Smoothies have been around for a long time and are made by blending fruits and vegetable together creating a pureed creamy drink. Over the years there have been popular recipes, with countless variations and possibilities for new and unique flavors. I introduced smoothies to my diet years ago and there is no turning back. In this post we will explore my top 3 reasons to love smoothies.
Convenient
It’s no secret that we are moving in ever evolving, fast paced environments daily. Whether you work outside the home or not, it seems like it’s becoming more and more difficult to slow down. This can make it challenging to meal plan or eat healthy. Just about every day I am feeling the time crunch. When I was in corporate finance, I thought my lack of time and inability to plan wholesome meals was because of my high demanding job. That was partly true, but even after leaving the corporate world time still seems in short supply! Smoothies are a convenient way to get a meal in, especially on those days when my schedule is overwhelming.
There is no wrong way in terms of ingredients, in my opinion, to make a smoothie, which is something that really appeals to me. You know what fruits and vegetables you like or have access to. I just throw whatever fruits and vegetables that I have on hand into my nutribullet with my desired liquid, blend and go! If you are into meal prepping or want to be a bit more selective about what types of smoothies you drink you can most definitely put your smoothie ingredients into individual freezer storage bags to pop into your blender when needed. I have also been known to place my ingredients directly into my blender cup overnight for easy and quick blending the next morning if I anticipate a really busy day. Who doesn’t love convenience!
Nutrient Rich
Sadly, most of us are not getting the required nutrients to support our overall health on a daily or even monthly basis. I love smoothies because they can provide a nutrient packed meal or snack. You can put all sorts of nutrient filled greens like kale, spinach, Swiss chard, Bok choy and arugula. These leafy greens are high in minerals, vitamins and fiber. Adding fruits like mango, pineapple and banana not only adds sweetness but loads of vitamin C. If you like your smoothies on the less sweet side then antioxidant rich berries like strawberries, mulberries, peaches and blueberries are a perfect choice. These tend to be naturally lower in sugar.
I also like to hide veggies that I may not otherwise eat on their own because of I don’t really like them into a smoothie. Like avocado, for example! Rich in magnesium, potassium, folate, niacin, riboflavin, beta carotene, and vitamins E and K, and high in fiber, avocado is viewed as a superfood. Well, it’s a superfood that I can’t seem to acquire a taste for except when paired with mango salsa or hidden in a smoothie. I love that I can barely taste or smell it when other fruits and veggies are blended with it. My main goal is to get it into my diet the best way I can so I can reap the benefits that this superfood has to offer. That’s just one example but I have heard people say they don’t like beets, celery or even fruits like papaya which are all nutrient-filled. I say, throw it in a smoothie! Reap the benefits without dreading the taste!
Consider adding boosters to your smoothies like chia or flax seeds which are rich in omega 3 fatty acids, high in nutrients and loaded with fiber. Other boosters include turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, raw cacao etc. Raw unfiltered or organic honey are also excellent choices as a sweetener if you prefer a sweeter taste and want to boost your immune system. I personally like my smoothies with just water as the added liquid, but you can use coconut water, low fat milk or plant-based milks if you wish. The key is to get those nutrients in, and smoothies are one of the easiest ways to do it!
Weight Management
Smoothies are an excellent way to manage your weight, whether you want to lose or gain it. Not only can you replace a meal with a smoothie, a lot of the ingredients that you would put in a smoothie are within your full control. You can certainly pack a smoothie with calories if you wanted to, but you can just as easily make a delicious low-calorie smoothie that meets your nutritional needs and weight management goals.
As you become more accustomed to making smoothies, you will learn what combinations of ingredients you prefer. If you are on the weight loss journey, you can do a little research to determine which ingredients to keep on hand for your smoothies. If you’re on the weight gain journey, there are ingredients that you can stock which will still be convenient and nutrient rich. Coconut milk, almond butter and protein powders all add additional calories. You may not be watching your weight at all and that’s okay too! Either way, smoothies are a great addition to anyone’s daily meal plan. Find what works for you and go for it!
When you pair your newfound love of smoothies with exercise and a cleaner overall diet, I feel certain that you will reap even more benefits! Why smoothies? What’s not to love about this convenient, nutrient rich, weight-friendly staple!
What’s in your smoothie cup today?