The Biggest Mistake People Make With Smoothies

Whether they are green, yellow, pink, purple, or orange, Healthline says that smoothies are a quick and efficient way for you to take in the wide variety of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and nutrients that your body needs. But why go to a restaurant or juice bar when you can make a homemade smoothie instead? All you have to do is pack up your blender with your favorite ingredients, and with the click of a button, you'll be on your way to work, class, or the gym in a matter of minutes with a smoothie in hand. From bananas and avocados to berries, kale, and spinach, each slurp you take brings you that much closer to achieving your fruit and veggie intake for the day — and you can do it any time you like.

But there's just one problem: Smoothies aren't just about consuming your fruits and veggies; or, at least they shouldn't be. According to Food Network, one of the biggest mistakes you can make when making smoothies at home is forgetting to include a variety of foods.

While there's no magic smoothie concoction out there, there is one general rule for you to keep in mind: The best kind of smoothie is a balanced one. While a lot of people tend to focus on the types of fruits and vegetables they enjoy in their smoothies, many forget to add the other important food groups, like fibrous whole grains, healthy fats, and protein, which the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs says are essential to building a balanced smoothie. Not only does adding food groups mean you'll be drinking a smoothie with even more health benefits, but it also means that your smoothie will keep you feeling fuller for longer (via Foodaciously).

So, to avoid your belly growling at you mid-morning, Food Network recommends adding at least three different food groups in your smoothie. For example, combining nut butter for healthy fats, chocho powder for protein, some mixed berries, and oats for whole grain fiber would be a simple, plant-powered way to create a well-balanced smoothie. If you prefer to take the green route, you can do the same with frozen avocados for your healthy fats, your choice of protein powder, green veggies, and bran for added whole gran fiber — or just throw some spirulina into any other smoothie recipe and watch it turn green.