Making a smoothie seems like the simplest way to start your day—pop your favorite fruit into a blender, add some ice and a splash of almond milk, and you’re good to go.
But not so fast—simple mistakes can quickly derail the health-benefits and tastiness of your drink.
To help you avoid common pitfalls, we spoke to Amy Chaplin, author of At Home in the Whole Food Kitchen, to learn the eight most common mistakes you’re making with your blender.
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1
Smoothie mistake: Under-blending
The Fix: Take your time. Smoothies are quick, but that doesn’t mean blending for three seconds is going to cut it.
You want to blend everything really well so that your smoothie is lump-free. Aim for one to two minutes with a regular blender, or one minute if you’re using aVitamix.
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2
Smoothie mistake: Not adding a thickener
The Fix: Smoothies should have some body to them, so use something that will thicken the mix and make it creamy.
Fruits that have thick flesh like peaches, apricots, mangos, and bananas will produce a thick and creamy consistency.
You can also use a tablespoon or two of soaked flax or chia seeds, which will add a good dose of omegas.
Related: How to Make a Shake That Will Actually Keep You Full For Hours
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3
Smoothie Mistake: Going too sweet
The Fix: You don’t need to add extra sugar, and if you’re using non-dairy milk, go for the unsweetened kind.
Berries, frozen bananas, and almond milk are naturally sweet—dates are a great addition if you’re making a more dessert-like drink.
If your smoothie still ends up being too sweet, use lemon or lime juice to balance out the taste.
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4
Smoothie mistake: Adding too many ingredients
The Fix: Less is more. We know that it’s temping to add kale, avocado, berries, sprouts, spirulina, and quinoa to your blender, but resist tossing in every superfood known to man.
Related:The 12 Best Smoothie Ingredients
Instead, choose three or four main ingredients. Otherwise the flavor can get funky, especially if you’re adding greens.
Maca powder, for example, is a great superfood that goes well with most fruits and seeds.
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5
Smoothie Mistake: Using too much ice
The Fix: Tossing in too many ice cubes makes it harder for the good fats from coconut oil, flax oil, seeds, or nuts to incorporate into the drink.
So try adding ice last to ensure that everything is well-blended and that you have more control over the ratio of cubes to beverage.
Another option: freeze leftover juice, coconut milk, or almond milk in an ice tray, and use those cubes instead.
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6
Smoothie Mistake: Adding all the liquid at once
The Fix: Dumping in all of your milk, juice, or coconut water right away could leave you with a really thin smoothie.
Blend in half the liquid first, then add your greens, fruit, seeds, nuts, oil, then ice, and see if you like the consistency. Pour in more as needed.
Related: 10 Powder-Free Ways to Add Protein To Your Smoothie
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7
Smoothie Mistake: Using under-ripe fruit
The Fix: You wouldn’t eat plain under-ripe fruit, so don’t put it in your smoothie either.
It won’t blend well and it won’t taste good. However, ripe fruit that’s got a few bruises will still do the job.
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8
Smoothie Mistake: Sticking to a recipe
The Fix: Be creative while keeping a few general guidelines in mind.
Always use a variety of berries, something to make the mixture thick and creamy, and good quality nut milk.
The article 9 Smoothie Mistakes You’re Making originally ran on Prevention.com.
