We all have our favourite go-to smoothie recipes and ingredients, but sometimes it’s nice to move away from the frozen berry and banana smoothie… Here are our weird but wonderful smoothie ingredients that are the perfect addition and add an extra nutritional boost.
1. Zucchini:
Zucchini’s are often added into savoury dishes, but they can be a smoothie ingredient too! As they can have a distinctive flavour, try adding ¼ - ½ a zucchini and go from there. Zucchini is delicious with other green veggies and a zesty lemon.
2. Cos Lettuce:
Kale has been a popular favourite for some time now (and rightly so), but there are so many other greens to enjoy! Cos lettuce is mild in flavour and can bring creaminess to a smoothie. Just throw in a couple of leaves and off you go. Cos lettuce is a good source of fibre, Vitamin A and K.
3. Beetroot:
Beetroot is a delicious and sweet vegetable to add into smoothies. The easiest way is use beetroot in smoothies is to lightly steam them, store them in the fridge and blend as needed. Beetroot is rich in antioxidants, natural occurring vitamin B9 (folate), Iron and other phytonutrients. Beetroots give smoothies a rich red colour, so be sure that lid is on tight before blending!
4. Matcha Powder:
Matcha is green tea powder, as you are consuming the whole leaf – organic is best here. Matcha is rich in antioxidants and does contain caffeine for that morning energy boost, but doesn’t get your heart racing like coffee does. Matcha is also unique in that it contains the L – theanine, which helps to enhance cognitive function while also supporting to calm a busy mind.
5. Herbal Tea:
Not feeling like milk of any kind? Give cooled herbal tea a go! There are many different herbal blends to enjoy – Hibiscus tea has a tart flavour and gives a stunning red colour whereas, Tulsi (Holy Basil) has a mild flavour and delicious with other greens.
6. Nut Butters:
Nut butters such as almond, ABC (almonds, brazil and cashew butter), peanut butter etc all have their own health benefits and nutritional profile. Add a teaspoon – tablespoon into smoothies to boost the protein content and added minerals such as Zinc!
7. Broccoli:
Broccoli is a wonderful source of dietary fibre. It is also a powerhouse of nutrients, vitamins and minerals. Broccoli is also rich in sulphur which can assist liver health and function. If you have a high performance blender then broccoli can be added raw, if not, you may need to lightly steam before adding. Just add a small amount of Broccoli to smoothies as it does have a strong flavour which may overwhelm the smoothie.
8. Nut Milks:
Switch up your routine and try using different nut milks in place of animal milk such as cow’s milk. This will not only change the taste but also the texture of the smoothie, so it’s nice for a little variety. Another idea is to try sheep's milk which is lower in casein and may be a little a gentler on the stomach.
9. Pears
Ripe Pears are a delicious and sweet addition to smoothies. They are fantastic added into green smoothies as they bring a subtle sweetness. They are also a wonderful source of fibre to keep tummies (and microbiome) happy.
10. Eat The Rainbow
Ok, so this isn’t one particular food, but ALL of the veggies! Australian government recommendations suggest that we consume 5 serves of veggies a day. Smoothies are a fantastic way to boost the daily count! Add baby spinach, cucumber, carrot, lemon and celery and you are on the way to reaching the guidelines. Add some kale, wombock cabbage and you are doing even better!
