Smoothies - Tips & Tricks

I’ve been making smoothies for many years now and have compiled some of the tips & tricks below that make my daily life easier when it comes to whipping up these nutritious smoothies, even on busy mornings.

Freeze your leftover smoothie into ice cubes. I almost always make too much smoothie – on purpose. I pour the leftover smoothie into three stainless steel ice cube trays (equivalent to approx. 700 ml) and pop them in the freezer. The next day, I either tip the ice cubes straight into the blender in the evening, so they dry out overnight, or I put them in a freezer bag so they’re ready in the freezer for those mornings when I’m in a real hurry.

Make enough smoothie for two days
If I don’t freeze the extra smoothie, I keep a bottle in the fridge for the next day. Some nutrients will be lost, but it’s still a healthy and nourishing start to the day.

Take your breakfast with you on the go.
If you need to take your smoothie with you on the go, you can get some glass bottles so you can easily take it with you in the car, to work, etc. We reuse 750 ml glass bottles from apple juice, tomato sauce and similar products.

Always make sure to add plant-based and fish oils or fatty fruit/vegetables (avocado) to your smoothie. The important fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K cannot be absorbed by the body unless there are fats in the stomach. Forget the idea that fat only makes you fat – the right amount of healthy fats can also help you lose weight. Your brain and body need omega-3, which is most commonly found in oily fish. It’s important to get the right balance between omega-3, 6 and 9.

Remember to chew your smoothie, juice and soup.
Around a third of digestion takes place in the mouth, because the body releases digestive enzymes when you chew. So always chew your food thoroughly to ensure it’s accompanied by the right enzymes on its journey through the digestive system.

You don’t need a recipe to make good smoothies.
You don’t need recipes to make smoothies, but it can be helpful at first until you’ve got the hang of it.

If you’re making a smoothie without a recipe, simply add everything you’d like your meal to contain. Experiment! You might need to sweeten your smoothies with more fruit at first, and once you’ve got used to the new taste and texture, you can gradually reduce the amount of sweetening ingredients.

If you’re still looking for inspiration, why not try the recipe for this IRON POWER SMOOTHIE

Flavour tips

Ingredients such as lemon juice, strawberries, pineapple, chilli and ginger have strong flavours and can effectively mask the taste of cabbage and similar ingredients.

Pour boiling water into your smoothie
If you’re using a lot of frozen ingredients in your smoothie, it can be a good idea to pour a little boiling water over the contents to make the smoothie easier to blend. Many vegetables also benefit from being gently warmed to release more beneficial nutrients. I pour boiling water into the blender so that it covers about a quarter of the contents.

If you’re not using frozen ingredients in your smoothie
A warm smoothie isn’t quite as refreshing and crisp, so add ice cubes if you want your smoothie to be colder.

Using berries in smoothies.
It is recommended that frozen berries are boiled before use to reduce the risk of illness. You can read more about this on the Danish Environmental and Food Administration’s website.

See how to prepare this week’s smoothies here.

All the best,

Mette Skjærbæk