This blog post is written by LorAnn Staff member, Mandy Robbins
Growing up playing sports, nutrition was always top of mind. I knew I needed the appropriate fuel to give me the energy I needed to compete, especially when it came to running up and down the soccer field or competing in all-day bowling tournaments. In some bowling tournaments, my teammates and I would play over 60 games. Because of the long, and often vigorous days, fueling up with nutritious foods was essential. My love for athletics and nutrition has continued into adulthood because it keeps both my mind and body strong so I can function each day. I love that nutrition helps me be the best version of myself so that I can be productive and awake at work, take on all of my 8-counts in Barre class, get my heart rate pumping during spin classes, and to give me the nutrients I need to run around in the backyard with my husband and our 9-month-old puppy.
From living an on-the-go lifestyle in my childhood and even today, smoothies have made up a big part of my diet. My obsession with smoothies has led me to get creative and come up with a variety of different smoothie recipes to fight food boredom. I have so many appliances in my household that are used for a variety of applications like making nutritious salads, dips, soups and smoothies, it comes as no surprise to others when I tell them that I love to experiment with food! It’s the food marketing gal in me. For my smoothies, I have a “special ingredient” that I use to elevate them, and that ingredient is Flavor Fountain!
LorAnn’s Flavor Fountain line is one ingredient I have learned to incorporate into my smoothies to help fight flavor fatigue while making a creative and always delicious smoothie.
With Flavor Fountain, you can add a variety of delicious flavors to your protein shakes and smoothies to give you the fuel you need to conquer your day and to help achieve your nutritional and fitness goals. They are highly concentrated flavors that are unsweetened, low-carb, and gluten-free. Flavor Fountain is also an excellent option for those who have special dietary concerns or for those who are following a keto diet or diabetic diet. With less than 1 carb per teaspoon and 24 servings per 4 oz. bottle, Flavor Fountain is perfect for those who want to limit their sugar intake but still desire a sweet boost in their recovery.
For every 16-ounce smoothie, just add 1-2 teaspoons of the flavor of your choice to your shake or smoothie. Incorporating Flavor Fountain into my smoothie recipes adds a boost of flavor that I can enjoy for breakfast on my morning commute to work as well as my post-workout fuel. Adding fruity Flavor Fountain flavors, like Blueberry, Fresh Strawberry, or Black Raspberry can help boost the flavor intensity to the fresh fruits you plan to use in your smoothie or protein shake.
For the BEST smoothie ever, it’s all about that base.
- Fruits/Vegetables: 1-2 cups – Note: 1 cup of fruit is generally a serving of fruit.
- Liquid: 1/2 cup – 1 cup (depending on desired consistency) – You can use any liquid of choice depending on your dietary needs. Some of my favorites include Unsweetened Almond Milk, Coconut Milk, and 2% Dairy Milk.
- Yogurt: ¼ cup – ½ cup – I LOVE using Greek Yogurt in my base; it is a good source of calcium and is rich in protein and vitamins.
- Flavor Fountain Flavor of Choice: 1-2 teaspoons
- Like fruits and milk, add-ins like supplements, protein powders, chia seeds, cocoa powder, dates, old-fashioned oats, nut butters and peanut butters and more are great additions for getting protein, the nutrients, and vitamins your body needs to function.
Best Tips for Smoothie Making
- Add at least 1 cup of fresh or frozen fruit along with ½ cup – 1 cup of liquid. If adding yogurt to your smoothie, add ½ cup of yogurt and at least ½ cup of liquid.
- Add 1-2 teaspoons of Flavor Fountain flavor of choice for any 16 oz. smoothie or protein shake.
- If using frozen fruit, be sure it has thawed on the counter for at least 5-10 minutes. In some blenders, frozen fruits can be hard on the blades and in a worst-case scenario, can cause them to break. A high-powered blender is worth the investment if you enjoy making a lot of smoothies, or like me, someone who makes them daily!
- Smoothies can be enjoyed at any time of the day, not just breakfast! Swap your smoothie as a nutrient-rich snack after a work-out. After an evening workout, I sometimes will make a smoothie, along with a seasoned chicken breast for my dinner.
Scroll on to fight flavor fatigue with our easy, better-for-you smoothie recipes using Flavor Fountain’s delicious and unique flavors! With over a dozen flavors to choose from, you’ll no longer have to spend a fortune on extra supplements or protein powders with added flavors to make your smoothie more flavorful.
Recipes
PB&J Smoothie
1 cup fresh strawberries
½ cup Greek yogurt
½ cup 2% milk or any non-dairy milk
1 scoop protein powder
1 teaspoon Peanut Butter or Almond Butter
1 cup leafy greens
1 teaspoon Fresh Strawberry Flavor Fountain
Nuts for Pistachio Smoothie
1 cup kiwi
1 banana – optional
½ cup Greek yogurt
1 cup liquid
1 scoop protein powder
1 cup leafy greens
1 teaspoon Pistachio Flavor Fountain
Better-For-You Shamrock Shake
1 green apple
¼ cup Greek yogurt
1 cup milk of choice
1 scoop protein powder
1 cup leafy greens
1-2 teaspoons Mint Chocolate Chip Flavor Fountain
Salted Caramel Apple Smoothie – Tastes just like fall’s caramel apple suckers!
1 green apple
¼ cup Greek yogurt
1 cup almond milk
1 cup leafy greens
1 teaspoon Peanut Butter or Almond Butter
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1-2 teaspoons Salted Caramel Flavor Fountain
Blueberry Donut Smoothie
1 cup blueberry
1/2 cup Greek yogurt
1 cup milk
1 scoop protein powder
1 cup leafy greens
1-2 teaspoons Cake Batter Flavor Fountain
Lemon Pound Cake Smoothie
1/2 cup yogurt
1/2 cup liquid
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon ginger
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
½ cup spinach
1-2 teaspoons Cake Batter Flavor Fountain
Directions
- Add all desired ingredients into a high-powered blender and blend well until smooth. Pour into 16 ounce glass or tumbler and enjoy.