It is essential to select the appropriate liquid to serve as the foundation of your smoothie to help produce the best flavour and accomplish the desired consistency. Because there are so many dairy and dairy substitute products on the market, it can be difficult to determine which base best suits your requirements. Make use of this breakdown as a guide as you make your selections.
Cow’s Milk
A traditional dairy product that can serve as the foundation for your smoothie is whole cow’s milk. Milk is an excellent source of a variety of nutrients, including calcium, Vitamin D, and other essential vitamins and minerals. If you want your smoothie to have more creaminess, using milk is the way to go. However, you should be careful to read the nutrition label on the milk and limit the amount of fat and calories that you put into your smoothie.
Almond Milk
One of the most popular dairy substitutes, almond milk makes an excellent base for smoothies for individuals who suffer from food allergies. This product does not contain any dairy, gluten, lactose, or soy! Almond milk does not have a particularly high protein content, but it does provide nearly half of the Vitamin E that you need daily.
If you make your smoothie with almond milk instead of cow’s milk, you’ll get the same creamy texture as with cow’s milk, but with better, healthier fats and fewer calories per cup. There are many other kinds of non-dairy milk besides almond milk that you can try if you don’t like almond milk, such as cashew milk, oat milk, soy milk, or even coconut milk.
Greek Yoghurt
Greek yoghurt is an excellent choice to make if you want to add protein and probiotics to your smoothie. This variety of yoghurt is naturally free of gluten and even contains more protein than milk. Additionally, it contains probiotics, which will assist in maintaining the health of your digestive tract.
Greek yoghurt is not a liquid, but it still fulfils the requirements and can actually make your smoothie thicker and creamier, if that’s to your liking. To make the blending process simpler or to achieve a thinner consistency, you can just add some water or milk along with the yoghurt.
Water
Water is a great option if you can’t have dairy products because it has no calories and is a dairy-free beverage, but it won’t add any nutritional value to your drink. If you find it difficult to consume sufficient amounts of water throughout the day, making smoothies with water as the base can assist you in maintaining your hydration levels. Be wary of adding too much water to your smoothie, as doing so will cause it to become less thick.
Kefir
The addition of this fermented milk beverage will lend your smoothies an enhanced creaminess and assist in developing a more substantial body. Kefir is a fermented drink made by combining milk and yoghurt. It contains live cultures of probiotic bacteria, which are beneficial to the health of your digestive tract. When you buy kefir, make sure to check the label to ensure that you are getting a product that does not contain an excessive amount of sugar or additives.
Looking for dairy milk, alternative milk products, or yoghurt for your smoothies? Freshways has what you need. With a range of both dairy and dairy-free ingredients in a range of flavours, we’re sure to stock the perfect liquid for your smoothie recipe and more! Get in touch today to discuss your requirements or place an order online now.