A breakfast smoothie is an easy way to ensure you get the nutrients you need to kickstart a healthy day. While there are lots of prepackaged smoothies on the market, creating your own means you can tailor it to your exact nutritional needs and flavor preferences. This is especially true for those of us with allergies, specific nutrient requirements, or dietary restrictions.

As big fans of the mighty smoothie, here are some tips to get your blend just right:

The Base-ics

Your base is the liquid that brings all of the ingredients together. There are so many delicious options to choose from:

• Almond & Other Nut Milks: If you’re dairy free or vegan, this is a tasty option. From almond milk to coconut milk, and everything in-between, nut milks are a great alternative to dairy milk, and can be counted on to create that sought-after silky texture in your smoothie. For those following low-carb or keto diets, unsweetened nut milks might be an appropriate option. 
• Oat Milk: A wonderful choice for vegans with nut allergies, oat milks come in a variety of flavors and there are options with sugar and without. 
• Coconut Water: Hydrating and packed with electrolytes like magnesium and potassium, coconut water makes a spot-on base for your post-workout blend. 
• Juice: For those of us who enjoy a sweet and citrusy kick first thing in the morning, orange juice is an excellent base. Trying to get your kiddo to drink healthy smoothies? Adding a little juice can make every sip go down easier. 
• Milk: An oldie but a goodie, milk (especially whole milk), will help give your smoothie a creamy, luxurious texture.

Let’s Get Blended

Now for the fun part! Once you’ve picked your base ingredient, you can pick and choose your favorite additions.

Through Thick & Thin

Smoothies are known for their decadent texture, and that’s where your thickener comes in. Here are some options:

• Bananas: Filled with phytonutrients, potassium, and more, bananas are wonderful in just about any smoothie. It can help create that thick, creamy texture the best smoothies are known for.
• Avocado: Great for heart and eye health, avocados are a powerhouse addition that add a luscious silkiness to your blend.
• Greek Yogurt: An option for better gut health, Greek yogurt is a luxurious thickener if you’re not shying away from dairy.

The Not-So-Secret Ingredients

So you’ve got your base and your thickener, now you can get really creative:

• Frozen Fruit: If you’re not snacking on fruit during the day, then blending some frozen berries into your smoothie ensures you’re not missing out on their powerhouse nutrients.
• Vegetables: Not a fan of spinach or kale? Put it in your smoothie and your taste buds won’t ever know. Sipping on a smoothie is a tasty way to get your greens.
• Flavor Boosters: Try sprinkling some cocoa powder, cinnamon, cacao nibs, and/or vanilla extract into your blend. You don’t need a lot to give it a delicious punch of flavor.
• Ashley’s Secret Ingredient: Salt! More specifically, Redmond’s Salt. You only need a little sprinkle, but Ashley swears that it completes a smoothie’s overall flavor. She loves Redmonds because it’s the only single-source salt in the United States, which means it’s the least contaminated.

The Add-In’s

Want to start adding collagen to your diet? A smoothie is an inviting vehicle for it. Chia-curious? Throw some in the blender. Here are some more tasty options:

• Protein powder: From pea protein, to hemp, to whey, there are so many options. Come into RT and talk to Steve about which one might be right for you. 
• Nut Butter: Perfect for a protein boost, but keep in mind that some nut butters can overpower the other flavors in your smoothie, so you might want to tread lightly unless you love that nutty flavor.
• Turmeric: A good addition to help fight inflammation.
• Ginger: May help with gastro issues, nausea, and more.
• Seeds like hemp, chia, and flax: Super seeds can be a fantastic mix-in for some added nutritional support.
• Goji berries: Can promote health for your skin, immune system, and eyes. These sweetly-sour berries are a smart add-in. 

There you have it! Any tips you’d like to share? Let us know on Facebook or Instagram. And we should also add, that if even the thought of taking out the blender makes you tired, you can always come in and have RT make your dream smoothie for you.

Cheers!