The Right Smoothie Ratios
Start your smoothie with two mugfuls of a liquid base. This can be milk, or a dairy-free alternative such as soya or almond milk, natural or flavoured yogurt, fruit juice, or for a tropical flavoured smoothie, low-fat coconut milk or coconut water. Its important to add the liquid to your blender before adding the fruit, as this will prevent the blade from getting damaged.
Next, add about three quarters of a mug of your chosen fruit. Banana is a great base flavour for any smoothie, and will give you a lovely creamy texture. Other fruits that work well are berries, mango, peaches, plums, nectarines, grated apple or pear, and melon. You may have to add more fruit or liquid, depending on the type of fruit you choose. Play around until you have a texture you like. Add a squeeze of honey, maple syrup or agave syrup if your smoothie needs it, and finally add a few ice cubes to the blender for a thick and frosty smoothie.
Smoothie combination ideas
What Makes A Healthy Smoothie
Summer time = Smoothie time!
Do you have any go-to smoothie recipes? I have about 3-4 that I frequently rotate between, and a few that I make only certain times of the year.
What I love about smoothies is they are cold & refreshing , and if made right they can be packed with essential fiber and nutrients. Also, because they are liquid, the nutrients from them get absorbed into the blood stream quicker than solid food, making them perfect post-workout fuel.
But the key with smoothies is making them RIGHT. Many popular pre-made smoothies or those purchased at restaurants can have more sugar than a candy bar and more calories than a soda, and with little fiber. NOT GOOD! I also frequently hear people say that smoothies dont keep them full. The likely culprit of this is that it was improperly balanced. The solution?? Read below!
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!
Read Also: Best Blender To Crush Ice And Make Smoothies
Caramel Apple Overnight Oatmeal Smoothie
This vegan, gluten-free breakfast smoothie is perfect for cold mornings when youre craving a fall treat. Dont worry: Theres no caramel in this recipe. Instead, this blogger subs in dates to add natural sweetness, along with antioxidants, fiber, and minerals. Rolled oats also pack fiber and protein, while apples and cinnamon give that undeniably heartwarming taste. This dreamy mixture sits in the fridge overnight, saving you so much time in the mornings.
And Check Out Some Of Our Favorite Smoothie Hacks Too:
- How to Freeze Strawberries. There are lots of ways to use frozen strawberries, but smoothies are definitely one of my favorites!
- Smoothie Booster Packs. Never let spinach go bad again! Drop these frozen smoothie packs into your smoothies to boost the nutrition.
- 3 Ways to Meal Prep Smoothies. Yes, you can make ahead smoothies! And we have three ways to show you how.
Read Also: Easiest To Clean Smoothie Blender
Is It Healthy To Have A Smoothie For Breakfast
Smoothies can make a healthy breakfast if you have a good balance of ingredients and nutrientsincluding protein, carbs, and healthy fats. Smoothies that heavily rely on veggies over fruit instantly cut down on sugar and increase the fiber content. You also want to avoid adding a lot of fruit juice and sweeteners, like syrups and honey, to limit the sweet stuff. Adding yogurt and protein powder helps make smoothies more filling, so youll stay satisfied longer. Just be sure to choose powders that have little to no added sugar and have zero artificial ingredients.
The liquid bases you use in your smoothie also play a big role. Skip fruit juices, which are packed with sugar and lack protein and fat, and go for low-fat milk or an unsweetened, non-dairy milk alternative, like almond, coconut, or cashew. Some non-dairy milks have less protein than cows milk, but they offer healthy fats to keep you satiated.
How To Make A Smoothie Thicker
A common problem with smoothie making is to have it come out thin and runnyafter all, you wanted a smoothie, not juice. This is an easy problem to solve. Simply throw in some of those ingredients well known for thickening smoothiesice, avocado, protein powder, chia or flax seedsand re-blend, says Alder.
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Add Greek Yogurt For A Protein Boost
While adding a scoop of protein powder can be an obvious way to boost the protein in your smoothie, an easy natural way to do so is by adding a bit of Greek yogurt instead. If you add 6 ounces of plain non-fat Greek yogurt, you’re only adding 90 calories but a whopping 17 grams of protein to your drink.
Best Heavy Duty Blender
You just can’t go wrong with a Vitamix Professional Series blender – it will last you for years! Small businesses love this blender and use it in their coffee shops and even gyms.
The best feature of the Vitamix is that the way the blades move actually whip air into the mixture, giving you a light and creamy smoothie-like nothing else can.
Another fantastic thing about the Vitamix is that it can do so much more than just smoothies! You can use it to make homemade ice cream, healthy shakes, and even soups.
This heavy-duty machine can also puree tough things like kale and nuts into your smoothie. There are so many reasons this blender is worth the splurge.
Recommended Reading: Best Blender For Protein Shakes And Smoothies
May Help Boost Fruit And Vegetable Intake
Smoothies made primarily from fresh or frozen produce may increase your consumption of fruits and vegetables, which provide a diverse array of essential vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants.
Together, these nutrients may reduce inflammation, improve digestion, and lower your risk of chronic conditions like heart disease, osteoporosis, obesity, and age-related mental decline .
The World Health Organization recommends that adults eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day. However, most people fall short of this mark .
If you find youre not eating enough fruits or veggies, a smoothie can be a delicious way to pack in 23 more servings.
How To Make A Smoothie With Fresh Fruit
Of course, fresh fruit can be an amazing addition to your favorite smoothies. Just be sure your fruit is soft and free of large seeds before you add it to the blender. Peel your fruit, and chop it into smaller pieces if its large or a little on the firm side.
One fresh fruit smoothie recipe youll definitely want to try: Adlers Everyday Green smoothie, made with fresh avocado, banana, blueberries and spinach.
Also Check: Diet Smoothies To Make 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.
Fresh Fruit & Veggies
Of course, you can skip the frozen produce and make a smoothie with that amazing fresh fruit you just picked up at the farmers market. Youll just need to add plenty of ice if you like it chilly, and stick with soft, ripe fruits.
For best results, dont use tougher skinned fruit, like pears and apples unless youre using a powerful blender, suggests Adler.
Some of her favorite fresh ingredients for smoothie are include fresh spinach and ripe avocado. Spinach is detoxifying and vitamin packed, but with an actually sweet taste and no bitternessthis is ideal for those that are nervous about anything green in their smoothies.
And ¼ to ½ of an avocado can turn any smoothie into a decadent meal you can eat with a spoon. The healthy fats found in an avocado will help you stay full for hours.
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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
- 1/2 banana
Blend together until smooth. If youre looking for a thicker consistency, add a few ice cubes before blending.
Get The Right Tools & Make Your Life Easier
Even with the right formula, you cant prepare the perfect smoothie without the right tools.
You cant pick any blending tools you come across.
Getting the right tools facilitates the preparation of a tasty smoothie whose texture you can stand.
So what do you need to make a smoothie?
A Blender: The Essential Tool
A blender is the essential tool you need to make a smoothie.
But not any blender.
For you to make blending easier, save time, and make that perfect smoothie every time, you have to consider buying a high-quality blender.
As mentioned above, the benefits of blending range from fast weight loss, balanced nutrition and reduce waste to great savings and a high efficiency.
For all these, you need a blender that can easily turn solid foods into liquids.
However, you cannot achieve these results using any blender.
Without a great blender, you will find yourself with a smoothie full of undrinkable chunks of fruit and vegetables.
As a vital smoothie preparation equipment, get one you can afford but, dont compromise on the quality.
Great blenders leave you with a silky smooth beverage that is clean and easy to handle.
If you want to learn more, here are some of my blender buying guides:
4. The Quietest Blenders Available on the Market
Your Favorite Container
Dont you think that it is unfair to use the old Styrofoam or plastic cups when drinking a beverage that holds the power to change your life, in every possible way?
Straws
Also Check: Soap & Glory Smoothie Star Body Buttercream
Banana Date Smoothie With Ginger And Cardamom
The Spruce / Nyssa Tanner
Dates add a natural sweetness to smoothies that will provide the flavor you want without spiking your sugar levels. Combined with frozen banana, Greek yogurt, fresh ginger, and a pinch of cardamom, you have a healthy, dessert-worthy drink. If your dates are a little hard, simply soak them in warm water before using.
Weight Loss Smoothie Recipe
A good weight loss smoothie is packed with nutrients that is super filling, but low in calories, that you can have for breakfast or lunch. In other words, its not a snack , but a meal replacement . To make a meal, a meal replacement smoothie needs to include carbohydrates, protein and a little fat. Fat is important because helps you feel full, as does protein. Check out how to make a weight loss smoothie for more tips.
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 1 scoop whey protein powder
- ½ medium banana
- 1 cup frozen mixed berries
- ¾ cup milk
- 3 to 5 ice cubes
This weight loss smoothie recipe uses mixed berries , which provide energy and are packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and are a natural sweetener. Chia seeds are incredibly rich in omega-3 fatty acids , protein antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Chia seeds also contain super high levels of soluble and insoluble fiber, making them uncannily filling and a great addition to low-calorie smoothies.
Filling healthy smoothie ingredients: chia seeds, ground psyllium husks, whey protein, low-fat Greek yogurt.
Read Also: Healthy Smoothies You Can Buy
Green Kale Smoothie Recipe
2 cups of chopped kale leaves3/4 cup of 1-percent milk1 banana sliced into chunks¼ quarter cup of pineapple pieces1/4 cup of plain Greek yogurt1 tablespoon of peanut butter2 teaspoons of honey
The directions are easy! Add all the ingredients to a blender and puree. You can add more milk if you prefer a smoothie with a thinner consistency.
Green Weight Loss Smoothies
Popping into a juice bar for a cold cup of extruded kale juice may be all the rage, but when it comes to both nutritional impact and weight-loss power, juices can’t hold a candle to smoothies.
- First, most commercial juices use apple juice, which is a high-sugar, low-nutrient base.
- Second, juicing strips all the natural fiber out of produce: the rough stuff is what makes it good.
- And third, juices lack fat and protein without these crucial elements, you’re getting no fat-burning, metabolism-boosting benefits.
Next time you want to drink your veggies, blend up one of these seriously nutritious recipes from the book Zero Belly Smoothies.
All recipes make one serving.
Read Also: How To Make A Real Smoothie
Whats Stopping You Purchase Our Smoothies Today
Disclaimer: Always speak to your doctor before changing your diet, taking any supplements or undertaking any exercise program in pregnancy. The information on this site is for reference only and is not medical advice and should not be treated as such, and is not intended in any way as a substitute for professional medical advice..
Our plans promote a healthy weight gain in pregnancy to benefit the mother & baby and you can read more on this here
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How To Make A Smoothie With Or Without Ice
If you want to skip the iceand the resulting brain freezeyou totally can. This is the beauty of making your own smoothie you can make it however you want.
I adore lots of ice in the summertime months which makes it fluffy and cold, and none in the winter, where it’s more comforting and dense, says Adler.
Also Check: Best Protein Powder For Green Smoothies
Are Fruit Smoothies Healthy
While fruits have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits, smoothies often become hyper-concentrated sources of fruit sugars, Andrews says. Balance it by adding a dark leafy green like spinach, kale or Swiss chard and protein to keep blood sugar in check and control cravings and hunger.
Just beware of the smoothies you buy. With store-bought smoothies, you lose total control over quality and quantity of the ingredients used, says Hammer. Store-bought varieties may use artificial sweeteners, fruit juice, large amounts of fat or sweetened dairy products, contributing to higher amounts of sugar, fat and calories. Smoothie bowls can also contain large amounts of sugary granola and sweetened coconut flakes, she says.
Once in a while, these arent a major concern, says Andrews. But if these types of smoothies are in your regular rotation, they could lead to excessive sugar intake or digestive distress, he says.
May Support Increased Fiber Consumption
Fiber is an important nutrient that aids digestion by preventing constipation and supporting the growth of beneficial bacteria in your digestive tract .
Early research suggests that a healthy, thriving community of gut bacteria can help reduce inflammation, promote healthy immune function, and support mental health .
Adequate fiber intake is also linked to a reduced risk of chronic illnesses, such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes .
Yet, many people are not meeting their daily fiber needs especially those who follow Western diets.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends a daily intake of at least 38 grams of fiber for men and 25 grams for women. Research indicates that most Americans, on average, eat only 16 grams of fiber each day .
With the right ingredients, smoothies can be an excellent way to boost your fiber intake.
Some of the most fiber-rich foods are also common smoothie ingredients, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains , nuts, seeds, and legumes .
summary
Smoothies are a convenient way to boost your intake of fruits, vegetables, and several other fiber-rich foods.
The difference between a healthy and unhealthy smoothie largely depends on the quality and quantity of its ingredients.
Smoothies biggest pitfall is their propensity to contain large quantities of added sugar.
The American Heart Association recommends limiting your intake of added sugar to no more than 9 teaspoons per day for men and 6 teaspoons per day for women .
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