Smoothies

eapple87
eapple87 Posts: 50 Member
edited November 12 in Food and Nutrition
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.
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Replies

  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    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
    crystalewhite Posts: 422 Member
    edited February 2015
    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
    eapple87 Posts: 50 Member
    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
    queen_of_disaster Posts: 61 Member
    edited February 2015
    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
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    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? :smile:

  • Cave_Goose
    Cave_Goose Posts: 156 Member
    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
    Cave_Goose Posts: 156 Member
    Bananas are often used in smoothies to make it creamy. Dry oatmeal can be used as a substitute.
  • kenmiller75
    kenmiller75 Posts: 89 Member
    I put chia seeds or ground flax seed in mine to get added nutrients.
  • eapple87
    eapple87 Posts: 50 Member
    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
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    Chia seeds are a great addition for fibre, good fats and protein :+1:
  • eapple87
    eapple87 Posts: 50 Member
    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
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    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
    Jakiepaper Posts: 57 Member
    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
    JenniferInCt Posts: 431 Member
    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
    eapple87 Posts: 50 Member
    @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
    eapple87 Posts: 50 Member
    My smoothie has 54g of sugar, my daily intake should be 45! :\
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    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
    eapple87 Posts: 50 Member
    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
    FreakinFlabuless Posts: 29 Member
    edited February 2015
    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
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    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
    softblondechick Posts: 1,275 Member
    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 Posts: 17 Member
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  • nicepurple
    nicepurple Posts: 17 Member
    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
    eapple87 Posts: 50 Member
    @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
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    edited February 2015
    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
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    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
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    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
    Lynn_babcock Posts: 220 Member
    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
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    edited February 2015
    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
    RonnieTiajuana Posts: 34 Member
    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
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