Smoothies are an easy way to nourish your body with vitamins, minerals, fiber and protein that are otherwise hard to eat in large quantities– Can you imagine trying to eat a large handful of kale, a raw carrot, half a cucumber and a tbsp of flaxseed in one sitting without the convenience of a smoothie? I don’t think so.
Most kids and adults don’t eat nearly enough fruits and vegetables, because it’s freakin’ hard! Just the preparation alone turns into an excuse to just get take-out instead. But, with a smoothie, you can simply throw fruits and veggies in the blender (along with a few other things like yogurt or flaxseed), and have a healthy snack or meal replacement that even kids will think is a treat.
Smoothies are an easy way to nourish your body with vitamins, minerals, fiber and protein that are otherwise hard to eat in large quantities…
As long as you know some of the basics, you really don’t need any fancy recipes. I’ve put together this info-graphic to show you how to put together the perfect smoothie, but here are some other tips:
- A good quality blender is essential for making a good smoothie. My Vitamix turns ice into a fine powder in just seconds, and I never have to worry about ice chunks.
- If you’re watching your sugar or calorie intake, limit the amount of fruit you use– even just half of a frozen banana is enough to sweeten a smoothie. Stick with mostly vegetables and protein, and consider it a meal replacement, not a mid-day snack.
- Add your liquid base and ice last (small increments at a time) until you get the consistency you like.
- Frozen fruit will give your smoothies a thicker consistency without having to water it down with ice. Anytime your bananas start to get to too ripe, simply chop them up and store them in the freezer for a future smoothie. Also, you can save money by buying fruit in bulk with the plan of freezing half of it for smoothies.
- Spinach is a good start if you’re new to drinking greens. You can really add a lot of it to the blender without an overwhelming taste. I’d be a little more careful with other greens like kale– if you add too much, you may find it a little hard to get down.
- Although I’ve got some of my favorite smoothie recipes down below, the idea here is to experiment with the foods you already have and create recipes that suite your dietary needs.
- I’ve found that the easiest way to clean my blender is by rinsing it out, and then filling it half full with hot water and a little dish soap, and then simply let the blender do the hard work.
Don’t forget to add a healthy dose of whole foods to your smoothies whenever you get a chance. This is especially helpful for kids who have a hard time eating nutritious food. It’s just so easy to sneak it in there!
Sneak some of these boosters into your smoothies whenever you get a chance…
Smoothies can also be a great way to detox the body and even lose a little weight, and that doesn’t mean you will have to plug your nose while drinking them either. Here is a list of foods that are known for their detox qualities.
Consider adding some of these ingredients to your smoothies if you’re looking to cleanse.
My Favorite Smoothie Recipes
Because I experiment A LOT with my Vitamix blender (I actually found them refurbished at almost half the cost on Amazon!!), I’ve put together this recipe graphic of some of my favorite smoothie recipes. The recipe amounts do not have to be exact, in fact, you can completely tailor them to your taste. I encourage you to experiment and have fun with it. I rarely ever measure when I’m tossing things into my blender, I just kind of go with my instincts, but I tried to break it down as best I could.
***Each recipe is about 1 serving***
If you’re a peanut butter fan (I’m guessing that’s why you’re here), get ready to drool all over yourself. I certainly wouldn’t consider this dip a dessert because it’s made with 3 healthy ingredients that are packed full of protein, but it sure does feel like a treat! It’s almost like a lighter, less sweet version of a peanut butter frosting.
It’s the perfect fluffy companion to a few crisp, sliced apples, but you can also serve it with bananas, celery sticks or graham crackers. Or just do what I do…. eat it by the spoonful, and then lick the bowl clean when you’re done. :)
There’s nothing peanut butter and a spoon can’t fix.
Healthy Peanut Butter Fluff Dip
SERVINGS: 4-6
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 cup plain greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter (I prefer unsweetened, all natural)
- honey to taste (1-3 TBSP)
INSTRUCTIONS:
Combine all of the ingredients with a whisk or spoon, and enjoy as a dip with apple slices, bananas, celery sticks, graham crackers, vanilla wafers, or anything else you’d like! Or, just eat it with a spoon. Hehe.
TIPS:
- Cinnamon is a nice addition if you’re into that. You can also substitute the peanut butter for almond butter (or any nut butter, I suppose).
- The more peanut butter you add, the richer this dip will be. If you would like to lighten it up, add less peanut butter to the ratio.
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Easy Iced Coffee Protein Shake (Low Calorie)
It’s super filling (holds me over until lunch), low in calories, high in protein, and the perfect morning pick-me-up! continue reading.
Because my kids love this dip so much, they eat it often as an after school snack. It’s a fun way to get them to eat more fruit!
If you’re serving this as a party appetizer, I recommend garnishing it with chocolate chips… peanut butter chips or Heath pieces would be amazing too! (insert licky emoji face here)
Don’t you want to just stick your face right into this bowl? My husband thinks it tastes like a peanut butter mousse.
If you like this recipe, you might also like this Easy Low Carb Mousse Pudding Recipe (made with just 2 ingredients and the flavor of your choice). Lemon is my favorite!
Because sometimes you just need a giant spoonful of fluffy peanut butter dip.
For those of you who like to look at close up images of really delicious food, here you go….. so gratifying.
Original article and pictures take www.listotic.com site
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