There are three big reasons why I love smoothies. First and foremost, they’re easy to make – in less than five minutes you can have a healthy breakfast or snack. They’re also portable – you can easily take one with you to work or to run errands. And last but not least, they can pack in a LOT of nutrition.
We all like value, right? We look for the best deals and bargains because we want to make sure we’re getting the best bang for our buck, so to speak. Well, why should smoothies be any different? If you’re going to take the time to make a smoothie, don’t you want it to be packed with the most nutrition possible?
Try these top 10 nutrition boosters in your next smoothie for the best blend for your buck!
Top 10 Smoothie Nutrition Boosters:
- Baby spinach
What It Adds: Fiber, vitamins A and C, folate, iron and magnesium
Why It’s Important: Dark, leafy greens like baby spinach help keep you full, provide you with chronic disease-fighting antioxidants, and pack in a vegetarian-friendly source of iron.
Perfect Pairings: Tropical fruits like pineapple, mango, orange and banana will mask the taste of the spinach.
- Avocados
What It Adds: Monounsaturated (good) fat, fiber, potassium, vitamin E, B-vitamins and folic acid
Why It’s Important: Good fats contribute to satiety and energy and help increase absorption of fat-soluble nutrients like vitamins A, D, E and K.
Perfect Pairings: Just about any fruit! Add ½ avocado with your frozen fruit of choice to add creaminess to your smoothie.
- Flax
What It Adds: Fiber, omega-3 fatty acids and lignans (a type of antioxidant)
Why It’s Important: Omega-3s help keep your heart healthy and fiber helps keep your digestive system regular.
Perfect Pairings: Anything! Flaxseed should blend seamlessly with any flavor combo.
- Hemp
What It Adds: Protein, fiber, omega-3s, magnesium and vitamin E
Why It’s Important: Great source of omega-3s and complete protein (all 9 essential amino acids) for vegetarians.
Perfect Pairings: Like flaxseed, hemp seeds will blend with just about anything!
- Wild Blueberries
What It Adds: Antioxidants, fiber and manganese
Why It’s Important: Wild Blueberries contain 2x the antioxidants and more fiber than regular, cultivated blueberries. They also contain 200% of the daily value for manganese (8x that of regular blueberries), which is important for bone development. Antioxidants help protect your cells from free radicals, which can increase your susceptibility to chronic diseases like heart disease and cancer.
Perfect Pairings: Wild Blueberries have a more intense blueberry flavor than regular blueberries. Their extraordinary flavor combination of tart and sweet will pair with just about any ingredient.
- Oats
What It Adds: Fiber (beta glucans), iron, magnesium, B vitamins and calcium
Why It’s Important: Studies have shown that beta glucans may help improve blood glucose control, insulin resistance and cholesterol levels.
Perfect Pairings: Any fruits but especially berries and bananas, and dairy (milk, yogurt, kefir) or non-dairy alternative
- Cacao Nibs
What It Adds: Antioxidants
Why It’s Important: Cacao nibs are made from breaking up cacao beans into smaller pieces, so it’s the most pure form of antioxidant-packed cacao (chocolate) out there.
Perfect Pairings: Cacao nibs are bitter so pair with cacao powder and/or bananas or dates for extra sweetness. Cacao also pairs brilliantly with nut butters like peanut butter.
- Silken tofu
What It Adds: Protein, iron and calcium
Why It’s Important: Great vegetarian source of protein and iron. Plus, protein helps keep you full!
Perfect Pairings: Anything! Silken tofu adds creaminess to any flavor profile.
- Kefir
What It Adds: Protein, calcium and probiotics
Why It’s Important: Probiotics are good-for-your-gut bacteria that help keep your digestive system and immune system healthy.
Perfect Pairings: Any ingredients! Kefir will add a rich and creamy texture to any smoothie combo.
- Almond Butter
What It Adds: Protein, fiber, monounsaturated (good) fat, magnesium, manganese, vitamin E, copper, phosphorous and riboflavin
Why It’s Important: Its protein, fiber and fat combo helps keep you feeling satiated and energized.
Perfect Pairings: Just about any ingredients but especially pairs well with oats, berries, bananas and cacao.
If you find yourself feeling a little skeptical after glancing at the list above, I’m here to reassure you that you can barely taste these ingredients when paired correctly. Most of them will blend in seamlessly and you and your loved ones won’t even know the difference! Try adding some of these nutrition boosters to your next smoothie. Remember, you want the best blend for your buck!
Speaking of nutrition boosters, try my latest Wild Blueberry smoothie that’s packed with oats! This one is kid-friendly, too, so the whole family can enjoy it. It’s sweet and refreshing thanks to the Wild Blueberries and citrus and totally creamy and satisfying because of the oats and yogurt.
