Smoothies are the perfect quick breakfast or snack when life gets busy. Save yourself some more time without getting bored, and make yourself some easy Make-Ahead Smoothie Packs to have on hand whenever the craving hits!
Where are my smoothie lovers? This post is for you! Smoothies are one of those easy-to-make, completely versatile, and delicious drinks there are. Sure, they get a bad rap for being filled with sugar and the center of many different "detox" diets. Yet smoothies really can be a simple, healthy, quick, and easy go-to meal. Whether it's for breakfast, a snack, or just because you need something on the go, they will always be a favorite in our house.
What makes a good smoothie?
A tasty smoothie should have nutrients that will fuel your body, including carbohydrates, protein, and fats. You're probably wondering how you're going to get all of that into a simple smoothie. Well, it's really simple: just pick ingredients that combine all three. But - wait a minute, what does that mean?
My favorite smoothie ingredients
Fruit
- Strawberries
- Raspberries
- Blueberries
- Blackberries
- Peaches
- Apples
- Oranges
- Pineapple
- Watermelon
- Lemon
- Lime
- Cherries
- Nectarines
- Bananas
- Kiwi ect.
If it's a fruit you like you can most likely make a smoothie out of it.
Vegetables
Yes vegetables belong in smoothies.
- Typically people add greens (kale or spinach) which are great additions to a smoothie but don't stop there.
- Trying to reduce the carbs in your smoothie? Switch out the banana for cauliflower.
- Add some carrots to increase the sweetness.
- Switch your greens for some broccoli. Add in some beets, parsley, cilantro, and even celery and cucumber for something a little mild in flavor but packed with nutrients.
Fats
Adding fat to smoothies really helps to make sure they have some added staying power to keep you feeling fuller longer. Some of my favorite things to add to smoothies include
- Coconut Oil
- Avocado
- Nuts
- Nut Butters
Other add-ins
- Cocoa powder
- Spices
- Protein Powders
- Collagen Powders
- Chia Seeds
- Pumpkin Seeds
- Gluten-Free Oats
- Yogurt
Liquid Choices
- Coconut Milk
- Almond Milk
- Cashew Milk
- Coconut Water
- Fruit Juices
- Milk
The list is endless, depending on what you want to add. Some milks contain additives and flavorings containing gluten, so make sure the brand you choose is gluten-free before using it to keep your smoothie gluten-free.
My Smoothie Tips and Tricks to Make them Freezer Friendly
- Freeze or use frozen fruit - This might seem silly because you can easily use fresh fruit. The trick here is to flash freeze the ingredients. This helps keep the smoothie packs from becoming one solid pack, making it easier when it comes time to blend.
- Freeze your greens - Just like the fruit, I like to freeze my greens. I will lay them out on a sheet pan and flash freeze for about an hour or two before adding them to your freezer packs.
- Freeze your yogurt - I love to take a good quality (usually dairy-free in our house) yogurt and put it into an ice cube tray. As I make my smoothie packs for the day, I can pop a few frozen cubes into the packs—no need to pull out the yogurt when it's time to blend.
- Switch it up - Think it's going to get boring? Make different flavor combos while you make them. Not everyone has to have the same ingredients.
- Try different Liquids - It's easy to grab milk, orange juice, or water but sometimes just switching that up to something different like dairy-free milk, coconut water, or even green tea and coffee; depending on the flavors you choose, it can really make your flavors pop.
How to Build a Freezer Smoothie Pack
Combine all the ingredients you want (that can be frozen) into a freezer-friendly bag and place them into the freezer.
Storing
When it comes to storing the smoothie packs I usually pick one of a few options.
Single Use Short Term Storage
- Simple Ziplock bags. These are easy to get and will do the trick. I wouldn't leave something in the very long term as things can get freezer burnt after a while.
- A lunchskin quart size bag is usually my go-to for packs that will be eaten within the week. I choose this for short-term freezing because I like that it's not a single-use plastic bag. I love that it's easily torn open and is biodegradable.
Longer Term Storage
- When I want something to stay in the freezer a little bit longer, I will tend to grab a Stasher reusable bag. They are leakproof, and I can get an airtight seal on them, unlike the Lunchskins, so I know they will last longer in the freezer. I also
Other Storage Options
- Mason Jars - These are great if you want to combine storage and use them into one. Put all your ingredients into your jar and freeze. When it's time to enjoy them, blend your smoothie and then return to the mason jar to enjoy.
Smoothie Combinations
- Strawberry - Banana - Spinach - Yogurt - Milk of Choice - Collagen Powder
- Raspberries - Strawberries - Cauliflower - Spinach - Yogurt - Milk of Choice - Collagen Powder
- Peaches - Blueberries - Kale - Bananas - Yogurt - Orange Juice - Collagen Powder
- Strawberries - Cherries - Banana - Yogurt - Milk of Choice - Collagen Powder
- Peaches - Pineapple - Blueberries - Cauliflower - Kale - Avocado - Milk of Choice - Collagen Powder
- Blackberries - Blueberries - Peaches - Kale - Cauliflower - Avocado - Milk of Choice - Collagen Powder
- Peanut Butter (or nut free butter like sun butter) - banana - yogurt - chia seeds/ gluten free oats - cocoa powder - milk of choice
- Apple - Cucumber - Avocado - Banana - Spinach - Coconut Water - Collagen Powder
Usually, if I a making a smoothie for our girls, I will use chia seeds and yogurt or avocado, and for myself, I'll tend to use the avocado and collagen powder.
More Breakfast Favorites
More Gluten-free Drinks You'll Love
📖 Recipe
Make Ahead Smoothie Freezer Packs
Ingredients
- 1 C Fruit Combo of Choice
- ½ C Bananna or ½ c Chopped Cauliflower
- 2 C Greens of Choice
- ¼ - ½ C Fat/ Protein Avocado, yogurt, chia seeds, collagen, protein powder, nuts or nut butter
- 1-2 TBS Additional Add-ins if desired
- 1- 1 ½ C Liquid of Choice
Instructions
- Place ingredients into a storage container of choice and freeze until ready to blend. When you are ready to drink your smoothie, simply add liquid of choice and blend.
Notes
- When I want something to stay in the freezer a little bit longer I will tend to grab a Stasher reusable bag. They are leakproof and I can get an airtight seal on them unlike the Lunchskins so I know they will last longer in the freezer. I also
- Mason Jars – These are great if you want to combine storage and use into one. Simply put all your ingredients into your jar and freeze. When it’s time to enjoy them simply blend your smoothie and then return to the mason jar to enjoy.
Nutrition
Originally Posted 08/2/2019
Dan says
Love this idea.