10 common smoothie mistakes you might be making. What not to do (and what to do instead) to make sure your smoothies are delicious!
If youβve been around here for a while, youβll know I love me a good smoothie! Especially a green smoothie. In fact, you guys have actually titled me the Green Smoothie Queen! So today Iβm taking you through some common smoothie mistakes I see made. Bear in mind, Iβm not a nutritionist, so this is all just in my opinion based off of the things Iβve learned over years of making my own smoothies.
Donβt forget to grab my free guide on how to make the perfect green smoothie right here!
If youβre only using milk for your smoothie liquid, you might be using too much. I like to do a half and half ratio, so half nut or oat milk, and half filtered water. You could even do just filtered water, especially if youβre adding in fruits like banana or mango, or a protein powder, since theyβll provide that milky creamy texture without you needing to add any milk.Β
I see so many people overdoing it with the fruit in their smoothies. Itβs really not necessary, and it makes your smoothie so sugary. You can use vegetables in your smoothies, it doesnβt all have to be sweet fruits. Things like celery, cucumber, greens, ginger, ice, steamed cauliflower and zucchini are all amazing. Theyβll add nutrients and texture to your smoothie without the added sugar. Take a look at some of my favourite unexpected smoothie mixes right here.
Healthy fats and fibre are the two things that are going to make your smoothie filling and saciating. If you drink a smoothie and youβre hungry two seconds later, itβs probably because you need to add more substance to your smoothie. Not only will they help keep you full, theyβre also great for your digestion. My go-toβs for fibre are flax and chia seeds, and for healthy fats I love avocado and nut or seed butters.Β
If youβre using ripe fruit, there is no need to add sweeteners. You donβt need honey, maple syrup, sweetened yogurt, sweetened almond milk or even fruit juice. Sometimes if Iβm craving a really sweet smoothie for a dessert Iβll add a little freshly squeezed orange juice (not boxed orange juice) but for the most part fruit is sweet enough!Β
You do not need protein powders that are loaded with sugar. Look for powders that are low in sugar and low on the GI index. There are plenty out there like this one that are sweetened with a little bit of coconut sugar, stevia or monk fruit. These will still give your smoothie a little bit of sweetness without spiking your blood sugar. As with everything you eat, look at the ingredients in your protein powders. They can be full of processed ingredients. Make sure you do your research, know the brand and trust the quality of the ingredients and where theyβre sourcing them from.Β
I know there are all these awesome green super powders on the market these days, and theyβre great for travelling or if youβve run out of greens, but guess what? Fresh, raw, beautiful leafy greens are amazing to put into your smoothies. I always have spinach, kale, romaine or even just a spring mix on hand in the fridge. Rotating your greens is a great way to not get bored.Β
Leading on from that last point, I can sometimes get into a rut of only using something like baby spinach because itβs easy to buy and throw in, but thatβs a good way to get bored of your smoothies. You want to make sure youβre using a variety of ingredients in your smoothies. Some weeks Iβll do chia seeds for my fibre and healthy fats, other weeks Iβll do flax. As I said, I always rotate my greens, and itβs the same with my fruit. Iβll alternate between berries and mango and banana. You donβt always want to do the same thing. I definitely have my go-to ingredients, but I do try to swap flavours out as much as possible.
Pro tip: If youβre looking for smoothie ingredient inspiration, check out my free smoothie guide!
This one is super important. You guys ask me all the time what my secret is to getting a super smooth smoothie, and itβs really all in the blender. If you donβt have a good blender youβll end up with a pulpy smoothie, and youβll still be able to feel all the texture of the greens. No one wants bits of kale stuck in your teeth! This is a higher end blender I recommend, and this is a more affordable blender I recommend too, since I know everyoneβs budget is different.Β
If you want your smoothie to be delicious, sweet and easy to digest, you want to make sure youβre using ripened fruit. At all times I have a bunch of bananas ripening on the counter, and Iβll use them in rotation. Iβll wait for them to get ripe and then peel them, chop them up and throw them into one of these reusable silicone bags in the freezer. That way I always have a stash of ripe bananas ready to go. You can also get frozen fruit that will have been frozen at the perfect time, so you donβt even have to worry about it, although I donβt think frozen banana is particularly easy to come by.Β
I get it. Not everyone wants to add protein powders to their smoothies. I donβt always add it; I tend to go through phases depending on how much Iβm working out or how hungry I am. But it doesnβt have to be a protein powder! Things like hemp seeds or raw almonds are a great source of plant based protein. Even spirulina powder is one of my favourite superfoods, as is grass fed collagen, and these have a huge amount of protein in it.Β
Whatβs your favourite smoothie? Let me know in the comments below!Β
For more smoothie inspo, be sure to check out my guide on how to make the perfect green smoothie, and these DIY smoothie freezer packs.
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Hi can you recommend a dairy free protein powder please? Thankyou
I seam to be doing ok with my smoothies have the right balance. I use all frozen veg & fruit.
You can get banana & strawberry frozen mix in aldi.