Must-Have Smoothie Ingredients for Your Kitchen

There's no more delicious way to get your daily dose of vitamins and minerals than a brightly coloured smoothie. Whether it's served to you in bed or gulped down after a long run, the blended drink is a tasty refreshing treat that covers all the nutritious bases of a garden fresh salad.

Nailing the perfect smoothie takes precision and time but with these ingredients in your kitchen it's hard to go wrong.

Stock your cupboards with the following smoothie essentials and get your blender ready.

Chia Seeds

These miracle seeds are relatively tasteless and jam-packed with immunity system boosters. Chia seeds have been praised for preventing everything from cancer to the common cold. Add a teaspoon of seeds to your smoothie and let the omega-3 fatty acids kick in,or soak them in water for 10-15 minutes for a thicker smoothie that will keep you full longer.

Flax Seeds

Another teeny seed full of omega-3 fatty acids and fibre is the flax seed. Ground flax seeds add a pop of sweet, slightly nutty flavour to your smoothie to satisfy any full-bodied cravings. Albeit their whopping 140% of your recommended daily dietary fibre, flax seeds have a high fat and calorie content so a teaspoon is all you need.

Cacao Powder

A dash of cacao powder can transform your wholesome smoothie into a nutritious chocolate milkshake. Cacao is full of free-radical fighting antioxidants and nearly fat free so toss a tablespoon into your banana smoothie for a guilt-free chocolatey kick. 

Spirulina

Don't let the blue-green algae scare you away. Its high content of chlorophyll (which has 26 times more calcium than milk) makes spirulina the ultimate source of iron and protein to keep your mind and body running. To mask the seaweed taste mix half a teaspoon of the vitamin powerhouse with acidic fruits like pineapple or mango.

Bananas

Bananas don't get the kudos they deserve. Sure, they lack the exotic taste of passionfruit or the bright seedy glory of pomegranates, but they are the most versatile of the fruit world. Add a banana to any smoothie blend for a sweet punch of potassium. Freeze them beforehand for smoother blending.

Avocados

Another superfood that joins the ranks of world's healthiest eats is the avocado. Its high fat and dietary fibre content make avocado smoothies an option for a nutritional meal replacement with a creamy buttery texture that will go down oh-so-smooth. To enhance sweetness blend almond milk or honey in with your pitted avocado.

Coconut Water

Coconut water is the ultimate hydration tool often favoured by athletes because it is full of refreshing and refuelling electrolytes. Ditch the Gatorade (or sports/energy drinks?) and craft yourself a coconut water smoothie for an energy and potassium boost.

Greens

Dreaded greens. If you find it difficult adding enough leafy greens to your diet, blending them in with your smoothie is a way to reap the benefits without the taste. The only evidence of kale, spinach or mixed greens will be the bright green colour.

A pesky part of smoothies is their prep time: searching the cupboards, chopping, blending. To save time in your busy schedule pre-cut and arrange your smoothie ingredients in plastic bags and freeze them. Simply find a recipe you like and place the measured-out mix in a bag in your freezer for easy blending later.

Our favourite superfood smoothie:

You need:

1 large kale leaf

1 avocado, pitted and pealed

1 cup coconut water

1 frozen banana

1/2 tbsp of chia seeds

Directions:

Put the contents in your blender, blend, and enjoy!