Long gone are the days of simple smoothies made of frozen fruit and yogurt or milk. Today, our smoothies are vehicles for all the superfoods, powders and boosters that we have come to crave and rely on for our daily dose of nutrition!
There are so many herbs and ingredients we’re just dying to add to our blended concoctions each day, nonetheless, every so often we find ourselves staring into our blender and wondering, ‘What the heck am I making?’
For your sake and ours, we’ve come up with these six steps to help dummy-proof those blender gone blank moments. This little guide will also help you to avoid those “swamp smoothies” that end of tasting like chalk and ruining all those expensive powders and foods used because you got a little crazy with the Vitamix!
6 Steps To Building the Ultimate Smoothie
The Base
The base of the smoothie is the liquid component. From nut milks to fruit and veggie juices or even coconut water, the possibilities are endless! You’ll need about 1 cup of liquid to make a 16 oz smoothie.
TCM tip: Pour your chosen base into the blender first along with your powders to make blending more efficient.
Fruit and Veggies
Get creative here! We love frozen berries, but there are a million and one things to throw in your smoothie to shake things up a bit and bring some different nutrients to your diet. If you can’t find it in the frozen fruit section, buy fresh, slice and dice, and freeze in pre-portioned freezer bags. Don’t stop there, why not add some veggies to the mix too? Zucchini, kale and other leafy greens, cucumber and even carrots and squash can make great additions to smoothies. You’ll need about 2 cups of fruits and veggies, frozen or fresh to make a 16 oz serving.
Nutrition Enhancers
Ok, this is where it gets serious! The additions of protein powders and potions are the reasons we love our smoothies so much! There are so many different varieties of plant-based protein powders to try, each with their own unique benefits and tasty flavors. Experient and be sure to change up your routine every now and then. From hemp protein powder to pea protein and even fermented mushroom protein, find the one that works best for you.
TCM Pick: Sun Warrior Raw Vegan Protein Blend
Superfood Boosters
Here’s where we can get creative and boost the nutrition, alkalinity and overall health benefits of our smoothies. From mushroom powders to immunity herbs and spices to blue-green algae, just don’t get carried away, these are potent ingredients and a little goes a long way.
TCM Pick: Food Matters Superfood Greens and Superfood Vitamin C
Fuel with Fats
Sometimes we just want something a bit richer and more decadent than a typical day. Try boosting your base using an avocado or young coconut meat for an extra thick and creamy treat or add a tablespoon of hemp or flax oil for those omega 3’s or MCT oil to boost metabolism and aid with energy and focus.
TCM Pick: Bulletproof’s XCT Oil
Sweeteners
We’re purists at heart and prefer to go au natural and embrace the natural sweetness of our “fruit of the moment” pick, but when we really crave that boost of sweetness we opt for an unrefined liquid version like honey and coconut nectar that still have some nutrients and health benefit to them.
TCM Pick: Philosophie Green Bee
Want more smoothie ingredient ideas?
Check out TCM Picks: 13 Staples in The Modern Girl’s Smoothie, here.
