Adding veggies to your smoothies

Smoothies are a great way to get vitamins and nutrients into little bodies to ensure that they get their 5-a-day....but fruit smoothies can be deceptively high in sugar (albeit natural sugars). If you look at the nutritional values on Smoothie pouches or cartons sold in the supermarket you may be suprised at how many grams of the carbohydrates turn to sugar.

You may also be suprised at how little strawberry or blueberry there is in a strawberry or Blueberrry smoothie! Take a look next time you are shopping!

To reduce the overall sugar content of your smoothies without upsetting the taste, try adding one or more of these vegetable ingredients.  They will not only reduce the sugar levels but add extra nutrients making your smoothie a really super smoothie:

Spinach

Spinach is the traditional green smoothie ingredient. A small handful of leaves can be hidden in a smoothie very easily. It's super rich in Vitamin K and vitamin A but also contains calcium, iron, magnesium and more.

Try our Tropical green smoothie recipe 

Avocado

Containing 20 essential nutrients, including fiber, potassium, Vitamin E, B-vitamins, and folic acid. Avocados act as a "nutrient booster" by enabling the body to absorb more fat-soluble nutrients, such as alpha and beta-carotene and lutein, in foods that are eaten with the fruit.  Adding avocado to a smoothie gives a really smooth creamy texture. 

Try our Creamy Nectarine Dream recipe

Carrot

Carrot is my new favourite vegetable to add to smoothies. Blending raw carrots rather than juicing them ensures that all the fibre is still present. carrots are an excellent source of vitamin A, carotene and potassium and they are cheap!!  

Try our Strawberry, carrot and apple smoothie

Beetroot

Beetroot gives such an amazing colour to your smoothies and tastes lovely if used in moderation. It's a great source of folate, fibre and vitamins and is naturally low in sugar and fats. This i also another cheap vegetable so can help to reduce the cost of your smoothies.

Try our Super Red smoothie containing beetroot, carrot, apple, blueberries, raspberries and grapes - recipe coming soon!

Pepper

bell peppers come in several colours. I like to use the red, yellow and orange peppers in smoothies as they have a sweeter flavour. Peppers are bursting with Vitamin C so are brilliant for adding to smoothies. They do go a bit foamy but serving them in a pouch works really well. Through a straw is not so good!

Try a combination of Carrot, pepper and apple for a really delicious foamy smoothie

Cucumber

Cucumber is suprisingly healthy containing a good source of vitamin K, B vitamins, copper, potassium, vitamin C, and manganese and has a really fresh taste. Adding cucumber to a smoothie.

Try a combination of Cucumber, apple and blueberry 

If you have any smoothie recipes that you would like to share please e-mail me at suzanne@nomnomkids.co.uk. I am always looking for new combinations to share. 

Check out our new 200ml Monster Reusable Pouches which are great for serving your older toddler, pre-schooler or big kid a healthy sized smoothie portion. For littler ones our 140ml Animal pouch will suit them best.