It’s not about some written ingredients and steps to follow to make a healthy smoothie. There are some criteria to take in consideration to produce a healthy, yet yummy one that could work as a snack with any combination of ingredients you come up with.
1.Tasty
And what could make you drink a smoothie if it’s not? There are simple tricks that can give you the tastiest smoothie. When buying a smoothie from Costa Coffee or Cilantro, could you tell the most important thing that make you pay an amount for something you can prepare easily at home? For me, is that those smoothies are really chilling and the answer is not ice, but frozen fruits. Yes, this is what gives the best result. Besides from a house wife perspective, it will make fruits live longer. As when you slice fruits like banana or strawberries and store in the freezer, they will probably last for a longer time. So you store the fruits you like and when you want to have a smoothie, you get them from the freezer to have the most chilling smoothie ever!
Second thing when it comes to taste is Ratios! Let’s say that the main 2 ingredients in any smoothie are fruits and liquid, whether milk, water, or juice. The point is to keep the liquid percentage in moderation. Pour ¼ cup of the liquid in the blender and when the ingredients get stuck, start pouring slowly and blend.
Last thing is what completes the equation; “sweet or bitter?” If you find you smoothie too sweet because your fruit is dates, for example, add salt. Yes salt! A pinch will just balance the taste. However, if it’s too bitter, you can sweeten it with natural sweeteners with no extra calories. Here you go.
2.Sweet
Long ago our taste buds have become adapted to sweet drinks, we are the people who drink tea with 5 sugar teaspoons. When we decided becoming healthy and fit, the transition was difficult. Fortunately, you can sweeten your smoothie without sugar or even honey! If you are fond of sweet smoothies, prepare ones with apple, pear, or dates. They are naturally sweet themselves. If you are preparing one without different kinds of fruits, you can add cinnamon or ginger and they will satisfy your sweet tooth.
3.Fresh
It’s not just about taste, it’s a health-wise issue. Do you know that some fruits like banana when they are not fresh, they have more sugar. That’s why you should always choose bananas before they get brown and freezing them is a good idea for this.
4.Creamy
You don’t have to add ice cream because ¼ of an avocado can take care of the matter!
5.Filling & healthy
There is no better than a healthy yummy smoothie to work as a snack or light breakfast. Add oats to keep you full, add yogurt to secure your protein intake for breakfast, and add pistachios or almonds for healthy fats and this way you have a complete light meal.
And now enjoy some healthy smoothie recipes!
Iced banana & strawberry smoothie
Get out frozen sliced banana and 2 frozen strawberry cups from the freezer, 1 cup of skimmed milk, ½ cup of light yogurt, and ½ cup of fresh orange juice. Blend together and you can add 2 tablespoons of cinnamon to taste.
Avocado & cantaloupe smoothie
You need 1 avocado (peeled and chunked), a cup of cantaloupe chunks, ½ cup lemon juice, ½ cup apple juice, 1 cup skimmed milk, and 1 tablespoon of honey won’t do much. Blend together until smooth and creamy.
Apple pie smoothie
Blend together chunks of 2 peeled apples, 1 cup ice, 1 cup almond milk, ½ cup yogurt, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, pinch of nutmeg, and a pinch of ginger. Enjoy a healthy apple pie!
Breakfast smoothie
The ingredients are 1/3 cup of pistachios, 1 cup of skimmed milk, ½ cup of frozen light yogurt, and 2 teaspoons of cinnamon. Blend pistachios, milk, and cinnamon together first until pistachios are finely chopped. Then add the yogurt and blend at high speed. This breakfast will keep you full for long.
Ramadan date smoothie
All you need is ¾ cup of skimmed milk, 1/3 cup of pitted dates, and ½ cup of ice. Blend milk and dates together and keep them covered in the fridge for 15 minutes until dates are softened, then blend them with ice. Ramadan in summer probably needs this one!
