Yogurt Peeled Apple Smoothie

Yogurt Peeled Apple Smoothie

Ingredients:
➢ 6oz low fat vanilla yogurt
➢ ½ cup low fat milk
➢ 1 apple (peeled, cored and chopped)
➢ 2 tablespoons cashew butter
➢ 1 tablespoon apple pie spice
➢ Handful of ice

Directions:
1) Place all the ingredients in your blender and process until smooth before
serving
Making Your Own Smoothie Recipes
Whilst there are plenty of recipes in this book for you to enjoy, you may want to start
making your own smoothies and creating recipes that are your own. You can start by
taking any of the previous recipes and adjusting them to your own taste. Remember that
the recipes in this book are not a strict set of instructions but a set of guidelines to be
adjusted as you see fit.
Typically a smoothie is started with a base which is usually one of these:
● Milk
● Soy / almond milk
● Fruit juice
● Yogurt
● Coconut milk
● Coconut water
These can be the full fat versions though if you are keep to keep the calories down to help
you lose weight then the low fat or even fat free versions are the best to use.
When making a smoothie you have to add the liquid first, before the fruit because it will
stop the blender blade getting damaged, particularly if you are blending up hard fruits.
Next you need a base fruit for your smoothie. There are a number you can use though
many people favor bananas as they give the smoothie a creamy texture. However, you can
use berries, peaches, mango, plums, apple, melon or nectarines if you prefer; it depends on
your personal tastes and preferences. I know some people are not keen on bananas in their
smoothies and they will tend to use one of these alternatives.
You may need to adjust the quantities of fruit so that you get the consistency that you
want. This can be done by adding some ice cubes, which will give the smoothie a really
cool taste and thicken it up. Depending on how much you process the ice you can end up
with a nice crunch to your smoothie by processing the ice until it is small enough to be
sucked up a straw.
Depending on the fruit you have used you may need to sweeten your smoothie. The
recipes here have called for white sugar or sweetener, both of which are suitable, though if
your aim is weight loss then you will want to avoid the sugar. Alternatives include honey,
agave syrup or maple syrup, which are good natural ways of sweetening your smoothie. A
popular sweetener is made from Stevia, which comes from a plant, though there are
alternatives available.
If you are going to make smoothies often, then you can store fruit in your freezer, either
by freezing fresh fruit or buying frozen fruit. You can slice and freeze your bananas
before they go off, which can then be used in your smoothies. Fruits such as melons and
strawberries do not typically freeze well but if you are making a smoothie then it is fine.
Get Creative
These are just the basics of making smoothies and you can get much more creative if you
want to. Adding additional flavors can turn a good smoothie into an outstanding one.
Simple adding some cocoa powder or low calorie hot chocolate powder will give your
smoothie a lovely chocolatey taste without adding the calories. Other popular flavors are
nutmeg, cinnamon or vanilla essence, all of which will give your smoothie a really
interesting taste. Just make sure you don’t overpower the smoothie with too much of
these flavorings, so start with small amounts and add more a little at a time until you get
the right balance.
You can add some texture to your smoothie with flax seeds, whole oats, toasted nuts or
protein powder. These are great as they give your smoothie more body which can help
you feel fuller for much longer.
Using Vegetables
Using vegetables in your smoothie is going to sound really peculiar to start with, though
they are very popular. The sweetness of the fruit will blend well with many vegetables,
making a great tasting smoothie that is jam packed full of nutrition!
Green smoothies can be made with some apple, kiwi, spinach, banana and coconut water.
Adding kale or spinach to a smoothie will give you a huge boost of vital vitamins and
minerals. You do need to be careful to get the levels right so that you can appreciate the
taste without it overwhelming your smoothie. Even tofu can be added, which will add a
lot of protein which will make you feel fuller for longer. Peanut butter has the same
effect, adding a pleasant nutty flavor to a smoothie.
Making your own smoothie recipe isn’t as difficult as you may think. So long as you
follow the guidelines above and then add other ingredients, carefully so you don’t over do
it, you will come up with a great tasting smoothie. With a bit of patience you can create
delicious recipes that you can use to help you lose weight and that you will really enjoy.
Choosing A Smoothie Maker
When it comes to choosing a kitchen appliance to make your smoothies you need to
carefully think about what you are going to buy. In their basic function, a blender and
smoothie maker are little different; both will puree your ingredients to create a liquid you
can drink.
Smoothie makers are typically cheaper than blenders but they can only be used for making
smoothies whilst a blender has many more uses. If you are going to use a blender then it
is worth getting one as it a versatile device that really be put to work in your kitchen.
However, if you are only interested in making smoothies then it is worth just getting a
smoothie maker.
Blender are multifunctional devices which can do lots of different tasks, depending on the
blades you are using. A smoothie maker though is focused on one thing, process fruit for
drinks. Smoothie makers do not tend to have the level of control a blender does, usually
only having an on/off switch. They typically hold a smaller volume and you don’t have
the level of control of the consistency of your smoothie.
One advantage of a smoothie maker is that they tend to have a spout on the side of the
pitcher, which makes it much easier for you to pour your drinks. Blenders do not tend to
have this and pouring drinks from a blender can get a bit messy.
One advantage of a smoothie maker is that you will get much more consistent results
because it is designed to do that. Fruits like raspberries and blackberries that have little
seeds in will usually be liquified in smoothie maker whilst a blender may not break them
down in same way. Whilst this isn’t going to impact the taste of the smoothie, it may
impact your enjoyment of it.
One major consideration for you is how easy it is to clean your blender or smoothie
maker. It will need cleaning between every use and if it is difficult to clean then it will put
you off making smoothies. It is important you take the time to clean your smoothie maker
properly because otherwise you will find the machine clogs or bacteria builds up inside.
Blenders are typically easier to clean whilst smoothie makers tend to be a bit more fiddly
to clean. However, some smoothie makers are designed to be easy to clean though they
tend to be the more expensive models.
At the end of the day the choice comes down to your personal preference and your
budget. A good quality blender can cost you several hundred dollars whereas a smoothie
maker can be a lot kinder on your pocket. If you are going to make use of all the extra
functionality of a blender then it is worth buying one but if you are not then a smoothie
maker is a good idea.
You can check out smoothie makers on Amazon here where you will find plenty of great
models to buy. Have a good read of the customer reviews as these will tell you what it is
like to own, clean and use the device. There are smoothie makers for every budget so you
will find something suitable for you there. You can see blenders here and the same advice
applies to these too.
Endnote
Smoothies can be a great part of any diet as they can be very healthy and low in calories.
They are a superb way to get vitamins and minerals from fruits and vegetables and they
can be very filling, meaning you don’t feel the urge to snack.
On a diet a smoothie makes for a great breakfast, snack or accompaniment to a meal; it all
depends on when you want to have one.
You can make the recipes as low calorie as you want by using low fat or even fat free
ingredients, depending on how healthy you want your smoothie to be. Some recipes
called for sugar though you can use sweetener or honey instead, which will help to keep
the calories down whilst making the smoothie very palatable.
These recipes are a great additional to any diet and area a great way to help you lose
weight and keep your calorie intake down. You can adjust the recipes to make them
perfect for your chosen diet and enjoy the benefits and taste of these delicious drinks.
Enjoy making smoothies and enjoy losing weight with them; they are a great addition to
any diet and a great way to keep yourself healthy!