Disclosure: I was sent an Evolution Fresh gift package for this post on How to Prepare smoothies in the freezer.
Do you have a tight morning schedule? Do you frequently skip breakfast?
Here is how to prepare a week’s worth of smoothies in the freezer! It is a great time saver!
Why I prepare smoothies ahead of time:
For me, I am much more likely to start my morning with a fresh and healthy smoothie if I don’t have to do a lot of preparation.
When I start with all the ingredients ready to go in individual containers, I tend to drink smoothies more often. When I drink smoothies more often, I feel lighter, healthier and cleaner. It is a great start to my day. That is why I have been trying to make smoothies ahead of time – so that I drink them more often!
Choosing the smoothie recipe:
There are so many delicious smoothie recipes, so many – that I never get bored! On Pinterest, I have a Smoothies and Drinks board that is solely dedicated to beverages. I pin drink recipes that sound both delicious and healthy. I have plenty of smoothie recipes on there too!
Pinterest never fails for finding inspiration for preparing green smoothies in the freezer.
How I save money and time:
I like to change up my smoothie recipes to keep things fresh. To begin, I first see what it on sale at my local grocer or what is in season at the farmers market and sale shop! It keeps costs down when I shop on sale. Like this week, blueberries were only 0.98¢ (6-oz.) at Sprouts Farmers Market! I bought 6 of them! Therefore this week, I am making smoothies with blueberries!
I also stock up when my favorite fruits and berries are on sale and freeze them in freezer bags. I have bags of bananas slices, pineapple chunks, berries and more. I also freeze almond and coconut milk. When I can’t finish a whole carton, I pour them in ice cube trays and save them too! I have a shelf of labeled Ziploc bags in my freezer full of smoothie ingredients. That way I am always ready to go for smoothies!
Tip: Shop on sale. Shop by season. Freeze and save for later!
Smoothie Preparation Recipe
For 7 servings (a weeks worth) you’ll need:
Ingredients:
- 1 large kale bunch
- 1 lb or 1 large bag of spinach
- 7 tablespoons chia seeds
- 7 cups frozen or fresh blueberries
- 7 cups frozen or fresh pineapple chunks
- 7 frozen or fresh bananas
- 3 Evolution Fresh juices of choice
These ingredients are split between 7 days, basically the ingredient list for each smoothie:
- A few pinches of kale (about 1 leaf)
- 1 large handful of spinach
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 1 cup frozen or fresh blueberries
- 1 cup frozen or fresh pineapple chunks
- 1 fresh or frozen banana
- 1/2 Evolution Fresh Juice
Optional:
- 1 tablespoon flax seed meal
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Supplies:
- Quart freezer bags or canning jars (wide mouth or regular mouth)
- Measuring cup
- Cutting Board and Knife
First you’ll prep your weeks worth of smoothie ingredients. Wash all fruits and vegetables. Cut bananas into slices, cut pineapple into chunks… small portion sizes for the individual jars. You get the idea.
Tip: I like to flash freeze my fruit ahead of time. This helps the ingredients to not stick together in the jar. To freeze first, just add cut fruit to a wax paper lined cookie sheet and put in the freezer for a couple of hours.
Portion out the ingredients into the 7 jars or if you choose, plastic freezer bags. (I like glass jars because they protect against odors of other foods, plus so hipster.)
Seal the jar with the lid tightly and freeze. If you are not consuming within the next week, label them so you know what they are!
To Make Your Smoothie
Once you are ready for the smoothie, pour the frozen ingredients into the blender.
Tip: Either leave the jar out for about an hour or leave in the refrigerator the night before. That way the ingredients can thaw out a bit. It will be easier to get the ingredients out of the jar if you do this.
The only thing additional than the jar ingredients is ice. Add ice if you would like a colder drink.
Next, add liquid base. This is where you will pour 1/2 a bottle of Evolution Fresh green juice to the jar, and mix it up to get the remaining ingredients that might be stuck to the sides (hello, chia seeds!).
Tip: When you shake the Evolution Juice in the jar, make sure to swirl and pour out to get all of the chia seeds that like to stick to the side!
After all the ingredients are in the blender, blend it until smooth!
Pour the smoothie back into your jar that was used to store your ingredients in the freezer. That way you don’t waste another glass! Yay, less dishes!
Tip: Pre-packaged smoothie jars will last for several months in the freezer, but the sooner you use them, the better.
What liquid to use in smoothies:
There are many options for the liquid base when making a smoothie. It depends on if you are doing a creamy smoothie, a green smoothie, a morning energy smoothie… Lately, I have been staying away from dairy and I have been making more green juices. My preferred liquid is Evolution Fresh.
Evolution Fresh just launched a new line of 11 fl. oz. juices, including five new juices – Green Devotion, Emerald Greens, Green Grove, Berry Beet and Mango Green – along with existing favorite Essential Vegetable.
I like using Evolution Fresh juice in my smoothies because they are natural juice with only real ingredients. They add flavor and freshness, unlike water or ice that just take away from the delicious, rich ingredients. They are made with vegetables and don’t have added sugar. They are healthier than adding sugary apple or orange juice!
Health benefits of green smoothies:
Green smoothies are considered miracle meals. They can cut down on sugar cravings, reduce acne, heal gut inflammation and much, much more. They are filled with rich, nutritious leafy greens and power anti-oxidant berries. Depending one what else you add, there can be all sorts of other benefits too.
Starting your day with a green smoothie leads to making healthier choices throughout the day.