Smoothies are a great way to get your 5-a-day and boost your morning with a superfood kick. They may be a daunting task for some, so we’ve sat down with Dee Chauhan, in-house nutritionist and recipe developer at new subscription-based smoothie delivery company Natural Blender, to find out the tricks to creating the perfect smoothie. Whether you want to spice things up with your everyday smoothie or you’re simply looking for a new ingredient to add in, read up!
What is the basic formula for the perfect smoothie?
A basic smoothie should balance fruits, vegetables, nutritional liquid and at least one nutrient rich superfood. Adding in veggies as a base is key to balancing the sugars in your diet, and smoothies are a perfect way to do so.
What’s your go-to smoothie recipe when you’re in a rush?
Our ‘Turn Up the Turmeric’ is a great flavour combination. It’s filled with hidden greens like creamy avocado and lambs lettuce. A tropical hit comes from the golden kiwi and mango, and it’s topped off with cashews for extra protein. Plus, turmeric is a great anti-inflammatory spice! Finally, it’s all blitzed together with maple water, which we love for its subtle sweetness (containing half the amount of sugar than coconut water) and it’s jam packed with natural electrolytes — yum!
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What’s your secret ingredient to boost your smoothies?
Herbs and spices- they heighten smoothies to another level. And let’s not forget these ingredients are packed with plenty of nutrients which are great for boosting your metabolism. My favourite is basil which comes from the mint family. It’s a great pungent aromatic herb which has many benefits such as anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and it’s rich in antioxidants. So if you haven’t added basil to your smoothie before, now is the time.
Do you recommend adding any protein powders to your smoothies?
I would recommend adding only natural protein powders such as pea and hemp powder. Pea protein is a complete protein as it contains all the essential amino acids. Hemp powder is perfect for adding to post-workout smoothies because it’s a natural blend of easily digested proteins and amino acids. It also contains a healthy ratio of good fat — Omega 3 & Omega 6 – key for general wellbeing.
Do different workout regimes require different ingredients?
For a complete energy boost, add maca powder to your pre-workout smoothie. If you’re doing cardio, beetroot and wheatgrass are amazing at providing and transporting more oxygen around the body, boosting athletic performance. Natural protein is great to add to smoothies after using heavy weights. It will help support your muscular system and will have a knock on effect to improve your endurance.
What’s your recipe for the perfect smoothie? Share your favourite recipe on Twitter and Facebook.