Make Sure Your Blueberry Smoothie is Delicious and Nutritious
If you’re like most people, you’ve heard of the healthful benefits of eating blueberries. Similarly, you’ve probably heard how smoothies are a great way to get a ton of fruits and vegetables, such as blueberries, into your diet. However, not every blueberry smoothie is healthy, because not all blueberry smoothies are made the same. Some blueberry smoothies have so much sugar and added calories that they are rated as bad as junk food. Find guidelines below to make sure your blueberry smoothie is as healthy as can be. We have even thrown in a stellar blueberry smoothie recipe for you to follow.
Ingredients to Watch Out For
Whether you are buying a blueberry smoothie or making it at home, you’ll want to check the ingredients list for only healthy ingredients. Ingredients that are high in sugar, simple carbohydrates, or unhealthy fats will turn your blueberry smoothie into a diet dud. Avoid blueberry smoothies with the following ingredients:
Fat-Free Flavored Yogurt. Yogurt is a great health food, but the latest research says that the milk fat found in a lot of dairy products is a necessary component of reaping the health benefit of their calcium, Vitamin D, and other nutrients. Instead, choose a Greek yogurt with low amounts of added sugar or carbs.
Sugar. Skip any blueberry smoothie with added sugar. Look out for “healthier” sugars too, like brown sugars, honey, and maple syrup; your body doesn’t know the difference between calories from white sugar and calories from other sources. Instead, forego the sugar or use a non-calorie sweetener, like agave.
Ice Cream or Sherbert. You’re making blueberry smoothies, not milkshakes. Ice cream and sherbert are both loaded with sugars, unhealthy fats, and more. Instead, use unflavored Greek yogurt.
Sugar-Sweetened Canned Fruit. The added sugars in most canned fruit—usually labeled as ‘heavy syrup’ on the can. Instead, use fresh fruit or non-sweetened canned or frozen fruit.
See more suggestions on what not to add to your smoothies at EatThis.com.
Healthy Blueberry Smoothie Recipe
This blueberry smoothie recipe is simple and easy!
Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh blueberries
- 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup orange juice or water
- 1 tablespoon white sugar, to taste, or a non-calorie sweetener
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 pinch ground cinnamon, or to taste
- 3 ice cubes
Directions
- Place all items in a blender.
- Blend and enjoy.
Recipe courtesy of AllRecipes.com.
Find more blueberry recipes on the BlueberriesFromFlorida.com recipes pages or the Blueberries from Florida Pinterest recipe boards.
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