Making a morning smoothie is a great way to start your day. When you fill your cells with good nutrition, your energy will sustain for many hours. However, you may get tired of making the same smoothie over and over again. Here are some tips to spice up your recipe so it tastes fresh and new every morning.
Choose A Good Base
The most common base for making smoothies is milk or water. If you want more flavor and a smoother texture, milk will provide these characteristics. For less calories, water is the best choice. To experience different flavor profiles, plant based milk is a great option. Oat, almond, or macadamia nut milk are superb choices. Compared to cow’s milk, plant based milk has less saturated fat and no cholesterol.
Add Natural Sweeteners
Fruit and maple syrup can be used to sweeten your smoothie and make it delicious. Fresh, frozen, or dried fruit are all good options. Apples, pears, or bananas are wonderful additions. For frozen fruit, Wyman’s Wild Blueberries is a great choice. Wild Blueberries have twice the antioxidant capacity of cultivated blueberries. Diets rich in antioxidants are associated with reduced risk of chronic diseases.
For dried fruit, apricots or figs work well after soaking them in water overnight so the pieces are soft and pliable for the blender. When using maple syrup, choose the Grade A Pure which is the healthiest and most natural variety.
Supercharge with Supplements
To supercharge your smoothie, supplements can be added to really pack a punch. For starters, protein powder is typically included to boost the protein content and nutritional value. After adding the milk and fruit, I add vitamins and minerals to provide additional support to the immune system.
Here are my favorites:
- Vitamin D3 (Liquid extract)
- Zinc (Liquid extract)
- Vitamin C (Bulk powder)
- L-Lysine (Vegan capsules)
- Protein Powder (Vegan, organic)
Vitamin D3 and Zinc are in liquid form for best absorption. The Vitamin C bulk powder makes it easier to ingest larger quantities of Vitamin C. However, if you’re a person who prefers taking capsules, you can break open a couple of the Vitamin C capsules and pour the powder into your smoothie.
This is what I do for L-Lysine. I open two capsules and pour the powder into the smoothie.
When it comes to protein powder, the simpler the better. With only 5 ingredients, Truvani delivers 20g of protein per scoop. I personally use half a scoop which gives the smoothie a nice, creamy texture.
To see a complete smoothie recipe, please visit The Road to Wellness Through Gut Health.
A Few Final Thoughts
For health and wellness, smoothies are an invaluable way to begin your day. Ingredients matter so choose wisely. A great base with natural sweeteners and high quality supplements will provide sustained energy levels for many hours.
A morning smoothie is well worth the investment!
Authored by Susan Kapatoes, founder of Inspire Your Journey. As an Amazon Associate, Susan earns from qualifying purchases.