By Heather Nicholds
I love making my own smoothies because it’s so fun to play with different flavor combinations, and add various little bits of extra healthiness.
I also love getting smoothies when I’m out, but they can be expensive and sometimes involve syrups rather than just pure fresh fruit.
There are some components to a good smoothie, and if you think of the various potential ingredients in categories it can give you a base from which to experiment.
Fruit
- Banana – thick, creamy texture plus sweetness (try it frozen!)
- Avocado – thick, creamy texture but no sweetness
- Berries – any kind, lots of flavor, antioxidants and vitamins
- Melons, peaches, nectarines, papaya – great texture and flavor
- Apples, pears – may want a high powered blender to make sure it gets smooth
- Grapes, kiwi – lovely green color to go with greens
- Pineapple – acidity can balance flavor of bitter greens (try it frozen)
- Dates – intense sweetness
Fresh Greens
- Alfalfa or clover sprouts – mild flavor, soft texture, blend in well
- Lettuce or spinach – fairly mild flavor, easy to find
- Kale, chard, collards, bok choy – may take a high powered blender to get smooth enough
- Fresh herbs (mint, parsley, basil) – really tasty in the right combinations (basil and blueberry is one of my favorites)
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Seeds/Nuts/Grains
- Flax, chia or hemp – omega-3 boost, flax and chia can create gelatinous texture if you leave it to sit, hemp is soft so it’s easy to blend in
- Peanut butter – or almond or any other nut/seed butter
- Rolled oats – makes smoothie more filling and gives lasting energy
- Cooked grains (rice, quinoa, buckwheat, etc) – blend in easily, makes smoothie more filling
Powders
- Protein – if you want to make your smoothie more filling, or need a boost of protein
- Greens – massive boost of antioxidants and a vibrant green color, may need some specific flavors to make it tasty (I like pineapple for this)
- Maca – said to help the body balance hormone levels for women
- Cocoa or carob – for some chocolatey or caroby goodness
Spices
- Cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cloves – ground spices add lots of flavor and can make a smoothie taste like baked goods (cake, pie, muffins, etc) maybe along with some vanilla
- Fresh ginger – good for digestion and immunity, plus really great flavor – just make sure it blends up properly or grate it before adding
Vegetables
- Cucumber – mild flavor, lots of liquid
- Broccoli
- Carrots
- Zucchini
- Celery
My Favorite Combinations
- Banana, blueberries, basil, sprouts, flax
- Banana, raspberries, peach, mint
- Avocado, pineapple, kiwi, greens powder
- Banana, mango, passionfruit, guava, sprouts
Recipe Ideas
- Strawberry-Goji Smoothie by Dreena Burton
- Mint Smoothie (with pear and watermelon!) by Ricki Heller
- Apple, Pumpkin and Quinoa Smoothie by Gena Hamshaw
- Hemp Cherry Bomb Smoothie by Christy Morgan
- Super Seductive Smoothie by Allyson Kramer
- Iron Woman Gingerbread Smoothie by Angela Liddon
- Green Fiend Superfood Smoothie by Tess Masters
- Green Smoothie with maca and parsley by Lisa Pittman
What’s your favorite smoothie combination? Let me know below!
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