CAN YOU MAKE A SMOOTHIE IN A FOOD PROCESSOR?

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 Can you make a smoothie in a food processor?

The quick answer to this question is yes, you can!

You can create a yummy breakfast smoothie in this kitchen appliance.

Read this post to learn how to use your food processor to make the best and healthiest smoothies for your family all year round.

Lastly, I’m sharing with you some of the best smoothie recipes, healthy and sugar free!

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Can you make a smoothie in a food processor?

Smoothies are a fantastic way to get more fresh fruits and veggies in your diet.

Having a freshly made smoothie for breakfast or for lunch is a healthy and fast option to get your 5 a day in just one meal!

I personally don’t have much time to cook a proper lunch every day. However, blending a smoothie is quick! Most importantly, washing up is super fast!

To me, a smoothie is fast food the healthy and easy way!

WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DRINK SMOOTHIES EVERY DAY: THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF SMOOTHIES

Making a smoothie in a food processor or blender, is a great way to get a healthy, nutritious and fast meal into your body. 

Consuming homemade smoothies loaded with fresh vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds on a regular basis, will have a huge impact on your health and the way you feel, physically and emotionally.

The health benefits of smoothies will depended largely on the ingredients you use to blend one.

Smoothies made using full fat dairy (milk or yoghurt) will have a higher fat content than those made using water or fruit juice for example.

Similarly, smoothies made using fruit juice will have a higher content sugar than those blended using water or milk.

As an illustration, here are some of the potential health benefits of smoothies:

INCREASED FRUIT AND VEGETABLE DAILY INTAKE

In my opinion, this is the best value provided by consuming smoothies daily.

Unfortunately so many people nowadays don’t consume enough fresh fruits and vegetables.

On the other hand, by making your own blend, you can easily incorporate vegetables such as broccoli, kale or spinach in a smoothie.

Most importantly, you can “sneak” those veggies in it, without your kids even realising it!

SMOOTHIES CAN HELP YOU MAINTAIN A HEALTHY WEIGHT

Smoothies are my idea of “fast food”.

Indeed, when I’m hungry and don’t want or don’t have the time to cook a proper meal, I just blend a few vegetables and fruits and voila’: lunch is ready in less than 5 minutes!

By avoiding buying traditional take away foods, you are choosing a far healthier and nutritious option.

In fact, take aways are usually rich in fats and sugar, and normally I don’t consider them as a “healthy option”.

FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES CAN HELP REDUCE THE RISK OF CHRONIC DISEASES

Fresh ingredients like fruit and vegetables are loaded with vitamins and minerals, both scientifically proven to reduce the risk of inflammation in our body. Therefore, they help in reducing risks associated with our modern diet, rich in saturated fats, GMOs and processed foods.

INCREASED FIBRE INTAKE

Poor fibre intake is linked to poor digestion, as well as other chronic diseases, such as type II diabetes.

Smoothies are full of fresh fruits and vegetables. Therefore they can help you meeting your recommended daily intake of fibre.

Homemade smoothies are a great meal replacement to keep you healthy throughout winter. If you want to learn more about how to stay healthy this winter, go check this post:

HOW TO STAY HEALTHY DURING WINTER

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POTENTIAL RISKS OF SMOOTHIES

From healtline.com:

“The difference between a healthy and unhealthy smoothie largely depends on the quality and quantity of its ingredients.

Smoothies’ biggest pitfall is their propensity to contain large quantities of added sugar.

Added sugar reduces the nutrient density of smoothies. Furthermore, routinely consuming too much added sugar may increase your risk of chronic ailments like heart disease, diabetes, and liver disease.

Commercially prepared smoothies tend to be higher in added sugar than homemade versions, but it ultimately depends on the ingredients used in each recipe.

Many sugary ingredients are easy to identify, such as granulated sugar, honey, maple syrup, ice cream, sherbet, and agave nectar.

Nonetheless, you should keep in mind that nut butters, protein powder, flavored yogurt, fruit-flavored sauces, and sugar-sweetened juices and nondairy milks are all potential sources of added sugar.”.

PEOPLE WITH TYPE II DIABETES AND OTHER CONDITIONS

From the same website as above:

“For the most part, if you use a smoothie to replace a meal, you’ll be fine. The biggest problem with smoothies stems from using smoothies alongside meals to replace your drink. This can lead to eating too many calories overall throughout the day. 

For some people, however, smoothies can aggravate other issues.

Added sugars in your already sweet smoothies can be especially bad for your body, and should be avoided if possible. But even if you’re making your smoothie yourself using all natural ingredients, it can still have a lot of the natural sugar in it. After all, fruit is high in sugar, and smoothies contain a lot of fruit.

People with type II diabetes and other conditions that make sugar risky should be careful about consuming smoothies.”.

CAN YOU MAKE A SMOOTHIE IN A FOOD PROCESSOR?

The short answer to this question is most definitively yes.

If you can’t justify the price of a blender in your budget, you can use your food processor to make yummy and fresh smoothies in your kitchen.

In this post I’ll guide you through the process. In addition to that, I’ll walk you through the main differences between a food processor and a blender.

WHAT IS THE Difference Between a Blender and a Food Processor?

Before I dive in the process of making smoothies, let’s go over the main differences between a blender and a food processor.

Let’s have a closer look.

PRICE

Price is the first difference between a blender and a food processor.

Food processors can perform so many various tasks and have so many features. Blenders, on the other hand, can only make smoothies.

Therefore, food processors are, generally speaking, more expensive than blenders.

If you can afford it, definitively invest in a food processor. They are so useful around the kitchen and will make performing many tedious tasks such as kneading or fine slicing simple and quick.

FUNCTIONALITIES AND FEATURES

As just mentioned, food processors come with many features and accessories. They can be used for different purposes. For example, food processors can mix, knead, slice, whisk, etc. On the contrary, blenders can only blend ingredients.

BLENDING AND CRUSHING ICE

I personally never add ice to my smoothies, but if you do, then a food processor would be a better choice for you.

Generally speaking, blenders are not as strong as food processors, so they normally don’t have the ability to crush and blend ice.

Having said that, not all food processors can crush ice either, so check your instruction manuals before attempting it for the first time.

In particular, be very careful while crushing ice if the bowl of your appliance is made with glass. In fact, ice can damage glass easily, so be careful, especially around pets and children.

BLENDING AND CRUSHING FROZEN INGREDIENTS

If you like to meal prep at the weekend, you most likely wash, slice and bag your fruits and vegetables and then store them in the freezer until you need them.

While that is certainly a way to simplify your weekdays, be careful when making your smoothie.

Same principles as blending and crushing ice apply to using frozen ingredients in your device.

CONSISTENCY OF THE SMOOTHIE

In order to perform their tasks, blenders require liquids as well as hard ingredients.

Furthermore, blenders don’t generally have speed settings or blades settings that you can adjust depending on the ingredients you are using.

As a result, the smoothies made in a blender will have a very thin consistency, liquid and juice like.

In contrast, food processors can blend ingredients without requiring liquids. Therefore, your smoothies can be made with a crunchier consistency.

WHAT CAN A FOOD PROCESSOR DO? THE USES OF FOOD PROCESSORS.

As mentioned above, there are several uses of a food processor. This is mainly due to the fact that they usually come with many accessories.

Check your instructions manual to verify what your appliance can do, depending on your model.

Generally speaking, the sharp blades of a food processor can:

• Crush, mix, blend;
• Grind dry ingredients (such as wheat berries or almonds) to make flours;
• Make smoothies, shakes and juices;
• Slice (finely and coarsely);
• Knead dough;
• Chop, mince and cut. Those functions can be particularly handy in the preparation of homemade baby food.

How to Make Smoothies in a Food Processor

The way a food processor breaks down ingredients is slightly different from a blender, so there are a few things to consider before making a smoothie using one.

CHECK IF YOUR APPLIANCE CAN CRUSH ICE AND FROZEN INGREDIENTS

Read the information I shared above.

Never add ingredients all together at the same time

Food processors work differently than blenders. Because they don’t need liquids in order to combine the ingredients, the process can be a little slower and trickier. Hence, it’s better to add ingredients one at the time. See below.

ADD THE VEGETABLES FIRST

If you like to use vegetables in your homemade smoothies, then you should add them first. As a result of their larger size and higher fibre content, vegetables are a little harder to mix, so it’s best to add them first. Only add more ingredients once you are sure the veggies are fully mixed.

In particular, make sure the vegetables don’t get stuck in the blades. If that happens, just add a tiny amount of water and try mixing again. That should do the trick.

Add the fruit next

Once you have established that all vegetables have been mixed thoroughly, you can add your fruit.

Do this slowly, to allow the food processor to blend it uniformly.

ADD EXTRA INGREDIENTS

This is the part of the process where you can get really inventive. Indeed, a healthy smoothie doesn’t need to be boring. On the contrary, you can add a great variety of ingredients to make them more flavoursome and even more nutritious. For example, you could choose among energy boosters such as seeds, nuts, cacao powder or spirulina. 

PAY ATTENTION WHEN ADDING POWDERED INGREDIENTS

If you add powdered ingredients such as cacao or protein powders, be careful not to overdo it. Smoothies can become very thick as a consequence.

If you realise you have added too much powder, just add a little bit of extra liquids.

ADD LIQUID INGREDIENTS

At last, it’s time to add some liquids. Not everyone likes adding liquid to their smoothies. Nevertheless, liquids can help to break down further the other ingredients. Also, your smoothies will be easier to drink.

However, don’t add too much liquid. Remember that you can always add water, juice or milk later, but it will be very difficult to thicken up a smoothie with poor consistency.

It is best to add liquids in gradually, and blend after each addition.

This will give you more control over the final consistency.

ADD A SWEETENER (OPTIONAL)

I like my smoothies without any added sugar or sweetener, but of course that’s an option, if you prefer.

SERVE YOUR SMOOTHIE

After all the hard work, it’s time to pour your lovely smoothie in a large glass or container of your choice and drink it!

Often you will find that, due to the shape and orientation of the blades, you will need to use a spatula to get all the smoothie out of the food processor. This is perfectly normal, and it’s mainly caused by the shape of the bowl of the appliance. Not to mention that in some models you can’t remove the blades or other different parts. 

CONSUME YOUR SMOOTHIES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

I know that many people like to blend a smoothie in the morning and then might refrigerate it till later in the day.

Although that is certainly an option, it is not something I would recommend.

Once the fresh fruit and vegetables have been broken down, they start to loose their vitamin content. As a result, the longer you wait to consume the drink, the lower its nutritional value will be.

CAN YOU PUT CHIA SEEDS IN A SMOOTHIE?

Chia seeds are a great way to add more nutritional value to your food or drinks. However, if you add chia seeds to your smoothie, remember that they absorb liquids very fast, turning into a jelly consistency. If you are not keen on that, you should drink your blend as soon a possible. 

In fact, if you wait too long, you might end up with chia pudding instead of a smoothie! 

When using chia seeds in a smoothies, just add a tablespoon of them.

CAN YOU MAKE A SMOOTHIE IN A FOOD PROCESSOR? BEST SMOOTHIES RECIPES!

Making delicious smoothies following the above instructions, is quite a straightforward process.

However, when it comes to what ingredients to choose, and what works best together, some people might find it difficult.

Let me give you some help with that.

WHAT ARE THE BEST THINGS TO PUT IN A SMOOTHIE?

Fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts and non dairy milks are the best ingredients for a homemade, healthy and nutritious smoothie.

There are endless combinations you could try.

Naturally the choice is yours, but please consider using only locally grown, fresh, organic and in season fruits and vegetables.

Not only you will get the highest and cleanest nutritional value from those ingredients, but you will also do your part for the environment.

Should I peel fruit before blending?

When adding fruits such as apples, or veggies like carrots to a smoothie, there is no need to peel them beforehand.

To clarify, you can skip the peeling only and exclusively if you are using organic produce.

Remember that pesticides and other types of chemicals used in the fresh food production, accumulate in the rind and peel of fruits and vegetables.

If you can’t afford, or can’t get hold of organic produce, then it is very important to peel everything before using.

BEST VEGETABLES TO PUT IN SMOOTHIES

When it comes to use vegetables in homemade smoothies, many people turn their nose up!

I promise you, if you learn what to choose, and what goes well with what, you will love green smoothies.

Most importantly, adding vegetables to your homemade blend, will give you a higher content of minerals and fibre, as well as reducing the sugar content of the final product.

You can choose among many vegetables, such as spinach, broccoli, kale, beets, Swiss chards and romaine. Green leafy vegetables work best to give your blend a smooth texture.

If possible, use those green ingredients raw, to maintain their nutritional value intact. Just make sure to wash them properly and thoroughly first.

My favorites are most definitively baby spinach. They add a lovely creamy texture to the smoothie, and I practically don’t even taste them.

Leafy greens are not the only ones you can use to create a great smoothie. Root vegetables like beets and carrots are also a good idea! 

What fruits can be added to a green smoothie?

Very sweet fruits like kiwi, apples, mangos, or melons work very well to naturally sweeten a green smoothie. Furthermore, adding any of those fruits will make your smoothie more palatable if you are not very keen on the veggies!

In order to reach a smooth consistency, soft fruits cut in small pieces will work best. However, you can certainly use frozen fruits as well.

WHAT FRUITS BLEND WELL TOGETHER?

When it comes to choosing what fruit to use in a homemade smoothie, I find that there is really only a handful of fruits that I wouldn’t recommend.

In my opinion almost all fruits work very well in homemade blends: bananas, apples, mangoes, berries, pineapple, peaches, apricots, kiwis, melons, etc.

If I’m honest, I’m not very fond of oranges (or any citrus fruit) or grapes blended alongside other fruits. I much prefer to juice them first, and simply use their liquid extract to replace water or milk.

Having said that, if you like the consistency and taste of those fruits, feel free to add them to your smoothies.

WHAT IS THE BEST LIQUID TO USE IN A SMOOTHIE?

In order to give a fresh smoothie the right consistency, it is always advisable to add a little liquid while blending it.

The best way to do it, is to add 1 Tbsp at the time, so you don’t run the risk of making your blend too runny.

There are several ingredients you could choose as a liquid base.

WATER

You can of course use a little water to mix your ingredients. Make sure to use only clean, filtered water. Avoid plain tap water if you can, as it is sometimes filled with chemicals. Unless you have a private well of course.

JUICE

Fruit or vegetable juice is a good option too. Make sure to use unsweetened juice though. Make your own if at all possible.

Apples, oranges, lemons, broccoli, carrots, celery, cucumbers are just some examples of juices you could add to your smoothie.

MILK

Milk is a great option if you want the smoothie to be tasty and creamy at the same time. Don’t feel restrained and limited to the use of dairy, regular milk.

Without starting a conversation about the dangers to health from dairy products, remember that dairy milk is not eco-friendly.

There are far healthier and environmentally friendlier options such as almond milk, oat milk, cashew milk, soy milk, rice milk and coconut milk.

KEFIR

Kefir is a super fermented drink that would really boost the nutritional value of your smoothie. Water kefir works equally as well as milk kefir, although the latter tastes better in a smoothie for me.

YOGURT

Same as for dairy milk, there are non dairy yogurts you can buy at any grocery shop. They work very well taste-wise in homemade smoothies.

Coconut water

Coconut water has become a popular drink in the last couple of years. The hype around it is totally justified as this drink provides tons of nutrients.

TEA

Not many people would think of adding tea to a smoothie, but I promise you that it is a great way to add liquids to your blend. You could use any type of tea you like, such as green tea or fruit flavoured ones. Make sure to let the tea cool down completely before using it in smoothies, as excessive heat can destroy all the vitamins and nutrients present in the fruits and vegetables you are using.  

SWEETENERS

Although I’d rather not add any sweetener to my smoothies, the option is there. Try to stay away from regular processed sugar, and opt for natural sweeteners instead. You could add an unrefined sugar such as honey, agave syrup or maple syrup for instance.

Dates are in my opinion the best and healthiest option. They can naturally sweeten any blend and they are fruits!

HEALTH BOOSTERS (OPTIONAL)

Adding a health booster is a great way to increase the nutritional value of your homemade smoothies. You could choose from many of them, and they are all readily available in every supermarket or health store. 

To name a few:

• Raw cacao;
• Matcha powder;
• Bee pollen;
• Hemp seeds;
• Chia seeds;
• Flaxseeds;
• Coconut oil;
• Nut butters;
• Any type of nuts (almonds, cashew, Brazilian, macadamia, etc.);
• Any type of seeds (sunflower, pumpkin, etc.);
• Shredded coconut;
• Goji berries;
• Spirulina.

ESSENTIAL OILS (optional)

Before using Essential Oils internally, please go check this post:

WHICH ESSENTIAL OILS ARE SAFE FOR INTERNAL USE

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Just adding a drop or two of essential oils like Cinnamon, Peppermint, Green Mandarin, Frankincense, Ginger or Lime will have a huge impact on your health and the way you feel, physically and emotionally… plus it will help to down that veggie smoothie …..especially for those of you that don’t particularly fancy drinking Kale or Broccoli.

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FRESH SLICED FRUIT (optional)

You could add some sliced fruit to top up smoothies. For example, use some sliced strawberries or a handful of blackberries! 

OTHER TOPPINGS

I love adding toppings to my fresh smoothies. They add that professional, “cheffy” look to my creations! I love to use chia seeds or flaxseeds, granola, mixed seeds, shredded coconut, etc.

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Nearly all the recipes I’ll be sharing with you today can be used to make excellent breakfast smoothies.

But, if you are looking for more breakfast inspiration, go check this post:

7 make ahead breakfast recipes

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BEST SMOOTHIES made IN A FOOD PROCESSOR RECIPES 

If you are still unsure about what fruits and vegetables to use in your homemade smoothies, here’s a few recipes for you.

Remember that, regardless of the combination of flavours, the preparation method is always the same.

Add:

• veggies first and blend them;
• fruits next, and blend again;
• health boosters (optional);
• liquids;
• sweetener (optional);
• toppings (optional);
• consume straight away!

HOW MUCH FRUIT AND VEGETABLES TO ADD TO A SMOOTHIE?

This really depends on what quantity you need to prepare, and on how many people will be consuming your homemade blend.

As a general rule, for one person only, don’t add more than: 

• a handful of veggies, 
• 2 pieces of fruit max,
• 1 Tbsp of health boosters,
• 1 tsp of sweetener.

When adding liquids, do so very slowly, only adding 1 Tbsp at the time until you reach the desired consistency.

Do not overfill your food processor or blender with too much ingredients and liquids anyway, to avoid any spilling. 

Can you make a smoothie in a food processor? 15 BEST SMOOTHIE recipes

Yes, you can make a smoothie in a food processor! Here’s a list of my favourite smoothie recipes.

1) GREEN SMOOTHIE

• 1 avocado and 1 banana
• 1 cup of spinach
• 1/4 cup of frozen cauliflower florets
• 1 Tbsp of ground flaxseeds
• 3 pitted dates
• Milk 

2) BANANA AND PEANUT BUTTER SMOOTHIE

• 1 banana
• 2 Tbsp of peanut butter
• 1/2 cup of yogurt 
• 1 Tbsp of ground flaxseeds
• 1 Tsp of honey
• Milk

3) Strawberries, Banana and Spinach Smoothie

• 1 banana
• 1 cup of strawberries
• 1 cup of spinach
• 1 Tbsp of chia seeds
• Milk

4) BLOODY HALLOWEEN SMOOTHIE

• 2 Tbsp of pumpkin puree
• 1 Tbsp of cashew butter
• 1 cup berries of choice
• 1 banana
• 1 Tbsp of ground flaxseeds
• Half tsp of pumpkin spice
• Milk

5) Banana AND Matcha Smoothie

• 1 banana
• 1 tsp of matcha powder
• 1 cup of spinach
• 1 Tbsp of ground flaxseeds
• Milk

6) BLUE SPINACH SMOOTHIE

• 1 banana
• 1 cup of yogurt
• 1 cup of blueberries
• 1 cup of spinach
• 1 tsp of fresh ginger
• Orange juice

7) Pineapple AND Strawberry Smoothie

• 1 cup each of fresh pineapple and strawberries 
• Half cup of yogurt
• Milk

8) Kale WAVE Smoothie

• 1 banana
• 1 cup of kale (fresh)
• 1 Tbsp of ground flaxseeds or chia seeds
• A couple of pitted dates 
• Orange juice 

9) CARROT CAKE smoothie

• 1 carrot, peeled and chopped roughly
• 1 banana
• 1/2 cup of walnuts
• 1 tsp of ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp of ground nutmeg
• 2 pitted dates
• Milk

10) Beet Smoothie

• 1 cup of mixed berries of choice
• 1 fresh beet, peeled and chopped roughly
• 2 slices of pineapple 
• 1 tsp of honey
• Milk

11) ANTI-INFLAMMATORY SMOOTHIE

• 1 mango, peeled and roughly chopped (only use half, if the mango is very large)
• half cup of cauliflower florets
• 1 banana
• 1 tsp each of fresh ginger and turmeric
• pinch of black pepper and cinnamon
• 1 cup of coconut milk
• milk or water (to add if the smoothie is too thick)

12) MATCHA COCONUT MINTY SMOOTHIE

• 1 banana
• 1 tsp matcha powder
• Half cup of coconut milk
• A handful of fresh mint leaves and fresh spinach
• Milk 

13) MANGO SMOOTHIE

• 1 mango, peeled and roughly chopped
• 1 banana
• Orange juice

14) CHERRY BERRY PEACHY GOJI SMOOTHIE

• 1 cup each of cherries (pitted) and peaches (peeled and sliced)
• A handful of fresh spinach
• 1 Tbsp each of goji berries and chia seeds
• Milk

15) DEATH BY CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY SMOOTHIE

• 1 cup of unsweetened chocolate flavoured almond milk
• 1 banana
• 1 cup of raspberries
•  2 Tbsp of unsweetened cocoa powder 

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Looking for a low-carb, Keto, vegan and gluten free option for breakfast? Check this post:

BEST COCONUT FLOUR PORRIDGE RECIPE

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Can you make a smoothie in a food processor?

If you are on the market to buy a new blender or food processor, do your research first and opt for a food processor if your budget allows it.

Food processors have so many more features and functionalities. Therefore, you will be able to use them a lot in your kitchen

I hope you enjoyed this post, and that you found it helpful!

Feel free to leave a comment below to let me know if you try any of the recipes, or if you have a special one that you’d like to share with my readers.

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IMPORTANT: when using Essential Oils, make sure to use only CPTG Certified, Pure, Tested Grade ones, like Doterra Essential Oils. The content of this blog post and any information provided here has not been evaluated by any government entity or medical practitioner. It is NOT intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, illness or condition. It is NOT intended to be a substitute for medical counselling. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or suffering from any medical condition or illness or injury, you SHOULD consult a qualified healthcare professional before using any product.

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