Boost Up Your Smoothies

Incorporating smoothies into your diet can be a great way to make sure that you are receiving the nutrients that you need while finding an easier and quicker way to include all of your meals throughout the day. There are so many different smoothie recipes out there that it’s almost impossible to put a limit on the combinations available to us. However, there are plenty of ways in which we can work to make sure that our smoothies are nutritious, filling, unique, and hearty. Below are some tips as to how you can switch up your smoothie blends while continuing to get everything your body needs.

1. Use Tea as a Liquid Base

Incorporating tea into your smoothie is a great way to make your drink more beneficial for your energy levels while switching up the taste a bit more. For example, using green tea would be an excellent base if you’re looking to create an energy boosting smoothie. Don’t feel as though you’re limited to only green tea, though. Options such as mint tea and ginger tea are also some other options that you can use to add variety and a pop of flavor to your smoothies.

2. Try New Sweeteners

Consider using soaked, pitted dates to add sweetness as opposed to other options. Often times smoothie recipes will call for added sweeteners such as honey or syrup. Although those aren’t bad options, some may want to know what else they can use as opposed to adding a sweetener. Using soaked pitted dates is a great alternative to adding sugar to your smoothie recipes and can still allow for your sweet tooth to be satisfied. You can also use to liquid for other purposes such as when baking or preparing other meals.

3. Don’t Forget About Your Healthy Fats.

Incorporating healthy fats is not only good for making sure that you’re receiving your omega-3 fatty acids, but they also help with keeping you full and preventing you from overeating throughout the day. There are many various options as to what you can add to your smoothies. For example, shredded coconut, flax seed powder, hemp oil, avocado, and different forms of seeds are all options that we can try. In fact, sesame seeds and hemp seeds are some of the best sources of healthy fats that can be added to our smoothies. Not only are they a good plant-based protein, but they also provide us with calcium and are a good source of fiber.

4. Add a Dash of Salt.

Now, at first glance, seeing salt as a part of a smoothie recipe may not sound as appetizing as you’d think. However, adding a bit of salt can actually do more than you think. It can be a flavor enhancer by helping to bring out the taste of the other smoothie ingredients. It also provides a nutritional boost, helps to balance the sweet and sour flavor mixture that you may have, and can even increase the moisture of your smoothie, just a tad. While you may want to exclude salt after seeing it in your recipe, consider keeping it so that you can get the full effect of your smoothie.

5. Go Super with Super foods.

And of course, why not go all out and increase the nutritional benefit of your smoothie by adding super food options? Additives such as maca powder, cacao, goji berries, aloe vera water, hemp oil, and coconut oil have all been shown to provide and immense amount of nutritional value that can help with mental clarity, lowering heart disease risk, improving skin health and more. Plus, a little can go a long way, so you can add them many of your favorite combos.

Don’t be afraid to get creative with your smoothie recipes. It’s always fun to mix and match and see what kind of blends you come up with. Need a couple ideas? Check out some of the recipes below!

 

GREEN GOODNESS SMOOTHIE

1 banana, medium

½-1 avocado

½ – 1 cup almond milk

1-2 handfuls spinach

½- 1 whole green apple

1 tsp hemp seeds

1 tsp honey (optional)

3-5 ice cubes (optional)

PEANUT BUTTER-BANANA SMOOTHIE

1 banana

1 cup almond milk

1 tablespoon peanut butter

1 tsp chia seeds

1/4 cup oats

2-3 ice cubes, exclude if using a frozen banana

 

Rashida A. Marshall is a fitness trainer with Skillfully Sculpted and the editor-in-chief of AFIYA Magazine.