How to Make a Healthy Smoothie

Posted on May 25th, 2011 by peanutbutterfingers

My smoothie obsession is no secret. I love making cold, creamy smoothies for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Smoothies are sweet, voluminous and, if made the right way, full of healthy vitamins and minerals.

I headed home for lunch today to hang out with Sadie and make myself a smoothie. (Side note: I think all office break rooms should have a Vitamix on hand so employees can make smoothies anytime! When I open up my blogger office, you better believe I’ll have one… or five.)

As I made my smoothie this afternoon, I snapped pictures along the way to hopefully answer some of the questions I’ve received from you guys about how I create healthy – but yummy – smoothies off the top of my head.

  • Start with 1 1/4 – 1 1/2 cup liquid. My liquid of choice is almond milk, but any kind of liquid (orange juice, water, milk, soy milk, etc.) will work. Obviously creamier beverages like almond or regular milk will produce creamier smoothies. I play around with the amount of liquid I add based on how thick I want my smoothie. I always start with less than I think I’ll need and add more to get things moving in the blender if needed.

healthy smoothie 004

I eat my extra-thick smoothies in a bowl with a spoon!

  • Add 1 cup of frozen fruit or 1 frozen banana. Of course fresh fruit will also work, but I prefer to use frozen fruit because it makes the smoothie colder and creamier than regular fruit. In my experience, frozen bananas produce the creamiest smoothies.

healthy smoothie 011

  • Add protein. I always add some kind of protein to my smoothies so they have more staying power. A scoop of protein powder or a cup of Greek yogurt not only ups the flavor of the smoothie, but increases the protein content by a ton.

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  • Add spinach. This is obviously just my personal preference, but I almost always add a handful of fresh spinach to my smoothies. You cannot even taste it and the spinach adds an extra punch of nutrition!

healthy smoothie 003

  • Add more flavor and thickness. This step is optional, but I almost always add a little something extra to my smoothies to amp up the flavor. My favorite ways to add more flavor include adding a tablespoon of peanut butter or cocoa powder or a teaspoon of a flavored extract, like coconut, vanilla or almond extract. I also add a pinch or two of xanthan gum for thickening.

healthy smoothie 007

healthy smoothie 009

Of course the above bullets are just guidelines for how I make my smoothies. The beauty of smoothies is that you can usually throw almost any kind of fruit and milk or juice into a blender and get something delicious. I love to experiment and play around with tons of different flavor combinations.

Some of my favorite smoothies include:

"I'm a Smoothie Love-ah!"

Question of the Day

What smoothie flavor is your favorite?

P.S. The Fashion page was updated today!

Filed under: Lunch, Recipes, Smoothies, Tips

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136 Responses to “How to Make a Healthy Smoothie”

  1. 1
    Julia, on May 25th, 2011 at 2:01 pm Said:

    This is a super helpful post! I really want to start making more smoothies now that I’m home for the summer and actually have a blender (and cute little umbrella decorations…I’m a dork).
    Thanks for the step by step! I can’t wait to start making them on hot days.

      

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  2. 2
    Brittany (A Healthy Slice of Life), on May 25th, 2011 at 2:02 pm Said:

    I’ve recently begun experimenting with xanthan gum and it’s amazing how the tiniest bit really thickens things up!

    I have a new favorite smoothie that I’ll be posting soon, too. One wonderful thing about summer- it’s smoothie season!

      

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  3. 3
    Hope, on May 25th, 2011 at 2:04 pm Said:

    Thank you for posting these tips! I’ve always wanted to know how you make your smoothies look so tasty! Now I just need to work on getting a blender and then I can actually make these :) I can’t wait!

      

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  4. 4
    Carrie, on May 25th, 2011 at 2:05 pm Said:

    YES! I shud have expected this post from you!!! i LOVE putting frozen nanner, protein powder, cinnamon and soy milk :) .. but i need to experiment more!!!

      

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  5. 5
    Theresa Martinson, on May 25th, 2011 at 2:06 pm Said:

    Have you tried Shakeology for your smoothies?? http://www.shakeolgoy.com/tmartinson

    I make mine almost the same way, however I use a scoop of shakeology! I make one that is 1 scoop shakeology, 1 cup almond milk, 1 tbs almond butter, 1-2tsp agave nectar, spinach, extra protein powder and ice. It tastes like a chocolate malt! Delish and super nutritious!!!!

      

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  6. 6
    Holly @ The Runny Egg, on May 25th, 2011 at 2:08 pm Said:

    I love simple smoothies — banana, vanilla protein, almond milk, scoop of peanut butter, ice!

      

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  7. 7
    Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat, on May 25th, 2011 at 2:09 pm Said:

    I create my smoothies pretty much in the exact same way as you Julie! I love the creaminess that frozen bananas add and frozen fruit in general means that you can get a thicker, colder smoothie without adding tons of ice (which I find dilutes the flavour). Hope you’re enjoying your afternoon slurp! :)

      

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  8. 8
    Kelly @foodiefresh, on May 25th, 2011 at 2:14 pm Said:

    Chocolate + strawberry is my absolute favorite. I always add 1 Tbsp. of cocoa even though I use chocolate protein powder. I almost always add 1/2 a frozen banana to my smoothies.

      

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  9. 9
    Merrie@ Strawberrylaces, on May 25th, 2011 at 2:15 pm Said:

    I just got a smoothie this afternoon with a half of an avocado in it! It was the creamiest strawberry and banana smoothie I’ve ever had. You couldn’t taste the avocado at all. Such a great and strange addition!

      

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  10. 10
    Jenny @ Fitness Health and Food, on May 25th, 2011 at 2:16 pm Said:

    ohh I do love healthy smoothies. I am all about the almond milk, hersey’s cocoa, and greek yogurt.

    I’m also enjoying the addition of chia seeds to create a pudding like consistency!

    YUM! :)

      

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  11. 11
    Vivianne, on May 25th, 2011 at 2:17 pm Said:

    I totally learned the magic of smoothies from you! I immediately fell in love and I’m an official smoothie addict. They are a perfect addiction for summer and they really do pack so many nutrients if you make ‘em right! (;

      

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  12. 12
    Millie, on May 25th, 2011 at 2:18 pm Said:

    I keep it simple. My fav is just vanilla protein powder, milk and frozen blueberries. However, last night after dinner, I was craving chocolate and didn’t have anything except Hershey’s Special Dark cocoa powder. I threw that with milk and a frozen banana into the blender, and it was the perfect after-dinner, guilt-free treat!

      

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    Millie Reply:
    May 25th, 2011 at 2:20 pm

    Oh yeah. And spinach because like you said, it adds nutrients, and you can’t even tell it’s there!

      

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  13. 13
    Jamie aka "Sometimes Healthy" Girl, on May 25th, 2011 at 2:18 pm Said:

    You have helped me to fall in LOVE with smoothies! I am going to make one for my best friend tonight (who is in town). I told her I learned the secret to the best smoothies ever from this girl named PB Fingers. I like to see your smoothies outlined like this, because even though mine taste good, they never look like yours. great tips!

      

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  14. 14
    Ashley O. @ The Vegetable Life, on May 25th, 2011 at 2:19 pm Said:

    I always tend to make the same “mixed berry’ flavored smoothies with random frozen fruits… but I just bought some new strawberry protein powder so I am forseeing some chocolate strawberry and starberry banana smoothies in my future!!!!

      

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  15. 15
    Ellie@fitforthesoul, on May 25th, 2011 at 2:20 pm Said:

    Mmmm yummy! And I agree, especially chobani has a pretty high protein content! I believe it’s a liiiiitle higher than many other greek yogurts. :) oh Julie, have you tried Trader Joe’s almond milk?! if not, you should! it’s sooooo thick and creamy. WF’s almond milk is really creamy too.

      

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  16. 16
    Bridget, on May 25th, 2011 at 2:21 pm Said:

    This is a totally dumb question – but do you freeze the bananas with the peel on?

      

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    peanutbutterfingers Reply:
    May 25th, 2011 at 2:22 pm

    haha no! definitely REMOVE the peel. my best friend emailed me this very question yesterday. :)

      

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    Khushboo Reply:
    May 25th, 2011 at 11:27 pm

    peeling frozen bananas is no fun- been there, done that and lost half the banana in the process!

      

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    Amber K Reply:
    May 26th, 2011 at 10:11 am

    Also, you can slice it and freeze it on a cookie sheet first and then take those slices and put them into a container so you can have as little or as much as you want!

      

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  17. 17
    Lindsey, on May 25th, 2011 at 2:22 pm Said:

    My go to smoothie (and fav) is almond milk, a frozen banana, frozen blueberries, chocolate or vanilla protein powder and spinach!

      

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  18. 18
    Alexis, on May 25th, 2011 at 2:26 pm Said:

    great post! I’ve been looking for some smoothie recipes.. so far my favorite has been banana, vanilla protein powder, almond breeze and of course spinach!

      

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  19. 19
    Lauren S., on May 25th, 2011 at 2:26 pm Said:

    Julie is there a specific reason why you choose to use almond milk rather than cows, soy etc.?

    Thanks 

      

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    peanutbutterfingers Reply:
    May 25th, 2011 at 2:28 pm

    i prefer the taste, honestly. i’ve never been a big milk drinker and like the almond flavor best! also, it’s cheaper at my grocery store than regular milk!

      

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    Lauren S. Reply:
    May 25th, 2011 at 2:30 pm

    Me too! I also love how it lasts longer as well. Thanks for adding the smoothie post.Nice to find new recipes! :)

      

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  20. 20
    Dawn @ Blonde on a Mission, on May 25th, 2011 at 2:27 pm Said:

    My newest smoothie flavour obsession is dark chocolate pomegranate! I blend up a frozen banana with spinach, pomegranate juice, vanilla greek yogurt & a tablespoon of dark chocolate powder. Then I top it with pom seeds!

      

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    peanutbutterfingers Reply:
    May 25th, 2011 at 2:28 pm

    that sounds fantastic!

      

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    Vanessa F Reply:
    May 25th, 2011 at 10:25 pm

    I agree, I must try this!

      

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  21. 21
    Annette @ EnjoyYourHealthyLife, on May 25th, 2011 at 2:31 pm Said:

    I LOVE smoothies too! I always add spinach + frozen berries are my fav (with greek yogurt or prot powder). So delish!

    I also love chocolate minty smooothies!

      

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  22. 22
    Megan, on May 25th, 2011 at 2:33 pm Said:

    I just made a chocolate covered strawberry smoothie inspired by you!
    Naturally, it was delish.

      

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  23. 23
    Lilly Pea, on May 25th, 2011 at 2:41 pm Said:

    I’m so glad you posted this. I need to look into a better protein powder. Confession, I use Slimfast high protein powder for no other reason then I know it’s a bearable taste!

    My favorite smoothie is chocolate banana, yum!

    Oh- have you tried any of the personalized blenders for an at work option? I have my eye on the Cuisineart Smart Power.

      

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  24. 24
    Kaitlyn @ 7 Plates, on May 25th, 2011 at 2:46 pm Said:

    It used to freak me out having spinach in my smoothies until I actually tried it.. It’s true, you can’t taste it at all! :)

      

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  25. 25
    Erin @ The Grass Skirt, on May 25th, 2011 at 2:46 pm Said:

    Great tips! I am also a smoothie freak like you. :) I recently did a Smoothie Making 101 post. http://thegrassskirtblog.com/2011/05/05/smoothie-making-101/ My favorite smoothie is a Grass Skirt (which I named my blog after). It tastes like a pina colada! I also love the simple banana & peanut butter combo. :)

      

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  26. 26
    Julia, on May 25th, 2011 at 2:47 pm Said:

    Now I am going home and making a smoothie. LOVE THEM! and yours always sound so delicious! I can’t wait to go home! :)

      

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  27. 27
    Shelby, on May 25th, 2011 at 2:48 pm Said:

    I love these ideas! I’ve been obsessed with smoothies ever since I came home from college this summer and came across the vitamix my parents bought years ago stuffed way back in a cupboard! I think the last time it was used was during a camping trip when my parents were blending pina coladas in the vitamix and blasting Jimmy Buffett music…we got called out by the park ranger for waking up the whole campground ;)

    It may be 10 years old but it still works like a dream!

      

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  28. 28
    Nicole@FashionablyFitFemme, on May 25th, 2011 at 2:56 pm Said:

    thanks for posting this! i’m always looking for new ways to jazz up a smoothie :)
    if you wouldn’t mind, would you do a post like this about your overnight oats!? :) those always look delish!

      

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    peanutbutterfingers Reply:
    May 25th, 2011 at 2:57 pm

    yes! i love that idea!

      

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    Nicole@FashionablyFitFemme Reply:
    May 25th, 2011 at 3:00 pm

    music to my ears! or rather, tummy :)

      

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  29. 29
    Colleen @ The Lunchbox Diaries, on May 25th, 2011 at 2:59 pm Said:

    Fun post, Julie! My favorite smoothie flavor is PB & banana :)

      

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  30. 30
    SquatLikeALady, on May 25th, 2011 at 3:00 pm Said:

    Great post!!! :) I love the step-by-step guide. Wish I had a VitaMix — I only have a cheapo blender so I have to blend the frozen fruit + liquid by itself first before I add anything.

      

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  31. 31
    kimmah, on May 25th, 2011 at 3:02 pm Said:

    Peanut butter banana smoothies are THE best!!!!!

      

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  32. 32
    Rachel @ Grateful Girl Goes Gluten Free, on May 25th, 2011 at 3:02 pm Said:

    I recently made a pineapple and greek yogurt smoothie and it was so refreshing!

      

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  33. 33
    Tracy, on May 25th, 2011 at 3:05 pm Said:

    Carrots! You’re missing carrots! I peel a bunch of carrots at once and leave them in the fridge for when I want a smoothie If You don’t peel them, the smoothie tastes very earthy and carroty. If you peel them, you can’t taste them! My recipes so far are:

    1/2 frozen banana, 5 frozen strawberries, about 1/2 c frozen pineapple, 1 carrot, 1 ice cube, water.
    OR
    1 peeled orange, 5 frozen strawberries, 1 carrot, squirt of honey, water.

    Try blending a carrot! your Vitamix can handle it :)

      

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  34. 34
    Angela @ My Pinky Toes, on May 25th, 2011 at 3:07 pm Said:

    I really like this post…I like to eat smoothies, but I never feel like I’m making them right!

      

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  35. 35
    Katie, on May 25th, 2011 at 3:10 pm Said:

    Right now I’m really digging Watermelon smoothies! I take a ton of watermelon, handful of raspberries, a cup or so of vanilla almond milk, and a scoop of vanilla flavored protein powder. SOOO tasty!

      

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  36. 36
    Courtney @ The Granola Chronicles, on May 25th, 2011 at 3:11 pm Said:

    I just posted about a smoothie on Monday that tasted like Skittles! SO good!

    orange juice, spinach, plain Chobani, vanilla protein power, frozen banana, frozen mango chunks and fresh strawberries – mm!

      

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    peanutbutterfingers Reply:
    May 25th, 2011 at 3:54 pm

    oooh a skittle smoothie!? sign me up!

      

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  37. 37
    Joanna, on May 25th, 2011 at 3:14 pm Said:

    I have always had a minor smoothie obsession (how could you not?!) but I give you full credit for giving me the idea to make my smoothies thicker & eat them in a bowl instead of simply drinking them from a glass. It seems weird, but not only do I enjoy them more, but I’m so much more satisfied. I don’t think I could ever go back to the boring glass.

      

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  38. 38
    Heather (Heather's dish), on May 25th, 2011 at 3:20 pm Said:

    It all about the cherry chocolate smoothies for me! Either that or something tropical like strawberries-mango-pineapple…yum!

      

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  39. 39
    Gen, on May 25th, 2011 at 3:35 pm Said:

    Great smoothie tips!!!! :D I looove making them after a hard workout! So refreshing!

      

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  40. 40
    Efka, on May 25th, 2011 at 3:43 pm Said:

    This must be my favorite post.
    Love this smoothie lye outs.Still looking for xanthan gum though.

    Just thinking, will spinach blend in nicely also when smoothie is made with regular 500W blender?

      

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    peanutbutterfingers Reply:
    May 25th, 2011 at 3:53 pm

    i wish i could say blenders make no difference, but powerful blenders really do make smoothies smoothier and, in my opinion, better. you don’t need a vitamix though! my parents have a cuisinart blender that is known for grinding ice that works great!

      

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    Efka Reply:
    May 25th, 2011 at 4:06 pm

    mine is supposed to crush ice, so will see

      

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  41. 41
    The Teenage Taste, on May 25th, 2011 at 3:48 pm Said:

    Your smoothies always look awesome, Julie! Thick smoothies are the bomb! :-)

      

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  42. 42
    Megan, on May 25th, 2011 at 3:50 pm Said:

    Love smoothies- especially after I started reading your blog! Sometimes I add cottage cheese & ice to give it a “milkshake” effect after it’s all blended, just like spinach you can’t taste it! Most of the time I love having Banana & Chocolate- I’d love to do banana/choco/pb too! Know any other ways to get my PB fix in there without splurging on actual pb? Most of the time I’m wanting to put in WAY more than 1 Tbsp!

      

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    peanutbutterfingers Reply:
    May 25th, 2011 at 3:52 pm

    have you tried PB2? it’s a powdered pb and works great in smoothies!

      

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    Megan Reply:
    May 25th, 2011 at 3:55 pm

    No I haven’t but I remember reading about it on your blog- I just saw that there’s also a Cocoa PB2? Yep, I definitely am going to need to order some. Thanks!

      

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  43. 43
    Wendi matt, on May 25th, 2011 at 3:57 pm Said:

    I’m glad you posted this because I did buy some protein powder the other day and was thinking about how to use it. I bought it strictly from reading your blog, haha!

      

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  44. 44
    LeeAnn, on May 25th, 2011 at 4:03 pm Said:

    I use dark chocolate almond milk to make mine chocolatey!!

      

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  45. 45
    Stephanie @ StephSnacks, on May 25th, 2011 at 4:04 pm Said:

    I am a hardcore chocolate smoothie girl. But I also love my chocolate covered raspberry smoothie in which I simply just add 1/2-3/4 cups of frozen raspberries to my already chocolatey smoothie!

      

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  46. 46
    Gen, on May 25th, 2011 at 4:05 pm Said:

    You know, I usually blend 100% fruit smoothies, like strawberries and kiwis, pears etc. So I’m very curious about your version and especially the spinach (how did you find the idea?). But when I see the pictures of your creamy delicious smoothies, I say yumm!

      

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  47. 47
    Britta Crawford, on May 25th, 2011 at 4:09 pm Said:

    I LOVE your blog! Which protein powder do you use?

      

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    peanutbutterfingers Reply:
    May 25th, 2011 at 4:13 pm

    either all the whey or optimum nutrition gold standard. they’re delicious!

      

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    Kristen Reply:
    July 8th, 2011 at 1:15 pm

    Thanks so much for all this info! Where can I purchase those protein powders? Thanks!

      

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  48. 48
    Courtney Kust, on May 25th, 2011 at 4:13 pm Said:

    Your smoothies always look SO GOOD!

    I just put a new recipe up on my blog! Take a look:
    http://courtsreport.wordpress.com/2011/05/25/blueberry-crumble-smoothie/

    The blueberry kind of mixes it up a bit! Hope you enjoy!

      

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  49. 49
    Faith @ lovelyascharged, on May 25th, 2011 at 4:28 pm Said:

    I havent had it in a while since last summer, actually, but I made a POM/banana smoothie that absolutely blew my mind. It was super thick and sweet/tart at the same time! I think I need to pick up a dash of POM at the store tonight to bring that bad boy back into my life!

      

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  50. 50
    Katherine, on May 25th, 2011 at 4:28 pm Said:

    I am so happy you did this post. I am a lover of smoothies, but it seems to always be a phase for me and I want to make it something that stays. I also have been going back and forth on whether or not to buy protein powder if it would be worth it for just me. I think this post has helped me decision and once I start my summer jobs (this weekend) I will purchase some powder, and go from there!

      

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  51. 51
    Heather, on May 25th, 2011 at 4:29 pm Said:

    My favourite is a strawberry, blueberry, banana smoothie with vanilla protein powder and topped with wildberry granola……sooooo tasty!

      

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  52. 52
    Kayleigh, on May 25th, 2011 at 4:29 pm Said:

    Definitely peanut butter banana (with spinach!)

    I also put in spirulina (can’t taste it) and some cinnamon for more flavor. Delicious=] I wish I had a vitamix!!

      

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  53. 53
    Kelly, on May 25th, 2011 at 4:30 pm Said:

    Smoothies are my breakfast of choice every morning – love them! Mine usually include almond milk (I’m not a milk fan either), PB2 (love it in my smoothies!), 1 Tbsp. of fat-free, sugar free jello powder (like butterscotch or pistachio) and Shakeology.
    I love seeing how other people make their smoothies – it’s fun to change it up!!

      

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  54. 54
    Jany, on May 25th, 2011 at 4:44 pm Said:

    Julie, could you please post your mom’s recipe for homemade red velvet cake (and icing too). It looks so delicious!

      

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    peanutbutterfingers Reply:
    May 25th, 2011 at 5:01 pm

    Ooh I should! We may make it for my dad’s bday on June 3a

      

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  55. 55
    Chelsea, on May 25th, 2011 at 4:47 pm Said:

    I love adding almond milk or yogurt to my smoothies. My all time fav though is just simple chocolate protein powder, chocolate almond milk, and peanut butter. I am not a HUGE fan of adding in fruit or spinach. Your smoothies always look super awesome!!
    Lately I have been freezing peanut flour and making peanut flour candy (Julie Go Lean) and topping my shakes with it. Taste like cookie dough from a blizzard.

      

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  56. 56
    Colleen, on May 25th, 2011 at 4:53 pm Said:

    I really need to commit and buy some xanthan gum. I keep passing it by at the store!

      

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  57. 57
    Alexa @ Simple Eats, on May 25th, 2011 at 4:57 pm Said:

    I had a smoothie this morning! I love Hershey’s dark because it adds SO much deep, chocolatey flavor!

      

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  58. 58
    Jill k, on May 25th, 2011 at 4:58 pm Said:

    Love the pb cup smoothie and the chocolate covered strawberry. I’m convincing my friends to throw in spinach. It’s such a great addition! Thanks for all your recipes!!

      

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  59. 59
    Laura @ LauraLikesDesign, on May 25th, 2011 at 5:12 pm Said:

    Thanks for this great how-to post! These are great ideas!

    My favorite flavor of smoothie is either strawberry banana or chocolate peanut butter!

      

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  60. 60
    Stacy @ Stacy Eats, on May 25th, 2011 at 5:14 pm Said:

    Mmm I love smoothies too! My go-to smoothie is usually chocolate berry banana. Yum!

      

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  61. 61
    Gigi, on May 25th, 2011 at 5:34 pm Said:

    I am a smoothie convert thanks to you! ;) I haven’t whipped up one in awhile, but I think I may just need to after this post!

      

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  62. 62
    Caro, on May 25th, 2011 at 5:38 pm Said:

    I love the whole smoothie idea going round the blogosphere at the moment! Really want to try it, but not sure my little hand held blender can take it, and I can’t afford a fancy posh one right now :-( One day!

      

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  63. 63
    Stephanie, on May 25th, 2011 at 5:43 pm Said:

    Thanks for the breakdown. I’ve been stuck on smoothies for the last week and can’t get enough of them! I don’t like protein powder so I usually add yogurt or peanut butter for some protein which stays pretty well and makes it super tasty!

      

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  64. 64
    Liz, on May 25th, 2011 at 5:51 pm Said:

    I tried the chia seed pudding that you posted a few weeks ago and it wasn’t sweet enough for me, but then today I used Funfetti cake mix instead of the cocoa powder and sugar and it was FABULOUS. You should definitely check it out!!

      

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    peanutbutterfingers Reply:
    May 25th, 2011 at 7:47 pm

    oh my gosh! you just may be a genius!

      

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  65. 65
    STUFT Mama, on May 25th, 2011 at 5:59 pm Said:

    Thanks for the tips. I’m going to need to purchase some of that Xanthan gum. Now that the weather is getting warmer- it’s time for smoothies. I’m jealous of your blender. Maybe once my Magic Bullet bites the dust……. Oh, and I am IN LOVE with the same cocoa powder. Isn’t it amazing??? :)

      

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  66. 66
    Nathan, on May 25th, 2011 at 6:15 pm Said:

    1 cup unsweetened almond breeze milk or skim non-fat milk

    1 tablespoon unsweetened coco powder or raw cacao powder

    1 large frozen banana

    1 cup fresh or frozen strawberries

    1 teaspoon Splenda or honey, if desired

    Well not to toot my own horn, but I recently won a contest where I won $75 Bucks, a spot in the Indianapolis Star, and a spot on the local morning show to show off my smoothie. Here are the links to the article and also the TV spot!

    http://www.indystar.com/article/20110424/LIVING01/104240310/Nutritional-Nosh-Chocolate-Berry-Monkey-Smoothie

    http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/indy_style/kitchen/make-your-own-smoothie-challege-2011

      

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  67. 67
    Lauren, on May 25th, 2011 at 6:17 pm Said:

    These tips are great, Julie! I am loving smoothies right now, it is getting really hot here! :D

      

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  68. 68
    Trisha, on May 25th, 2011 at 6:17 pm Said:

    You should try freezing your spinach so you always have some on hand! I buy a fresh bag of spinach and stick it in the freezer :) it doesn’t freeze solid!

      

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  69. 69
    Annmarie, on May 25th, 2011 at 6:18 pm Said:

    I also like to add frozen broccoli or other frozen veggies instead of spinach to my smoothies sometimes…works the same! Can’t even taste it and I can get all kinds of veggies into my body that way!

      

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    kris (everyday oats), on May 25th, 2011 at 6:29 pm Said:

    yumm, Your post just made me really want a smoothie! strawberry chocolate is probably one of my all time faves.

      

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    Amy D, on May 25th, 2011 at 6:33 pm Said:

    SO I love your blog and it has truly inspired me on my weight loss journey…down over 70 lbs. I cannot tell you how perfect it is that you wrote a how to make a smoothie blog today because I live in Texas and it is hot and humid so my usual hot breakfast sounds awful in this heat and a smoothies sound perfect. So I have been using your recipes for the past week but the smoothies are not holding me over and I think it is due to the lack of protein. So I know you have suggested All the Whey before, but I think they are not making the protein blend anymore, which mean is am at a loss. I am way too intimated to go into a store and try to purchase protein powder so I was hoping you could suggest another brand or two. I tried looking stuff up on the internet, but I do not even know where to begin. Any help you can give would be much appreciated!!!

      

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    Alyssa @ Life of bLyss Reply:
    May 25th, 2011 at 7:11 pm

    I had the same problem, Amy! I love Aria protein for women.. i know that’s available at Trader Joe’s,

      

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    peanutbutterfingers Reply:
    May 25th, 2011 at 7:47 pm

    i also really love optimum nutrition’s gold standard protein powder! http://www.optimumnutrition.com/products/100-whey-gold-standard-p-201.html

    i’ve enjoyed nearly every flavor i’ve tried except for tropical punch. i usually stick to chocolate-based protein powders.

      

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    Alyssa @ Life of bLyss, on May 25th, 2011 at 7:11 pm Said:

    I just made myself a frozen raspberry chocolate smoothie for lunch. you’re so timely! :)

    p.s. do you notice a big difference between room temp ‘nanas and frozen bananas? I never freeze mine!

      

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    courtney, on May 25th, 2011 at 7:27 pm Said:

    so i just added nestles peppermint mocha coffee creamer to my smoothie and its delicious! i always drink peppermint mocha coffee so i decided to add some in! i put:

    choc protein powder
    xanthan gum
    water
    ice
    starbucks via coffee
    peppermint creamer
    dash of cinnamon

    yummy !

      

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    peanutbutterfingers Reply:
    May 25th, 2011 at 7:45 pm

    sounds delicious!

      

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    Alaina, on May 25th, 2011 at 7:55 pm Said:

    I’ve never really been a huge fan of smoothies. I feel like I would have to have something to eat with it to feel full.

    And where do you get your spinach? It looks so fresh and green compared to what I’ve seen in my supermarket.

      

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    peanutbutterfingers Reply:
    May 25th, 2011 at 7:59 pm

    publix!

      

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    Sarah @ The Pajama Chef, on May 25th, 2011 at 8:09 pm Said:

    i usually do frozen bannana + frozen strawberries/blueberries + spinach + vanilla yogurt + milk. yum!

      

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    Kelley, on May 25th, 2011 at 8:11 pm Said:

    I put nutella in my smoothies sometimes! So good!

      

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    Tricia, on May 25th, 2011 at 8:28 pm Said:

    I’m also smoothie obsessed! The usual for me is almond milk, frozen banana, frozen strawberries, spinach, scoop of protein powder and 1/3 to 1/2 cup of raw oatmeal! The oatmeal gives it extra staying power and makes it taste soooo good :-)

      

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    Kaitie, on May 25th, 2011 at 8:32 pm Said:

    I love all your recipes and ideas :) After reading your blog for months I finally started my own. Keep the adorable pictures of Sadie coming. They NEVER get old!

      

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    kristen, on May 25th, 2011 at 9:13 pm Said:

    I usually add fozen blueberries, spinach, yogurt, soy milk. sometimes Ill do banana and PB, but Id rather eat those, than have them in a drink!

      

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    Sam, on May 25th, 2011 at 9:43 pm Said:

    My favorite smoothie combination currently is almond milk, spinach, chia seeds, banana, and peanut butter. I just renewed my stock of cocoa powder so I may be adding this to the mix as well. Chocolate/banana/peanut butter is a love of mine.

      

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    Nikki, on May 25th, 2011 at 10:26 pm Said:

    I love Sadie in the background of the last picture! :)

      

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    Vanessa F, on May 25th, 2011 at 10:37 pm Said:

    My favorite smoothie was inspired by your chocolate covered strawberry but with a little twist of my own: Frozen strawberries, spinach, milk, chocolate protein powder, ice, and a spoonful of Nutella :D

      

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    Khushboo, on May 25th, 2011 at 11:25 pm Said:

    Great post- I’ve started having smoothies a lot much now that the weather has become so hot! I love mango smoothies, pb& banana, and peach&banana! A lot of the time I just chuck in any fruit I have on hand and this ‘method’ hasnt failed me yet!

      

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    Kristen @ The Red Velvet Life, on May 25th, 2011 at 11:34 pm Said:

    I love my smoothies, too! My favorite combo lately is: water, banana, frozen berries, vega chocolate protein powder, chia seeds, spinach, ice, and of course a dollop of peanut butter on top. YUM!

      

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    Alisa @ Running with Knives, on May 25th, 2011 at 11:59 pm Said:

    I love other veggies in there too! I’ll finely slice a carrot or two and puree that before anything else goes in or even celery, but that has a bit more of a taste to it. My mom adds beets to her smoothies, I can’t get past the smell of those to add it in. I also like to add cinnamon to all of my smoothies since it keeps your blood sugar stabilized, which it can peak from all the fruit sugars. After a long run I add tart cherry juice, which controls inflammation. Other than that, almond milk, hemp protein powder, spinach, and all the fruit I want, that’s how I make a yummy smoothie!

      

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    Hannah @ Sweetly Fresh, on May 26th, 2011 at 8:21 am Said:

    Ah! I am in love with Green Smoothies. So much goodness packed in to something so delicious, it’s hard not to want one every day.

    I love that you eat yours out of a bowl, I’ll have to try that!

      

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    Amber K, on May 26th, 2011 at 10:06 am Said:

    I love vanilla smoothies the best. I use barely 1/2 cup liquid though because I like my smoothies extra thick.

    Although, I have yet to find a GOOD-tasting protein powder that is gluten-free, whey-free, and xanthan-gum free. Life with food intolerances (and my extreme love for them) demands smoothies! But so many things that other people can easily add, I can’t!

      

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    Shayla, on May 26th, 2011 at 12:14 pm Said:

    Great post! I’ve asked you this before but you never answered, about how many calories to you keep your smoothies around? Thanks! :)

      

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    peanutbutterfingers Reply:
    May 26th, 2011 at 12:20 pm

    sorry i didn’t answer before! probably b/c i really don’t know. i don’t really track calories. :/ you could easily add them up though based on the ingredients!

      

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    Shayla, on May 26th, 2011 at 12:26 pm Said:

    No worries, thanks so much for responding, I appreciate it!! :)

      

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    Charlie, on May 26th, 2011 at 8:53 pm Said:

    My go-to smoothie is a little less than a cup of almond milk, 1 banana, 1 cup frozen fruit and 1 scoop protein powder. Berry smoothies are my favorite! YUM

      

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    Allison @ Happy Tales, on May 26th, 2011 at 9:39 pm Said:

    I love using frozen berries, too… rather than fresh. But if fresh is all I have, those will certainly go in, too! And girl, I LOVE putting spinach in mine! At least two huge handfulls!

      

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    The Post That Definitely Makes You Want to be my Friend | I'm a Grown-Up Now, on May 31st, 2011 at 10:33 am Said:
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    Tara, on June 4th, 2011 at 12:40 am Said:

    do you have any recommendations for good protein powders? I want to try some but not sure which type to buy. where do you get yours? thanks :)
    also, congrats on quitting your job!!!!! what a great feeling taht must be. i also work from home and it rocks :)

      

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    peanutbutterfingers Reply:
    June 4th, 2011 at 6:52 am

    i like optimum nutrition’s gold standard or all the whey brand protein powders.

      

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  94. 94
    Haley, on June 4th, 2011 at 6:34 pm Said:

    I just got a blender, and I’m already OBSESSED with making smoothies! Thanks so much for the tips. You’re so adorable :) Love your blog!
    <3

      

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  95. 95
    Caroline Leigh, on June 7th, 2011 at 10:48 am Said:

    i just made my first smoothie for breakfast via this guideline and it is sooo good! my boyfriend has cake batter protein, which i used, and it masked the flavor of the smoothie but it is still very yummy haha

      

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    Anna, on June 10th, 2011 at 2:35 pm Said:

    I LOVE SMOOTHIES :) And absolutely love your blog! I was wondering, do you use any kind of sweetener in your smoothies such as stevia or honey or do you just drink them as is with the fruit? I find if I use fruit other than a banana (which always sweetens it right up) I need a little more sweet to it due to the unflavored almond milk.

    Enjoy your trip!

    Anna

      

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  97. 97
    Lo, on July 17th, 2011 at 7:36 am Said:

    i just recently discovered pbfingers and love your blog! i love making smoothies but usually i made mine for snack purposes – blending orange juice with frozen fruit and a banana. i tried your peanut butter cup smoothie for breakfast the other day and its sooo true, protein powder does give it more ‘staying power’. this might make me sound like a total dork but my folks freak out about me using protein powder… they seem to think it’ll mess my whole system. any advice/info for me? i know you aren’t a dietician or anything but if you could direct me somewhere i’d majorly appreciate it. all the best!

      

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  98. 98
    Christa, on August 1st, 2011 at 7:06 pm Said:

    Just ran across your blog googling wedding pictures and now I’m hooked on the fitness/food portion. I don’t feel like reading through all of the responses, but I wanted to know what kind of protein powder do you use for your shakes!

    Thanks!
    Christa

      

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    peanutbutterfingers Reply:
    August 1st, 2011 at 7:14 pm

    i like optimum nutrition’s gold standard

      

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    Peanut Butter Fingers » Healthy Movie Theater Snacks, on August 8th, 2011 at 8:48 am Said:
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    CJ @ http://healthy-happy-whole.com/, on August 9th, 2011 at 8:56 am Said:

    I see so many people using xanathan gum for their smoothies…can you explain more of what it is or if there is something to substitute for the same effect? I live in a super small town and we dont have it in our grocery stores here, but I will definitely be hunting some down to try; especially to make the peanut butter cup smoothie! Hello, that sounds like a delicious way to start the day!

      

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    peanutbutterfingers Reply:
    August 9th, 2011 at 8:59 am

    i know guar gum has a similar effect – they’re both just thickeners. you can also order them online! :)

      

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    Tori, on January 18th, 2012 at 8:46 pm Said:

    Today I made a really good smoothie for after my work out with some chocolate milk, plain chobani greek yogurt with some agave to sweeten it up, a frozen banana, a cup of ice, and some cocoa powder! delicious

      

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