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Smoothies

In following with the detox post from before, I thought I'd share with you some of my homemade smoothie experiences and recipes. One thing I learned from making numerous smoothies during the detox is that you don't need dairy to make a good smoothie. The ingredients that I think are most helpful when making a smoothie are bananas and apple juice. They both help add sweetness to your smoothie. Bananas are more subtle with flavor than apple juice so think about what flavors you have going on first.
I've tried using greens in my smoothie and though they aren't too bad, they change the texture. I mostly recommend using pre-cooked greens as opposed to raw (fresh or frozen). These will break down more.
Another interesting ingredient to use in smoothies is avocado. It really makes the smoothie creamy but I have found it hard to mask the flavor of the avocado. If you like them, then try it! I've seen a lot of avocado and blueberry smoothies but I think other fruit may go with them. When using avocados, you may want to add a small splash of vanilla to the mix. That seems to help. Cinnamon is also useful to mask the earthy flavors.
Another liquid I like to add sometimes: coconut water. The flavors don't overwhelm but it can help and has good nutrients. (If you haven't checked out coconut water, I highly recommend it!)

My steps to making a good smoothie:

  1. if you have a banana, use it!
  2. what frozen fruit do I have? If I don't have any frozen fruit, then try using ice to thicken.
  3. what fresh fruit or vegetables do I have around? 
  4. what juices do I have?
  5. do I have any nutrition additions? I like to add ground flax seed to my smoothies to help boost the nutrition in them. Chia seeds have become popular as well. 

Use some combination of fresh and frozen fruits/vegetables then add some liquid to help with the blending process. If you have juice it's better using that than water, for more flavor. Just be careful when using juices since they are so sweet they can overwhelm your smoothie, also you're adding more sugars to your smoothie.
So a typical smoothie for me has:
banana, frozen strawberries, apple juice and any other fruit I have around (blueberries, peaches, etc.)
Here are some of my creations that have turned out pretty good.

Summer Sunrise Smoothie
serves 2

1/2 orange, juiced
1/4 cup carrot juice
1 cup frozen peaches (or fresh if you have them)
1 banana, in pieces
1 T. ground flax seed

Blend together and use water to thin as needed.

Grapefruit Ginger Smoothie
(adapted from Whole Living )
serves 2

1 whole grapefruit, peeled and segmented
1 inch piece of ginger, peeled and chopped
1/2 c. apple juice
1/2 - 1 cup frozen strawberries

Blend together. Use water to thin.

Black Cherry Berry
serves 2

 about 1/2 c. black cherry juice
1 c. strawberries, frozen
1 frozen banana, in pieces
1 T. ground flax seed

Blend together. Use water to thin.

Hope these are helpful! Enjoy!

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