Smoothies. They seem a bit like cheating, right? Healthy treats that taste like dessert. And you can have them for breakfast. It’s almost too good to be true…
Well, bad news. A lot of the time, that “healthy” smoothie is too good to be true. Chances are that if you picked up a smoothie from a fast food place or bought something premade from the grocery store, that smoothie wasn’t nearly as healthy as you might think.
However, you could make it on your own, one that is actually ‘healthy’. With simple ingredients, a yummy smoothie can be made. But you should ensure you have good equipment to do that first.
Many things that could go wrong if you have old or faulty equipment. The ingredients might not be blended well or the device itself might stop working in the middle of the process and you would be left without a smoothie in your hand. Therefore, investing in high-quality equipment would be advisable.
These days, companies offer you a wide range of options that you can choose from. For example, Ninja TWISTi can be a great addition to your kitchen. Other than making smoothies, this blender can be used to make frozen drinks and nut butter too. Based on how much you have researched and your budget, you can make a well-informed decision.
That being said, after you have gotten yourself a reliable blender, it is now time to start ‘blending’. Here are three tips that will help you make a smoothie that not only tastes good but is also healthy for you:
Drop the sugar.
Next time you make a smoothie, take a look at the ingredients in the stuff you’re adding to it. You might be surprised by how much of that flavored yogurt was flavored with sugar or high fructose corn syrup. Choose plain yogurt instead. That way you’ll get the maximum health benefit.
Fruit tastes good. Use it.
Whatever happened to just using fruit to add a sweet flavor? There’s almost always something good that’s in season and ready to add some variety to your breakfast smoothie. And if you don’t like what’s in season, you can use some frozen berries, bananas or cans of unsweetened pineapple.
Just remember: you need to use fruit – not fruit juices. If you want all of fruit’s benefits (like fiber and nutrients), stick to whole fruits.
Use good proteins.
Protein powders are a common additive to smoothies, but they can contain questionable ingredients. Choose actual food whenever you can. Boost protein with yogurt, nut butter, or even cottage cheese.
Keep these tips in mind, and you’ll be “cheating” your way to good health in no time!
Tags: meals on the go
