By Miranda Dellamaria
The horror of finals week may be upon us, but it’s hard to stay too upset when we’ve officially made it into the warm weather months! And you know what that means: it’s officially smoothie season. Check out these four tips to make some really delicious and totally Insta-worthy smoothies!
1.) If you’re making a green smoothie (aka one that incorporates a lot of leafy veggies, like spinach or kale) make it in stages! If you try to blend all of those leaves at once, there’s a good chance you won’t be able to thoroughly blend them in with the rest of the ingredients. You’ll probably end up with some chunks of kale in your smoothie, which won’t really make it Insta-worthy. However, if you add in the leaves slowly — and add more milk/juice as you go — you’ll be able to break down even the smallest pieces and keep your smoothies looking nice and green.
2.) Smoothie bowls are definitely the way to go if you’re trying to eat healthier! This is for two reasons: 1) You can put some extra fruit as a topping. Don’t roll your eyes. If you’re not trying to get that summer bod, you can always add less healthy toppings like chocolate chips or peanut butter. 2) Smoothie bowls take longer to eat, and will help you feel more full in the end. When you drink with a straw, it’s easy to lose focus and not realize how quickly you’re consuming your food. Compare how long it takes you to eat a banana and a cup of strawberries to how quickly you can suck down a “Strawberries Wild” Jamba Juice on your way to class. Smoothie bowls are definitely the move, whether you’re #teamfit or not.
3.) It might sound kind of weird, but avocado is a surprise ingredient that will help your smoothie get that creamy texture you’d normally find in a milkshake! Try blending half an avocado with two frozen bananas, 1 cup of milk, and some ice for a really simple and absolutely delicious breakfast!
4.) Follow the Golden Smoothie Ratio: 3/4ths of a cup of fruit/veggies per every 2 cups of juice/milk. Of course everyone has different preferences for their favorite smoothie texture, but following this rule will generally keep your smoothies from being too runny or too thick. Add more ice or liquid as desired.
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*Image Sources:
The Spread 