Healthy Smoothies Are Easy To Make
And A Good Base For A Healthy Diet

Healthy smoothies can be a great addition to anyone's diet. You can use them as meal substitutes or between meal snacks and reap the nutritious benefits.

We all know that importance of eating right. We try to make healthy food selections when we can. One good way to get plenty of vitamins and minerals while watching fat and calorie intake is with healthy smoothies.

When the midday lag hits, smoothies are great for afternoon snacks. They can be just what you need for a physical and mental energy boost. A smoothie is also perfect as an on the go breakfast and even for dessert. There is really no limit to the creativity that can go into a smoothie. Whatever your taste buds are calling for can make for a delicious treat. Here are a few tips and ideas for making your own.

A good base for a smoothie is yogurt. This is where they get their creaminess and it is also good for boosting the immune system. Try starting with a simple low fat plain yogurt. Or, you may want to get one that already has your favorite fruit inside. Frozen yogurt is also a good idea and will tend to make a creamier drink. Some people prefer milk. If you are going to go with milk, it is best to go with skim milk to further the health benefits. Goat's milk is a healthier choice but will cost a little more. For the lactose intolerant, soy milk can be used.

Water can also be used and can be a good option if you plan to add frozen fruits as it helps dilute the sweetness. Another alternative is ice cream. This will, of course, make for the thickest smoothie but can add a lot of sugar and fat to the drink. If you consider ice cream, try to pick out low fat varieties. Vanilla is the most common flavor, but again, use your own imagination.

One other option is tea. Brew tea leaves for 4-5 minutes and strain out the leaves. The tea will provide antioxidants and add a nice flavor to your smoothie.

Now you are ready to start adding other ingredients. Most popular are any fruits and vegetables and their juices. It is probably best to peel fruits and remove seeds or use seedless types. You will get plenty of antioxidants and other nutrients here. But you may also want to add protein and fiber rich foods and perhaps a little monounsaturated fats.

Interesting ways to get these extra nutrients include peanut butter, oats, cooked brown rice and nuts and seeds. These are good sources of protein and/or fiber. You will want to cook the oats or rice and let them cool before adding them to the mixture. Tofu is another good source of protein and will add smoothness. Test different combinations to determine what you like the best. If there are other foods you are thinking of adding, go ahead and try them! Just try to select things that will easily blend and try dicing them or cutting them into smaller pieces for best results.

You may even want to add supplements. A mortar and pestle is a good tool for grinding up tablets of zinc, vitamin C, glucosamine or any other supplements. Things that are already in powder form can, of course, be added as well.

Put everything into a blender or food processor and blend for a minute or two. Many blenders and processors have smoothie settings and there are also actual smoothie makers. Whichever you prefer will be sufficient. The only things left to do are to pour into a glass, drink and enjoy!

Back to Smoothie Recipes from Healthy Smoothies

Back to Blender Reviews Home Page from Healthy Smoothies