{"id":265183,"date":"2025-05-31T10:44:41","date_gmt":"2025-05-31T10:44:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/recipes\/category-a-b\/budget-food\/how-to-make-cheap-smoothies-cheapskate-cook\/"},"modified":"2025-05-31T10:44:41","modified_gmt":"2025-05-31T10:44:41","slug":"how-to-make-cheap-smoothies-cheapskate-cook","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=265183","title":{"rendered":"How to Make Cheap Smoothies \u2022 Cheapskate Cook"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Frugal hacks to help you get the most out of your smoothies and your grocery budget. Includes tips on freezing produce (oranges, anyone?), which vegetables go well in smoothies, and more.<\/em><\/p>\n

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This post contains affiliate links. That means if you click on my link and buy something, I will earn a small commission from the advertiser at no additional cost to you. Read my<\/em> disclosure policy here<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

For years, smoothies were a luxury in our home. Drinking a green smoothie for breakfast was expensive for our tiny budget. As a result, I got really good at making smoothies on a dime. Whether you\u2019re trying to eat healthier or save money, I\u2019ve got you covered today. Here is my ultimate guide for green smoothies and protein shakes. <\/p>\n

How to Make a Delicious Smoothie<\/strong> Every Time<\/h2>\n

Obviously, everyone\u2019s smoothie taste varies. If you like following a recipe, Green Thickies<\/a> is a great resource. However, I\u2019m\u00a0the type who follows a loose formula rather than a recipe. Following the formula helps me save money by using what we have. Here is my signature Smoothie Formula.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Best Green Smoothie Formula (1:1:2<\/strong>)<\/h3>\n

The formula for green smoothies is very simple. It makes your vegetables taste like fruit! And you can adapt it to any size blender. <\/p>\n

Just remember 1:1:2 <\/strong>\u2013 one part greens, one part fruit, and two parts liquid.<\/p>\n

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  1. Fill half of the blender with smoothie-friendly vegetables<\/strong> \u2013 usually greens like spinach, kale, or spring mix (see my full list below)<\/li>\n
  2. Fill the other half with fruit, leaving a healthy 1-inch gap at the top of the blender<\/strong> \u2013 My favorite fruit for smoothies is bananas and\u00a0berries. But you can substitute the berries for a combination of peaches, pineapple, and mango. Don\u2019t substitute the banana unless you are using a flavored protein powder. Bananas provide most of the sweetness and creamy texture for a good smoothie.<\/em><\/li>\n
  3. Next, fill the blender with liquid<\/strong> (usually milk) until it covers the fruit. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Then add any additional ingredients, like protein powder, flaxseed, etc. Blend, blend, blend. Pour your smoothie into a glass Mason jar, because if you\u2019re drinking a green smoothie, you might as well go embrace your inner hippy.<\/p>\n

    The Best Fruit Smoothie Formula (1:1<\/strong>)<\/h3>\n

    All-fruit smoothies are simple. Remember \u2013 one part fruit and one part liquid. <\/p>\n

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    1. Fill half of the blender with frozen banana and the other half with berries or frozen fruit blends. <\/strong>Don\u2019t substitute the banana unless you are using a flavored protein powder. Bananas provide most of the sweetness and creamy texture for a good smoothie.<\/em><\/li>\n
    2. Next, fill the blender with liquid<\/strong> (usually milk) until it covers the fruit. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Then add any additional ingredients, like protein powder, flaxseed, etc. Blend, and enjoy. <\/p>\n

      \"Smoothies<\/figure>\n

      How to Make a Protein Shake<\/h3>\n

      The classic protein shake is simply protein powder, a banana, ice, and milk. Blend it all together, and you\u2019re done. However, if you are trying to save money and eat healthy, you can get creative. <\/p>\n

      You can add protein to your smoothie in a variety of ways. <\/p>\n

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      1. A scoop of Protein Powder<\/strong> \u2013 I personally like this brand<\/a> of flavored vanilla protein powder and this brand of unflavored protein powder<\/a>. <\/li>\n
      2. Greek Yogurt <\/strong>\u2013 Plain greek yogurt is great in smoothies because the fruit flavors it for you and adds a nice tang to the smoothie. Plus you get the added benefits of probiotics.<\/li>\n
      3. Cottage Cheese<\/strong> \u2013 Creamy and delicious, cottage cheese is inexpensive and high in protein. It bends well in a smoothie and adds a luxurious creaminess without changing the flavor. <\/li>\n
      4. Hemp Seeds<\/strong> \u2013 Shelled Hemp Hearts<\/a> are a fantastic vegan source of protein. <\/li>\n
      5. Flax Seeds<\/strong> \u2013 Delicious and fairly inexpensive, flax seeds add extra protein and fiber to your smoothies. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
        \"How
        On Instagram Stories, I shared this smoothie kit hack. It\u2019s simple and worth the extra couple of minutes to put them together.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

        How to Find a Good Smoothie Blender<\/strong><\/h2>\n

        We used a cheap blender for years, and it worked fine. However, when we added nuts and greens, we wound up chewing our smoothies. Gross.<\/p>\n

        When I want to chew my food, I make a salad. Or basically anything besides a smoothie.<\/p>\n

        So if you prefer all-fruit smoothies without adding seeds or nuts to it, a cheap blender will work for you. <\/strong><\/p>\n

        If however, you want to make green smoothies or add seeds and nuts and get a really smooth, creamy texture, you will need to upgrade your blender. <\/strong><\/p>\n

        For us, even though we have always lived on a budget, this was an easy upgrade because we love smoothies. For years, Chris made one every morning before work. My kids love homemade popsicles (Which are just our smoothies poured into a popsicle mold!). For a few years, green smoothies were the only way I could get veggies into one of my kids.<\/p>\n

        Our blender has more than paid for itself.<\/p>\n

        My Favorite Blenders for Smoothies:<\/strong><\/h3>\n