Smoothies are a great way to get a bunch of nutrients on the go – but are they always healthy? A lot of us at Vos rely on smoothies for quick mini-meals because we’re with clients all day, so a lot of the time you’ll see us drinking one!
We have a lot of clients asking us about
smoothies, what we put in ours, and if they’re actually good for you. Short answer, it depends on what you put in it!! We decided to break down our smoothies for you as a guide so you can create a delicious and nutritious snack or mini meal while staying nutritiously conscious.
It's all about that base
Ensure your base doesn’t have any added sugar. We don’t recommend fruit juice or sweetened beverages as those have the most amount of sugar and can make your smoothie a sugar bomb!
Some great bases include:
Water
Unsweetened oat milk or nut milks
Coconut water (yes this has sugar but if you need a bit more hydration this is a good choice)
Kefir
2% organic milk
Get your greens on
Whatever smoothie you’re making, add 1-2 handfuls of leafy greens. Dark leafy greens are packed with nutrients and when blended well you can’t even tell it’s in there! Try and mix up your greens if you tend to have smoothies often as each green has different nutrients! A lot of these come frozen too!
Some of our favorites are:
Spinach
Kale
Collards
Watercress
Dandelion
Swiss chard
Add a healthy fat
If you want this smoothie to be satiating and satisfy you until your next meal, or if this smoothie IS a meal, you need to add some bulk to it. Do remember that fats have more calories you’re your protein and carbohydrates so be mindful of the portions of your healthy fats! Along with protein, healthy fats will help keep you full and can also add more nutritional value to your smoothie from those heart-healthy Omega-3s and monounsaturated fats!
Some of our favorites include:
Unsweetened nut butters
Avocado
Greek Yogurt
Seeds (chia, flax, hemp)
Protein!
Sometimes healthy fat and protein can go hand in hand, such as your Greek Yogurt or Kefir. But if you want to add more protein to your smoothie you can go for a high-quality protein powder that’s plant-based or whey. We loved Naked Brands because its clean and delicious!
Delicious Add ons
We firmly believe nutritious food can also be delicious too! We love to add on some flavor boosters to our smoothies that also pack even more nutrition!
Some of our favorites:
Deep blue or purple berries (frozen and organic)
Local bee pollen
Spirulina
Turmeric
Ginger
Raw cacao
We hope these tips help you build a better smoothie that is not just delicious but filling and super good for you! Cheers to your health!
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