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One of the easiest things to make for breakfast, lunch or dinner is a smoothie. There are dozens of health benefits too and it’s not hard to get started with adding smoothies to your diet. I’ll admit, there are times I get sick of having a smoothie but if I take a break, I end up craving them again. I like how I can add different vegetables, fruits and even protein powders, yogurts and other ingredients to my smoothie to give me some variety. There are so many different milk choices for a smoothies, easy recipes to get your started and if you need extra energy, adding flax seeds to your smoothie is not only yummy but it packs some power! A smoothie is really a great on the go meal or snack. You can make them individually or an entire pitcher of them and pour as needed throughout the week. When it comes to making smoothies, you cannot go wrong.
But, how do you actually get started? Here are a few tips…
Getting Started With Smoothies
Blender
If you don’t already own a blender, look for one that has an option to blend frozen food. Frozen berries and even frozen spinach cubes can be an easy way to store fresh produce. I cannot tell you how many blenders I’ve gone through so you may consider investing in one that has great reviews and is more costly.
Be sure to check out the reviews to get the best machine possible for your needs.
Juicer
Juicers come in a variety of styles and are suitable for a variety of budgets. When comparing juicers look for models that have a reputation for durability. Chances are you’ll be using your juicer often and you want your investment to last.
Additional Accessories
Additionally, while no juicer or blender is easy to clean up, look for models that make the process as simple as possible. If you can toss some of the parts in the dishwasher, that’s even better.
- Sharp Knife – Slicing a pineapple or a head of cauliflower in half takes some muscle but more importantly, it requires a good knife. You’ll need to chop your veggies and fruits into pieces that are small enough to fit in your juicer or blender.
- Colander – Wash your fruits and vegetables before you prepare your juice or smoothie. Colanders make the task simple.
- Peeler – While you can toss fruits and vegetables into your juicer with the peels on, you cannot do this with a blender. And in many cases you may not want to juice with the peel on. It takes longer and can clog up the juicer. Invest in a good vegetable peeler.
- Travel Cups – One of the best ways to enjoy a smoothie is on the go. Look for travel cups that can store a large volume. Ideally, you can also freeze your travel cup and toss it into the dishwasher for easy cleaning.
If you prefer to drink from a straw then look for a travel cup with a built in straw. Nalgene, Contigo and Camelback brands both manufacture larger travel containers that are perfect for smoothies and juice. You can also buy an insulated cover to keep your beverages cold.
Milk Choices For Your Smoothie
If you use water and blend your smoothies you’ll have a thinner smoothie and it might not be as favorable or have as smooth of a texture.
Here are a few of my favorite choices to use in my Shaklee 180™ smoothie (beyond just cow’s milk):
- Soy Milk – Soy milk is made from grinding dried soybeans with water. It has about the same amount of protein as cow’s milk. It generally has some added sugar but unsweetened soy milk will not have more sugar than cow’s milk which contains lactose. It’s a good option if you’re allergic or sensitive to cow’s milk proteins or to lactose. Soy is a crop that is often genetically modified so if you’re wary of GMO foods, buy organic soy milk.
- Coconut Milk – Coconut milk is quite popular right now. It’s rich, creamy, and naturally sweet. It also has some health benefits including the ability to raise HDL, the good cholesterol that your body needs. It also has a significant amount of Medium Chain Fatty acids which have been shown to facilitate weight loss.
- Nut Milks – There are also many types of milk found in your supermarket that are made from nuts and seeds. Almond milk and hemp seed milk are two examples. These milks often have added sugars but can be a good alternative to cow’s milk and soy milk if you have food sensitivities.
- Yogurt – Finally, you don’t have to use milk as the foundation for your smoothie. You can use yogurt. It’s a good choice if you want make thicker smoothie or you want some additional protein. Greek yogurt is higher in protein than traditional yogurt. And just like milk, you can find yogurt made from soy, coconut and other alternatives.
- Juice – If milk of any type isn’t to your liking, you may want to thin your smoothies with a bit of juice. Apple juice is often paired with smoothies because it’s sweet. You’ll want to find the right juice for each smoothie recipe you create.
Smoothie Recipes
To help you get started or inspire you, I wanted to share 25 healthy smoothie recipes. Whether you have a daily smoothie or just occasionally like to make them, you’ll find a recipe here that will wet your whistle. And if you’re looking for the perfect blender, I highly suggest the Ninja.
- Hidden Greens Smoothie Recipe from Happy Healthy Mama
- Purple Power Smoothie from The Kiwi Cook
- Blackberry Apple Smoothie from Honey and Birch
- Blueberry Oatmeal Smoothie from Gluten Free with LB
- Pina Colada Protein Smoothie from For the Love of Basil
- Cherry Vanilla Breakfast Smoothie from Wine and Glue
- Fruit and Tea Rainbow Smoothie from Thirsty for Tea
- Green Berry Smoothie from Diethood
- Healthy Red Velvet Smoothie from The Balanced Berry
Blueberry Beauty Smoothie from Family Fresh Cooking- Super Green Protein Smoothie from Making Thyme for Me
- Blueberry Pie Smoothie from Week of Plenty
- Apple and Kiwi Fruit Green Smoothie from The Noat Book
- Purple Detox Smoothie from Real Food, Real Deals
- Apple Elderflower Pomegranate Hot Smoothie from Kitchen Sanctuary
- Healthy Berry Yogurt Smoothie from Chef Savvy
- Healthy Strawberry Almond Smoothie Recipe from Rachel White
- Stress Buster Orange Smoothie from Simple Healthy Kitchen
- Strawberry Raspberry Orange Grapefruit Smoothie from Jennifer Medhurst
- Goji Berry Passion Fruit Lassi from The Kitchen Paper
- Pineapple Orange and Ginger Smoothie from Tomato Blues
- Healthy Banana Chocolate Smoothie from Nordic Food Living
- Cranberry Pomegranate Smoothie from Crunchy Creamy Sweet
- Avocado Strawberry Smoothie from So Good Blog
- Healthy Peanut Butter Cup Smoothie from Fit Foodie Finds
Great list Sommer! Thanks for including my elderflower and pomegranate smoothie 🙂