Many people believe that smoothies are a great way to start the day. After all, you’re getting your fruit, vitamins, and protein all in one drink! However, are smoothies really that good for your health?

Smoothies are a convenient way to get your fruit intake. This seems beneficial, especially when you consider that, according to diabetes.ca, 60% of Canadians have fewer than five servings per day of fruits and vegetables. However, many store-bought smoothies use a juice or fruit puree base, which means they might have high sugar levels. Additionally, drinking a smoothie might not be that filling, which leads to not feeling full and consuming more calories throughout the day.

So what is the solution then? Making your own smoothies at home ensures you get all the nutrients your body needs! Here are some tips for making smoothies at home:

• Dilute your smoothie by adding water, low-fat milk, or unsweetened nut milk instead of juice or fruit puree
• Add in your own protein such as nut butter, Greek yogurt, or whey protein
• Keep track of the ingredients; make sure you don’t overwhelm your blender (or yourself) with how many ingredients you’ve added

Smoothies are good for you! However, being mindful of the ingredients will help you get the proper nutrient boost you need.

By Wendy Yurek