Everybody knows that a smoothie is a thick and creamy beverage made from pureed raw fruit, vegetables, and sometimes dairy products, typically using a blender.
Smoothies have become a on-the-go staple for health-conscious eaters, and we have to agree: They’re ridiculously easy to make, filled with fruits and veggies, and make you feel, and are ready in seconds. What’s not to love, right? But not all smoothies are created equal. In fact, many store-bought smoothies are loaded with sugar, calories, and fat.
We have a love/hate relationship with smoothies. The idea of people replacing a meal full of different textures and flavours with a drink makes me squirm – yet a cold sweet-and-sour fruit smoothie in the morning can be hard to beat. Frozen fruit gives smoothies a nice coldness without requiring ice and helps make use of over-ripe fruit that’s on the way out. Smoothies are also the perfect vehicle for natural nutrient powders, so feel free to add a teaspoon here if you are so inclined.
Ingredients:
- 2 pears
- 6 cardamom pods
- 500 ml oat milk
- 100 g natural yoghurt
- 2 teaspoons runny honey
- 2 teaspoons bee pollen
Preparation:
- The night before you want to make your smoothie, peel and core the pears. Pop them into the freezer.
- Open the cardamom pods and extract the seeds, then crush up in a pestle and mortar.
- Tip the crushed seeds into a blender, then add the frozen pears, oat milk, yoghurt and honey. Blitz until smooth.
- Divide between two glasses and sprinkle over the bee pollen.
If you’re looking to put your own blender to use and start making smoothies at home, you’re already one step ahead, saving yourself money and ensuring you have full control over what goes into it. Enjoying a smoothie every day is totally fine if you make sure it has a good balance of nutrients.