Smoothies are such a joy to make and experiment on! Especially on your free time, it's nice to just relax and sip -- whether you think of them as breakfast, a mid-afternoon energy boost, a hangover cure, or a lifesaving necessity. We can't get enough of smoothies!
But wait, not so fast. Some of the things you do to your homemade smoothies can spoil your smoothie's health benefits (and flavor).
Here are five common drawbacks on making your homemade smoothies that you should avoid:
1. You don't add enough water.
A sure way to kill an innocent household blender is to add fruits and greens with no water. Keep your blender alive and happily kicking by always adding water to it before you put in your ingredients.
2. You add too much ice.
Ice is a lot different from water, just to make it clear. Sometimes, super-hot summer days call for super-cold refreshers, but hold tight before blending even more ice into your smoothie. Too much ice makes your smoothie slushy and watery, and you don't want that.
3. You under-blend.
Take your time with your smoothies. You want to blend everything really well so that your smoothie is lump-free. Give at least 1 to 2 minutes with a regular blender. Smoothies should have some body to them, you might want to use something that will thicken the mix and make it creamy.
4. You go to sweet.
If you want it to be health, definitely don't add sugar, and if you're using non-dairy milk, go for the unsweetened kind. But if your smoothie still ends up being too sweet, all hope is not lost: Use lemon or lime juice to balance out the taste.
5. You overdo it on the fruit.
We understand you want it to be healthful and a variety of fruits is much healthier than downing a doughnut, but while fruits are full of fiber and nutrients, they aren't empty of calories. So when you fill your blender with five different fruits, you could end up with a smoothie that clocks in at more than 500 calories.
Making your own homemade smoothie seems like the simplest way to start your day off right -- but know that simple mistakes can quickly upset the health-benefits and tastiness of your drink. Remember these tips to be able to enjoy the freshness and healthiness of your smoothie!
But wait, not so fast. Some of the things you do to your homemade smoothies can spoil your smoothie's health benefits (and flavor).
Here are five common drawbacks on making your homemade smoothies that you should avoid:
1. You don't add enough water.
A sure way to kill an innocent household blender is to add fruits and greens with no water. Keep your blender alive and happily kicking by always adding water to it before you put in your ingredients.
2. You add too much ice.
Ice is a lot different from water, just to make it clear. Sometimes, super-hot summer days call for super-cold refreshers, but hold tight before blending even more ice into your smoothie. Too much ice makes your smoothie slushy and watery, and you don't want that.
3. You under-blend.
Take your time with your smoothies. You want to blend everything really well so that your smoothie is lump-free. Give at least 1 to 2 minutes with a regular blender. Smoothies should have some body to them, you might want to use something that will thicken the mix and make it creamy.
4. You go to sweet.
If you want it to be health, definitely don't add sugar, and if you're using non-dairy milk, go for the unsweetened kind. But if your smoothie still ends up being too sweet, all hope is not lost: Use lemon or lime juice to balance out the taste.
5. You overdo it on the fruit.
We understand you want it to be healthful and a variety of fruits is much healthier than downing a doughnut, but while fruits are full of fiber and nutrients, they aren't empty of calories. So when you fill your blender with five different fruits, you could end up with a smoothie that clocks in at more than 500 calories.
Making your own homemade smoothie seems like the simplest way to start your day off right -- but know that simple mistakes can quickly upset the health-benefits and tastiness of your drink. Remember these tips to be able to enjoy the freshness and healthiness of your smoothie!