What’s a Smoothie?
A smoothie is a thick, blended beverage normally made with liquids, fruits, vegetables and other ingredients. A smoothie is normally thick enough to be sipped through a straw or to be eaten with a spoon. Smoothies have become increasingly popular as they can serve both as healthy snacks or delicious meal replacements.
The most basic smoothies start with a liquid, a fruit, and ice or a frozen ingredient. Additional ingredients can be added depending on your preference. Smoothies are very easy to make. To make a smoothie, gather your ingredients, get a blender and a cup, add all your ingredients into the blender and blend until smooth. Then just pour into a glass or to-go cup and enjoy! One of the great things about smoothies is that you can experiment and use endless ingredient combinations to create your own smoothies that match your preferences, dietary needs, and health goals. But that’s just one of the reasons why smoothies are great. For more reasons on why smoothies are great, check out Smoothies: The Ultimate Superfood.
Common types of Smoothies
Fruit Smoothies - A smoothie made with a fruit base.
Green Smoothies - A smoothie that includes a green vegetable such as spinach or kale which gives it a green color.
Protein Smoothies/Post Workout Smoothies - A smoothie that contains added ingredients that's high in protein or a protein powder. Often dessert flavored.
Meal Replacement - A higher calorie smoothie designed to replace a meal. Often with added protein powder.
Kids Smoothies - A simpler smoothie designed for your kids to enjoy. These add additional fruits, vegetables and superfoods to their diet and are a great substitute for unhealthy snacks or desserts.
Need some inspiration? Here are some of the most popular smoothie flavors. Also check out our smoothie recipes.
Popular Smoothie Flavors
Here are some of the most popular smoothie flavors:
Strawberry Banana
Tropical (Pineapple, Mango)
Blueberry
Mixed Berry (Strawberry, Raspberry, Blueberry, Blackberry)
Green (Spinach, Kale)
Chocolate
Chocolate Peanut Butter
Peanut Butter Banana
And if you want to come up with your own smoothie, play around with the following ingredients.
Common Ingredients
A smoothie normally has the following parts and some of the following common ingredients:
Liquid: Water, Milks (dairy, almond, coconut, oat), Fruit Juice, Vegetable Juice, Coconut Water, Coffee, Tea and more
Fruit: Apple, Banana, Strawberry, Blueberry, Raspberry, Mango, Pineapple, Cherry, Peach, Orange, Kiwi, Papaya and more
Vegetables: Spinach, Lettuce, Kale, Chard, Celery, Cucumber, Peppers, Broccoli, Carrots and more
Thickener (Optional): Ice, Avocado, Peanut Butter, Almond Butter, Chia Seeds, Flaxseeds, Oats, Yogurt, White Beans and more
Healthy Fat (Optional): Coconut Oil, Flax Oil, Olive Oil, Nuts
Sweetener (Optional): Dates, Figs, Honey, Maple Syrup, Agave, Stevia, Monk Fruit, Sugar
A little tip: When making smoothies, try to have at least one frozen ingredient to give it that thicker, chilled consistency. Also aim for 2 to 3 parts fruit or vegetables to 1 to 1 ½ parts liquid.
