This is neither cooking nor baking but

[babylonsister]

it is food... I need to incorporate a morning smoothie in my daily diet, and would like some lowfat, sugar-free suggestions on what to add to the fruit and ice to make a scrumptious one. Also, do you swear by any particular equipment I might need to accomplish this? Thanks for any input!

[cachukis]

1. Throw in a few frozen broccoli florets, a couple of frozen baby

carrots, maybe some spinach, a frozen apple banana, a bit of homemade granola, frozen strawberries, and a bit of mango and some yogurt.
I buy the strawberries when they are cheap and freeze. Same with other fruits except mango.
We have smoothies two to three times a week. No added sugar. I use Stoneyfield whole yogurt, but they make lowfat.
I use a Ninja blender with plenty of power. Never have to add ice or water.

[iwillalwayswonderwhy]

2. This one is warm and perfect for morning

One cup steeped green tea
Pinches of coriander, cinnamon, and nutmeg
One whole pear, seeded, skin on
Three unsalted cashews

[Irish_Dem]

3. I use the Ninja 1100 Watts professional blender.

In the summer I drink two or three smoothies a day!
And the blender has worked for years with no problem.
Does a great job.

[markie]

4. Ninja blender

my go to every morning is

almond milk
frozen blueberries (no need for ice) occasional vary it with frozen cherries, raspberries, blackberries, etc
pre and probiotic
agave inulin
Garden of Life protein with greens


my daughter's is
coffee
almond milk
collagen
mushrooms and maca

[2naSalit]

5. My "go to" smoothie/juice...

I use Nutri-Bullet juicers, I have a small earlier model but bought a bigger one with a blender and lots of controls. Both are great for juice/smoothies.

I stack the ingredients, like they did in the photos of the books about juicing and everything you'd ever want to know about it, that came with the first Nutri Bullet.

So the juice stack/recipe is:

10-14 baby spinach leaves or equivalent, kale is good too.
1 small to med. banana cut into chunks
1/4 -1/2 cup blueberries, frozen
" " " raspberries, "
1 small carrot, cut up
1 inch chunk of ginger
2 fl oz pecan pieces/halves

Fluid: 1/2 black cherry juice, 1/2 spring water.

That makes a meal for me. I liked it instead of breakfast before skiing a 15K stint back when I was still skiing. For me, a banana is essential and I won't make a smoothie without one but that's just me. Otherwise, the berry types can change depending on what's available, seeds are good too. Pineapple chunks help for sweetness but usually the natural sugars in all those fruits is sufficient for flavoring unless you get some especially tart berries, in that case I add a tiny spot of maple syrup.

[Irish_Dem]

8. I was working with a dietician who suggested spinach

Leaves in my fruit smoothie.
The idea somewhat took me aback.
The idea of the color and taste …..

[2naSalit]

11. It keeps it from...

Tasting like ice cream and it is a nice addition. The color only makes the whole mixture a little deeper in color. The berries and juice make up most of the color. Mine usually turn out a darkish, creamy rose color.

[Irish_Dem]

13. Someday I'll get the courage

I’m a gagger.

[Irish_Dem]

9. I do pomegranate juice and banana and strawberries

[2naSalit]

10. I do use other juices...

I have used pom juice, I just never think to buy it. I need seriously nutrient dense ingredients and that mix works best.

[Irish_Dem]

12. I copycatted it from tropical smoothie.

I’m obsessed with it

[2naSalit]

14. The variety...

Of ingredient choices go on forever, I just find one that I like and experiment on occasion but usually stay with one basic ingredient set. It's easier when shopping. I don't live in an environment where going to the corner market regularly is an option. I have to travel a distance to the store, any store, so I have to engage in the sort of bulk buying a single person does. Some stuff I get in large quantities like the pecans and juice, stuff that stores. After that its whatever I have that's fresh enough to put in a juice, that's where having a garden, even in pots on the porch, is crucial.

[Irish_Dem]

15. Right, I just buy pomegranate juice, strawberries and bananas.

Throw the fruit in the freezer and I am set to go.

ETA Since I put my fruit in the freezer, it keeps for a long time.
And I don't use any ice in the blender, the frozen fruit makes it icy.

[blm]

6. Vodka

😉

Heh. Actually, I’ve been enjoying a beet and orange combo lately.

[babylonsister]

17. Beet and orange?

Rum could work, too.

Beet and orange sound surprisingly good; I bet the color is interesting.

[blm]

18. It really is yum.

And so good for you.

[masmdu]

7. Green Monster

1/2 cup
Blueberries, broccoli, oats
1 cup
Spinach
1 apple
5-6 cherry tomatoes
2 cups sencha green tea
2 tsp turmeric, ginger, Ceylon cinnamon, cocoa powder, ground flaxseed, chia seeds
A dash of pepper

[Kali]

16. here is my super smoothie -

good handful of baby spinach, one carrot (I nuke for texture), 3 large strawberries, handful of blueberries, ~1/3 cup yogurt (or use protein powder), ~1/4 cup tart cherry juice (this is mostly just for flavor)

then: I sometimes add a small handful of cranberries if I have them, a half or whole date soaked in hot water for sugar if berries are too tart. Ice and water, tea, or milk for sake of blender.

all plant matter can be in frozen form for convenience, but some blenders may struggle. I have an Oster retro style that grinds about anything, but it is freaking loud!



add a thumb's worth of nuts or peanut butter if you like, for healthy fat but I just eat them on the side.