that smoothie life

I drink smoothies often and talk about them even more. So much that my friends probably think I’m crazy. I love smoothies cuz they’re refreshing, delicious and let me get in two or three fruit and veggie servings before 7am.
Here’s a list of 9 of my favorite smoothie ingredients. These all-stars are versatile and nutritious and come together in a million combinations to make the tastiest smoothies that pack a serious nutrition punch. The list isn’t in any order and definitely not inclusive, but just some of my regular go-to choices.

some of my favorite things

1. Berries (all of them!): These little guys are special. I’m sure you’ve seen them all over superfood lists and there’s good reason. They’re delicious, low-calorie, high fiber and have tons of antioxidants to help counterbalance the stresses and toxins you encounter daily. Berries taste great in almost any smoothie and blueberries do a great job of masking greens you may be trying to sneak in there. Frozen berries are less expensive and great to stockpile in your freezer.
2. Bananas: Bananas just make smoothies taste better. I tried making smoothies without them and failed miserably. The texture and sweetness compliments almost any combination. Try using frozen bananas for a creamier drink.
3. Orange stuff: Tis the season for sweet potatoes, pumpkin, and winter squashes like butternut. These glowing veggies are full of vitamin A and C to build up your immune system for the cold months. When you roast squash, the natural sweetness comes out. If you’re using frozen or canned you may need to add some honey. Check out the orange smoothie recipes at the end of this post.
4. Water: I didn’t discover this until later in my smoothie making career. No need to get fancy with your liquid, water is perfect when you don’t need the extra calories or competing flavor. It’s also FREE.
5. Nut butters: These add filling fats and tons of flavors. They pair particularly well with berries. I know my day is always better when it starts with some peanut butter.
6. Leafy greens: Collards, kale, spinach, mustards. They’re all wonderful. A few leaves can bump up your vitamin intake and with the right combination they don’t need to be overpowering. Sweet stuff like bananas and coconut oil compliment leafy greens well.
7. Ginger: This delicious root adds kick to most smoothies. Ginger is naturally anti-inflammatory so it’s great to help keep muscles happy before workouts or just give your body a little extra help on stressful days at work. Peel and slice thinly before adding to your blender. A little goes a long way!
8. Avocados: Avocados are full of healthy monounsaturated fats to keep your brain happy and your stomach full. They make your smoothie extra creamy without adding a strong flavor. Make sure your avocado is ripe to make sure it blends well.
9.Chia seeds: These guys are little balls of omega-3 wonderfulness. Add a tablespoon to any smoothie to give it some crunch and fun texture. The omega-3 fats will keep your heart and body healthy with their anti-inflammatory properties.

Here are two of my favorite fall smoothie recipes. Each recipe makes two 16 ounce or four 8 ounce smoothies. Enjoy!

Pumpkin Amazingness Smoothie:
1 cup roasted Seminole pumpkin or pumpkin puree (or substitute any cooking pumpkin)*
1 cup almond milk (or substitute any milk)
1 cup whole milk plain yogurt
2 frozen bananas
1-2 tsp fresh grated ginger or baby ginger
½ tsp cinnamon
½ tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 tbsp maple syrup (optional)
Add all ingredients to blender and blend until desired consistency. Add several ice cubes before blending if you are not using frozen bananas.

Butternut Squash Raspberry Smoothie (vegan!):
1 cup roasted butternut squash
1 cup frozen raspberries
2 frozen bananas
2 cups water or coconut water
2 tbsp coconut oil
1 tbsp maple syrup (optional)
Add all ingredients to blender and blend until desired consistency. Add several ice cubes before blending if you are not using frozen raspberries or bananas.

pumpkin amazingness!