Healthy Smoothies

Smoothies are often viewed as a healthy meal replacement, however some smoothies can actually be packed with sugar and calories. In fact, some smoothies have just as much sugar as your soda pop! Over time, consuming calorie and sugar laden smoothies can add inches to the waistline.

If made correctly, smoothies are a great way to consume all of your nutrients in one drink.The combination of smoothie ingredients is almost endless. I’ve created a standard smoothie recipe that consist’s of 5 components: Vegetables, fruit, healthy fat, liquid and protein. By following this standard recipe, you can create almost any flavor of smoothie, and still have a healthy drink.  Adding these 5 components will help to provide a variety of nutrients, protein, healthy fats all in one drink. If you are hesitant about adding vegetables to your smoothie, I would start with adding spinach first. It blends well, the fruit in the smoothie covers that taste, and it is hard to even know it is there.

Here’s several tips to help you kick your smoothies up a notch:

1. Start with a vegetable base
   You can use any vegetable, but I typically use spinach because it blends well with most any other add in’s and you can barely taste the flavor
   -1 cup Spinach
   -1 cup Kale
   -1/2 cup Cucumbers
   -1/2 cup pumpkin puree
2. Choose one fruit add in
   Hint: Freeze fruit the night before to create an extra frosty treat! 
   -1/2 banana
   -1 cup blueberries
   -1 cup raspberries
   -1/2 cup pineapple chunks
   -1/2 cup mango chunks
3. Add one protein
   -1 serving of whey protein
   -1 cup skim milk (omit other liquids if using skim milk as your protein)
4. Add one healthy fat
   -1 Tbsp Ground Flax seeds (flax seeds must be ground for your body to absorb them)
   -1 Tbsp chia seeds
   -1 Tbsp peanut butter
   -Nut butter
5. Add one liquid
   -1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
   -1 cup unsweetened vanilla soy milk
   -1 cup skim milk
   -1 cup water
   -1 cup unsweetened green tea
6. Add Extras if desired:
   -4 ice cubes to create a frosty treat
   -1 tsp. cinnamon
   -1 tsp. cocoa powder
   -1 tsp honey

Directions:
1. Combine your vegetable and liquid in blender. Pulse until smooth.
2. Add Fruit, protein, healthy fat and liquid. Blend until smooth. Enjoy!