healthyisfabulous:

I make an awful lot of smoothies - and it’s all thanks to the Green Monster Revolution. I never thought that a simple smoothie could be a delicious, fulfilling meal in itself - but prepare to be amazed! Come with me on a journey through blenders and fruit…

Step 1 - The Base.

The most important component of your smoothie. What is it that’s going to make up the majority of your smoothie? For me, it’s usually spinach, but other greens work too, like kale or collard greens, but they have a more leafy, bitter taste. Spinach is so great because it tastes of absolutely nothing but is packed with nutritional benefits. It’s such an easy way to get vegetables in to your breakfast!

If you’re a little dubious about packing greens into your smoothie, a banana is always a great start. Spinach and banana are a winning combination. And if your blender can cope with frozen fruit, a frozen banana creates a thick, milkshake like consistency, which is always a fab thing.

Step 2 - The Fruits.

More often than not, I’ll just have spinach and banana, then some fancy pants additions, but no more fruit. However if you want some extra flavours, colours, or just have some fruit lying around you need to get rid of - throw it in! I personally love berries, blueberries in particular. I keep a big bag of frozen berries and defrost them as I need them, because it’s much cheaper. (My blender can’t take frozen fruit.) Pears also make a nice addition.

Step 3 - The Liquid.

Ah, the liquid. What takes your smoothie from being just a big mush of fruit and/or veg to an actual drink - so it’s pretty darn important. I go for half unsweetened soya milk and half ice cold water. Soya milk is the most protein packed of all the non-dairy milks, and I’m lactose intolerant, so it’s great for me - but use dairy milk if that takes your fancy. Greek yoghurt is a fab thickener and an easy way to incorporate more protein in to your diet. Ice is always good, too, to thicken it up and make it icy cool and refreshing.

Step 4 - The Fancy Pants Additions.

Here, you can add absolutely anything, or nothing at all. I like to add about a tablespoon of peanut butter - but any nut butter would work - for extra protein. (Argh, again with the protein Freya?!) Yup, sorry. It’s what keeps you fuller for longer. Vanilla, cinnamon, ginger etc. all taste wonderful in relatively neutral tasting smoothies, and if you want to add a little sweetness - try agave syrup, as it’s low GI and won’t cause a spike in your blood sugar levels. Cocoa is also lovely. And blackstrap molasses, if you want to create a gingerbread flavour. Flax seed and chia seeds add omega-3s and if you have protein powder, why not throw that in there too?

Step 5 - The Toppings. (Optional)

I like to put things on top of my smoothies and eat them with a spoon rather than gulping them down, as it makes them feel more like a meal, and adds more texture and crunch. Usually I have a handful of low-sugar wholewheat cereal flakes, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds. Nuts, small fruits like grapes and blueberries and any low-sugar, unprocessed cereals are awesome, and look pretty in photos. :)

To give you a rough idea of proportions, this is what I make most days, and it keeps me full for up to five hours.

-2 cups tightly packed spinach, 1 medium banana, 1/2 cup unsweetened soya milk, 1/2 cup water, 1 tbsp peanut butter. Topped with a small handful (about 1/4 cup) of wholewheat cereal and a teaspoon each of sunflower and pumpkin seeds.

I hope this helps and gets you blitzing away! :D

(Source: seedsnsmiles)

1. health-market liked this
2. tomakethecut reblogged this from gettingtomygoalweightby2012
3. raspberries liked this
4. fit-success liked this
5. fit-success reblogged this from anartistssong
6. anartistssong reblogged this from gettingtomygoalweightby2012
7. f0r-happiness reblogged this from seedsnsmiles
8. compulsion-dexpression liked this
9. anartistssong liked this
10. dontrustlemyjimmies liked this
11. danzetee liked this
12. paperthincutout liked this
13. paperthincutout reblogged this from fitofpassion
14. healthyhipster reblogged this from soon2befit
15. behealthybefitbetoned reblogged this from soon2befit
16. oh-makemeover reblogged this from motiveweight
17. fit-to-be-me liked this
18. justonebreathatatime reblogged this from feministfitness
19. boppinrobin liked this
20. yourhandiheld liked this
21. limiculous liked this
22. viazi liked this
23. joliemignonne liked this
24. joliemignonne reblogged this from threadspinner
25. threadspinner reblogged this from feministfitness and added:

    feministfitness | healthysexyhappy

26. odair-offered-me-a-sugarcube-and reblogged this from healthformyself
27. kittylouwho liked this
28. droppedmyotherbrownie reblogged this from soon2befit
29. downthesejaggedstreets reblogged this from soon2befit
30. gotlegos liked this
31. luminouswings liked this
32. palikkadublo liked this
33. allieeew liked this
34. gottagofastest reblogged this from feministfitness
35. cenori liked this
36. vallery-k liked this
37. the-fit-girl liked this
38. sexysexyshannon reblogged this from feministfitness
39. ladyalexandria reblogged this from feministfitness
40. 1radicaldreamer liked this
41. grrrljuice liked this
42. eatwellandloveyourself reblogged this from feministfitness
43. la-trinite-fatal liked this
44. crossmydna liked this
45. justt-justice liked this
46. celestial-fox liked this
47. catchingpears reblogged this from feministfitness
48. shelbatron liked this
49. lagateausefougueuse liked this
50. punching-unicorns liked this
51. Show more notesLoading...