Smoothie Tips

We all know that you shouldn't skip breakfast, but if you're like me you just can't eat really early in the morning. Blending up a smoothie is a great way to get something in your belly that's filling yet light. I'm always looking for inspiration on different combinations and one thing that's pretty consistent across the board in recipes is using ice in a smoothie. Now why would you want to use ice when it will just dilute your smoothie?!?

 I've NEVER made a smoothie with ice yet mine always come out delicious, thick, and ice cold. My secret is to use frozen fruit. Peaches, mangoes, and a wide assortment of berries can be found in your frozen food section for much cheaper than buying them fresh usually. I don't buy any of the packages that are marketed as smoothie blends or have added ingredients like yogurt. Just the plain ol' bags of no sugar added fruit. If you shop at Costco and have the freezer space their bags of frozen fruit are even cheaper when you break it down to the per ounce price. Frozen fruit and time to blend well are all that you need.

And if you want to add even more nutrients without totally altering the flavor put in a handful of spinach leaves. I know it sounds weird, but you don't even notice it! I've added the spinach in with every combination imaginable. Canned pineapple and frozen mango, strawberries and peaches, bananas and blueberries, peanut butter and Nutella with banana are a few of my favorites. Lastly, to get the perfect one person smoothie you can put all the ingredients in the smoothie into the cup you are going to drink it in. I put in the frozen fruits first, then unfrozen (like banana and spinach) items, and finally the milk or other liquid. If you are going to add in a protein powder wait until you place everything into the blender and add it in there. When you blend it up it's just enough of a portion to fit into the cup you used to measure everything out. Works everytime for me!

What are your favorite smoothie combinations?