Who knew smoothies could be so deceiving? Going to one of those big name smoothie shops can cost you a lot of unnecessary macros. Did you know the average tropical smoothie drink can have up to 60 grams of sugar? Now don't get me wrong- a lot of the sugar is naturally from fruit, BUT they tend to soak their fruit in a liquid that is loaded with white sugar! I consider planet smoothie/tropical smoothie a treat because they also add in a bunch of flavored yogurts (also have added ingredients) and their ingredients aren't all that fresh.
Now your probably asking yourself "why can't my smoothies taste like theirs?". I have some great tips on how to get a creamy and superfood filled smoothie!
One of the biggest issues when it comes to smoothies is its too Icy or pulpy. Two of the BEST ingredients to have on hand are plain Greek yogurt and/or bananas. Both give the smoothie a nice richness and creaminess you find in chain smoothie joints. I don't prefer using anything other than plain Greek yogurt because the further you get away from plain- the more chemically flavored it is. Since berries tend to give the smoothie more of a pulpy finish, make sure you add a higher ratio of banana to it to reduce this.
Something chains do is add full fat milk. That's fine, but if you are looking for something healthier and higher in calcium I prefer using nut milk. Also get it unsweetened! Regular milk is full of fats (saturated) and lactose (sugar). Like I mentioned before- this is natural sugar/fats accruing, but I feel like nut milk has the same effect in smoothies. It's also a bang for your buck calorie/macro wise.
Another thing I love to put in my smoothies are frozen fruit. Since they are Icy, they give a great texture without lacking the fruit flavor. A lot of people add ice to their smoothies but I don't recommend this. It will most likely water down your smoothie.
Oh and who could forget super foods? Like I mentioned before bananas and yogurt give great creaminess to a smoothie. BUT what if you don't have those ingredients on hand? Well my suggestion would be to invest in buying avocados. Who would think avocados could be out in a smoothie? Avocados are full of healthy omega 3 fatty acids, which are essential for absorbing vitamins in our body and keeping our heart healthy! All you need to do it add half an avocado to your fruit and milk base, add some stevia (depending on how sweet your fruit is), and blend! Also peanut butter and nut butters are awesome too! They do however add a PB taste, but who doesn't love PB??
Another greeny must is spinach/kale! I ALWAYS add spinach. My ratio for greens to fruit is 1:1! Even with half veggies, it still taste like a guilty pleasure!
Adding in chia seeds, flax seeds, or hemp seeds are GREAT for adding in some healthy fats and proteins! I personally do not choose to add protein powder however because I feel like it effects the taste. It also just seems less natural to me.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST... There are no restrictions when it comes to healthy whole food! So make a big smoothie, just make sure everything in it is wholesome!
My go to recipe! (BTW- I don't not measure my smoothies, EVER. It's not necessary. Plus the flavor is never really affected.)
BERRY PB BLISS
Handful of frozen berries
2 large fresh strawberries
Half a frozen (or unfrozen) banana
2 tablespoons of PB2 (peanut flour)
Half a packet of stevia
A heaping handful of spinach
A heaping tablespoon of plain nonfat Greek yogurt
A sprinkle of chia seeds
Half a cup of unsweetened vanilla almond milk (or milk of choice)
INSTRUCTIONS-
Place in blender. Blend until combined. (Keep in mind to put the frozen berries on the bottom. It makes it easier to combine everything!)
Stay tuned for more creative smoothie recipes!