15 Ways to Make Green Smoothies Taste Better | #FitnessFriday

Green smoothies may look like freshly mowed grass clippings but I promise you that it doesn't have to taste like it! Here are 15 of my favorite ways to make my green smoothies taste better.

1. Make it 60/40- Use 60% veggies and 40% fruit. You don't have to use a ton of fruits to get the right sweetness. 1/2 an apples, 3 or 4 strawberries, or a handful of grapes is enough.
2. Ripe is best- The concentrated flavor of a ripe fruit makes any smoothie taste better.
3. Keep it thick- If you like your smoothie thin, add just a little more water. But if you like it thicker (say if you wanted to eat it with a spoon) add a tablespoon of water at a time just to get your blades moving and freeze your fruits before you blend so that you can skip the ice.
4. Drink em cold- I prefer my smoothies cold. I think that it tastes better and is smoother. You can freeze of the smoothie ingredients in the blender cup for a few hours before blitzing to get a cool temperature once blitzed.
5. Fresh is best- Fresh produce is KEY for a great tasting smoothie. Plan to use your fruits within 3-4 days of purchase and your veggies within 4-5 days. When in doubt, throw it in the freezer so that it doesn't get too sad looking.
6. Use a Smoothie Straw- If the consistency of your smoothie grosses you out then grab a smoothie straw! You'll finish it faster because the straw is bigger too!
7. Add citrus- Perk up the acidity of your smoothie with a squeeze of fresh lemon or orange juice.
8. Nut Butters- Adding a teaspoon of your favorite nut butter (think almond, peanut, or cashew) to create a creamy texture and give your smoothie a boost of protein to keep you fuller longer.
9. Freeze em- Wanna have a smoothie for work but can't take your blender with you? Freeze it, then let it thaw from morning until lunch time!
10. Shake it up- If you let your smoothie sit, chances are that it will separate, but don't let that scare you. Just shake it up and you're back in business!
11. Color- Be careful when adding red or purple fruits to your smoothie. It will change the color from a bright green to a muddy brown. The good news is that it tastes fantastic---if you can get past the color. If you can't stick to reds and purples for one smoothie and greens for the others. 
12. Order of operations- In my Nutribullet, I've noticed that the order in which I stack the blending cup matters. First I add fruits, then veggies, the your other stuff (butters, etc) and topping it off with ice (or you can freeze the fruits) and a little water.
13. Grab Baby greens- So---you hated the kale in your smoothie---and the spinach wasn't much better. But don't give up! Try baby greens instead. The raw flavor is softer and the greens are more tender.
14. Blend well- If you're getting chunks of smoothie in your cup then...you need to blitz it into oblivion! Just note that the heat from your machine will warm your smoothie so you might want to add a bit more ice.
15. Yogurt- When all else fails, add a few spoon fulls of your favorite fruit yogurt to mask the flavor, close your nose and just drink it! It's good for you!

So you tried all of these tips and nothing worked? Keep trying! Remember adding more raw fruits and veggies to your day is a lifestyle— not a diet.

What are your tips for better tasting green smoothies?

Besitos!
KLP

An InLinkz Link-up