Useful Tips in Preparing Vegetable Smoothies

By Heather Stanford

Vegetable smoothies are drinks made from leafy green vegetables, fruit and liquid, mixed thoroughly in a blender. The composition is usually sixty percent fruit with forty percent vegetables; so even if the drink may have the color of the green vegetables, the dominant taste is fruit.

Many have discovered the benefits of drinking vegetable smoothies regularly. It is a great way of having the five daily servings of fruits and vegetables that are required for good health. One of the main reasons why people do not comply with the dietary requirement is their aversion towards the taste of vegetables. With smoothies, though, this is not necessary because the taste of the vegetables is masked by the flavor of the fruit. Thus, getting the daily dose of essential vitamins and minerals is easy.

Greens are the preferred vegetables because they combine well with fruits and easy to blend. Cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower and Brussels sprouts are not recommended because they are best eaten when cooked. Although vegetables smoothies are tasty, drinking them can be daunting to the uninitiated. The green color of the beverage does not help either. To overcome these first-time "jitters", it is helpful to add just a little amount of vegetables at first. This can be increased as the palate adjusts and the taste becomes more familiar.

The myriad benefits that vegetable smoothie offer can be negated if the ingredients used are not cleaned properly. Something that is dirty cannot be healthy. Leafy greens are irregular in shape and tend to have tiny nooks and crannies where dirt may lurk, so it is essential to wash them several times before using. Once clean, the stems have to be removed since only the leaves will be mixed with in the drink. The greens should be mixed first with the liquid before the fruits. This is to make sure that no large pieces of leaves wind up in the drink afterwards.

Additives that enhance flavor and nutritive value can be added to the vegetable smoothies. This can include avocados, cod liver oil, flaxseed oil or coconut oil. Aside from the fuller taste, the addition of these healthy fats makes one feel full for a longer period of time. Mixing in some nuts or nut butter provides a nice texture and makes the drink more delicious.

Vegetable smoothies can be taken any time of the day although most prefer to drink them in the morning. Having them for breakfast provides the needed nutrients and energy to start the day right and prevents cravings during late afternoons. For busy people, they are great as meal replacements. Vegetable smoothies are light, low in fat and calories but heavy on the nutrients, so the person does not miss out on health if he misses a meal and drinks a glass of smoothie instead.

Breakfast smoothies would be a great way to start your day. Click on the link for more info.