Get the Most From Your Smoothie With These 7 Ingredients

As I mentioned in an earlier post,  smoothies are only as healthy as the ingredients you use.  Some people seem to think that if you put things in a blender, whatever comes out is a smoothie.  Have you heard of the “Cookies ‘n Cream smoothie?”  That’s a milkshake, people!

Then there’s the other extreme: smoothies that promise all sorts of health miracles. Detox smoothie! Drink yourself skinny smoothie! Natural rhinoplasty smoothie! Yeah, I’ve never seen that last one, but the others sound equally ridiculous to me.  

So what are some healthful smoothie ingredients?

1. Seeds

These add fibre, omega 3 fatty acids, and a whole host of minerals. As an added bonus, the chia seeds will help to keep you fuller for longer, helping to control your appetite. So try out some chia, flax, or hemp seeds.

2. Protein

Skip the protein powder! Unless you’re a body builder, you have no need for protein powder. If you enjoy it, then by all means, help yourself. But the average individual can get a protein boost from other (less processed) sources, for a fraction of the cost. Some of my favourite protein add ins are: cottage cheese, skim milk powder, greek yogurt, pasteurized egg whites, and tofu.

3. Nut and other butters

These will give you some fat and protein to prevent blood sugar spikes and keep you fuller for longer. They also are a good source of fibre and several minerals like iron, zinc and magnesium. Try these butters: pumpkin seed, sesame, or peanut. 

4. Veggies

Smoothies are a great way to add veggies in to your day. Although there’s a lot of disagreement in the nutrition world, you’d be hard pressed to find a nutrition scientist cautioning against too many veggies. Many popular smoothie recipe include carrots, beets, spinach, kale, celery, pumpkin, squash, or cucumber.

5. Fruit

I love that when drinking smoothies instead of juice you end up eating the whole fruit. Juicing extracts the juice and leaves the fibre behind. Eating the whole fruit gives you the fibre! Fruit also provides a lot of flavour, sweetness, and vitamins.  

6. Grains

For added B vitamins, fibre, and an extra boost of fullness, add some grains such as oats or All-Bran Buds.

7. Flavour boosters

If you’re used to adding a sugar source such as honey, maple syrup, or sugar itself, try some of these instead: vanilla extract, spices (such as cinnamon), fresh ginger, or fresh herbs (such as basil or mint).  They provide extra flavour without added sugar.

Did I leave anything out? What do you put in your smoothies for added nutrition?

[share title=”Share This Article” facebook=”true” twitter=”true” google_plus=”true” linkedin=”true” pinterest=”true” reddit=”true” email=”true”]