And in recent times smoothie businesses are springing up every day and this means that most people are making healthy and convenient choices. But sometimes it’s not convenient to buy smoothies or get the amount that your body needs when you buy smoothies. The great news is that you can make them by yourself from the comfort of your home.
You may be thinking making smoothies will eat into my time which I don’t have and I can’t be bothered. But before you settle in with those thoughts or deny yourself the goodness of smoothies, I’ll share interesting tips that can help you get started in making delicious smoothies at home or you can keep them in mind while you consider making a smoothie.
But first of all, this is not like solving a Chinese puzzle, the major thing here is your willingness to make a good smoothie so you can derive all the goodness thereof and your body will always thank you for it. And to make them is very simple within a very short time.
What is Smoothie?
Smoothie is a thick, creamy beverage that is made from blending frozen fruits, vegetables, juices, nuts, seeds, yogurts, and/or dairy or nondairy milk or water. It is refreshing, healthy, and delicious goodness. There is virtually no fruit that can't be blended into smoothies. While you may not be able to eat in one sitting all that your body needs, taking a smoothie can help you get in the much-needed nutrients at a go. The two basic types of smoothies are fruit smoothies and vegetable smoothies.
Don’t Stress about it, start with the basic formula
To make things easier and not overthink it just start with basic smoothie ingredients and you can go on to adjust accordingly or to what suits you. Smoothie is so adaptable that it works with anything you throw into it. For a good start, you’ll need
- Fruits
- Creamy Base
- Liquids
Fruits
Fresh fruits range from tropical fruits, citrus fruits, stone fruits, and even berries. You can use fresh or frozen fruits. The difference between them is that the frozen fruits give you a frosty texture. You can also add ice cubes where your fruits are not frozen but be aware that the ice cubes can make the smoothie a bit watery.
Creamy Base
This can be plain or Greek yogurt and when added to your smoothie, it boosts the texture or thickens a smoothie. You can also use it to sweeten the smoothie and any regular yogurt will get the job done. Bananas can be used as an alternative or even for vegan options.
Liquids
When it comes to the liquid part, you can use water or any kind of juice or milk and there are so many options. You can use whole milk, low-fat, coconut milk, soy milk, almond milk, etc. And if you make a smoothie with juice, you can use orange juice, pineapple juice (just to name a few)
Extra Ingredients For Smoothies
You can start with the basic smoothie ingredients especially if you’re starting for the first time but if you want to get adventurous and tweak things up then I’ve got other nutritious, appetizing ingredients for you to try and they are not limited to these
Seeds: Adding seeds to your smoothies gives them a boost of healthy proteins and fats. The most suitable seeds for smoothies are chia, flax, and hemp. They are easy to blend into your smoothie and you don’t have to worry about it changing the flavor of your smoothies.
Oats: This will thicken your smoothie and can be so satisfying. Oats are naturally rich in fiber and this will increase your fiber intake. Just a spoonful goes a long way
Nuts Butter: Peanut butter, almond butter, and sunflower butter like the seeds are good sources of healthy protein and fats and also part of your smoothie filling. This will give your smoothie a good touch of richness.
Vegetable: There is an assortment of vegetables to choose from to add to your smoothies like cucumber, avocado, carrot, and cooked potato and there is the leafy vegetable like spinach, kale, parsley, etc all blend well with smoothies. It will also make your smoothies more nutritious.
Sweetener: You can use sweetener if the fruit you used does not have sweetness. Then you can add honey, dates, sweetened yogurt, and so on to sweeten your smoothie.
Flavorings and spices: Add some flavor to your smoothie by adding ground turmeric, ginger, and cloves and you can use special add-ins like almond, orange, and vanilla.
Here are some basic smoothie recipes you can make from the comfort of your home
- Banana smoothie:
Banana + Avocado + Almond milk
- Watermelon smoothie
Watermelon + Banana + Grapes + Ice cubes
- Mango smoothie
Mangoes + Spinach + pineapple + Soy milk
- Pawpaw smoothie
Pawpaw + Watermelon + Banana + Greek yogurt
- Pineapple smoothie
Pineapple + Banana + Orange juice + Coconut Milk + Water
- Banana smoothie
Oat + Banana + Hibiscus flower + Milk
Studies have shown that a smoothie is a healthy meal that may increase your fiber intake which is linked to risk reduction of heart disease or type 2 diabetes.
And because a smoothie is derived from fresh fruits and vegetables it automatically boosts your fruit and vegetable consumption, providing your body with essential vitamins, antioxidants, fiber, and minerals.
Smoothie is such a healthy meal that will keep you going with so much energy for long hours and it has proven to be helpful for weight loss.
Making smoothies in the comfort of your home is easy peasy and more economical ensuring you make them often. As a beginner, you can start with the basic formula and get adventurous with time.
What smoothie recipe are you making?
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