An Antioxidant-Packed Smoothie to Boost Your Immune System
Mix 1.5 cups Pomegranate Juice with 2 cups of frozen raspberries and 2 cups low-fat frozen yogurt.
6 healthy smoothie add-ins
Boost the health quotient of your smoothies with these healthy bonus ingredients
Everyone loves a good smoothie, and they are so easy to make, too. A banana, some fruit, something creamy—be it milk or yogurt or a non-dairy milk—and you’re good to go, right?
Well, not so fast. A basic smoothie is a healthy snack, but the right add-ins can make any smoothie recipe a nutritional powerhouse. Try these suggestions to add flavour and bonus nutrients, too.
Cocoa – A chocolate milkshake might not be the healthiest breakfast pick, but for those mornings when you need some comfort food, try adding cocoa powder or ground cocoa nibs to your smoothie recipe for a healthy pick-me-up.
Cocoa blends well with almond butter, banana and coffee for a healthier take on a mochaccino, or pick your favourite chocolate-friendly fruit—try raspberries or orange—for a lighter blend.
Spinach – This seemingly unlikely smoothie ingredient has actually become a popular pick in the blogosphere in so-called “green monsters”—smoothies with leafy greens blended in them to make them super nutritious. And just think of how good you’ll feel knowing you’ve gotten in a serving or two of green vegetables before even leaving for work (or on the way there).
Don’t be afraid—the truth is, a standard blender just chops the spinach into tiny pieces within the smoothie and you can’t even taste it. Try starting with about a cup of fresh baby spinach leaves in a smoothie for two and work your way up from there.
Ginger – Fresh ginger makes a flavourful and warming addition to smoothies, perfect for cooler mornings. Depending on your preferences, try adding about a teaspoon of grated fresh ginger per serving of smoothie. It blends well with pears and strawberries.
Protein powder – To make your smoothie more filling and increase your protein intake, try adding a scoop of protein powder. They’re available flavoured or plain, with protein bases including whey, soy and hemp. Two brands to try include Vega Whole Food Health Optimizer ($40, 480 g), an entirely plant-based formula developed by Canadian athlete Brendan Brazier, or Genuine Health Proteins+ Instant Smoothie a Day ($24.99, 390 g), with a whey protein base. Both can be added to smoothies or mixed with water and enjoyed on their own.
Nut butters – To make smoothies more filling and creamier and add flavour, too, add a tablespoon of your favourite nut butter. Peanut butter goes well with frozen grapes or raspberries, almond butter with cranberries or blueberries, and cashew butter has such a mild taste it goes well with just about anything. Just make sure to choose natural nut butters with no added sugar, salt or oils—they might cost a bit more but they are the most nutritious, too.
Flaxseeds – Flaxseeds will add healthy fats and fibre to your smoothie—two things just about all of us need more of. However, do make sure to grind them first, either in a blender or coffee grinder, so that your body can digest them. Another, trendier option is to add chia seeds, which are high in omega-3 fatty acids and contain antioxidants, but they’re the most nutritious, too.