You might be wondering what is a smoothie and how do I make a perfect and nutritious smoothie. In this section you find answers to the most common questions that we get. If there is anything you’d like to know that is missing here, please add a comment below and we will reply to it.
WHAT IS A SMOOTHIE? WHY IS IT SO GOOD?
A smoothie is a fresh drink prepared by mixing fruit and/or greens combined with liquid and other whole foods such as nuts, seeds and oils in a blender until it becomes creamy and smooth.
The main benefits of drinking smoothies:
1 They are packed with nutrients, enzymes and antioxidants that the body needs to stay healthy.
2 A smoothie offers a quick and tasty way to include large amounts of fruit and leafy greens into your diet on a daily basis. Drinking it is so much easier!
3 Smoothies are a great way to start eating more whole foods and cut down on processed foods with low or no nutritional value.
4 Healthy smoothies are great energy boosters and helps support a better immune system
What Kind of Fruit Goes Well in a Smoothie?
You can use almost any fruit you like in a smoothie. We've had good luck with the classics, though. For example, we like to use banana or an apple, pineapple and coconut water
When Should I Eat a Smoothie?
Anytime! Really. Unless you are about to swim ten miles or run a marathon, a smoothie is usually a great meal or snack for any hour.
You do want to make sure your smoothie isn’t making you feel bloated so watch your serving size . But in general, smoothies are an anytime treat/snack/meal/sip!
Can I Replace a Meal With a Smoothie?
Yes, absolutely! This is the ideal way. Smoothies are a good and nutritious meal at any time of the day. If you find that a recipe is not filling enough for you, just add some nuts or hemp protein to the mixture. You can also replace water for coconut water or almond milk, which also makes them a bit more filling. Personally we always have our smoothie in the morning as a breakfast meal. This is a great way to cut down on sugary cereals, bread and dairy products. A serving of about two cups (500 ml) is a good portion size.
Can You Make a Smoothie Without Dairy?
Yes! You can use any dairy alternative, such as almond milk, or coconut milk, as well as any related yogurt products. You don't even need yogurt or milk of any sort in many fruit smoothies. A substitute such as orange juice, grape juice, or even a little water will do the trick.
Are Smoothies Good for Weight Loss?
Yes, smoothies can definitely help you lose weight if you are trying to do so. They pack FIBER and loads of nutrient dense foods like veggies, nuts, seeds, plant milk. And that fiber will help keep you feel full longer. Along with fiber you can add healthy fats like avocado
Eating more plants in general is a great tool for weight loss.
But like all wellness habits, maintaining a healthy weight stems from a variety of things. What you eat, how much you move, how you deal with stress, how much sleep you are getting and how your mental health is. Above all, your weight should be about feeling your best from the inside out. And if smoothies fit into your healthy lifestyle to get you there – absolutely embrace them. I personally think everyone would benefit from adding vegan smoothies to their daily routine.
Are Smoothies Better Than Juicing?
Not really, the argument is always that smoothies are a healthier daily habit than juicing simply because you are getting that fiber that you want to feel satisfied and you also get a balance of fats, protein and carbs – not just mostly carbs as you do with juice.
However! I am a huge fan of juicing. Especially juicing veggies and fruits
So it really depends on what your goals are. If you just want to eat a large number of veggies/fruits very quickly and don’t care much for the fiber, then juicing is great. But for a more well-rounded meal, smoothies to me, are king.
I think that adding both to your life is a great move!
Can I Add Sweeteners?
If you find that a recipe isn’t sweet enough for your taste, simply add some more banana or other ripe fruits that offer a natural sweetness. If you wish to add honey too you can.
Can I Keep Already Blended Smoothie In a Refrigerator?
Yes you can, it will last for about 1-2 days in the fridge, but it won’t taste the same as when you make it fresh. If you want to store it, just make sure to store it in an air-tight jar or bottle, we recommend using mason jars or air-tight & leak-proof bottles. You need a good lid that stops the smoothie from oxidizing. A fresh smoothie will last 1-2 days in the fridge like this, however the best thing is to drink it right away for optimal nutrition and taste. Storing your smoothie cold for up to 4 hours will not impact the flavor much.
What Else Should I Eat Besides Smoothies ?
What we recommend is to start simple. If you are not already incorporating healthy smoothies into your diet, start with that first. The key to success is to adopt one healthy habit at a time because then it’s much easier to maintain and truly make it a natural part of your life. If you are already into the habit of making smoothies, then the answer is to cook and eat as much whole foods as possible. By whole foods we mean cooking with ingredients in it’s natural form, not with foods that have been altered or processed in any way. Whole foods is pure food, no additives or chemicals have been added to it. Transitioning to this type of food is fantastic for your overall health
How do I Get My Smoothie to a Thick Texture?
Tools and ingredient tricks! First off, having a high-speed blender is key to crafting the creamiest, smoothest smoothie. One that has the possibility for being both perfectly blended AND thick and creamy.
As for ingredients, you want to have 1) enough healthy fats to give your smoothie some body. 2) Use a higher ratio of frozen ingredients to fresh. So using frozen bananas instead of fresh will really help. Using less liquid and more frozen ingredients will also help.
When all else fails, add a handful of ice will help. It might water down the flavor a bit, but it will aide in keeping things thick.
Frozen bananas and frozen melon. Yup! Frozen melon (watermelon, cantaloupe and more) are my super secret ingredient for getting a unique and lovable texture. And watermelon actually works really well in a variety of smoothies because of it’s somewhat neutral sweet flavor. And frozen bananas are basically the gold standard for creamy, thick smoothie texture.
One more ingredient that helps is Dates! I find that little bit of sticky, fiber-rich date adds some body to my thick smoothies.
Can I Use Frozen Fruit Instead Of Fresh ?
Yes, frozen fruits are fine to use. If you have some over-ripe fruit in your fridge, just freeze it and use it when you need it instead of letting it go to waste. You can also buy bags of frozen fruit and that works well too.
What Are Some Good Non-Dairy Options For Milk ?
Nut and seed milks are great and can be made from almost any nut or seed. Almond milk is most common and you can also buy this ready made. Soya milk and rice milk can also be used but almond milk has more nutrition. Coconut water is another great liquid
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