I love smoothies, especially in the summer. They are easy to make, delicious, and supposedly good for you.
The first time I noticed that they might not be as good for me as I thought was when I started suffering from chronic acid reflux. There are many triggers for acid reflux including chocolate, spicy foods, and tomato-based sauces, but I noticed that sugar was one of mine. Suddenly, every time I had a smoothie in the morning, I would end up suffering from a really bad case of acid reflux.
At about the same time, I started reading about how smoothies can actually be really bad for you. It’s not so much that they have a lot of sugar in them (although they do), but more about how blending the fruit changes the way in which we process the sugars in it. It turns out that chewing allows our body to break down fibers and sugars at a slower pace, which is extremely important to ensure that they are absorbed correctly. According to this article by Mother Jones, “the sugary jolt” that you get from smoothies “can trigger an insulin response, and thus push your body in the direction of metabolic conditions, including unwanted weight gain, insulin resistance, or nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.”
Now, I’m not saying that smoothies are evil. In the article, an expert even concedes that there’s not enough evidence to draw a direct link between smoothies and obesity and argues that smoothies are a better snack than potato chips or other fast foods. I’m just saying that maybe we should consider having smoothies only occasionally and try our hardest to use as little fruit in them as possible.
Which brings me to… This No-Fruit Smoothie
As I said, I love smoothies, so I was determined to figure out a way to make a no-fruit smoothie that still tasted delicious.
The solution? My favorite vegetable: beets.
Beets are not only packed with nutrients, but they are also just sweet enough to replace fruit in any smoothie. An added plus is that they turn your smoothie the prettiest shade of pink.
I love roasting beets to bring out their flavor and sweetness. I usually make a big batch on Sundays and use them in salads, smoothies, or grain bowls throughout the week. You can even put them in hummus!
In addition to the beets, this no-fruit smoothie also features baby spinach, almond butter, chia seeds, and almond milk. The almond butter makes it rich and creamy and adds a boost of protein that fills you up. It also makes this the perfect post-workout smoothie.
If you are having some trouble getting used to the earthiness of the beet because you are used to sweater smoothies, feel free to add a date to this smoothie. It’s sweet enough without it for me, but it’s your smoothie, and it should make you happy. 🙂
Since it’s winter and it’s super chilly in the morning, I didn’t add any ice to this smoothie. You can definitely go ahead an add it if you want to, but I wouldn’t put more than half a cup of ice cubes in it to avoid diluting the flavors too much.
Enjoy!
No-Fruit Pink Smoothie
This no-fruit pink smoothie gets its beautiful color and sweetness from roasted beets and its creaminess from a bit of almond butter. It's the perfect breakfast or post-workout snack.
Ingredients
- One small red beet
- 2 tablespoons almond butter
- A big handful of baby spinach
- One cup almond milk (or any other alternative milk)
- I teaspoon of chia seeds
- 1 date (optional)
Directions
- Step 1 To roast the beets: I like to make a big batch of roasted beets on Sundays and eat them throughout the week. To roast them, preheat your oven to 400℉. Wrap each beet in foil (you can wrap several of them together if they are small) and place them on a baking sheet. Once the oven is hot, slide the tray in and bake them for 50-60 min. You will know that they are done when you can easily pierce them with a knife. To peel them, let them cool for a bit, take a moist paper towel, and use it to scrub the skin off. If the beets are properly roasted, the skin should come right off. Store them in a air-tight container or in the same foil that you used to roast them until you are ready to use them. They should keep for 4-5 days.
- Step 2 To make the smoothie: quarter the beet and put it in a high-speed blender with the rest of the ingredients. Blend until smooth and garnish it with some chia seeds. If you don’t have a high-speed blender, you might need to soak the date overnight to make sure that it breaks down.
Ok….I have NEVER had beets in a smoothie. Look at the colour..so pretty. I just might have to experiment with this and see if I like it. I do like beets, but this is new to me.
I hope you give it a try! It’s definitely my favorite smoothie.
SO PINK! I hate to admit, as a fully grown adult, I have never had a beet. I’m not picky, but I’m almost scared to try them! Sometimes I get them in my CSA boxes and end up giving them away, so I will have to save one and try this instead!
I hope you do! They are delicious!
Just love the colour of this smoothie and how healthy it is:-)
Thank you, Camilla!
I love beets in smoothies… no need for fruit you are right.. They are sweet on their own and full of antioxidants!
And they keep so well in the fridge!
Your smoothie is really pink, love that you found another great way to use beetroot. 🙂
That’s food for thought and it does make sense what you mentioned. After all chewing has an effect on our body and tells the stomach that food is coming and that it should prepare itself for some work ahead. I usually have it once in a while maybe all 2 weeks if I am lucky. I will rather have juices such as a simple orange juice.
Beets do give smoothies the most wonderful color! 🙂
I love the colour. Such a good idea to use almond milk. I’m going to do that next time.
You could also try using some kefir in it. It would add a wonderful tang.
This is such a cool way to get kids to drink their vitamins! I wish i had this when i was young!
It’s definitely packed with nutrients and vitamins. 🙂
Stunning! Beets are so underappreciated. I love them and can’t wait to try this recipe, thanks for sharing!
Right? I used to hate them when I was little, and now I can’t get enough of them.
I never knew that about fruit smoothies! I’ll have to try this out! We all need to eat more veggies anyways, right?! 🙂
Wow I did not know that about smoothies! I am going to mention this article next time someone tells me about their smoothies. I’m sure there are a lot of other smoothie drinkers that do not know about smoothie side effects.
I’ve never thought of adding roasted beets into a smoothie! What a great idea. I don’t eat beets often enough, but I know they are so good for you. I need to do more of that
That color!!! So beautiful! This looks so delicious!
Thanks, Sara!
The color of this is amazing! It sounds so delicious even without fruit!
I find fruit smoothies make me feel bloated which is the opposite of the way a healthy food should make you feel, so I love the sound of this with roasted beets! And that color!
It’s hard to resist, especially during the dreary winter months. 🙂
Wow – I love the color of this smoothy. This would be a great way for kid’s to eat their vegetables (beets)! Who could turn down a hot pink smoothy?
What a great way to use beetroots. Plus the rich color of the smoothie, so inviting !
Love the vibrant pink and the fact it’s healthy. Will give this a try after the holidays to get back in the healthy regime!
I promise you won’t regret it, Anne-Marie! It’s so yummy!
I love how vibrant this is! Healthy foods have the best colors!
They certainly do! 🙂
That color is OUTSTANDING! I love beets too, but never thought to use them in a smoothie… nice!
Thanks, Catherine!