Smoothie Savvy: 7 Tips for Superior, Healthy Smoothies

When you make a nutrient-dense smoothie at home to start your day, you’re beginning your day right. Controlling the ingredients and nutrition value of your smoothie is the key to burning fat, losing weight and increasing metabolism, among many other benefits, including:

• Keeping you hydrated with water-based ingredients
• Providing extra calcium with dairy-based ingredients
• Decreasing cortisol production due to less stress
• Controlling blood sugar levels throughout the day

Although there are some chains that offer nutrient-rich smoothies, such as Panera or Starbucks, you can add a lot more nutrition value at home when you can control what protein powders, vitamins and bases you use.

Some tips for creamy, healthy smoothie include:

Add liquids to the blender first. Adding your liquids – milk, juice, purees and/or water – to the blender first will improve the texture and consistency of your smoothie. This helps process the fruits and veggies that you add later.

Get in some greens. A smoothie is the best way to get your daily greens, so add a handful just before blending. Kale has 2.5-grams of protein per cup, which will help kick-start your day!

Enhance with powders and vitamins. Although you can get most of the nutrients you need through the fruits, bases and other ingredients in the smoothie, adding protein and nutrient powders or multi-vitamins fill in the gaps.

Don’t forget to add in some fats. Fats are key to breaking down and utilizing these vitamins and minerals just mentioned, and there seems to be a consensus that smoothies lacking oils and fat are insufficient. Adding in ingredients such as coconut oil, fish oil or bananas will instantly increase the nutrition value of smoothies.

Freeze over-ripe bananas. Make a habit of tossing over-ripe bananas in a container in your freezer. Cut bananas into coin-shaped pieces for convenience or freeze whole. Add to a smoothie to give it a lush, creamy texture. This will also reduce thinness.

In fact, just freeze all your fruit. If you want a frosty smoothie without diluting it with ice, try freezing your smoothie’s fruit ingredients. Many supermarkets have prepackaged frozen fruit, which makes it even easier.

Add a punch with peanut butter. Another tip to add flavor and protein to your smoothie is with a spoonful of peanut butter, which has approximately four grams of protein per tablespoon.

Overall, a smoothie can provide you with the protein and nutrients you need to power through your morning. So if you’re constantly feeling tired, a blended breakfast may be the answer for you!