Smoothies

If I could live on one food for the rest of my life, it would be smoothies.  They are so versatile and wonderful and satisfying.  If you have never made a homemade smoothie, you have a very deprived life.  I enjoy at least 3 smoothies a day, sometimes 7 if the mood strikes.  I wake up and have a green smoothie that I make by blending an assortment of greens, almond milk, frozen bananas, almond butter, and avocado.  It tastes strangely delicious, and I feel very healthy as I sip it on my way to school in the mornings.  Throughout the day I will make berry smoothies, fruit smoothies, almond smoothies, and the occasional chocolate peanut butter smoothie.  I live for smoothies, and the possibilities are endless.  There is nothing that ruins my day more than when my morning smoothie turns out badly.  Three mistakes can happen:  too much liquid, too many greens, or not enough liquid.  I am about to show you how to make a delicious, personalized smoothie that will always turn out.  

Step 1:

Choose your fruit.  This is the most important step, as the taste of your entire smoothie depends on the bulk of the ingredients--The fruit.  Depending on whether you like icy smoothies or juicy ones, you can freeze your fruit or use fresh fruit.  A few of my favorites are bananas, raspberries, fresh strawberries, and blackberries.  Apples taste good if they are honey crisp!

Step 2: 

Choose your liquid.  If you are craving a tropical smoothie, choose a juice such as orange or pineapple juice!  Other liquids that work include almond milk, milk, coconut milk, water, or pomegranate juice.  Always combine 1 part fruit to 2 parts liquid.  For example, if you use 1/2 cup of fruit, use a cup of liquid.  

Step 3:

Choose your greens.  This is optional.  However, if you want a little boost and a way to get in some vegetables in a delicious way, I highly suggest adding some veggies!  You can add a small handful of kale or spinach if you wish.

Step 4: 

Choose your spread.  This step is also optional.  It adds more protein to the smoothie to keep you full longer.  I usually add almond butter, but peanut butter and cashew butter taste equally delicious.  Add 1-2 tablespoons.  Other optional additions include yogurt and flax or chia seeds for extra health benefits.  Nutella and vanilla syrup make sweeter smoothies.

Step 5:

If it is a hot day or you are craving something icy, add 3-4 cubes of ice to make the smoothie extra cold.

Step 6: 

BLEND

Here are a few of my favorites:

1. Nutella, Peanut Butter, Ice, Frozen bananas, milk (Tastes like ice cream)

2. Frozen Peaches, Cashew Butter, Almond Milk, Spinach

3. Pineapple Coconut Juice, Fresh Pineapple, Ice, Coconut Syrup (Tastes like a virgin piña colada)

4. Blackberries, Milk, Peanut Butter, Kale (Tastes like pie)

I hope these steps are helpful, but the only way to get a truly perfect smoothie is to test out different flavor combinations to see what tastes good to you!  

Happy blending <3

Grace the smoothie-aholic