How to Make a Nutritious Smoothie

Smoothies are so delicious, we sometimes forget they can be nutritious as well. Some parents have even been known to slip a vegetable into a smoothie when the kid wasn't looking. Smoothies can be made from fruit or a combination of fruit and vegetables. Here are a few tips to help you make a nutritious smoothie.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Select fresh fruit that is ripe and in season for the smoothie. Fresh fruit will retain all the vitamins and makes a very healthy and nutritious smoothie. Always wash the fresh fruit thoroughly. If possible, leave the skin on for a more nutritious smoothie.
2. Buy frozen fruit that is not sweetened if fruit isn't in season, or for a thicker consistency. Frozen fruit, when placed in a blender and pureed, becomes thicker and slush-like. Fresh fruit can be frozen for smoothies by slicing or cutting into smaller pieces and freezing on a cookie sheet. When the fruit is frozen, place it in a zip top bag and return to the freezer.
3. Sweeten your fruit smoothie by adding a very ripe banana or some honey. Natural sweetness from the banana, especially if it's very ripe, will take the place of sugar or artificial sweeteners. Bananas are not only more healthy in a smoothie, they help to thicken it.
4. Add more flavor by adding extracts or flavorings instead of sugar. Banana extract, peppermint, cinnamon and nutmeg are tasty additions. Use a light touch at first when adding flavorings or extracts, a little goes a long way.
5. Avoid using ice cream or sweetened yogurt in your fruit smoothie. If you want a creamier, but more nutritious consistency, use plain yogurt, sherbet, skim milk or soy milk.
6. Place crushed ice or small ice cubes in the blender first. Crush larger cubes of ice with a hammer or the bottom of a heavy pot after placing them in a zip topped bag. Crush the ice to the desired consistency.
7. Add the frozen fruit, fresh fruit, yogurt if desired and flavorings to the crushed ice. Blend in the blender quickly so the smoothie retains its coldness. Taste the smoothie before pouring it and add more flavorings if desired.