My Perfect Smoothie Ingredients.
This morning our driveway was a solid sheet of ice. See?
But instead of lacing up my skates, I thought it was the perfect morning for a smoothie.
Or not.
I had one anyway. So I thought I’d share my favorite ingredients with you!
First up… frozen bananas.
They absolutely MUST be frozen. They give smoothies a creamy, ice-cream like consistency.
At the beginning of every week, I freeze a bunch of bananas. I slice them before freezing. They are easier to whip up that way.
Milk.
Oh yes… milk. Trust me, back in my heyday I used water for shakes. I don’t know what a heyday is and if I’ve even had one, but I’ll tell you one thing: water mixed with protein powder? That is not a way to live. At least not for me. Give me the goods! My three favorite milks are cow’s skim, unsweetened vanilla almond, or vanilla coconut. I only love the last two because of the vanilla flavor.
And speaking of vanilla…
Extracts make smoothies taste so delicious. It doesn’t have to be vanilla. But use one!
Creamy yogurt.
I love yogurt. I’ve been eating greek yogurt for years, with Fage still coming in at number one. This has taken the place of protein powder in my shakes. I’m pretty much over protein powder.
More frozen fruit.
I don’t always use it, but I love it when I do. My favorites are strawberries and cherries.
Gross greens.
Obviously, I don’t get enough vegetables through out the day. Even though I’m trying, it’s really not a secret. So I throw some in the shake and don’t taste them at all. Trust me, if I can’t… you won’t be able to either.
Nut butter.
Any kind will do. I don’t always add it, as it depends on my flavor combinations, but I love it. And it gives me some staying power.
Cocoa!
Because you can never have enough chocolate.
There you have it. Those are my favorite things for a delicious shake. If I had to pick one, I’d go with the frozen bananas. You just haven’t lived until you taste a smoothie with frozen bananas.
What is your must-have smoothie ingredient?
106 Comments on “My Perfect Smoothie Ingredients.”
I can use both yogurt + protein powder…I know…dairy overload, cause I eat a ton of dairy during the day!
But, I’ve never put yogurt in the blender. I only have a single-serving stand up blender. I’m afraid I’d never get the contents out? Would I ?
You can try a pumpkin pie smoothie also.
I like a cup of berries + more fruits like bananas.
But I always add either coconut or flax oil. Is that gross? I just do it.
Also, try AVOCADO. Yummy in a smoothie. Honest.
Do you do the whole xanthan gum thing?
I eat lots of dairy during the day too! I looooove dairy. I use a magic bullet and never have problems with yogurt in my blender. And I love avocado in smoothies! Trader Joe’s has frozen avocados that I use during the months when they cost an arm and a leg here.
And nope, no xanthan gum!
my husband has been making me smoothies every day since getting home from the hospital from having my baby. i like frozen mangos the best!
What a sweet hubby! :)
Frozen bananas are definitely #1!
Mmmmm, someone just told me that we can’t absorb vitamins well without some fats so I’m starting to put fats into my smoothies…..nut butters sounds like a really good thing to use for that.
Yes! Milk is a MUST! Can’t do water anymore.
I want a smoothie stat.
DUDE- sooo with you on this smoothie!! I use the EXACT same combo…and love the family commentary on the literal mud-sludge color beverage that I’m drinking :/ haha love it! AND i totes slipped around and almost ate crap on the ice today….not cool.
My favourite smoothie ingredient is bananas for sure, but peanut butter is a close second. I also love mangoes and peaches in mine! YUM!
my favorite smoothie is simple but delicious: frozen peaches, honey, organic plain yogurt and ice. :)
Great post! *so* with you on the protein powder….ewww! I have 2 smoothies a day. I don’t use any dairy; if I use a milk–its almond milk (that i make in the vitamix). Avocado is also a great sub for banana…great creamy texture (and the good fat!) My current fav is is a green smoothie: banana, pineapple, kale & spinach, almond butter, ground flaxseed and splash of vanilla extract!
I made a smoothie first the first time today with frozen bananas and I agree that it tastes much better.
Here’s my sister’s recipe which I kind of followed:
Whole skinned kiwi, chopped
Half of a frozen banana, chopped (I froze the entire thing and made a big fat mess trying to peel it frozen haha)
So Good Vanilla Soy Milk
I like to blend these ingredients together and then add strawberries (today it was blueberries, raspberries and strawberries), crushed and frozen.
Blend in my magic bullet until smooth! :)
I didn’t use measurements but I probably will next time.
I love how simple it is but I kind of want to experiment with crushed flax seed, chia seeds and powders in the future.
Your mr. how sweet goes shopping posts had me cracking up.
I agree, frozen bananas make the shake, without a doubt! I have a banana freezing tip that might help too. I used to slice the bananas like that and lay them in a single layer to freeze, then bag them. If you don’t do this, then they stick madly together as they freeze. Buuut, if you “break” the banana into pieces rather than cutting it, it doesn’t have the wet edges, so you can actually just pack them right in the bag and freeze without worry of stickage. I still lay the bags in a single layer / flat (with the bananas mostly in a single layer) until frozen though so that they freeze properly. You might already know all this, but just thought I would note in case it helps :)
I use frozen bananas in EVERY single smoothie i make!! it is definitely a must-have for me!
Why didnt u tell me about slicing bananas before freezing last week? I already froze them full!! Thanx. Brilliant idea!
I definitely like frozen blueberries in my smoothies the most! I’ve never tried spinach in one, but I am going to have to make one like that soon! Sounds wonderful!
With all that cocoa powder, is no other sweetener needed?
I really don’t even need any kind of sweetener because of the bananas, other fruit, cocoa powder, vanilla extract, etc!
Love the addition of the yogurt instead of the protein powder! Sometimes I use kefir instead of milk. And I love adding avocado. My must have smoothie ingredient is definitely banana!
…. It’s a day later but all I’m dreaming of for breakfast is a smoothie.. except I’m too cold and lazy to make one!
Wow this smoothie looks awesome! I love to put honey and fresh fruit in my smoothies. I love the sweetness that the honey adds and the freshness of the fruit.
love the pics as always!! i used to use water too but now i add more fun ingredients! maintaining is so much more fun than losing!
I love frozen bananas and lately I have been obsessed with banana soft serve! I also use kale or spinach in every smoothie I make its such a way to get tons of greens into your life without even trying! Love your pictures :)
Frozen fruit is a must in mine! and that sounds delicious!
Bananas are one of my must-haves. :)
Sounds fantastic!!! Love the cocoa and yogurt addition!
I use almond extract in mine. LOVE IT! I never freeze my bananas but I am going to have to try that.
I might be the only one who absolutely hates frozen bananas in my smoothies. I just don’t like the texture.
Lately I have been adding honey. I’ve heard of all the health benefits of it and my immunity system can use all the defense I can give it. Oh and also dry Quaker oats – gives it staying power for twice as long!
I’ve had a spinach smoothie every night this week! I’m going to slice a banana up right now for my breakfast smoothie. I like to throw in a kiwi when I remember to buy them. And I usually throw in a tablespoon of flax seed, too. I drink nothing but unsweetened vanilla almond milk.
I like your smoothie ingredients, except the bananas and skim milk – not a fan of either. So to bulk up my smoothies, I might use avocado – can’t taste that either, or I might add more ice. I use either whole organic milk or kefir as the liquid component. Yummmm.
I just posted about smoothies too. I use soy milk and always add some ground flax seed or wheat germ to mine. My freezer is full of frozen bananas too :)
I knew I’d been reading your blog too much when I made a smoothie last night and decided I needed to throw extra peanut butter and chocolate chips on top of a smoothie that already had both in it :) I’m not complaining though. It was delicious!
Sounds like a perfect smoothie to me!
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Am eating (sipping) this right now, YUM! of course, I had to omit the PB because I’m not much of a fan :)
Love all these ideas! I love smoothies but never make them myself – Just spend my money when I’m on the go :o(
I have been drooling over your blog for a couple weeks now, but as a broke grad student with minimal kitchen tools, I have yet to try out any of your recipes….. until today. I used all the same ingredients except substituted orange juice for milk (mine is always going bad). It was a delicious and somewhat healthy start to my morning! I’m looking forward to trying your banana soft-serve soon!
My must have in a smoothie is cream cheese! It makes a SUPER creamy shake!
Bodybuilders often supplement their diets with a powdered form of protein. The powder is mixed with water, milk or juice. Protein powder is generally consumed immediately before and after exercising, or in place of a meal. Some types of protein are to be taken directly before and after a workout (whey protein), while others are to be taken before going to bed (casein protein).**^”
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