OK, so I am a little obsessed with smoothies lately. I was always lazy and made smoothies with my immersion blender. I liked them, but not overly. Then a friend made me a smoothie in her Vitamix and I realized that all along it was the texture I wasn’t so keen on. So I pulled out my big KitchenAid blender that I got for my wedding and gave it a whirl. It was waaaaaay better. So much smoother and lovely.
I was having an epic chat with my sister, who is a Registered Dietitan, about the best and healthiest ingredients to put in smoothies. Of course I’m all chia seeds and hemp seeds and she’s all bran and flax. I always want to put the latest, and most expensive, ingredient in my food but there are often better, and much cheaper alternatives on the market. For example, in order to pump up the fiber and keep you fuller longer she recommended sticking in a good old Weetabix.
Now, I don’t know if this is something that’s been around for a while but I’ve certainly never seen this trick. If you know there’s Weetabix in the smoothie you can slightly taste it but you certainly can’t feel the texture and anyways I like the flavour of it. And, it makes the smoothie much more substantial and filling.
Simple, cheap and efficient. Thanks Melissa!
And if you want to know my favourite smoothie combos? Banana, frozen raspberry, vanilla yoghurt and a touch of vanilla extract thinned out with a little water.
What do you like to put in your smoothies?
Do you buy into the latest and greatest health-food ingredients or are you more about the tried and true basics?
Michelle Little
Writer & Photographer
We are really smoothie-obsessed over here as well these days. We just bought ourselves a vitamix and that has made all the difference.
I hear you on the whole temptation to always try the newest/trendiest/most expensive ingredients…. I just bought a $15 package of goji berries for our smoothies and we did NOT enjoy them at all! (although hearing my toddler call them “goji-raisins” was pretty cute)
I will definitely be trying this little trick out 🙂
thanks!
I’ve never tried goji berries… I get the feeling they aren’t super great tasting! Let me know how you like the trick!
0.5 cup coconut water
0.5 cup vanilla hemp milk
1 banana (frozen is even better)
1 tbsp peanut butter
1 date
Handful of greens (spinach, kale, etc)
Bunch of ice
Delish!
Dates are on the grocery list! Thanks Shawna!
My toddler looooves smoothies. I’ve been experimenting a bit lately- I usually throw the basics in (banana, strawberries, etc) but added in frozen pineapple and it was a whole new ballgame! Other staples are avocado, blueberries and sectioned frozen orange slices. The orange slices in particular are a fantastic addition!
I usually throw some cottage cheese and hemp seeds in for protein, and occasionally a splash of apple cider vinegar. Haven’t quite worked up to adding fish oil, but I hear that’s a great way to get it into the routine
Oh Wow – love the idea of pineapple and orange! Do you freeze the oranges yourself? Can you taste the cottage cheese or feel the texture? Thanks for those ideas!
Love me a good smoothie. My fav is avocado, green apple, spinach/kale and apple juice and water. YUM, I have been using kéfir in my smoothies as well. Delish!
Oh you’re into the veggies!! I’ll have to brave an attempt. Thanks