Smooth away these cold wet days
Now I know its winter and it’s cold and wet outside and the last thing you want to eat is something cold and wet! But just hear me out because what I have to suggest will not only solve your quest for something sweet but will also help your body become healthier.
So this week I am talking about Smoothies. They’re quick, easy, and can be made ahead of time for a grab and go kind of morning. That’s why so many of us are turning to them in times of need. “Times of need?” Yes, when normally we would go for a low nutritionally dense food like chocolate, cakes, cereals or low-fat yogurt, we can turn to these nutrient rich tasty drinks to beat our cravings and hunger pangs.
To get the most flavour and nutrients into your smoothies I use frozen fruit or portion out fresh fruit (berries or bananas are good choices) and keep them in the freezer for instant access.
I love smoothies so I have produced my top 5, I hope you enjoy them and if you have any suggestions please let me know.
- Kiwi Smoothie
If you’re interested in keeping the almond flavour, but don’t want to use extract, add a small spoonful of almond butter or a splash of almond milk. Between frozen fruit and yogurt, this smoothie will be thick and delicious.
- Pineapple Coconut Smoothie
Why not give a weekday morning a boost with a little Caribbean virgin Pina colada action? Using light coconut milk will make this more waist friendly and try toasting some flaked coconut and sprinkling it on top.
- Green Tea Smoothie
The lists of healthy benefits of green tea are long and varied and having hot tea throughout the winter is exactly what we need, it is so refreshing. This frothy smoothie with strong brewed tea and almond milk. To make this smoothie thicker, either freeze the melon or add a handful of ice.
- Raspberry Blackberry Smoothie
Tart berries like raspberries and blackberries will jump start your morning or give you that mid-afternoon boost. Because of the seeds, you should allow the smoothie to blend longer than usual, or you can strain it.
Okay so these are my top 5 but you also need to know how to make them.
Start your smoothie with two mugs full of a liquid base. This can be full fat milk, or soya or almond milk, coconut milk or full fat Greek yogurt. It’s important to add the liquid to your blender before adding the fruit as this will prevent the blade from getting damaged.
Next add about three quarters of a mug of your chosen fruit. Banana is a great base flavour for any smoothie, and will give you a lovely creamy texture. Other fruits that work well are berries, mango, peaches, plums, nectarines, grated apple or pear, and melon. You may have to add more fruit or liquid, depending on the type of fruit you choose. Play around until you have a texture you like. Finally, add a few ice cubes to the blender for a thick and frosty smoothie.
And there you have it delicious, mouth-watering and most importantly full of goodness smoothies. If you would like to know about more smoothie options why not go to our website and access our free recipe page on:
http://www.bodycomplete.co.uk/nutrition/recipes.