We’re Spilling Smoothie Secrets


Smoothies are a staple in the maintenance of good health – if you aren’t blending one up for breakfast, it should be a go-to for an afternoon snack. While you may love to get fancy with smoothie recipes once in a while, typically quick and easy is best. Here are six tips to making a smoothie easy and efficient:

1. USE ONE GLASS
Don’t dirty five cups to make one smoothie. You can drink your smoothie right out of the glass you use to measure ingredients. Mason jars make great measuring cups, allowing you to precisely measure out liquids thanks to the measurement lines marked on the side. Or, use your blender for everything! Most blenders have cup measurements on the side and we find “handfuls” are pretty good measurements when trying to eyeball 1/2 cup berries or 1 cup baby spinach. Take it one step further by throwing a reusable straw into the blender container and drinking straight from the source!

2. WASTE NOT
Have some leftover coffee in the pot, two spoonfuls of pumpkin left in the can, or just three sips of almond milk left in the container? Pour or place leftover ingredients into ice cube trays or muffin tins. When you’ve got a hankering for a mocha smoothie (or whatever flavour is calling your name), grab your frozen cubes, add the rest of your ingredients and you’re good to go!

3. MAKE SMOOTHIE POPS
Do you ever have that annoying ½ cup smoothie left in the bottom of the blender that doesn’t fit into your favourite smoothie mug? You could take a big gulp before rushing out the door, BUT alternatively why not pour leftovers into ice pop molds? You’ll have a cool, sweet treat waiting for you (or your kids) for another time or day.

4. MAKE SMOOTHIE PACKS
Carve out a few extra minutes of meal prep on Sundays to prepare some smoothie packs for the week. Measure out fruit and Vega® plant-based protein powder and place into single bags (or even the Mason jar you plan to drink the smoothie from!). In the morning, toss into the blender with your favorite liquid and Vega protein powder and blend. This is also a great “chore” to do with your kids if you want to get them involved in creating their own smoothie recipe.

5. FREEZE SMOOTHIE ICE CUBES
If you love thick creamy smoothies, try shaking a scoop of Vega® Protein & Energy with non-dairy milk and pouring into ice cube molds. For an evening when you’re craving a thick chocolate shake (or any time of day) place cubes in a blender with frozen banana and some more non-dairy milk and blend until creamy.

6. SAVE OVERRIPE FOODS
Went a little overboard on your last grocery trip? Don’t throw away fruits and vegetables that you can’t finish before they wilt away. Instead freeze everything from brown bananas, to wilting greens, to very soft avocados, even steamed cauliflower to use for your next smoothie. Pro-tip- peel your banana and freeze in an airtight container to avoid the frustrating task of removing the peel off a frozen one.

P.S. – Avocados and steamed cauliflower take smoothie creaminess to the next level!

Fancy putting these tips into practice? Try a smoothie version of the classic banoffee pie, this delicious recipe is layered with bananas and toffee and is SO tasty!

Banoffee Smoothie

Banoffee Smoothie

Ingredients:
1 scoop Vega® Protein & Energy, vanilla flavour
1 frozen banana
1 1/2 cups unsweetened Almond milk
Pinch of sea salt (optional)
1 Tbsp caramel sauce (no caramel sauce, no problem. Use one frozen date and one tsp vanilla essence)

Preparation:
1. Place all ingredients into blender.
2. Blend until smooth.
3. Top with graham cracker crumbs and cacao nibs to take it to next level greatness

Found on the Vega Blog: https://myvega.com/blogs/content/smoothie-hacks

Vega Proteins & Energy