Smoothie

Q: You have a nice green smoothie on here that sounds terrific, but I don’t have flaxseed oil. I have flaxseed itself — can I use it, and where do I find flaxseed oil? Sent by Phyllis Editor: You can definitely substitute flaxseeds for flaxseed oil in smoothies. I would recommend grinding it up first or buying ground flaxseed so the texture of the smoothie isn’t too gritty.

The main ingredients in a decent smoothie—strawberries, blueberries, peaches—are a little hard to come by (or cost a fortune) this time of year. And so far, we’ve yet to see a winning recipe made with apples. Of course, there’s always frozen fruit, but we’ve got some other creative tips for making fresh, creamy smoothies in the bleak months ahead.• Bananas, bananas, bananas.

Smoothies have long been a part of my regular breakfast lineup, no matter what time of year. These cool drinks are a satisfying way to refuel after working out, a great quick breakfast when you’re on the go, and a refreshing afternoon pick-me-up. I’ve been freezing fresh fruit for smoothies for a while, and recently I took it one step further. Rather than freezing each type of fruit in separate bags, I started creating individual-serving smoothie bags.

Drinking vitamin-rich smoothies can be a terrific, wholesome way to start to the day. I’ve learned that the key to making them solid breakfast material is always adding an extra key ingredient or two. These are my five favorite ways to guarantee I blend up a super-satisfying smoothie that will fill me up and won’t leave me hungry in an hour. Nut butters, like almond butter or peanut butter, add a good hit of protein to your next smoothie. Plus, they act as a thickener.

Love the idea of a smoothie for breakfast, but wish it filled you up a little more? I hear you, and I’m totally with you. My main criteria for any breakfast, including smoothies, is one that isn’t going to leave my stomach grumbling a couple hours later. The key to a good breakfast smoothie is making sure it has the power to carry me through the morning. One of the easiest ways to do this? Add a scoop of oats!

Every morning, almost on autopilot, I make a smoothie — tossing spinach, a nub of pungent ginger, a generous squeeze of lemon, and apple into my blender, along with a splash of coconut water. Then came the morning when I opened the fridge and realized I was completely out of apples, so I took to the freezer, hoping I had something lurking in there that would work as a worthy and delicious substitution.

Sometimes it feels like we’ve exhausted all the ways to bring something new to a smoothie. Then a while ago I began adding frozen fennel to my smoothies, and felt like it was a complete game changer. That was a discovery that came out of necessity, and then necessity reared its head again with another way to bring something new to the morning blend. Something sparkly. Mineral water, sparkling water, and seltzer have now become my liquid of choice for smoothies.

Green smoothies started showing up everywhere a couple years ago, followed quickly by the green juice craze. But wait — aren’t those two the same thing? No, there is actually a key difference between smoothies and juices, and that difference has a big impact on how you digest the two. In a nutshell, the difference is fiber. Smoothies have a lot of it; juices typically have very little. A smoothie is made by placing all the ingredients in a container and processing them together.

Making a really good smoothie is more than just piling ingredients into your blender. The way the ingredients are layered has a big impact on the way the drink is processed and on the final texture. To whip up a creamy smoothie, you have to know when to add ingredients to the blender. The first order of business is dividing the ingredients into different categories based on their texture and consistency; this determines when they’ll be added to the mix.

Firm and sturdy fruits and vegetables, like carrots and beets, are one of the simplest ways to give your morning smoothie a colorful reboot — especially in the winter when they’re readily available and filled with sweet, earthy aromas that make your smoothie feel cheery. But instead of popping them straight into the blender, you’ll want to take a minute or two to tackle their texture.

Just as important as building layers of flavor in your smoothie is tackling the texture. There is a simple trick that every vegan knows for whipping up a thicker smoothie with a milkshake-like creaminess, and it’s hiding out in your pantry. The secret to a creamy, ultra-velvety smoothie is not found in the dairy aisle — it is right inside your pantry. Raw, unsalted cashews are a classic ingredient for whipping up thick and creamy smoothies every time.

Your smoothie is only as good as the things you put in it. And I should know: I’m a nutritionist and dietitian who understands the importance of eating good food and how it fits into a busy lifestyle. Because you want said blended drink to actually fill you up, here are a few no-fail steps I’ve learned for building the ideal smoothie. I’m partial to unsweetened coconut and nut milks, but coconut water, 2% milk (if you tolerate), and kefir work well too.

If you want to start your day with the sweet taste of summer all year long, these frozen peach-raspberry smoothie kits are always a good place to start. Sunny stone fruit and jewel-toned berries are partnered with a surprising ingredient (hint: it’s a vegetable) for a subtly sweet smoothie with an extra-creamy texture. This kit comes together with peaches, raspberries, and cauliflower, plus a liquid of your choice when it’s time to blend. Here’s what you’ll need.

Reminiscent of the childhood classic we all love, this creamy smoothie treats you to the fruity, nutty flavors that make the PB&J such an enduring favorite. Each smoothie pack is filled with cherries and strawberries for sweet, jammy flavor, plus sliced banana for extra creaminess. We’re adding the peanut butter to the bag to keep it classic, but why not go a little off course with almond or cashew butter for a cool smoothie that will not disappoint?

The freezer is such a treasure chest of kitchen delights. I reach into my own for frozen vegetables to get dinner done in a pinch, ice for cold brew and boo-boos alike, and frozen fruit like berries, cherries, and peaches (yes, even in the height of summer!). And yet, I’m not making smoothies every day. No, I’m using frozen fruit for everything from dessert to dinner in a few surprising ways that makes these frozen gems worth their weight in gold.

If you are as excited about the imminent return of citrus season as I am, you’re going to want to stock up and keep these bright smoothie packs on repeat for as long as possible. Sweet orange segments are paired with tropical mango for a big punch of vitamin C, plus banana for a cool, creamy finish. This kit comes together with a trio of fruit, a hit of greens, plus a liquid of your choice when it’s time to blend. Here’s what you’ll need.

I know fruit smoothies can be plenty sweet on their own, but I like a little something more. My sweetener of choice is dates. They add the extra sweetness I crave along with subtle notes of rich caramel, and I feel good knowing I’m satisfying my sweet tooth with something wholesome. These dried fruits have also changed the way I make smoothies. When I toss dates into my smoothies, there’s always one thing I do first to guarantee the smoothest drink possible. Can you guess what it is?

Regardless of whether you love a smoothie bowl or think that this tasty trend should end Think of this as a grain bowl meets fruit salad, with enough whole grains and fresh fruit to keep you full until lunch and a punchy vinaigrette gilding the whole thing. Not only are these bowls easier to eat than a smoothie bowl, they can also be prepared in advance, making them easier to take on the go or to eat at your desk.

There’s something about eating food from a bowl that just makes it even more appealing, and smoothies are no exception. They’re certainly delicious in a tall glass, but pour a smoothie in a bowl and add all the toppings and you’ve got something really special to sink a spoon into. The very best smoothie bowls are thick and frosty; you don’t want to end up with a bowl of thin smoothie soup.

I reach for the stick blender to make quick work of blending a big pot of soup, and it’s also great for the morning on-the-go smoothie since I can blend it right in the cup. But beyond these two tasks, what else can stick blenders do? An immersion or stick blender is a handy, inexpensive appliance that can often take the place of a food processor or regular blender.

Adding frozen fruit to smoothies is nothing short of amazing. And, pretty much mandatory in my book. It’s a great way to add flavor and sweetness, and best of all, I love the icy, refreshing consistency it brings to my drink. There’s no question that buying frozen fruit is easy and convenient, but it also gets a little pricey…especially if you drink smoothies as often as I do! While it takes a little time and some prep work, consider freezing fresh fruit instead.

A few months ago while I was waiting in line at my local juice shop, I noticed the woman ahead of me purchase the most stunning smoothie I have ever set eyes on. It was the most mesmerizing shade of deep blue-green. I knew it was finally time to stray from my predictable berry-almond-protein number and give that stunning mystery smoothie a try. I soon learned it was the addition of spirulina that gave this smoothie such a beautiful hue.

A new convert to smoothies, I always wondered why Pinterest is full of images of individually packed smoothie ingredients — why not just make a big batch of smoothie and stash it in the fridge for meals throughout the week? Well, if you’ve tried this, you know why it doesn’t work. The smoothie separates and the fruit takes on a sort of funky flavor almost bad enough to turn you off smoothies all together. But you know what works? Freezing the smoothie!

Q: Can I make breakfast smoothies, especially green smoothies, the night before I want to drink them? My roommate’s room is right next to the kitchen, and I’m the first one up in the morning, so making a fresh smoothie before I go to work would be out of the question as far as considerate roommating is concerned. Can I make a smoothie in the evening and stick it in the fridge until morning? Or will it become gross and brown overnight? Sent by Claudia Editor: I say give it a try!

Whether you enjoy drinking smoothies for breakfast, lunch, or snack, you can always have a delicious one ready to go with this time-saving tip from Muffin Tin Mania.Instead of rounding up smoothie ingredients such as bananas, greens, and protein powder on the spot, Muffin Tin Mania’s Matt Kadey recommends blending a batch ahead of time. Freeze the mixture in muffin tins and then store in a zip-top bag for later.

It may be frigid outside and prime season for oatmeal, but we’re in the middle of a smoothie kick. We don’t have the best blender – just your average model – but a couple of tips from Alton Brown have saved us from struggling and shaking it every morning as we make our breakfast. They’re so obvious, too!Earlier this month, Sarah Rae highlighted Alton Brown’s tips for eating light and his food lists that helped him lose 50 pounds.