Hey there reader,
I hope you had a chance to look over the smoothie recipes, and are super excited to get started on the New Years 2023 Live Smoothie Challenge. I'm pumped!
Today, I want to share tips for success and answer some common Q & A's people have about the smoothie challenge.
👇 BTW, this is my daughter Emma and I after doing a smoothie challenge last summer! Even the dogs are excited! 🎉😂
Let's start with some smoothie success tips.
Preparing ahead of time is the best way to start and complete the smoothie challenge successfully. Here are my recommendations.
Shop before the challenge starts. I recommend purchasing the ingredients 2-3 days before you plan to start the challenge. You want to give yourself enough time to shop and prepare all ingredients. Here's the grocery list again, just in case you need it. But, if you're just joining us, don't worry! Jump in and start blending!
Prep the smoothie ingredients into freezer smoothie kits, so they are ready to blend. Do this 1 - 2 days before you plan on starting the challenge. Remember, the goal is to have the smoothie ingredients ready to blend.
To create the freezer kits, place the individual smoothie ingredients into a freezer bag and freeze. Freezing the kits makes it so you don't have to worry about fruit and veggies spoiling and frozen ingredients also make your smoothie cold and creamy. Here are complete instructions and tips for preparing frozen smoothie packs.
If you don't have time to freeze into kits, purchase frozen fruit and freeze the spinach so it doesn't spoil. To freeze the spinach, place it into a freezer bag and freeze, then take out what you need the morning you're going to blend.
Blend the smoothie and clean the blender right away. Again, you want to wake up each day ready to make your smoothie, so it's essential to have your blender ready.
Shopping Tips
I recommend purchasing frozen fruit for this challenge. Organic frozen fruit is less expensive, and you don't have to worry about it spoiling. Also, check for smoothie ingredients at your local wholesale store. I get great prices for organic frozen fruit, leafy greens, chia seeds, and coconut milk at my local wholesale store. Of course, you can use fresh fruit and freeze into kits.
You can purchase chia seeds or other superfoods at any major grocery store. However, if you're struggling to find smoothie superfoods, every smoothie ingredient I use (except for fruit) can be bought online at Thrive Market or even Amazon, but I find Thrive Market has the better prices. I'll share more about superfoods down the road. Here's a coupon for Thrive Market, if you're interested.
What blender should you get?
I recommend using a high-speed blender because this work best for blending frozen fruit, veggies, and leafy greens into a smooth smoothie.
A regular blender will work if you don't have a high-speed blender. You don't need to go out and purchase an expensive blender if you're not sure you will continue with healthy smoothies.
However, a high-speed blender will be a good investment if you fall in love with smoothies.
I have a Vitamix 5200 Standard blender (affiliate link) and love it. Just type 5200 into the search bar on the Vitamix website and it'll take you to it. OYS readers also recommend Ninja blenders or Blendtec blenders.
I'll talk more about blenders down the road.
A quick blending note: If you have a regular blender, blend the greens and liquid first before adding the other ingredients; this helps combine the spinach so there are no leftover chunks.
What leafy greens are best for beginners?
Baby spinach is the green I recommend for these smoothies; it's mild tasting and great for beginners. Of course, you can also use kale or any favorite leafy green. Or, if you don't want greens in your smoothie, leave it out. But I recommend at least giving it a try.
Do you add a superfood to these smoothie recipes?
The superfood included with each smoothie recipe is chia seeds, which give smoothie fiber, protein, and omega-3 fatty acids. Chia seeds are my favorite superfood but use your favorite. I find chia seeds in the grocery store's natural food or baking section.
What liquid should I use?
Unsweetened coconut milk is listed in each smoothie recipe. You can use any non-dairy milk, coconut water, or filtered water. I don't recommend dairy milk because this can inhibit the detoxifying benefits of fruits and veggies.
Can I drink a smoothie for a meal?
Yes, I do! The chia seeds add fat, protein, and fiber to each smoothie. If you want more protein, add a scoop of your favorite protein powder or collagen powder to the smoothie recipe. I'll go over superfoods more in another email.
How to drink your smoothie?
I recommend getting a 16-ounce or 32-ounce mason jar or portable insulated cup (like a Yeti) to transport your smoothie. I love using mason jars because they are portable and easy to clean, and I love my Yeti because it keeps it cold when I need to take it on the go. Either one works great. But, of course, any drinking glass will work.
Those are the most common questions.
If you have any questions, please hit reply and ask.
Don't forget to join the OYS Facebook Group because that's where more smoothie chatter happens!
Okay, grab your smoothie grocery list an go shopping!
Tomorrow, I'm going to talk more about blenders.
Talk to you soon.
Tammy Overhoff
Some of these links are my affiliate links. I'll make a small commission if you use my links; however, you're not obligated to do so. If you do, thanks so much for supporting Organize Yourself Skinny.
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