What's your favorite fruit or other interesting ingredient to use in smoothies?

[Mabouya]

For the last year of so I've been working out at the gym after work (the gym's at work so it's convenient and free) and immediately afterwards I have a Clif Builder's bar, take a shower, then I go back to my office where I have a smoothie for "supper." Most of the time it consists of water, a meal-replacement powder, ground flax seed, a banana and some frozen strawberries.

It's occurred to me that I should probably have a bit more variety in the fruit add-ins. For example, blueberries could be a good substitute for the strawberries, but I'm wondering if anyone out there uses anything really new / interesting / healthy that would also work.

TIA

[htwoopup]

I am a big fan of adding some frozen pineapple and/or mango and sometimes papaya. Pineapple and mango have a lot of C and other stuff that I always figure are good to have. My supermarket doesn’t always have these frozen but Costco always seems to have them. Just be careful of going too heavy with pineapple and mango due to sugar. I use about 100 grams or so.

And I agree with your thinking on berries. There are some premixed frozen I have found that are blueberry, raspberry, blackberry, strawberry that are nice.

[Matthew Strongin]

Given where I live, mangoes are the most popular smoothie addition. Along with a little honey it's tasty combo.

[ericpmoss]

Dark sweet cherries and peaches/nectarines for me.

[alexstar]

Blueberry/strawberry combo is my go-to but mango is really nice too. We get a CSA box that often produces more fruit than we can reasonably eat so a lot of that goes in, too - peaches, nectarines, and other stonefruits.

[Brandon White]

Given where I live, mangoes are the most popular smoothie addition. Along with a little honey it's tasty combo.

Oh hell yeah! Our tiny tree gives so many mangos. We freeze them and we have nearly year-round mango.

[Matthew Strongin]

Oh hell yeah! Our tiny tree gives so many mangos. We freeze them and we have nearly year-round mango.

We have the only thing better than a mango tree. A dozen friends with mango trees. They just seem to show up all the time along with avocados.

[Blue Jays]

Even if using fresh fruit it is good to freeze them solid prior to blending.
Bananas can be sliced and frozen flat in ziploc bags to make portions.
Getting that cold milkshake consistency makes smoothies especially delicious.

[kytyree]

Fruit is what I like most of all but my morning smoothie has a big handful of spinach in it. I juice one lime in on top to help the taste of it and then whatever frozen fruit I have available, I use frozen peaches a lot because the bright green color that results is a little more appetizing. Strawberries taste good but they mix with the spinach to form a hideous shade that doesn't look like something you'd want to eat.

Chia seeds are something else I add in usually.


For consistency avocados are great in a post workout smoothie, they allow you achieve a dessert like shake if you wanted.

[Matthew Strongin]

Fruit is what I like most of all but my morning smoothie has a big handful of spinach in it. I juice one lime in on top to help the taste of it and then whatever frozen fruit I have available, I use frozen peaches a lot because the bright green color that results is a little more appetizing. Strawberries taste good but they mix with the spinach to form a hideous shade that doesn't look like something you'd want to eat.

Chia seeds are something else I add in usually.


For consistency avocados are great in a post workout smoothie, they allow you achieve a dessert like shake if you wanted.

Pro tips. Greens in a sweet smoothie are awesome.

[adamcw89]

Strangely enough, frozen cauliflower is a nice addition to smoothies. It adds some extra creaminess but not any flavor.

[robin3mj]

Even if using fresh fruit it is good to freeze them solid prior to blending.
Bananas can be sliced and frozen flat in ziploc bags to make portions.
Getting that cold milkshake consistency makes smoothies especially delicious.

For fruit I take any half eaten/uneaten fruit from my kids' plates and put in a bowl in the fridge for my next smoothie. Brown bananas get peeled and put in the freezer. Overripe berries- same thing.
Then I just add kale, fruit, ice, and a splash of milk of liquid yogurt. I'm not overly picky- I mainly try to use all the other ingredients as a kale delivery system.

[J_B]

I add a little tumeric to mine–it's good for the muscles and it adds a certain kind of sweet flavor that I really enjoy.

[skiezo]

I like to add cukes and celery to most of my smoothies. Also some fresh mint or basil.

[Clyde]

I am stuck right now using the one handed spin wand as the vitamix was sent back for blade replacement. So no ice, room temp yogurt, milk, honey, bananas, berries, and chia seeds. It's ok not great.