Fruit shakes/smoothies

[jennieileen]

Hey guys, does anyone have any really good fruit shake or smoothie recipes that are healthy? I'm going to try REALLY hard to start including something like this in my morning routine for breakfast rather than a Slimfast shake becuase I think it will be better variety and I'll be able to have a little more control over what I'm eating. I have a blender with an individual serving attachment, which will make it not too hard to even make and take, so I think I should be able to do it if I cna get some good recipes.

[threeblessings]

I start with plain yogurt and add milk, splenda, and frozen strawberries. Any frozen fruit is good though. I have used blueberries, mango, banana, and raspberries. Any combination of your favorite fruits would work. It's yummy and easy!

[jennieileen]

That sounds delicious and easy! Any idea what amounts you use or do you just estimate what would be needed?

[MoonStarFalling]

These are my usual variations right now.

1 cup water kefir
1 banana
1/2 cup frozen three berry mix
2 scoops hemp protein OR 2 cups kale or spinach

1 cup orange juice
1 banana
1/2 cup frozen strawberries
2 cups kale or spinach

[goofieones]

I just do Kefir, frozen fruit, whey protein and raw honey for some more sweetness if I need it. Or Agave, which is low on the GI.

[mulcsw]

this might be a stupid question, but if you are on a low carb diet, you can't have juice but you can have fruit...so these smoothie recipes are ok in a lc diet? My DH is so sad about no more v8 fusion...it's 100% juice so what's the difference?

[jennieileen]

I don't really have an answer to your question, except that I've never been told I couldn't have juice. I was told not a lot of juice, and I was also told that fresh fruit is better for you than juice, but I was told I can have juice as long as it is 100% juice with no added sugars. The problem with juices is that they can say 100% juice and still have added sugars, so you have to read labels closely. One thing I was told is that if I feel I still need some juice, I can actually water it down a little bit (like you would for a baby) to lower calorie count and sugars and such that I'm getting, but to still make sure no added sugars. I would think a small amount of V8 Fusion should be fine (I know I consume this, and it's been on my food logs that I've brought to my endo who is handling my dieting as well and she hasn't said it's a no-no.). But if you DH does have to cut it out entirely but still wants a sweet juice taste, maybe you can try Crystal light packets or an off name brand of them. They're great for the flavor of juice with no sugars, no high fructose corn syrup, and only very few calories if any (I think they are 5 calories per serving).

[hoping4miracles]

I do not use juice. I usually use rice water, almond milk or coconut milk and use frozen fruits instead of ice. On the less sweet sides are the melons and blueberries, but throw raspberries and strawberries = sweet flavor galore. I buy the organic frozen fruits, much cheaper than fresh. In the summer I pick fruits, and pack, vacum seal and freeze them myself. I am investing in a big freezer so I can store more fresh fruits and veggies to make it thru the winter.

People are often told to lay off the juice because it is pure sugar, (even if it does not have added sugar) Fruit just is fructose ( -ose = sugar) With whole fruits there is less sugar consumed and MORE fiber. A person can easily slam 12 oz of apple juice, but who is going to sit and eat 10 - 15 apples. Hence no juice.

[meggowiggle]

Someone asked why we can't have juice if we can have smoothies, and someone else replied there is usually hidden sugar and another alluded that juice leaves behind the fiber that is necessary in fruits. This is all true.

I want to add that fruits and veggies are best eaten as unprocessed as possible. Our bodies are designed to break down these foods, albeit slowly. Slow is good because the slower our food breaks down, the slower sugar is absorbed into the bloodstream. Drink a glass of orange juice and that sugar goes RIGHT into the bloodstream (this is why it is the drink of choice for low blood sugar attacks!), and spikes our blood sugar, spurs the production of insulin in vast amounts and... you know the rest. Eat an orange, and the body has to work to digest it... that same amount of juice is absorbed in the blood stream over a longer period of time equaling a more level insulin level.

Smoothies are more friendly for our bodies because they use the whole fruit, and most smoothies incorporate some form of protein/fiber, which also helps slow absorption.

[mulcsw]

Sorry to go off-topic about the juice, but you all really helped to clear some stuff up! I will pass this along to DH. THANKS!!!

[ashmash883]

has anyone used coconut milk ? Is it any good?

[hoping4miracles]

has anyone used coconut milk ? Is it any good?

Yes I like it, it is light in flavor

[jeepchick616]

My husband makes a smoothie for me every morning, he uses Naked Juice, yogurt, and fresh strawberries and blueberries (no extra sugar that way!) and a little ice, blends it all up and its an unbelievably awesome smoothie!!!!

[Jashobeam]

Ditto what was said about the fiber. My DH was brought up with the habit of drinking juice as slowly as you would eat a piece of fruit. Darker juices are better for you than clearer ones (a cyster posted a news article about this last year or the year before). Dark grape is good for you as well as cloudy apple.