Fruits and vegetables are good for your health, but you already know that. However, getting your fair share of fresh produce is almost always easier said than done. Don’t worry about constantly struggling with eating enough fruit and veggies because you’re not alone. Despite constant reminders from nutrition experts, it can be tricky to incorporate these healthy food items into your daily diet.

Eating more fruits, vegetables, lean meat, whole grains, beans, and nuts can help you lose or maintain weight. This diet may also help lower the risk of certain cancers and chronic disorders. And if these aren’t enough reasons yet, fresh and healthy produce contains essential fibre, vitamins, and minerals that are all beneficial to one’s health.

Tips for making tasty fruit and veggie mix

Let’s face it, it’s not fun to eat raw or boiled vegetables for days on end. Fortunately, there are fruit and vegetable smoothie recipes for weight loss that are naturally flavourful and refreshing.

If the only thing stopping you from eating fresh fruits and vegetables is that they don’t usually taste great, there are several tricks you can try to enjoy fruit and veg smoothies for weight loss. There are several ways to turn your fresh produce into smoothies and shakes that aren’t only healthy but delicious and refreshing, too.

Ready to fill your tummy with yummy treats? Here are some smoothie tricks and combinations you can try today:

  • Don’t blend everything all at once

Green smoothies are super healthy, no doubt about that. But then, it can be pretty tricky to chug down when all you experience is the bitter aftertaste. To ensure this doesn’t affect your fruit and veggie smoothie mix, blend your ingredients in stages. Blending your liquid base and leafy greens first can help produce a smoother mix that won’t result in leafy chunks and bitter flavours.

Leafy greens mix together so beautifully in smoothies because of their colour. When you’re done blending the first stage, you can follow it up with your remaining fruits. You may also consider naturally-sweet vegetables like sweet potatoes, beets, peas, and squash.

  • Use naturally-sweet fruits

Your smoothies with veggies and fruit can taste great when you choose the right fruits with natural sugars in them. Mango, pineapple, and sweet cherries immediately spring to mind as the most dependably sweet foods. If bananas are extremely ripe, they greatly increase the sweetness of vegetable smoothies. Philippines smoothies with veggies and fruit usually contain mangoes, pineapple, and bananas.

In addition to adding a sweet and tangy flavour, berries including strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries also have fibre, which keeps you fuller for longer. They also contain antioxidants that could help prevent cancer. Moreover, berries have a low glycaemic index, which means they won’t induce a blood sugar increase as quickly as other fruits.

  • Add at least one frozen fruit

If you want your fruit and vegetable smoothie cleanse to be extra chilly, you should add at least one frozen fruit of your choice. It could be berries, pineapples, bananas, or grapes, but make sure you peel them before throwing them into the blender.

Frozen ingredients are easier to find than fresh ones. They’re equally nutritious but more affordable and easier to stock in your freezer. You might want to check out your local farmers market and buy fruits that are in season. Fruits that are in season are usually sweeter and would make your frozen fruit and veggie smoothie mix a real delight.

  • Always aim for the right balance of flavours

Making delicious smoothies for weight loss depends on your knowledge and ability to strike a balance between sweet and sour. Too much tartness or bitterness is undesirable. Try combining sour and sweet flavours to ensure your drink tastes great. A good recipe is the combination of grapefruit, cucumber, apple, and some fresh mint leaves for extra flavour.

Take note of the 1 to 1.5 guideline for better-tasting fruit and vegetable smoothie recipes for weight loss. This means using one to two cups of veggies to 1 to 1.5 cups of fresh or frozen fruit when making a regular-sized juice or smoothie. For your greens, think kale and spinach, both low in calories and sugar yet rich in protein and iron. Great fruit options include kiwis, peaches, apples, pears, cantaloupes, and many more.

  • Don’t forget to add protein

Another excellent way to level up your smoothie game is to add a variety of protein sources such as Greek yogurt, milk, soft tofu, nuts, and seeds. These additions can help make your fruit and vegetable mix taste great while keeping you full and stabilizing your blood sugar.

You may add a pinch of Celtic Sea salt to bring out the natural flavours of your fruit and veg ingredients. If you’re in a weight loss program, your smoothie mix can also benefit from chia seeds, which are a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, loaded with antioxidants, and contains a good supply of calcium, iron, and fibre.

Final words

Smoothies made from fresh local produce are a delicious way to improve your diet, no matter what fruit and veggies you prefer to use. You can try these tips to make sure your mix will taste great for your whole family to enjoy.

References:

“Kitchen Tips: How to Step Up Your Smoothies”, Source: https://www.paeats.org/feature/how-to-make-the-best-smoothies/

“How to Make Healthy and Delicious Smoothies”, Source: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-to-make-healthy-and-delicious-smoothies/

“How to Best Combine Fruits and Veggies for a Rockin’ Nutritious Drink”, Source: https://www.onegreenplanet.org/vegan-food/how-to-best-combine-fruits-and-veggies-for-a-rockin-nutritious-drink/

“How to Make a Perfect Green Smoothie”, Source: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/green-smoothie-recipe/