When you first start making smoothies, keeping it simple, with basic ingredients, is the best way to start. Fresh berries, liquid, a banana and maybe even a handful of greens will blend together to make a creamy smoothie in seconds flat, leaving you with a healthy, delicious smoothie. But after awhile, you might find that you start to crave a few other varieties in your smoothie. Luckily, it is easy to blend in some key ingredients that will help up your flavor as well as your nutritional value.
It can be easy to blend extra ingredients into your smoothie and give you the variety you crave. While you might be tempted to reach for the latest “shake” powder, protein powder or smoothie mix, it is better to get the extra flavor and nutritional boost (such as protein), from an all-natural, simple source. Many powders contain excess ingredients that are extremely unhealthy. They can have added, processed sugar; refined oils; chemicals and additives; and other unnatural ingredients. Even those that are made with natural, or even organic, ingredients can contain a long list add-ins that alone would be great, but all together can irritate our digestion and lead to cramps and bloating.
Instead of adding in a protein powder or the latest shake craze, add in one of these 5 simple ingredients for a healthy smoothie that will make you feel good.
5 Ingredients to Add to Your Smoothie:
- Seeds: These tiny ingredients really pack a punch. Seeds can help you get your daily dose of essential fatty acids (omega’s), as well as protein (hemp) and fiber (flax).
- Nuts: Add healthy fats, fiber and protein, as well as a bit of flavor by adding nuts to your smoothies. Make sure to soak them first, so they are soft and able to blend easily.
- Nut Butter: All the things nuts do, as well as thicken your smoothies.
- Blue-Green Superfoods: A dose of plant-based vitamins and minerals (including B vitamins!), protein and anti-oxidants. You can find these at your local health-food store in the supplement aisle.
- Protein: Some protein comes from surprising sources, such as beans and tofu. These also contain fiber and make your smoothies thick, creamy and enough for a meal.
Then give one of those recipes, or this one, featuring some of the above ingredients, a try.
Almond Butter Cake Batter Smoothie: 
Sometimes, you just need a little bit of cake. In this smoothie, almond butter and bananas create a creamy, cake batter-like smoothie that will satisfy your sweet cravings and leave you absolutely satisfied. It’s guilt-free and good for you. You can finally have your cake and drink it too!
4 tbsp almond butter
2 frozen bananas
1 cup vanilla, unsweetened almond milk
3 ice cubes
*optional sprinkle of cinnamon
Add all ingredients to your blender and blend until smooth. *Recipe from The Smoothie Life.
Ready to give a few more ingredients a try? Grab your free copy of The Smoothie Life Sample, featuring a few of the recipes from my upcoming book, The Smoothie Life. If you enjoy the book sample and find it is a great resource, you’ll love all the info on ingredients to add to your smoothies, as well as the recipes, in the full book, available soon. Click the image below to grab your sample copy.
Enjoy!
