imagine yourself in the tropics! This Tropical Smoothie Recipe is full of fruit flavors a great way to start your day!
PIN IT FOR LATER!
Reading: how to make tropical smoothie cafe smoothies
Are you looking for something fast and delicious that you can make for breakfast? Or how about a healthy after school snack? I feel like Ive been in a rut lately, so Im glad I was reminded of this Tropical Smoothie Recipe that I originally posted about back in 2008!
Read more: Smoothies saludables para cada día de la semana
I often think that people dont really need a recipe for a smoothie. But if you are like me, you get in the habit of making the same smoothie over and over again. So Im here with some inspiration for a tropical treat for breakfast. Of course, you can sub in different fruits, or even different liquids, but I thought this one was pretty perfect as it is!
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Ingredients That You Should Never Add To Your Smoothie
How can a smoothie be unhealthy? Well, a green smoothie will be healthy as long as you only use natural wholefoods. Though, they can quickly turn into junk food.
So, let me first set the record straight about a few unhealthy ingredients that I have spotted in some smoothie recipes which I found on the other blogs.
If you have made any of these mistakes when it comes to blending your smoothie, it is not too late to change your recipe.
How To Blend The Best Smoothie
Though calorie needs vary depending on age, weight, hormones, activity levels, and more, as a rule of thumb, most of us do well with snacks that contain fewer than 200 calories a 300- to 450-calorie breakfast would cover most adults needs. Heres how to get the most nutrition without driving the calories sky high.
Also Check: How To Make Homemade Smoothies With Fresh Fruit
Basic Steps For How To Make A Fruit Smoothie
1. Add your frozen fruit of choice
In this case, we used blueberries, blackberries, and strawberries. However, any type of frozen fruit will work great!
2. Add a yogurt or banana base to thicken
Plain greek yogurt and/or bananas are great for thickening smoothies.
3. Add protein powder
Adding protein powder helps sweeten the smoothie and, of course, adds protein. This is always an optional step!
4. Add your milk of choice
Our favorite is unsweetened almond milk, but cashew milk, coconut milk, oat milk, and regular dairy milk are all great options as well.
To make the smoothie: Simply blend everything in a single serving blender and enjoy! Another option is to pour the smoothie into mason jars and freeze for quick smoothies throughout the week. Simply thaw in the refrigerator a few hours before youre ready to drink it !