Ever since my mum gave us a NutriBullet smoothie blender for Christmas I've fallen more in love with it every day. I actually thought they were stupid at first and wondered to myself why you would put everything into a NutriBullet (or the other fancier versions such as Vitamix) when you could just eat it from a bowl for breakfast.
Well, I've never been so happy to be proven wrong. I would have smoothies for every meal if I could because they are delicious and I am jumping with good energy afterwards. I know that good nutrition is meant to make you feel better, but I only notice the difference when I have less energy after unhealthy food except when it comes to my smoothies. I feel zingy and energetic for many hours after one.
They're fun to make too, and easy. I wanted to share with you what I put into mine because when I first received my NutriBullet I didn't know what to put in it and would ask everyone 'Do you have a NutriBullet? What do you put in it?'
I'm sorry to sound like an infomercial but I really am a fan! I suppose if I put an affiliate like to one here: https://amzn.to/2lxOFIC I would be an infomercial... I truly do think that getting a smoothie maker (not a blender though, they don't do the same job) is the easiest way to get more goodness into your body as well as making it easier to be slim and healthy.
All those strange little packets of seeds and vegetable powders you see at the supermarket start to make sense. Well, I buy seeds but I don't do the vegetable powders. I'm sure there is a lot of money-making going on selling those packets which are pricier than gold per ounce! First I'll share what is in my smoothie-maker store cupboard and then I'll let you know what I put in mine.
Fiona's Smoothie Store Cupboard
Freezer:
Frozen mixed berries
Frozen mixed berries with frozen spinach mixed in
Ice cubes
Fridge:
Fresh mixed spinach and kale
Carrots
Apples
Full fat greek style yoghurt
Fruit bowl:
Bananas
Persimmons, feijoas and other seasonal fruit
Pantry:
Raw almonds, brazils and hazel nuts
Peanut butter
Coconut oil
Raw cacao powder
Sunflower, pumpkin, sesame and chia seeds and linseed
Protein powder
Oatmeal
Cinnamon
Roasted peanut butter powder
My fresh smoothie ingredients vary from week to week depending what's in season on our fruit trees or what is on special at the supermarket, but here's the smoothie I made today - pictured on the kitchen windowsill with our terrible view :)
A handful of spinach and kale leaves
Half a cup of frozen berries
Half of a persimmon, peeled
2 brazil nuts
10 almonds
3 hazel nuts
A couple of big spoonfuls of yoghurt
A giant dob of peanut butter (maybe a tablespoon's worth)
A couple of teaspoons of coconut oil
A decent sprinkle of cinnamon
A couple of teaspoons of mixed seeds
One scoop of chocolate protein powder
Fill the cup with water after you've assembled this, and then, the most important part - FOUR ICE CUBES. When I have forgotten the ice cubes my smoothie is not nearly so nice. Even in the winter it's nicer to have a chilled smoothie than a warm one!
I had my smoothie three hours ago and I'm still full. I won't even think about eating again for ages. Partially this comes down to the volume of drink, but also I believe the quality of the ingredients. There is so much goodness in there that your body is happily taking it all in and it's not looking for anything else.
If you have a NutriBullet or other type of smoothie maker, please share your favourite recipe, tips and ingredients. I'm keen for new and exciting ideas to add to my repertoire!
Have a great week :)
~Fiona~
PS. You can follow me on Instagram for even more Fifi between blog posts. Surely you can't have too much of a good thing can you? You don't have to be joined up to Instagram either, you can just click on this link anytime: https://www.instagram.com/fionaferrisnz/
Everyone I know who has one of these absolutely loves them. Thanks for including a recipe because I too, never truly know what to include in a smoothie!
ReplyDeleteI'm one of those annoying converts now :) But truly, they will change your life!
DeleteHi Fiona! I actually have had a nutibullet for years in my cupboard! I don't like to make smoothies because I read that your body doesn't use the fruits and veggies as well when they are juiced as compared to eating them whole. something about the fiber just easily going straight thru you instead of doing its job. anyways, are there any other things you can make out with a nutibullet? Like salsa?
ReplyDeleteI have read much the same thing, Carla, but I enjoy a milk shake occasionally, just milk with a ripe banana in it through the blender. We eat a lot of fresh vegetables and fruit and nuts and therefore don't feel the need to blend them in order to 'drink' them.
DeleteMargaret P
Hi Carla and Margaret, I have heard that too. But with juices the fibre is extracted and thrown away, whereas in a blended drink it's all still there.
DeleteThe NutriBullet people say that when everything is chopped up fine, including nuts and seeds, it is more easily assimilated into the body. But they would, wouldn't they :)
I'm sure moderation is they key as with everything. It's probably not ideal to have three blended meals a day, but if I enjoy a smoothie for my breakfast and feel full and happy, that's good enough for me.
They're so thick I actually have to chew them and they take quite a while to drink too, so it's not like a drink that you knock back quickly.
I make breakfast smoothies with kefir, brewer's yeast, flaxseed, and fruit, always a banana and then two other kinds. Those are my weekend breakfasts and I normally mix them up the night before so I can just pull them out and eat. Also, the flaxseed needs time to absorb some liquid. I also make them up on days when I have an evening class, since I have a large lunch and then may not eat until nine or so. I'd rather have a small smoothie and some toast and go to bed than try to make something heavy that late
ReplyDeleteI love bananas in mine too, it makes them such a creamy treat! It's so luxurious to put it together the night before so all you have to do it pull out and blend.
DeleteWhen I add oatmeal, I leave that to soak overnight but I didn't know about flax seed (I think that's linseed?)
I agree they are very useful when you don't want a full meal at night. Once we'd had a big roast lunch, so it was nice to have a smoothie for dinner rather than eating yet another big meal.
Thank you for these suggestions...I love smoothies for the 'speed' of eating them. I am always looking for new ideas, these are very helpful! Love your blog!
ReplyDeleteIt's my pleasure, Deb!
DeleteI got into green smoothies after discovering Simple Green Smoothies (simplegreensmoothies.com). Loads of recipes and they have a great Facebook page. And no, I am not getting paid to endorse them :)
ReplyDeleteDeborah
I’ll check them out, thanks so much Deborah!
DeleteI occasionally see these smoothie makers at garage sales, and I must say, I just thought they were glorified blenders. The next time I see one, I will get it and try it out. (I seldom pay full price for anything; if I am patient I will eventually find it at a yard sale. That's how I got my pressure canner, yogurt maker, and electric knife sharpener. Patience can save one a ton of money, especially if one is not sure one would actually use the appliance once purchased.)
ReplyDeleteThey have different blades than a blender, Mimi. More like a mini food processor which means nuts and seeds are shredded (for want of a better word).
DeleteHeavy cream, a little sugar and a dash of vanilla, voila! Whipped cream in about 30 seconds! That's my favorite Nutri-bullet concoction (also used salt for butter). Smoothies with anything in the fridge/freezer are great for breakfast.
ReplyDeleteLove it!
Deleteterrible view? (chuckle) it's so peaceful... (sigh). I brought up 3 kids having smoothies for breakfast. And they changed with the times. My 2 eldest had a milk powder concentrate, fresh wheat germ, yoghurt, vanilla, banana. I added brewers yeast to mine. My youngest had a mix from a naturopath with yoghurt, orange juice and yoghurt, progressing to red8 whey instead of that mix plus berries and LSA. I now use pea powder, but I shall get the frozen berry, spinach mix.
ReplyDeleteI've seen the pea protein powder, I might try that. Thank you for your recipes :) I thought the berry and spinach mix was a bit overpriced compared with just mixed berries, but it's good to have in the freezer if we run out of fresh spinach. I need to remember to price frozen spinach by itself too!
DeleteFor anyone else who isn't a smoothie fan (like me), note that you can make a hot porridge using pretty much the same ingredients (except the greens), plus quinoa or freekah or any other nutritious grain. I don't like really cold food or anything with ice or frozen fruit in it & have never been able to get on the smoothie bandwagon, but I do love all the good stuff that goes into them. Like a smoothie, a nutritious porridge will fill you up for hours & give you more energy than you know what to do with. I eat tons of greens in salads or sauteed, so still get their benefit too. Fiona, I hope you'll forgive me for mentioning this! And thanks for the information about the NutriBullet -- I too thought they were just another blender. I'm going to have to have a much closer look.
ReplyDeleteSusanne, I love that you mentioned everything you have, thank you! I love porridge too (I get special gluten free oats from the Bob's Red Mill brand) and have enjoyed cooking it with cinnamon and fresh pear.
Delete'Give you more energy than you know what to do with' - so good!
I'm a big fan of the NutriBullet also, Fiona, but I had put mine away for awhile. I don't know if I could get all those ingredients in mine! Several times I've stalled out the motor when I had my cup too full. I think I have the largest cup there is. ?? Thanks for the motivation to try it again. I agree that it's really quick to make but not very quick to drink. HA! I've had pour mine into a go cup to take with me sometimes as I didn't allow enough time to down the thing.
ReplyDeleteOh Karen, you stalled the motor! I haven't done that, but the liquid has come out once or twice, in spite of the lid being screwed on tight. It's just so easy to be overly enthusiastic with the ingredients :)
DeleteI don't put everything in all the time, and I put quite small quantities of things, but still, I fell that cup up, and it's the largest size I've seen. It's just under a handspan tall.
PS... I found pea powder to taste so terrible I threw my purchase away after using it once! Aaaaack!
ReplyDeleteThanks for saying! I won't order any now. The chocolate protein powder is... mmmmm delicious.
DeleteI bought a nutri-bullet (same sort of thing) for my 40th birthday 3 years ago and use it pretty much every day. Berries are in season at the moment so I have a fresh berry smoothie and a handful of nuts for breakfast most mornings but the following is great: 250ml almond milk, 2 tablespoons oats, 1 tablespoon chia, 2 or 3 dates (without stones), 1 tablespoon peanut butter, pinch of cinnamon, pinch of vanilla extract and 3 ice cubes.
ReplyDeleteCamilla B, London
Thanks so much for your recipe, Camilla :) I like oats in mine too sometimes. If I remember, I soak them overnight.
DeleteI have not found any need to soak them... They just whizz up nicely straight out the bag!
DeleteI hope you enjoy!
Camilla
Sorry, nutri-ninja! Also use it to make marinades.
ReplyDeleteCamilla B
Do you put onions and other similar ingredients in, Camilla? I am worried about tainting my rubber seal and plastic cups so haven't yet, but it would be so handy to whiz them up.
DeleteYes, the marinade I do has ginger, garlic and chilli and hasn't tainted any parts... I don't have a rubber seal though, it is just a plastic lid with the blades inbuilt. I think if you put it in to soak straight away it would be okay
DeleteCamilla
Thanks Camilla!
DeleteFinal thought! You can also make an instant sorbet if you blitz just frozen berries (or frozen mango would be nice) I just let the fruit defrost a little bit first so they are not too hard (and my "ninja" has a powerful engine)
ReplyDeleteCamilla
Yum :)
DeleteMine has been packed away since my son gave it to me a few years ago. Now that I’ve seen all these delicious recipes I will have to give it a chance! I used to “juice” and messing with the skin, etc., just wasn’t worth it - especially since I was throwing away the most nutritious part!! I loved cucumber and carrots because the flavor was divine (especially with apple). Now I’ll get spinach and frozen berries, and play with it. Fun!
ReplyDelete