Smoothies

eapple87

So I am exploring smoothies in place of breakfast. I usually would skip breakfast and I seem to be able to get down a smoothie. But I'm wondering if what I'm putting in them is decent. I know it's not ideal but is it better than nothing?

I put fruit and orange juice. Enough to fill a 12 oz glass. Probably about 1.5 cups of frozen fruit and 3/4 cup of tropicana.

Like I said, I know it's not ideal and I could be adding almond milk and greens but I don't really like green smoothies at all.

Thanks for any input.

Christine_72

I love smoothies. I just add a scoop of chocolate protein powder, a banana, 1tbs of powdered wheat germ, 250ml of almond/coconut milk and a whole raw egg. Tastes yummy and keeps me full for hours.
The smoothie you mentioned doesn't sound like it would be very filling??

crystalewhite

If you are using a lot of fruit and juice already, you might not be able to taste a handful of mild greens like spinach or romaine. I mainly use greens with an apple and some frozen strawberries and the fruit is still the predominant flavor.
Christine's suggestions are great too, there are unflavored powders out there too.

Oh and PB2! This is powdered peanut butter and is great!

eapple87

Thanks for replying!

I'm not really using them to fill up, what I like about them is if I have one shortly after I wake up I find myself grabbing a hand full of cashews about 30min-1hr later and then wanting lunch earlier as well. Where as prior to having them I wouldn't eat until around 12 and then I'd eat something big and wait until dinner to eat again. Then all my snacking would take place in the evening.

I really don't eat bananas it anything banana flavoured and I need to learn more about powders as I've never dabbled in them. All of this is pretty new to me so I guess I was just feeling like my smoothies are inadequate.

I have tried adding greens but I find they change the smoothie from something I look forward to into something I dread, even if I just add a bit it changes the colour and texture I find.

queen_of_disaster

I sometimes use cottage cheese in mine to make them more substantial. It makes a WONDERFUL "cheesecake" smoothie. I've made variations on blueberry and strawberry, adding about 125 g of cottage cheese, a tsbp of lemon juice, a couple of fresh dates, and a half cup of your preferred plant-based milk (almond or soy are my favorites).

Christine_72

queen_of_disaster wrote: »

I sometimes use cottage cheese in mine to make them more substantial. It makes a WONDERFUL "cheesecake" smoothie. I've made variations on blueberry and strawberry, adding about 125 g of cottage cheese, a tsbp of lemon juice, a couple of fresh dates, and a half cup of your preferred plant-based milk (almond or soy are my favorites).

oohh oohh I was wondering about adding cottage cheese @queen_of_disaster‌ but was worried it would make it taste weird.
So you recommend it?

Cave_Goose

1 cup greek yogurt
1/2 cup juice (any flavor--I use Tropicana Farmstand Peach Mango Fruit & Vegetable Juice)
1 banana
1 cup spinach
Ice, if you want it (I don't add it)

The spinach will turn your smoothie puke green, but you don't taste it at at all.

With my juice selection:
357 calories
6 gram fat
55 gram carbs
25 gram protein
777mg potasium
106% Vitamin A
89% Vitamin C
54% Calcium
11% Iron

Cave_Goose

Bananas are often used in smoothies to make it creamy. Dry oatmeal can be used as a substitute.

kenmiller75

I put chia seeds or ground flax seed in mine to get added nutrients.

eapple87

Haha I feel soo picky right now but at the same time I don't relate to being a picky eater. I really like spinach in my soups and salads or on a pita but I can't stand the idea of mixing it with my smoothie. I also don't understand putting fruit in a green salad, like raspberries or mandarin. I know some people do that.

I guess I'll just stick to what I'm doing because it's gotta be better than my previous morning routine and maybe try adding some chia seeds or ground flax like @kenmiller75‌ suggested.

Thanks so much guys!

Christine_72

Chia seeds are a great addition for fibre, good fats and protein

eapple87

My mil uses them on her cereal, never thought to add them to a smoothie. She said the fill you up as well! Win win!

Christine_72

eapple87 wrote: »

My mil uses them on her cereal, never thought to add them to a smoothie. She said the fill you up as well! Win win!

I add them to everything I can!

Jakiepaper

Put your green smoothie in a colored glass not clear so you can't see the green.
I put in 1/2 cup of pineapple juice
a couple handfuls of spinach
a half avocado (healthy fat) ( banana has a lot of carbs)
a bunch of ice
Whey protein powder one scoop is 100 calories.
some of the PB2 to make it taste peanut buttery.

I wonder how much sugar you have in yours, just wondering not knocking it. Add some protein though.

JenniferInCt

crystalewhite wrote: »

If you are using a lot of fruit and juice already, you might not be able to taste a handful of mild greens like spinach or romaine. I mainly use greens with an apple and some frozen strawberries and the fruit is still the predominant flavor.
Christine's suggestions are great too, there are unflavored powders out there too.

Oh and PB2! This is powdered peanut butter and is great!

I lovvve pb2!

eapple87

@Jakiepaper‌ that's my concern, probably a lot of sugar!

The pineapple juice sounds really good! But I don't know about mixing it with pb... I think I need to let go of my issues with mixing flavours and I'll be able to make better smoothies.

Great idea to use a coloured glass, I'll try that and see how it works. Maybe blend it a bit more so the consistency is similar to just the fruit. I find when I've used spinach or kale there are green bits that just don't break up as easily as the fruit.

Thanks so much!

eapple87

My smoothie has 54g of sugar, my daily intake should be 45!

Christine_72

eapple87 wrote: »

My smoothie has 54g of sugar, my daily intake should be 45!

I go over my sugar every day, purely because of milk and fruit. 45g is really low. Personally I don't even track sugar anymore

eapple87

I'm sure I'll get the hang of what is and isn't important to track. Thanks so much for the tip.
I had my first tea without sugar today and it wasn't bad at all! Not sure why I've been adding a heaping tablespoon for so long. Multiple that by 3-5 teas daily and it really adds up!

FreakinFlabuless

lol eapple! I won't touch a salad with fruit in it. My brain just says "That's not natural!" lol That being said, I do make a green smoothie every day for breakfast for the same reason you do. I was a big meal skipper. You can NOT taste the baby spinach at all, and I was so surprised to learn that that I do add baby spinach to a lot of things now....homemade BBQ chicken "pizza", scrambled egg whites, and ALWAYS my smoothies. Let me know if you want to try my standby...green apple, avocado, baby spinach, flax meal, 1 oz. banana (small), almond milk, honey.

Christine_72

eapple87 wrote: »

I'm sure I'll get the hang of what is and isn't important to track. Thanks so much for the tip.
I had my first tea without sugar today and it wasn't bad at all! Not sure why I've been adding a heaping tablespoon for so long. Multiple that by 3-5 teas daily and it really adds up!

Snap!! I drink a lot of cups of tea everyday. I used to have 3tsp of sugar in each, now I can't drink it with sugar. I've tried dropping the milk, but just do not like black tea.

softblondechick

Do not make a blackberry smoothie, the seeds are too annoying.

I use whole oranges in my smoothies, and add water and ice, more fiber, less calories than OJ. and more economical.

Orange
Frozen banana
Handful of lettuce
Vanilla extract
Scoop of protein powder
Ice
Water

nicepurple

nicepurple

I used a mini banana, half cup of black coffee or espresso and some milk, blended, creamy banana coffee/latte smoothie to start the day!

For people who could not take milk, use plain soy or almond milk instead, no need for sugar as the banana itself is enough sweet. Less sugar = Less fat.

eapple87

@FreakinFlabuless‌ love the name! I'll try it but I'll have to sub the banana. I really do enjoy spinach in a lot of foods it's the mixing of fruit and salad that gives me the heebie jeebies.
@christinev297‌ I love me some tetley! I'm not going to sweat too much over the almond milk, my tea needs a bit of colour. I'm feeling like a very sensual person when it comes to my food after reading some of the responses and my replies.
@softblondechick‌ going to try the whole orange, that's a great idea!
@nicepurple‌ I bet that wakes you up in the morning! Never been a coffee drinker and I hate bananas but thanks for the suggestion! Btw purple is my favourite colour

Thanks so much everyone. I'm going to get the supplies to make a really awesome smoothie. With chia seeds, pineapple juice, spinach, and whole oranges on the list!

I can probably skip the protein powder because I'm adding the chia seeds, right?

Christine_72

I only add the protein powder because I struggle to hit my protein most day and I like the taste of it. It's up to you, if you don't need it I wouldn't worry about it.
1 scoop of my protein powder is 25g protein. 105 calories
1tbs of chia seeds is around 5-6g protein. 67 calories.

Francl27

You don't have to eat breakfast, if skipping it makes it easier for you, just do that. It's total broscience that having breakfast is healthier.

But a smoothie would have me starving within an hour... too many carbs, not enough fat.

Christine_72

I agree with not having to have breakfast if you don't want.
As for not filling up on smoothies. Adding a raw egg, some coconut oil, chia seeds and a banana fixes that problem

Lynn_babcock

I'm just discovering rhubarb for smoothies. I put 80 pounds of the stuff in my freezer last Summer and was worried about using it. Well, now I use 2 cups of rhubarb when I'm making a full blender worth. It's a cheap addition.

Francl27

christinev297 wrote: »

I agree with not having to have breakfast if you don't want.
As for not filling up on smoothies. Adding a raw egg, some coconut oil, chia seeds and a banana fixes that problem

Yeah but... yuck. If I'm going to put stuff in there just to up the calories, I'd rather just have the cooked egg frankly, and not 'waste' calories in too much fruit.

RonnieTiajuana

I split this smoothie with my wife 2/5 to 3/5:

2 cups water
1.5 cups greek yogurt
2 T flax seeds
1T coconut oil
1 medium banana
1 cup blueberries
spinach or kale to the top of the vitamix.

You can add more banana for sweetness