smoothie
Smoothies are a health food masquerading as a dessert. A power smoothie is all about getting the right ingredients together to fill the gaps in your regular diet. You can fit a lot of different food groups in a smoothie, and there are endless ways to make your smoothie the tastiest part of your day.
Smoothies for Healthy Snacking
A smoothie is a good way to get fruit, vegetables, and dairy into your diet. Your smoothie can contain nothing but fruit and ice, or it can combine all of the above. Variety is key to healthy snacking. Keep your serving sizes small, however, if you’re enjoying your snack between meals.
Take a little time to learn about your favorite fruits and vegetables. Different foods can help boost your energy in different ways. Talk to your doctor, too, and see if you’re lacking in any important vitamins or minerals. Even if you don’t have a deficiency, you can figure out which nutrients are lacking from your regular meals. Healthy snacking can fill the holes in your diet.
Smoothies for Meals
Power smoothies are superior to canned meal replacement shakes for many reasons, including freshness and nutrition. If you’re replacing a meal with a smoothie, make sure to include as many food groups as possible in your creation. Make sure your mealtime smoothies include not only fruit and ice, but also vegetables and protein. Adding protein is easy. Just add yogurt or milk. Leafy greens like kale, the most dreaded of health foods, blend up well. Even if you can see the green, you won’t have to deal with kale’s bitter taste. Fruit is powerful, and it can mask just about any mild flavor from disliked vegetables. Wheatgrass is also a classic ingredient, of course. Experiment with different vegetables to see what works best for you, and remember, variety is key.
Add Flavor to Your Smoothie
If you need a little more than fruit and yogurt in your cup, try something new. Adding a tablespoon of peanut butter to a banana smoothie is a delicious way to get an energy boost full of protein and potassium. Honey is a popular sweetener, too. This sticky sweet product provides a natural alternative to sugar.
Are you brave? Is there a little wiggle room in your calorie intake for the day? Try making a strawberry and chocolate smoothie by replacing regular milk and/or yogurt with chocolate milk, or chocolate flavored yogurt. Adding ice can add a pleasantly thick texture, and your smoothie will taste more like a gourmet shake than a health food.
There are endless ways to make a power smoothie. The more food groups your drink includes, the more powerful it will be. A single snack can give you critical vitamins and minerals, vital fiber, and even a generous dose of protein. Health food doesn’t have to be bland, and not all smoothies look the same. Add as much fruit as you like. Sneak in some vegetables. Add dairy for protein and texture. Get clever with your sweeteners, blend it up, and enjoy.