I make smoothies for me & my son almost every afternoon. It's a good pick me up (they perk me up better than coffee!), they are filling for a beverage, so they keep us going until dinner, and they are good for you. The best part is that my son asks for them! I mix it up, depending on what we have on hand, but our smoothies almost always have a fiber (ground flax seed or raw oatmeal), a cup or 2 of raw spinach (you can't taste it, and depending on what else is in there, can give it a really cool color!), frozen fruit &/or frozen milk cubes (to give it a fun milkshake texture), plain yogurt, juice, and a sweet fruit (banana, very ripe pear, grapes), since I don't use sweeteners. That sounded like a lot didn't it? It only takes me a minute to throw it all together, though, and it's all stuff I usually have on hand.
What do you put in your smoothies? I'm always looking for new ideas!
18 comments:
My best friend used to make AMAZING smoothies using similar ingredients to yours! He swore by molasses and "Simply" juices. And they were always bomb.
I've gotten out of the smoothie habit. I never used spinach. I think I would have to throw it in when nobody else is watching. I've done flax, but never oats. Maybe I'll have to pick up some yogurt and give it a go once more!
Bananas (up to 4!), spinash or lettuce, frozen berries or mangoes. Occasionally I'll put some yogurt if it's for the kids (I avoid dairy for myself) or honey/maple sirup to taste.
Chia seeds if I have some.
I have to get back to eating smoothies for lunch, they make me feel so good.
Maggie, I'll have to try the molasses. That sounds yummy!
Teekaroo, oatmeal is awesome in it, I highly recommend trying it. We love the taste of it.
Steph, I had no idea what Chia seeds were, but I Googled them, and now I am going to get some! They have awesome health benefits. What do they taste like? Eating a smoothie for lunch is a great idea.
Instant/quick cook oats or rolled/steel cut oats? Just wondering if it is the thinner stuff and if the thicker stuff would chunk up the smoothie. We love smoothies in the am for breakfast and I have often thought I should find a magic bullet to take into work so I can have an afternoon smoothie. I love spinach and flax seeds in mine, but want to try chia. Whatever fresh frozen fruit I have on hand. Sometimes pure juice, sometimes yogurt, sometimes tea (green tea of course). Try Green tea, spinach and honeydew for a rocking green smoothie. I add honey for sweet if I don't have a lot of sweet fruit in it.
Teekaroo - I started using spinach when I read an article on it, and despite the fact that my kids love spinach they didn't want it in their smoothie. So the first time I made them they were bright green (with blueberries) and they loved them so I let them know I used spinach and they were on board, but they were 8 and 11 at the time.
I have used both quick oats, and also an organic multi grain (rye, barley, oats, wheat) cereal I have. Hmmm, i'll have to try the green tea!
Any fruit I have on hand such as bananas, strawberries, mangos. Then usually some milk and peanut butter.
I've never tried peanut butter. My son loves pb & j sandwiches, so he'd probably love that!
As much frozen fruit(mangoes, bananas, peaches & berries) as my bullet will blend, milk and juice (carrot, apple, pineapple, orange), sometimes honey and the hubster uses fresh ginger.
Molasses sounds interesting, I'll have to look into that!
Mmmmm... frozen peaches. Thanks for reminding me about honey! I don't usually sweeten mine, but now that allergy season is starting here (i'm first, then my son, then my husband), i'll have to start adding some local honey to our smoothies.
My daughter and I enjoy smoothies in the summer for lunch. Never tried oatmeal---have used psyllium to increase fiber content. I personally do better with a protein source, other than diary (I do use yogurt) in my meal, so I add 2 raw eggs with no cracks (one per person). Have not had any problems and can't taste them but do realize you can get salmonella that way so don't use in young children or immunocompromised people.
We need to start up with smoothies again also. It gets so cold in our house that smoothies just don't sound good during the winter.
I like to send some carrots and broccoli through the food processor and add a small amount of broccoli and a little more carrots. We sometimes put wheat germ in there also. Or almonds, also sent through the food processor.
Frozen fruit (or canned in 100% juice), fresh fruit, spinach, and basically anything else that I can get away with :)
Think I might have a smoothie tomorrow.
anonymous, i'd be scarred of the raw eggs, though i'm sure the risk is minimal.
Tina, you don't taste the broccoli? I'll have to try that.
I enjoy most of the combos others have written. I started combining cantaloupe and vanilla non-dairy milk, and its creamy sweet delicious, and a great way to use those cantaloupes on sale and get plenty of Vit. A! :) Also, I sometimes use almond or cashew butter instead of peanut butter with other ingredients. Watch out for the raw oats though. I read a research study years ago that undercooked starches were linked to brain scarring called lacunar scarring. (For further info see ucheepines.org/counseling sheets/the long cooking of grains.) Better to use raw seeds, and cook grains to eat with meals. I like to bake granola and top my smoothies with it and eat it in spoonfuls mixed together. Thank you so much for all your helpful and inspiring blog entries. Your dedication is amazing and a blessing!
Thank you for that information! I have never heard of that. I will have to do some research. Almond butter sounds yummy!
my baby and I love smoothies too! I put organic carrot or sweet potato baby food in the smoothies! as well as mass amounts of frozen fruits, flax, yogurt, bananas, soy/milk,...
How cute... baby food for baby smoothies!
i make a smoothie almost every day too. canned peaches, carrots, and green beans are staples, along with fresh or frozen bananas, a couple tablespoons of cooked oatmeal or tofu or applesauce, and a nice scoop of protein powder. i use the unflavored protein powder from whole foods. i use 8-10 ice cubes and 4-6 oz of homemade unflavored yogurt which is tart.i do use sweetener for that reason. also, if you like coffee, put 1 tsp instant coffee crystals in with the fruits and veggies. it creates a mild chocolate flavor! i typically add the coffee with a blend of banana, carrot, apple but it works with any combo in my experience.
jd
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