Sweet & Strong Smoothie Boost

Summer smoothie building tips from our friend at the Sweet & Strong Blog...

It should be no surprise that I LOVE smoothies. Sharing some of my favorite add-ins and simple ways to boost a smoothie to keep you fuller longer. If you’re a Sweet and Strong reader, you know from my What I Ate Wednesday posts that I often have a morning smoothie to start the day. Most readers tell me smoothies never fill them up. Truth be told, if I’m just mixing fruit they don’t fill me up either and I need a second breakfast within an hour. I’ve learned that if I add in a few extra ingredients it helps keep me full until it’s time for lunch and gives me the energy I need in the morning.

PROTEIN If only using one of these boosts, I highly suggest adding protein! First thing in the morning protein is going to give you energy and help you stay full until your next meal. I’m not a huge fan of going too carb heavy early in the morning because it makes me feel slightly sluggish, but I never ever skimp on the protein! My favorite way to add protein to a smoothie is using collagen. I’m currently adding once scoop of BUBS Naturals Collagen Protein. BUBS Collagen has about 10 grams of protein per scoop and unlike most protein powders it has no other ingredients. If you need to sweeten it a bit, I sometimes add a scoop of stevia powder.I love collagen for its health benefits. It can help support stronger hair, skin, and nails, and aid in joint and digestive health. I’ve been using collagen for a few years now and have especially noticed a difference in my digestive health and skin. I used collagen all throughout pregnancy, it was listed as one of my Pregnancy Favorites because it helped keep me regular. Plus I had zero stretch marks and my skin recovered well postpartum. Now I can’t say it’s definitely from the collagen, but I think it helped! Other ways to add protein is to use a protein powder, just be careful of lots of added ingredients. Or if you’re not into supplements or powders I suggest adding plain or vanilla greek yogurt. NUTS AND SEEDS There are so many different nuts and seeds you can add to boost your smoothie. Earlier in the year, I was seed cycling to try to get my periods regular to get pregnant, and hey it worked. You can read more about seed cycling here, but you basically consume a combination of raw ground seeds daily. I always added the seeds to my smoothie and never tasted them, but they certainly added healthy fats, nutrients, and of course helped keep me fuller longer. Some of my favorite seeds to add are:

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  flaxseed

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  sunflower seeds

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  pumpkin seeds

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  sesame seeds

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  hemp seeds

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  chia seeds

All of these can be found at your local grocery store. But I’ve also ordered them on Amazon. Just add 1 tbsp of however many different kinds you want to add to your smoothie before you blend, typically I do a combination of two types of seeds. Or you can always top off a smoothie or bowl with them as well. For more healthy fats add nuts or nut butter. My personal favorite is adding almond butter. You could also use peanut butter, cashew butter, or sunflower butter for a nut-free alternative. I like keeping it simple with brands that only have nuts and maybe sea salt as the ingredients. And you just need to add 1-2 tablespoons of your fav. HEALTHY CARBS For a balanced meal, you then need to add healthy carbs to build a better smoothie. Healthy carbs could be fruit and veggies. I also love adding a few tablespoons of uncooked Old Fashioned Oats for whole grains. For fruit, I like using what’s in season. Currently, I’ve been all about cherries like in my Cherry Pie Smoothie. And I always have strawberries, blueberries, and bananas on hand. Fresh or frozen fruit works. Usually, I do a combo of some fresh and some frozen to help thicken it. With adding fruit the possibilities and flavor combos are endless! Now for veggies, don’t think you’re going to taste them because just like the seeds, once blended you won’t even know they’re in there. My fav is just adding a handful of spinach. I’ve also done baby kale and if you’re looking for something besides a leafy green try sweet potatoes or cooked then frozen cauliflower or beets.

OTHER The list goes on and on for other possible smoothie add-ins. Since we’re keeping it simple today here are just a few other suggestions I’ve tried myself:

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  BUBS MCT Oil Powder for more energy and digestive health

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  cocoa nibs or cocoa powder for a chocolate taste

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  avocado, more healthy fats yay!

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  bee pollen, maca, or acai for some superfood powder