By Ginger Cochran, MS, RDN, CDCES, CEP-ACSM
The Mercury is rising, and it's time to enjoy some summertime smoothie creations. Smoothies are a great way to stay hydrated, nourished, and cool during the summer. In this blog, we’re diving into the anatomy of making a healthy and delicious summertime smoothie.
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Fruit
Summertime is the best season for sweet and juicy fruits. You can stick to 1-2 cups of fruit in your smoothie, depending on your activity level. Adding frozen fruit adds a nice thick texture to your smoothie and boosts vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. A few fantastic summertime fruits to add to your smoothie cocktails include strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, cherries, peaches, and mangos.
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Vegetables
Veggies are at their prime during summer. Adding vegetables to your smoothie enhances your smoothie's vitamin and mineral profile and boosts fiber and anti-inflammatory benefits. Summertime vegetables in your smoothie include cucumber, spinach, kale, beets, and celery.
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Protein
Protein in a smoothie is essential to keep you full longer, meet your daily protein needs, and keep energy balanced. Aim for about 20-30g of protein in your smoothie if you use it as a meal. All Designer Wellness protein powders are packed with high-quality proteins to meet your needs. Just one scoop of Designer Whey packs in 20g of high-quality protein. Picking flavors like chocolate or vanilla, or strawberry can enhance the flavor of your smoothie and keep you from wanting to add any unnecessary sweeteners.
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Healthy Fats
Healthy Fats are a great way to keep you fuller, enhance nutrients in your smoothie and boost calories. Some great smoothie fats include chia seeds, flaxseeds, almond butter, cashew butter, avocado, flaxseeds oil, and medium chain triglycerides (MTC). Our Designer Plant includes chia seeds already in the mix boosting your omega-3s. Designer Collagen includes MTC to help boost your metabolism. (1)
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Liquid
Liquid is necessary to help blend the smoothie together and to make it more refreshing. Water, milk, non-dairy milk, and yogurt are popular liquids to use in a summertime smoothie.
There are endless possibilities when it comes to creating a summertime smoothie. Designer Wellness protein powders make it a no-brainer when making deliciously balanced summertime smoothies. Find all of our delicious recipes here. Get creative this summer and experiment with different combinations of fruits, vegetables, liquids, protein, and healthy fats to find your perfect smoothie.
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