How to Make Green Smoothies Taste Good Without Fruit
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If you’re looking for a way to pack in your veggies, but don’t want all the sugar that comes with most fruit-based smoothies, you need to check out these ways to make delicious non-fruit smoothies! With a little creativity, you can make any smoothie taste great without relying on fruit. Get ready to embrace the green with these raw, non-fruit smoothies!
Try a Sweet Veggie Instead of Fruit
Many veggies have a naturally sweeter taste without as much sugar as you find in fruit. This makes them a great way to sweeten up a smoothie without adding any extra sugar. Sweet veggies include:
Carrots
Carrots are a wonderful option for green smoothies without fruit because they naturally tend to the sweeter side (carrot cake anyone?) and they add fiber, vitamins and minerals without adding a lot of sugar.
Beets
Beets are another great veggie to add to your smoothie without any fruit. Not only do they lend a beautiful color to whatever you’re making, they also have a natural sweetness that helps take the edge off of more bitter greens.
Pumpkin or Other Winter Squash
While most people think of pumpkin as a fall flavor, it actually makes a great addition to smoothies year-round! It’s a great source of fiber and vitamins, and its natural sweetness means you won’t need to add any extra sugar. This goes really well with – you guessed it – pumpkin pie spices!
Sweet Potatoes or Yarms
Much like pumpkin, sweet potatoes are a great way to add sweetness and extra nutrients to your smoothie without relying on fruit. They’re an excellent source of fiber, vitamins and minerals, and their natural sweetness means you won’t need to add any extra sugar. They also are a great way to thicken a smoothie.
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Blend these veggies up in a green smoothie recipe with some kale, unsweetened almond milk or coconut milk, spinach, and a little bit of vanilla extract for a delicious and satisfying healthy smoothie. You can also throw in some spices as we will see below, and have a wonderful kale smoothie with no added sugar.
Add in a Natural Sweetener
If you want to make green smoothies taste sweet without fruit, consider adding in a natural sugar.
If you find that your non-fruit smoothie needs to be a bit sweeter, try adding in a natural sugar. The maple syrup on this list will spike your blood sugar the most, while the stevia or monk fruit shouldn’t have an effect on blood sugar.
Honey
Honey is a great way to add sweetness to your smoothie without any extra sugar. Just beware that if you use too much, it can make your smoothie taste more like a milkshake than a health food!
Maple Syrup
Maple syrup is another great natural sweetener for smoothies. It’s a bit more concentrated than honey, so you won’t need to use as much.
Stevia
Stevia is a sugar-free natural sweetener that comes from the Stevia rebaudiana plant. It’s 300 times sweeter than sugar, so a little goes a long way!
Monk Fruit
Monk fruit is another sugar-free natural sweetener that comes from the monk fruit plant. It’s 150 times sweeter than sugar, so again, a little goes a long way. This is one of my favorite natural sweeteners!
Add Spices or Extracts for Added Flavor
In addition to adding sweetness, spices can also add a lot of flavor to your smoothie without any sugar.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a great spice to add to smoothies for flavor without any sugar. It goes really well with winter squash, sweet potatoes, carrots, and beets.
Pumpkin Pie Spice
Pumpkin pie spice is another great spice to add to smoothies for flavor without any sugar. It includes cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and ginger. As you might guess, it goes really well with pumpkin!
Vanilla Extract
Vanilla extract is a great way to add flavor to your smoothie without any sugar. A little bit goes a long way, so start with just a few drops and add more to taste.
Try a Protein Powder
Another way you can make green smoothies taste sweet without fruit is a naturally sweetened protein powder.
Many great protein powders on the market today contain natural sweeteners such as stevia, so you can get all the taste without added sugar. Protein powder is also a great way to add some extra protein to your smoothie, which can help you feel full longer.
Try adding in a scoop of vanilla protein powder with pumpkin or sweet potato, pumpkin pie spice, unsweetened almond milk or other nut milk, and a few fresh spinach leaves for a wonderfully sweet and healthy breakfast.
You can easily make a dark chocolate shake with a chocolate protein powder, fresh spinach or kale, almond or coconut milk and carrots. Yum!
Other Sweet Ideas
Here are some other ideas to help make green smoothies taste good without fruit.
Avocado
While technically a fruit, avocado is a great way to add creaminess and sweetness to your smoothie without any extra sugar. It’s also a great source of healthy fats and fiber.
Coconut Milk
Coconut milk is another great way to add creaminess and sweetness to your smoothie without any extra sugar. It’s also a great source of healthy fats and easy to find in most grocery stores.
Chia Seeds
Chia seeds are a great way to add sweetness, creaminess, and fiber to your smoothie without any extra sugar. They’re also a great source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids.
Mint Leaves
Mint leaves are a great way to add sweetness and flavor to your smoothie without any extra sugar. They’re also a great source of vitamins A and C.
Dark Chocolate
Adding a few pieces of dark chocolate to your smoothie is a great way to add sweetness and flavor without any extra sugar. Just be sure to choose a dark chocolate with at least 70% cacao for the healthiest option.
Cocoa or Cacao Powder
Adding in a rich, chocolately flavor can help fool your taste buds into thinking that your smoothie is sweeter than it is. Try some of this powder with a bit of dark chocolate or cacao nibs.
Cacao Nibs
Cacao nibs are another great way to add sweetness and flavor to your smoothie without any extra sugar. They’re also a great source of fiber and magnesium.
Greek Yogurt
Greek yogurt is a great way to add creaminess and sweetness to your smoothie without any extra sugar. It’s also a great source of protein and calcium. If you want a flavored yogurt, try one like Chobani Zero Sugar! I love these, especially knowing they have natural sweeteners so I’m not eating 4 tsp of sugar with my yogurt.
Coconut Water
Coconut water is a great way to add sweetness and flavor to your smoothie without any extra sugar. It’s also a great source of electrolytes and potassium. If you like, you can even get flavored coconut waters.
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As you can see, there are many ways to make green smoothies taste good without adding fruit! By using some of these tips, you can enjoy all the taste and nutrition of a green smoothie without all the sugar. So go ahead and embrace the green! Your taste buds will thank you (and so will your waist line).
Final Thoughts
Green smoothies are a great way to pack in a large portion of your daily recommended fruits and vegetables. However, since most smoothie recipes are based around multiple fruits, which can add up in the sugar department pretty fast, it’s important to check out some sugar-free options! Get ready to embrace the green with raw, non-fruit smoothies.
How to Make Green Smoothies Taste Good Without Fruit
Equipment
- 1 blender high speed is best
Materials
- naturally sweet veggie
- natural sweetener
- spices or extracts
- other ideas
Instructions
- Try adding in a sweet vegetable, such as pumpkin, sweet potato or carrot.
- Use a natural sweetener such as honey, maple syrup, stevia or monk fruit.
- Add a protein powder
- Try cinnamon, vanilla extract or pumpkin pie spice
- Try avocado, dark chocolate, cocoa powder, greek yogurt or other sweet idea