Looking for a way to get a variety of nutrients into one meal? A jam-packed smoothie is where it’s at! Part of my morning and post-workout routine is making a protein smoothie. Many times I have a busy morning or need a practical snack, so making a smoothie is my favorite option to avoid skipping a meal. You’ll be surprised how little effort this takes and how much you can boost your nutritional needs in just one drink. There is no shortage of healthy recipes, and I often just mix up some fruits with my protein to make an exciting new flavor. Here are some tips if you want to make amazing shakes:

Choose a great protein source

You can use oatmeal or almond butter to provide a natural and healthy protein to your smoothies. Another option is spirulina, an algae that in addition to vitamins and minerals provides a good source of protein. Personally I add a high-quality protein powder that is easy to digest, and there are several flavors to choose from. This way, you guarantee you are getting a very complete drink full of amino acids. This is my favorite one:

Get creative with your base

A lot of people consider that protein powder tastes better with milk than with water. My personal favorite is almond milk and a little bit of fruit as it gives it a smooth texture that is easier to drink. But you can get creative using Coconut Milk, Yogurt or even Coconut water!

Ice, Ice, Baby!

You’ll want to use ice if you like what a more thick and dense, kind of like ice cream. If you feel like ice waters down your smoothies, I recommend freezing your preferred milk in ice cube trays or using frozen yogurt. It will make the milk last longer and speeds up the process, you'll only need to pop two or three cubes out of the tray directly into your blender and voilá! You have a soft creamy shake.

Freeze up your fruits

If you love a good fruit smoothie, you should freeze your fruit ahead of time and make sure your ingredients are about two-thirds frozen overall. It is a great way to preserve season fruits, my favorites are peaches and berries! You can also freeze veggies or ready-to-blend bags with your favorite ingredients.

Include some healthy fats

You can try a couple of dates, a tablespoon of chia seeds or flaxseed for a high-density burst of healthy fats. Add a tablespoon or two of flaxseed oil or coconut oil for a smoother texture. Nut butters like almond and peanut are also a great option, and they can transform an otherwise bland smoothie into a rich creamy treat.

Spice it up!

Adding spices to your smoothies is a great way to boost your metabolism. Cayenne and ginger are great for giving your shakes a spicy touch, while turmeric is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. Cinnamon is a great flavor enhancer, it can also help reducing glucose, triglycerides, and cholesterol, as well as improve blood pressure.

Add a good supplement

I already mentioned spirulina as a good source of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. Other super supplements that I like to include in my shakes are collagen powder, which is ideal to provide resistance and flexibility to joints, in addition to regenerating skin and tissues; and maca, which is highly nutritious, improves the physical performance, increases libido and is ideal for reducing stress and fatigue.

Invest in a good blender

Whether you’re mixing fruit, vegetables, or other food sources, a blender is going to be one of your best assets. It is important to find the right blender to match your needs, this will make it so much easier to create protein shakes that you’ll actually be looking forward to drinking. This is the one I use:

Remember the balance! Smoothies need a good blend of liquid and solid ingredients to achieve just the right texture. If you are looking for ideas I made a Smoothie Recipes E-book you can download!