The whole world seems to be on a health buzz lately. It’s January, so it doesn’t come as much of a surprise, but it’s hard not to notice the popularity of #CleanEating over the last couple of years. If Instagram is anything to go by, other people seem too have endless amounts of self-discipline and quinoa. Don’t get me wrong. We have self-discipline and quinoa too, but we also have cookies. It’s a balancing act.
While new fad diets come and go all the time, the one constant over the last few years has been the popularity of smoothies. Quick to make, easy to drink on the go and endlessly versatile, these fruity concoctions are hard to beat for breakfast.
Check out our top tips for making the perfect smoothie.
It starts with a liquid
It goes without saying that every smoothie starts with some sort of liquid, otherwise all you have is fruit mush. Start with a 2:1 ratio of liquid to fruit, and remember that you can always add more but you can’t take it out. The obvious choices are milk and yoghurt, but for a dairy-free option coconut water is brilliant, and for an extra fruity hit try adding some freshly squeezed fruit juice. Add the liquid first so that you end up with a well blended smoothie.
Freeze your fruit
There’s nothing quite like a well chilled smoothie, and freezing your fruit is the best way to make this happen. Banana freezes really well. Make it easy for yourself by peeling and chopping enough for a few smoothies at a time. Frozen berries work well too, but in reality even fruits that would normally go mushy in the freezer are perfect when frozen for smoothies. It’s all going to be blended in the end anyway.
Ice Ice Baby
If you’re not freezing your fruit, add the ice at the end so that it doesn’t have a chance to melt and turn your smoothie into a watery, gloopy mess. Make things even easier for yourself by using crushed ice. A quick blitz in the blender will leave you with a perfectly chilled, but not icy, smoothie.
Sweeten the deal
Depending on what fruit you’re using, you shouldn’t really need to add a sweetener, but if your fruit is tart a squeeze of agave syrup, maple syrup or even a couple of Medjool dates should do the trick. (Just make sure your blender is powerful enough to handle the dates.)
Put the smooth into smoothie
If you’re looking for a smooth, creamy texture then the health food of the moment has you covered. Avocado will add a silky smoothness to your smoothie, as well as adding a nutrient boost. The more tradional option of natural yoghurt will add tang as well as creaminess, and for a protein-packed creamy texture, try nut butter.
Take the smooth out of smoothie
If texture is your thing, you can of course just blend the fruit coarsely. There are other options though. Try adding oats, seeds or nuts to your smoothie towards the end. Or for something completely Instagrammable, try a smoothie bowl. Pour your smoothie into a bowl and create a delicious work of art with nuts, seeds and whatever other toppings you fancy.
Recipes
The world is your oyster when it comes to smoothies (although we wouldn’t put oysters in one) but if you’re looking for some inspiration check out these recipes:
Berry Smoothie Bowl by Niamh Browne
Linwoods Skin Glowing Smoothie by Madeleine Shaw
Sunshine Smoothie by Niamh Browne
Happy blending!