5 Key Ingredients for the Perfect Healthy Smoothie
Yesterday, when I was at the grocery store looking for something to make my headache go away, I had an epiphany about breakfast. Why don’t I make more smoothies when I’m rushing around wanting something healthy to eat?
Smoothies have been around for years and are the complete on-the-go breakfast. In fact, smoothies are also a fantastic afternoon pick me up, perfect for when you feel that slump hitting around 3 pm. Eating breakfast is not a one-size-fits-all and it’s fun to mix it up with some variety.
Did you know smoothies can also help you lose weight? They’re much healthier than your coffee and bagel which can quickly add up to 600 calories and have very little nutrition. It’s important to know healthy eating alternatives especially with all the confusing dietary trends of today.
A perfect smoothie has a few key ingredients to make it a complete and balanced meal. Once you know the basics, the combination of ingredients is limitless. It’s ridiculous how many delicious shakes you can make with just a few combinations of ingredients.
5 Essential Ingredients for a Healthy Smoothie
- A protein source: this can include a scoop of protein powder or 1 TBSP of chia seeds and hemp. You can also use flax seeds, plant-based protein, paleo protein powder or nut butter.
- A healthy liquid: 1 cup of your favorite liquid. You may enjoy cold almond milk, goats milk, coconut milk or yogurt.
- Fruit or vegetables or both: 1 cup total is all you need and if you use frozen the smoothies are creamier and yummier than if you use fresh.
- A healthy fat: Use 1-2 tbsp. Delicious choices are avocado, walnuts, cashews, coconut yogurt, or nut butter.
- Extras: Use 1-2 tsp. There are so many goodies you can add to your smoothie to create extra pizazz. Ginger, lemon, turmeric, mint, probiotic, cinnamon and of course cacao powder.
All you need now is a blender!
A Sample Smoothie Recipe to Try Today!
Bluesy Smoothie
1 scoop of chocolate protein powder
1 cup of cold almond milk
½ cup of baby spinach or kale
½ cup of frozen blueberries
2 tbsps of avocado
1 tsp cinnamon
Spark Your Taste Buds:
How often do you drink a healthy smoothie? What is your favorite recipe? What are some of your unique ‘extra’ ingredients to add? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this popular meal replacement.
Tags Healthy Eating Recipes
I have a smoothie every morning keeps me full until 2-2:30
My trainer wants me to get 90g protein/day but there’s no way, lol. I try to get 20g/meal and smoothies help when I’m out of ideas. The first protein powders I bought filled me up too much so I didn’t eat enough the rest of the day. I recently tried pure hemp protein and add frozen cherries, blueberries, and kale, with possibly some hemp and flax seeds thrown in for good fat and other benefits.
I also love morning smoothies!!!
I use banana, blueberries and sometimes cantaloupe, strawberries and even grapes! Yougurt, almond milk, peanut butter and honey as well as flaxseed, cinnamon and a dash of vanilla! I am drooling just thinking about it!!
I like to use 1/4 of a block of tofu, 1 cup of frozen fruit, 1/4 cup of cooked Irish oatmeal, and 1/2 cup of Greek yogurt. Plus a splash of olive oil.
what protein powder do you recommend I cant get started until I find one that works well for my system thanks