The right way to Meal Prep Smoothies

Some meals simply appear made for meal prep (I’m taking a look at you, in a single day oats… ????). 

 

However can you actually meal prep smoothies? 

 

I get that query quite a bit… and the reply is ABSOLUTELY!

 

I’m gonna offer you ALL the guidelines and tips it’s essential to inventory your fridge and freezer stuffed with wholesome, scrumptious, grab-and-go smoothies.

 

Prepare for a complete information on easy methods to meal prep smoothie recipes forward of time for fast, wholesome breakfasts or post-workout snacks.

Are you able to Meal Prep Smoothies?

At Match Males Cook dinner, we consider find methods to meal prep absolutely anything ????, and smoothies aren’t any exception. The trick is realizing easy methods to meal prep particularly for the kind of substances and storage methodology you select to make use of. 

 

I’ll stroll you thru a number of meal prep strategies so you possibly can have the fitting methodology to meal prep your favourite smoothie. For instance, in the event you’re making inexperienced smoothies, you don’t wish to pre-mix them a number of days upfront and allow them to hand around in the fridge. And blueberries and chia seeds will actually mess up the feel of a smoothie within the fridge as properly. However don’t fear, if these are your favourite smoothie flavors, preserve studying as a result of I’ll present you the fitting solution to prep these substances so you already know precisely easy methods to meal prep your favourite FMC smoothie recipes.

Smoothie Meal Prep Strategies

Listed below are 4 totally different strategies to meal prep your smoothie substances so the feel, style, and vitamin can keep top-notch. 

Make-Forward Smoothies

Smoothies appear fairly easy to make, however prep and cleanup can take extra time than we would like. So in the event you’re seeking to seize a ready-to-drink smoothie from the fridge or freezer, you wish to comply with considered one of these make-ahead strategies and pre-mix your smoothies. 

 

These two strategies get you a fully-made smoothie.

Technique 1 – Make-Forward: Ice Trays

Step 1: Make your smoothie in line with the recipe.

Step 2: Pour the smoothie into ice dice trays.

Step 3: Freeze the tray for at the very least a number of hours.

Step 4: Retailer ice cubes in a freezer-safe container.

Step 5: Place smoothies in a glass, thaw, shake, and revel in.

 

Suggestions:

• Silicone ice dice trays make for straightforward elimination.
• For breakfast smoothies, place cubes in a cup within the fridge for an in a single day thaw.
• Mason jars with lids make for straightforward thawing, shaking, and transporting.
• If you happen to don’t wish to watch for the thaw, add cubes to the blender along with your selection of liquid and mix.

Technique 2 – Make-Forward: Jars

Step 1: Make your smoothie in line with the recipe.

Step 2: Pour the smoothie right into a jar.

Step 3: Retailer the smoothie within the fridge or freezer.

Step 4: Thaw (if frozen), shake, and revel in.

 

Suggestions for fridge storage:

• Smoothies saved within the fridge final 1-2 days.
• Contents might separate and must be shaken properly earlier than you drink.
• In case your recipe included frozen fruit, the fruit will thaw and make the smoothie runnier. Reblend with some ice to thicken.  
• Inexperienced smoothies change coloration rapidly within the fridge, which may be off-putting to drink however the taste and vitamins ought to nonetheless be advantageous for 1-2 days.
• Keep away from chia seeds and flax seed, they absorb the liquid and switch your smoothie into an undesirable pudding consistency. 
• Blueberries have a tendency to alter texture within the fridge and should turn out to be disagreeable. 
• When doubtful, freeze your smoothie to keep up coloration, texture, and vitamin.

 

Suggestions for freezer storage:

• Don’t fill the jar to the highest – the smoothie will increase when frozen and might break the jar.
• For breakfast smoothies, thaw within the fridge in a single day. 
• Mason jars with plastic lids make for straightforward microwaving in the event you want a quick thaw.
• Retailer smoothies within the freezer for as much as 3 months.

 

Both of those strategies works nice to get you a ready-made smoothie. 

Smoothie Packs

One other solution to prep smoothies forward of time is by prepping the substances into smoothie packs. By washing, slicing, portioning, and packaging all the substances wanted for a single smoothie, making a smoothie turns into as simple as dumping the substances into the blender and including a splash of liquid. Right here’s easy methods to prep your smoothie packs so that you all the time have entry to a fast and wholesome meal or snack.

Technique 3 – Smoothie Packs

Step 1: Fill freezer luggage or a freezer-safe jar with fruit, greens, protein powders, and different dry substances. 

Step 2: Freeze for as much as 3 months.

Step 3: Pour the freezer pack right into a blender along with your liquid of selection (water, juice, almond milk, coconut milk, greek yogurt, and so on.).

Step 4: Mix till clean and revel in.

 

Suggestions: 

• Ensure you use luggage which are made for the freezer so your substances keep recent.
• Use reusable luggage or rinse and reuse disposable luggage when attainable.
• Mason jars with reusable plastic lids work nice.
• Wholesome fats like nut butter, coconut oil, or coconut butter may be added within the bag or with the liquid.
• Purchase frozen fruit in bulk to save cash.

 

Freezer smoothie packs offer you fast entry to a wholesome smoothie so that you’re able to go on busy mornings or when starvation hits.

The right way to Meal Prep Smoothies for a Week in Simply 10 Minutes

Since a smoothie within the fridge solely lasts a day or two, a complete week of smoothie prep might want to hit the freezer to remain recent. One of the simplest ways to prep a complete week of smoothies is to mix a batch of about 7-10 smoothies value. You’ll most likely must mix half at a time. Then freeze the smoothies in both ice trays or jars. For selection, spend a number of extra minutes making 2-4 flavors so you’ve gotten choices all through the week. And in lower than an hour, with a number of massive smoothie batches, you might simply have a complete month’s value of scrumptious smoothies able to take pleasure in.

The right way to Meal-Prep Smoothies for Children

Use any of the make-ahead strategies above with your loved ones’s favourite smoothie recipe to prep wholesome smoothies in your youngsters. Your youngsters might drink the identical flavors you take pleasure in, but when they’re a bit choosy, be happy so as to add extra fruit and fewer greens for a sweeter, however nonetheless wholesome, smoothie. If you wish to assist your youngsters strive new flavors like a easy inexperienced smoothie, strive utilizing cups that preserve the smoothie out of sight. Lids with straws or reusable squeeze packets go a good distance in serving to youngsters strive one thing that will look a bit too inexperienced for his or her liking.

Investing in a Good Blender to Meal Prep Smoothies

Almost each blender can combine a traditional strawberry-banana smoothie. However as quickly as you begin introducing substances like greens, dates, or flax seeds, the one manner you’ll get a clean texture is with a high-powered blender. Good blenders can get fairly dear, however they’re definitely worth the funding in the event you plan on making smoothies repeatedly. Take a look at these manufacturers for a number of choices at totally different value factors: Vitamix, Ninja, and Nutribullet.

 

Elements to Meal Prep Smoothies

To get began with smoothie prep, try a few of our favourite Match Males Cook dinner smoothie recipes under. However in the event you’re feeling adventurous, smoothies are tremendous simple to customise and you may think about including any of the substances under to construct your personal signature taste. 

 

We advocate a 1-1-1½ combo as you plug and play with these substances – that’s 1 cup liquid, 1 cup greens, and 1½ cups frozen fruit.

 

Strive these substances to make your personal recipe. And make sure you share your favourite combos with me!

Fruits and Veggies:

Strive these recent or frozen. In case your produce is generally recent, you could want so as to add ice rather than a few of your liquid in order for you a thicker smoothie.

• Bananas – a pure sweetener, low glycemic index fruit, loaded with potassium, create a creamy texture, assist with post-workout restoration and muscle rebuild.
• Apples – a pure sweetener, loaded with quercetin to enhance oxygen move to the lungs.
• Strawberries – low-sugar fruit, stuffed with vitamin C and different antioxidants. 
• Oranges – stuffed with vitamin C and potassium.

• Peaches – excessive in beta-carotene and vitamin C.
• Pineapple – antioxidants, bromelain, helps with post-workout restoration and muscle rebuild, helps decrease irritation throughout an damage.
• Mango – over 20 totally different nutritional vitamins and minerals to help your immune system.
• Avocado – a pure sweetener, loaded with potassium, creates a creamy texture, wholesome fats so that you keep full longer.
• Berries – antioxidants and fiber.
• Spinach – most mild-tasting inexperienced veg; wealthy in folate and nutritional vitamins C, A, and Okay; linked to MANY well being advantages

Liquids:

For thinner smoothies, use water-based liquids. For creamier smoothies, use plant-based milks. Keep away from juices to cut back pointless added sugars.

• Water – hydrating, zero cal, doesn’t influence taste.
• Coconut water – loaded with electrolytes.
• Almond milk – delicate style, reasonably priced, available.
• Oat milk – creamy, naturally candy, typically fortified with further nutritional vitamins and minerals.
• Tea – pure power, different smoothing substances.

Boosters or Add-ins:

Add additional vitamin with a number of tablespoons of a booster or two. 

• Chia seeds – wholesome fats; nice supply of fiber; wealthy in minerals, omega-3 fats, and antioxidants.
• Hemp seeds – wholesome fats, protein, loaded with nutritional vitamins and minerals.
• Oats – loaded with nutritional vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber. 
• Flaxseed meal – fiber and minerals, and might help enhance milk provide for nursing mamas.
• Unsweetened cacao powder – loaded with minerals and provides a yummy chocolate taste.
• Matcha – antioxidants and scrumptious inexperienced tea taste.
• Frozen cauliflower – nutritional vitamins, thick and creamy texture, no added taste.

 

• Proteins: protein powder, greek yogurt, nut butters, seed butters, powdered peanut butter.
• Greens: spinach, kale, shredded frozen zucchini
• Spices/flavoring: cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla extract, almond extract, nut butters, cocoa or cacao powders, tahini, coconut milk, espresso, flavored yogurts, or vanilla milks.

 

*Keep in mind: chia, hemp, and flax seeds absorb a number of the liquid and should require you so as to add extra liquid to your recipe.

Sweeteners:

Keep away from sugary or synthetic sweeteners through the use of considered one of these pure sweeteners.

• Further ripe bananas
• Soaked Medjool dates
• Seasonal berries and fruits
• Honey
• Pure maple syrup

What to Keep away from in Smoothies:

For the healthiest smoothie, stick to plant-based and pure substances. 

• Refined sugar
• Synthetic sweeteners

Steps to a Completely Blended Smoothie

If you happen to’ve struggled to get the right smoothie texture, I’ve acquired the reply for you! These steps assure you the smoothest smoothie your blender could make. 

 

**I’m not gonna lie, in case your blender can’t get by all the substances, you could want a blender improve earlier than you’ll get an excellent clean texture. However these steps will provide you with the perfect probability at a top quality combine.

 

Step 1: Add greens.

 

Step 2: Add liquid.

 

Step 3: Mix utterly.

 

Step 4: Add recent fruits and veggies chopped no bigger than 1-inch items.

 

Step 5: Add dry substances and wholesome fat.

 

Step 6: Mix utterly.

 

Step 7: Add frozen fruits and veggies.

 

Step 8: Mix utterly – begin on a low pace and regularly enhance. If the blender struggles at excessive speeds, add extra liquid till every part simply mixes collectively.

 

Step 9: Take pleasure in!

Tricks to Meal Prep Smoothies

Smoothies are fairly simple to make. However listed below are a number of suggestions and tips that will help you excellent your favourite smoothie meal prep recipe.

 

1. Mix liquid and veg first. Earlier than including your fruit or boosters, make sure that your veggies are utterly blended in your liquid. This may make it easier to keep away from veggie chunks or the disagreeable texture of vegetable fibers in your smoothie. 
2. Low-high. Begin your mix at a low pace then regularly enhance the pace till it’s properly combined. If the blender struggles at excessive pace, add extra liquid till it blends simply.
3. Use frozen fruit. For a thick, chilled smoothie, use frozen fruit as a substitute of ice. This may defend your blender and preserve the flavour from getting watered down. Frozen avocado or cauliflower are nice thickeners as properly.
4. Add extra liquid. In case your smoothie is simply too thick in your liking or if the blender is struggling, add extra liquid.
5. Select the fitting liquid. Do not forget that lots of your liquid decisions will influence the flavour, so check new liquids earlier than making a big batch to see how the flavour adjustments. Espresso might solely style good with bananas. Coconut milk provides a robust tropical taste. 

Well being Advantages of Smoothies

The advantages of added fruits and veg to your life are plain! Strive a smoothie problem and add one inexperienced smoothie to your day for 2 weeks. With out altering some other a part of your way of life, you’ll nonetheless discover a optimistic influence. Listed below are a number of the methods a day by day, wholesome smoothie can profit you.

 

• Weight reduction – elevated fiber and wholesome fat will preserve you from undesirable snacking all through the day. 
• Immune system increase – the vitamin-rich vegetables and fruit strengthen your physique’s skill to combat off infections and viruses.
• Pores and skin, hair, and nails – the chlorophyll in inexperienced smoothies make it easier to naturally purge toxins and replenish cells.
• Improved regularity – the fiber helps your digestive system, providing you with common bowel actions, decreased bloating, decreased zits, and potential weight reduction.

 

Get Began with A few of Our Favourite FMC Smoothie Recipes

Take pleasure in a smoothie at present! Customise a recipe of your personal or use considered one of our scrumptious combos under. Take a pic and tag us on social media to tell us your favourite smoothie recipe!

Nighttime Protein Smoothie For Bedtime & Sleep

• 3/4 cup 2% cottage cheese (or extra/much less)

• 1 (frozen) banana (or pumpkin puree) – be aware: 1 med banana provides 27g carbohydrates for these questioning concerning the macros

• 1/4 cup walnuts

• 1/3 cup (frozen) cherries

• 2 tablespoons uncooked oats

• 3oz chamomile (or sleep-inducing tea), chilled not scorching

• Elective

  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon (elective to curb intense candy cravings)

  • 1 tablespoon RAW honey (have to be 100% uncooked honey)

Low Sugar Restoration Protein Inexperienced Smoothie

• 1/2 small inexperienced apple
• 1 kiwi, peeled
• 1/2 cucumber
• 1 cup spinach (tightly packed)
• 1/4 cup uncooked almonds (or walnuts)
• 2 tablespoons uncooked oats (elective)
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• 25g collagen protein
• 1/2 cup (or extra/much less) water (additionally substitute ice)

Orange Tropical Smoothie

• 1/3 cup frozen pineapples
• 1/3 cup frozen mango
• 6 oz no sugar added orange juice (or water)
• 7oz 2% Greek yogurt
• 1 scoop collagen (or selection of low-carb protein powder)
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon (elective)

Creamy Vanilla Bean Protein Smoothie Bowl

• 1/3 cup Almond Breeze almond milk, vanilla taste OR unsweetened
• 10oz (284g) frozen banana
• 1 vanilla bean (or 1 tablespoon vanilla extract)
• 2 scoops vanilla protein powder (vegan or whey isolate)
• 3 tablespoons almond butter
• Toppings (elective)
  • crushed pecans
  • unsweetened cacao nibs

4 Protein Egg White Smoothies To Gasoline Your Day

Tropical Delight Golden Smoothie

• 1/2 cup egg whites
• 2/3 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1/2 cup frozen mango
• 1/2 cup frozen pineapple
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 1/2 cup 2% Greek yogurt

Popeye Emerald Inexperienced Smoothie

• 1/2 cup egg whites
• 1 cup uncooked spinach
• 1 frozen banana
• 2/3 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1/2 cup 2% Greek yogurt

Purple Blaze Purple Smoothie

• 1/2 cup egg whites
• juice from 2 navel oranges
• 1 cup frozen blueberries
• 1 frozen banana
• 1/2 cup 2% Greek yogurt

Berry Melon Pink Smoothie

• 1/2 cup egg whites
• 1 cup frozen strawberries
• 1/2 cup watermelon chunks/items
• 1/3 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1/2 cup 2% Greek yogurt

Nike Viotech AM90 Smoothie Bowl – Kicks & Grub

• Base
  • 1 cup frozen mango
  • 1/2 cup cucumber, peeled (OR 1/2 medium banana)
  • 1/3 cup plant-based milk reminiscent of almond or coconut (OR water)
  • 1/2 tablespoon recent turmeric
• Toppings
  • 1/8 cup blueberries
  • 1/2 kiwi, peeled
  • 1/8 cup raspberries
  • 1/4 cup shaved coconut or coconut flesh
  • 1 teaspoon toasted black sesame seeds
  • 1/4 cup granola

Low Carb Smoothie Bowl Recipe

• 1 cup plain yogurt (I used YQ Plain)
• 3/4 cup frozen blackberries and blueberries combine (or just one of many berries)
• 1/2 medium frozen zucchini, peeled
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract (elective however advisable for added taste)
• Toppings (elective)
  • 2-3 tablespoons of your favourite uncooked nuts, seeds or dried coconut (I used a mix of chia, walnuts, dried coconut and pumpkin seeds)

5 4-Ingredient Smoothie Recipes

Golden Yellow Smoothie Recipe

• 1 massive carrot
• ½ medium avocado
• 1 small purple apple
• ½ medium cucumber, peeled
• Elective Add-ons:
  • 1-inch piece of ginger
  • 1-inch piece of turmeric
• 6 oz water
• ice

Candy & Salty Cashew Smoothie Recipe

• 1 cup 2% Greek yogurt
• 1 banana
• 1/3 cup uncooked cashews
• 2 tablespoons uncooked oatmeal
• Elective Add-ons:
  • 1 date (or 1/2 tablespoon agave OR 1g Stevia within the uncooked)
• ice

Berry Beet Crimson Smoothie Recipe

• 2 cups of shredded kale
• 1 small mandarin orange
• 1 beet
• ½ cup frozen (or recent) blueberries
• Elective Add-ons:
• 8 oz water
• ice

Hipster Inexperienced Smoothie Recipe

• 1 cup of two% cottage cheese
• 2 cups uncooked spinach
• 1 banana
• ½ cup recent pineapple
• Elective Add-ons:
  • 1 teaspoon Matcha inexperienced tea powder
• ice

Strawberry Lettuce (Off Pink) Smoothie Recipe

• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1 1/2 cup of chopped lettuce
• 1 banana
• 5 frozen strawberries
• Elective Add-ons:
  • 1 scoop unflavored or vanilla whey protein powder (30g isolate whey with 1g carb)

Prime 7 Most Highly effective Smoothies

Cocoa-Nut Smoothie

• 1 frozen banana
• 1 cup coconut milk
• 2 tablespoons almond butter
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 tablespoon cacao

 

Pineapple Cream Pie Smoothie

• 1 cup (or ~160g recent) pineapple
• 1 cup coconut milk
• 1/3 cup coconut cream
• juice from 2 limes (elective)
• 1 teaspoon ginger
• Cinnamon to style

 

Berry Breakfast Parfait Smoothie

• 1/2 cup (frozen) blueberries
• 1/3 cup (frozen) raspberries
• 7 oz Greek yogurt
• 2/3 cup almond milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 tablespoons oats
• 1/4 cup almonds (or selection of uncooked nuts)

 

Inexperienced V8 Smoothie With Tabasco

• 1/2 medium cucumber
• 5 cherry tomatoes
• 1 cup uncooked spinach
• 1/2 cup tomato sauce (no salt)
• 1 medium carrot
• 1 celery stick
• 1/2 cup cilantro or parsley (use extra/much less in line with your tastes)
• 1 garlic clove
• 1 inexperienced onion
• sea salt & pepper to style
• Tabasco (or different purple scorching sauce) to style

 

Orange Cream Smoothie With Turmeric

• 7 oz greek yogurt (or 1/3 cup coconut cream)
• 1 1/2 oranges (peeled)
• 1/3 cup cantaloupe
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup almond milk or coconut milk (or extra/much less in line with tastes)
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric (or extra/much less in line with tastes)

 

Candy Inexperienced Smoothie With Honey

• 1 cup spinach
• 1 1/2 cups almond milk (or extra/much less in line with tastes)
•  1/2 medium avocado
• 1 kiwi (peeled)
• 1 tablespoon matcha inexperienced tea powder (or extra/much less in line with tastes)
• 1 tablespoon uncooked honey
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

 

Mint Berry Smoothie

• 1 cup (frozen) blueberries
• 1/2 cup blackberries
• 1 tablespoon recent mint
• 1 teaspoon ginger
• juice from 2 limes (elective however advisable)
• 2/3 cup ice and water

Ryu Hadouken Orange Smoothie Power Blast

• 1/3 cup cantaloupe
• 60g uncooked or cooked candy potato (I like to recommend utilizing chilled, cooked candy potato in the event you shouldn’t have a high-powered blender)
• 1 massive carrot
• 1/3 banana
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• coconut water

Muscle E. Honda Torpedo Inexperienced Smoothie

• 2 kale leaves
• 1/2 small avocado
• 1/2 inexperienced pear
• 2 pineapple slices
• 3 strawberries
• 1/4 cucumber
• 1 mint sprig
• recent lime juice
• ice, water as wanted

Chun-Li Lightning Kick Candy Crimson Pre-Exercise Smoothie

• 1/2 purple beet
• 1 small purple apple
• 1 celery stick
• 3 massive strawberries
• 1/4 banana
• inexperienced tea
• 1/3 cup raspberries
• 1 tsp ginger

Guile Sonic Growth: Tropical Golden Smoothie

• 10 yellow cherry tomatoes
• 1/2 cup mango (chopped)
• 1/2 banana
• 1/4 cup pineapple
• 1/4 cucumber (peeled)
• splash of coconut water

Blanka Shock: Spicy Tomato Smoothie

• 3 small vine tomatoes
• 1 massive carrot
• 1/4 cucumber
• 1 garlic clove
• handful cilantro
• lime juice from 1 lime (to style)
• 1/8 cup purple onion
• 1/2 jalapeño

Detox Beet & Fruit Smoothie

• 3/4 uncooked beet (reduce into wedges)
• 1 small mandarin orange
• 1/2 small apple
• 3-4 frozen strawberries (or common strawberries)
• 1 cup water

 

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