Smoothies are a favorite go-to breakfast, snack & anytime meal. They are easy to make, can be really healthy & are completely delicious!   I share smoothie recipes all the time, so it made the most sense to write a singularly fabulous post with all my thoughts in one place. So The Ultimate Guide to the BEST Smoothies will hopefully help open up your world to all the endless possibilities out there for the best drinks ever! Let this be your guide to making the best smoothies & ever popular smoothie bowls!     First of all, you will need to have all sorts of ingredients at the ready. Ideas include pantry items, frozen & lots of fresh veg & fruits. You will decide what flavors & ingredients you are craving. You also need to choose if you are going with a smoothie or smoothie bowl. What’s the difference? A smoothie is served in a glass, it may or may not have toppings on it. A smoothie bowl is served in a bowl, eaten with a spoon & typically has a wide range of toppings on it.     Fresh Fruits & Veggies: You can mix these up any way you wish. Berries end up in most of my smoothies & I love a citrus kick too. Kale & baby spinach are fantastic choices too. The possibilities are endless. I always suggest experimenting to find your favorite fruit & veg combos.     Frozen Fruits & Veggies: Instead of ice I typically use frozen fruits. Why? They add so much flavor, natural sweetness & nice texture to smoothie recipes. I always keep a giant bag of sliced frozen bananas at the ready. They add great flavor & a subtle creaminess. I suggest slicing bananas & before you freeze them so they blend easily. I wrap each sliced banana in waxed paper & then pop them all in a large airtight bag. I pull one out as needed. Keep all kinds of frozen fruits in your freezer. I always have raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, peaches & mango.     Liquids. Juice, Milk, etc: Anything goes for what liquid you want to add. Any kind of juice, dairy milk, vegan milks (coconut, almond, soy) or water. You will likely need something so your smoothie blends perfectly.     Sweeteners: If your smoothie needs an extra hit of sweetness there are many ways you can boost it. I always try to use the most natural sweeteners I can find (honey & pure maple syrup) sometimes I go with agave or stevia. Always remember to taste your smoothie before you add sweets to it. It might be good as is!     Nuts, Seeds, Cereals, Grains, Dried Fruits: I’ve become very fond of chia these days. You can soak it for 20 minutes before you use it in any juice, milk or liquid. Or you can use it as a topping. Use your favorite nuts, oats, granola, seeds, flaxseed, soy nuts, dried fruits, chocolate, etc as toppings or to blend in. Nut & seed butters are wonderful for an extra protein boost. They also add healthy fats to keep you satisfied longer. The sky is the limit with your choices.     Cocoa powder, cacao nibs, matcha powder & instant coffee are delish too. They also add a caffeine buzz. Try dried spices such as ground cinnamon, ginger & cardamom. Maca powder is great too!     A few more add-in options include applesauce, protein powder (there are vegan & non vegan options), yogurt, frozen yogurt. Have fun thinking up new possibilities.     Blender: These days there are so many wonderful high tech, efficient blenders out there in all price points. It’s a great investment to purchase a high quality one. You can use it for all kinds of mixed drinks, smoothies, soups & way more!     Here are some of my favorite smoothie recipes to get you started on your tasty journey!  

Strawberry Mango Smoothie

Blueberry Dream Smoothie

Berries & Cream Smoothie

Best Green Smoothie

Strawberry Oatmeal Smoothie Bowl