{Katie’s Picks} Building the Perfect Smoothie + Add-Ins
Smoothies can be a quick, simple and tasty way to enjoy a variety of nutrient dense foods but they can easily get mucked up with a ton of non-food ingredients and processed protein powders. I am always experimenting with ways to keep my smoothie nourishing and well balanced and that includes keeping the focus on the quality of the whole foods ingredients that winds up in my blender. Here are my top 5 smoothie makin’ tricks along with my picks for add-in’s and a glorious giveaway!
Top 5 Smoothie Making Tips
- Keep the focus on the vegetables. A fruit centric smoothie, though loaded with nutrients can become a real sugar bomb! Aim to make your smoothies with a 60/40 ratio of vegetables to fruits. I love greens like kale, arugula and spinach as well as cucumber, bell peppers and even broccoli!
- Use fruit as your sweetener. I rarely add sweeteners to my smoothies–instead I use fruits like berries, peaches, apples, pineapple and mango. Are your bananas going bad–don’t toss them! Over ripe fruit works so well in a smoothie and decreases food waste. Save money on frozen berries when their fresh counterparts are out of season.
- Add protein + fat. The key to making a satisfying smoothie is adding some protein and healthy fat and that doesn’t have to mean reaching for a scoop of highly processed protein powder. Whole nuts and seeds as well as butters are great sources of plant based protein and healthy fat! Check out my picks below for other options as well!
- Maximize your nutrient density! Smoothies are a great way to bolster your everyday nutrient intake. Experiment with add-in’s like fresh turmeric, green superfood powders, bee pollen and more. A few of my favorites that aren’t listed below include Gaia’s new product Turmeric Boost powder and Aloha Daily Good Greens powder which are both great for upping your nutrient density in a pinch!
- Plan Ahead. I am a huge fan of the make-ahead smoothie pouch! Portion out smoothie ingredients in single serve freeze bags for easy, anytime use! Here is an example: fill a small bag with frozen mango, frozen greens and protein rich Manitoba Harvest Hemp Hearts. Come morning–you just add water and any other add-ins you love and blend it up! You could even use the “night before” trick! I simply fill my blender with all my favorite like grapes, greens, cucumber and peaches as well as a scoop of Nutiva coconut manna and some nuts and store it in the fridge overnight. In the morning I grab it, add water and give it a whirl!
Financial compensation was not received for this post. Opinions expressed here are my own and I only recommend products I would personally use.
I want to win! Love great add-ins!
I love blueberries in my smoothies and a bit of honey goes in everyone I prepare!
I’m big fan of beets, and use those in my Red Revitalizer Smoothie. Fresh herbs are another favorite, typically loads of mint, cilantro and/or parsley… apparently I like my smoothies more veg-heavy!
Thanks for the tips — especially like your rec about the ratio of veg:fruit and ensuring a source of healthy pro/fat. Good reminders.
I like the cacoa nibs
ground flax and chia seeds!
I love to add in fresh coconut meat and Tiger Nuts!
I love to add in flax or chia seeds to my smoothies!
I like adding in quinoa
chia seeds have always been my favorite add ins
I like adding in greek yogurt usually blueberry or strawberry.
Frozen spinach
I love adding chia seeds and Chinese cinnamon! I’ve been wanting to try bee pollen though!
I love adding in frozen banana or pumpkin puree, a little stevia, protein powder, and cinnamon. IF I’m having a smoothie in the morning, I really love adding matcha and vanilla extract. Thanks for the giveaway 🙂
hemp seeds are definitely my favorite add ins
I love adding flax seeds.
Im a HUGE fan of hemp hearts fresh, organic fruit and a good, quality vanilla bean paste!
I like any kind of nut or seed butter as an add-in.
I love flax!
I enjoy adding know gelatin or chia seeds.
Chia seeds are great!
I like adding chia seeds to my smoothies!
ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, mint, parsley
almond butter
I’ve only ever used flax seeds in smoothies and they’ve been great.
I love to add honey to my smoothie.