Smoothie Maker - The Key to Creamy Smoothies
By adding milk, yogurt, dairy or dairy alternatives to smoothies made in your home smoothie maker, you will produce and even more creamy and delicious results. Adding these ingredients is not necessarily going to make them higher in calories. Milk is rich in calcium and dairy alternative milks are now enriched with calcium so adding these is good for the bones of growing children and to ensure strong bones in adulthood.
Dairy alternatives are ideal for anyone suffering from lactose intolerance or who prefers to limit the amount of dairy products in their diet. By using these milk substitutes, everyone can have the pleasure of drinking delicious, creamy, thick milk shakes and smoothies.
Dairy milk is one of the richest natural sources of calcium available. Full fat milk is probably best avoided by everyone except active young children who need additional calories because it is high in saturated fats which dietary advice dictates should be avoided. Anyone wishing to enjoy the benefits of dairy milk can do so by using skimmed or semi-skimmed milk.
For an occasional and indulgent treat, cream can be added to smoothies. Cr?me fraiche or mascarpone also give excellent rich and creamy results. Whilst cream is very high in saturated fat and therefore high in calories, it is also a great source of vitamin E so is probably ok as a treat now and then.
Adding yogurt is another delicious way of making smoothies thicker and creamier. Remember though, that the very creamy type of yogurt, such as Greek yogurt, may be just as high in calories as cream so it is wise to check the label and choose a low calorie version. Fruit yogurts can also be added to smoothies to add interest.
Like milk, yogurt is also rich in calcium and can often be tolerated by people who have difficulty digesting dairy milk. Live yogurts, often called probiotic yogurts have many health benefits and are especially good for repopulating the gut with 'good' bacteria after taking antibiotics. It is now also possible to buy high fibre yogurt with cholesterol lowering properties.
Dairy alternative milks are widely available and are a good low calorie option. Coconut milk is about the only nut milk which is not high in polyunsaturated fats which are much better for us that saturated fats. Soya milk is a great dairy milk substitute and is available enriched with calcium which is good news if it is drunk regularly instead of cow's milk.
Rice milk is a great addition to smoothies and shakes and is also available in flavours such as vanilla and strawberry. Whilst rice milk has a thinner consistency than dairy milk, it is sweeter and really tasty. Many nut milks are available and can be purchased in most supermarkets and health food stores.
In conclusion, there are many delicious ways to achieve thicker and creamier smoothies and shakes and by careful choice of ingredients, these need not necessarily add more calories. For me, this is one of the best things about using a smoothie maker to make my own smoothies at home as I can decide exactly what ingredients go into my smoothies.
Dairy alternatives are ideal for anyone suffering from lactose intolerance or who prefers to limit the amount of dairy products in their diet. By using these milk substitutes, everyone can have the pleasure of drinking delicious, creamy, thick milk shakes and smoothies.
Dairy milk is one of the richest natural sources of calcium available. Full fat milk is probably best avoided by everyone except active young children who need additional calories because it is high in saturated fats which dietary advice dictates should be avoided. Anyone wishing to enjoy the benefits of dairy milk can do so by using skimmed or semi-skimmed milk.
For an occasional and indulgent treat, cream can be added to smoothies. Cr?me fraiche or mascarpone also give excellent rich and creamy results. Whilst cream is very high in saturated fat and therefore high in calories, it is also a great source of vitamin E so is probably ok as a treat now and then.
Adding yogurt is another delicious way of making smoothies thicker and creamier. Remember though, that the very creamy type of yogurt, such as Greek yogurt, may be just as high in calories as cream so it is wise to check the label and choose a low calorie version. Fruit yogurts can also be added to smoothies to add interest.
Like milk, yogurt is also rich in calcium and can often be tolerated by people who have difficulty digesting dairy milk. Live yogurts, often called probiotic yogurts have many health benefits and are especially good for repopulating the gut with 'good' bacteria after taking antibiotics. It is now also possible to buy high fibre yogurt with cholesterol lowering properties.
Dairy alternative milks are widely available and are a good low calorie option. Coconut milk is about the only nut milk which is not high in polyunsaturated fats which are much better for us that saturated fats. Soya milk is a great dairy milk substitute and is available enriched with calcium which is good news if it is drunk regularly instead of cow's milk.
Rice milk is a great addition to smoothies and shakes and is also available in flavours such as vanilla and strawberry. Whilst rice milk has a thinner consistency than dairy milk, it is sweeter and really tasty. Many nut milks are available and can be purchased in most supermarkets and health food stores.
In conclusion, there are many delicious ways to achieve thicker and creamier smoothies and shakes and by careful choice of ingredients, these need not necessarily add more calories. For me, this is one of the best things about using a smoothie maker to make my own smoothies at home as I can decide exactly what ingredients go into my smoothies.
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