How to Make a Great Smoothie

No matter the season, nothing can quench both thirst and hunger better than a nutrition-packed smoothie. It seems like smoothies should be easy to make too, though you know this isn’t entirely true if you’ve ever wound up with sludge or something that resembles colored water. But don’t worry – there’s a fail-proof formula for whipping up some seriously delicious smoothies that are also part of a healthy raw food diet, and all you need is the contents of your fridge, a blender, and some imagination. Ready? Let’s make some smoothies!

THE BASIC FORMULA

Liquid: always begin your smoothie making by adding one to two cups of liquid. Putting liquid in your blender first (instead of fruit) is easier on the blades, and this means a blender that will last longer.

As far as liquid choices go, the sky is really the limit, but here are a few tried and tested options such as:

• Almond, or any nut, milk
• Soy milk
• Water
• Juice
• Coconut water
• Coconut Milk
• Rice milk

Fruits or vegetables: next, choose your fruits or vegetables. If you haven’t made a veggie smoothie before, you’re really missing out! The more frozen fruits you add, the less ice you will have to mix into your drink to keep it nice and cold. If you use vegetables with lots of liquid, you won’t have to add as much water once you start blending. Just remember, for optimal health and digestion, never mix fruits and vegetables in the same smoothie.

POSSIBLE VEGETABLES TO ADD

• Kale
• Spinach
• Tomatoes
• Carrots
• Beets

FRUITS TO ADD

• Strawberries
• Banana
• Blueberries
• Pineapple
• Mango

These lists are extremely limited – you can really add any fruit or vegetable to a smoothie to make something great, so don’t be afraid to experiment.

SIGNATURE INGREDIENTS

Once you’ve added a liquid, fruits, or vegetables, you can then add some special things to make your smoothies really amazing.

Possible add-ins include:

• Plant-based protein powders
• Peanut butter
• Maca powder
• Cacao nibs
• Fresh mint
• Spices
• Oats

Keep in mind that additions like oats will make the smoothie thicker, so you’ll need to add more liquid. If you have any ingredients that you think would be excellent in a smoothie, go for it! Lastly, you may choose to add a handful of ice to your drink if you want something that’s really cold – keep in mind that frozen fruits and veggies are already cold, so add ice proportionally.