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Post by MrsLangdonAlger on Sept 22, 2018 20:56:50 GMT -5
Hey everyone! I've been dealing with a stomach issue for months that has meant I can't eat my usual favored breakfast of eggs and toast, or really anything solid for the first couple hours of the morning. I've been enjoying a breakfast of kefir and oatmeal, but I also got myself a little one-person blender to make smoothies with. It's one of those little ones that is also a to-go cup for said smoothie.
But I've never smoothied before! So I don't know the best way to get started: how to prep, what fruits and veggies and added things to shop for, how to balance ingredients well, that kind of thing.
So far I've got the blender, some spirulina powder, and chia seeds. For the week I also bought strawberries, bananas, cucumbers, carrots, spinach, and apples, and I've precut everything but the apples and bananas because I doubt this little blender can handle huge chunks of anything. I've got milk, coconut oil, and kefir for liquid additions, and of course water.
If anyone else does smoothies and wants to tell me some beginner's tips, please do!
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Post by Hachiman on Sept 24, 2018 23:40:47 GMT -5
I had stomach issues for about 2 years so I became something of a smoothie guru.
In my opinion, a good smoothie has 3 principal components: a liquid, fruits/veggies, a thickener.
The liquid is self explanatory, but you at minimum need to add enough to make sure everything properly blends and can add more for texture and flavor. My go-to liquids are apple juice, orange, juice, or green tea. Soy milk and almond milk are great as well.
Fruit/Veg: Also self explanatory. Throw in as much as you would normally eat in a meal. I go for whats in season or on sale. Make sure to chop them, especially leafy greens since the fibers can muck up your blender blade. Pro-Tip: You can also chop and freeze your own unused produce for later smoothie consumption. It is the best advice i give on what to do with old bananas (aside from chocolate banana bread).
Thickener: This one is kind of optional depending on who you ask, but these are the things that give a smoothie its body. Ice, protein powder, flax seed powder (omega-3!), oatmeal, nuts/nut butter, and even starchy produce like bananas and sweet potatoes. Again, here you just want according to how thick you like your smoothie. Be careful of adding to much since that can ruin your blender or turn your smoothie to cement later on.
Finally, be careful of over aeration. The worst smoothies are the ones with too much air.
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Post by ganews on Sept 25, 2018 13:40:40 GMT -5
I think we're long past the point when you would have googled, so I'm just here to reminisce about Smoothie King. Wifemate and I used to go to the Smoothie King in Athens after fencing practice during the first year we were dating. One time we saw David Pollack, then a big time UGA linebacker before going to the NFL and ESPN commentary, riding his silly little moped. Those smoothies probably had a pound of sugar each and were damn delicious. I would much rather have PB&J as a smoothie than as an actual sandwich.
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Post by Hachiman on Sept 25, 2018 20:41:53 GMT -5
As long as we are shouting out smoothie shops, Emerald City Smoothie in Seattle is worth the trip alone. And now I've gone and made myself homesick.
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Post by DangOlJimmyITellYouWhat on Sept 25, 2018 20:54:50 GMT -5
Hey everyone! I've been dealing with a stomach issue for months that has meant I can't eat my usual favored breakfast of eggs and toast, or really anything solid for the first couple hours of the morning. I've been enjoying a breakfast of kefir and oatmeal, but I also got myself a little one-person blender to make smoothies with. It's one of those little ones that is also a to-go cup for said smoothie. But I've never smoothied before! So I don't know the best way to get started: how to prep, what fruits and veggies and added things to shop for, how to balance ingredients well, that kind of thing. So far I've got the blender, some spirulina powder, and chia seeds. For the week I also bought strawberries, bananas, cucumbers, carrots, spinach, and apples, and I've precut everything but the apples and bananas because I doubt this little blender can handle huge chunks of anything. I've got milk, coconut oil, and kefir for liquid additions, and of course water. If anyone else does smoothies and wants to tell me some beginner's tips, please do! I like to freeze all my fruit. Now I do have to nuke em for 15-20 seconds to soften them down from solid, but otherwise it works well. Well ok I don’t freeze apples, and I don’t nuke berries. I also throw a little yogurt in there sometimes. |
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Post by Pedantic Editor Type on Sept 25, 2018 22:03:48 GMT -5
I’m not sure I’d put coconut oil in a smoothie, you usually want something creamy (coconut milk) or a juice. I’ve mostly done basic berry, spinach, yogurt smoothies. Your little blender probably doesn’t hold a ton so chopping/prepping/freezing fruit can really help. Otherwise, you’re creative, I’m sure you got this.
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