If you do it right, it takes about two minutes to make a smoothie. Adding the ingredients to a blender and blending everything up is about as easy as pouring water into a glass, but somehow things can go wrong. The consistency of the smoothie can go awry or one ingredient can overpower the entire drink. To help you with these common smoothie fails, here are easy ways to fix them.
#1: Too Sweet
Creating a perfectly balanced smoothie, flavor wise, can be a challenge. You want a little sweetness that is complemented by slight tanginess, but you don’t want over-the-top sweetness. This is a common problem if you are using pre-made fruit juices because they are loaded with sugar.
To Fix It: Try swapping out that pre-made juice with water. If you want to add freshly squeezed orange juice to a smoothie, make sure you add equal parts water. You can also add a splash of lemon juice to add some tartness. Additionally, unsweetened almond milk and avocado help to balance the smoothie’s sweetness.
#2: Mixed With Dairy
Adding dairy to your smoothie is a mistake. By adding dairy to a smoothie with fresh fruits and vegetables, you are cancelling out their benefits. Dairy products can lead to the accumulation of oxidative stress in the body and can increase your risk for tendonitis.
To Fix It: Don’t use dairy. We like to only use plant-based ingredients for smoothies, which means that using homemade or unsweetened organic almond milk in your smoothies is a viable option. You can swap out dairy for other liquids like water, chilled tea, or freshly made juices.
#3: Texture
Getting your smoothie to have the right texture depends on what ingredients you blend up. If you are using a lot of frozen ingredients, the chances of your smoothie being too thick is a lot higher than if you were to use raw ingredients. Some people like to add protein powder, which should always be plant-based, and they can run the risk of making smoothies that are too chalky.
To Fix It: If your smoothie is too thick, it can be easily remedied by adding a little more water. Continue blending and you’ll be good to slurp. A smoothie that is too thin can be thickened by adding ice. Adding fibrous fruits and vegetables can make your smoothie gritty, so it is best to use ice or water to help smooth out the texture.
#4: Protein Powder Sticks To Blender
After adding all of your fruits, vegetables, water, and plant-based protein powder, you blend your smoothie. As the blades are spinning, you realize that the protein powder is clinging to the sides and not blending with the rest of the smoothie.
To Fix It: Rather than taking a spoon and scooping the powder off the sides and into the smoothie (only to have it be a permanent lump of powder), blend the protein powder with your liquid first. Once you’ve done this, add the rest of the smoothie ingredients! Problem solved.
#5: Your Smoothie Is Sludgy Because You Didn’t Drink It Fast Enough
Let’s say you were in a rush in the morning and you decided to bring your smoothie on the go for a nutritious breakfast. Your plan was to enjoy it a little in the car and then when you got to work. Sadly, you were ambushed by tasks when you got to work and couldn’t drink your smoothie until 2 hours later. Then it became sludgy and almost gel-like.
To Fix It: Add more ice to your smoothie if you are taking it to go. In addition to this, purchase a stainless steel thermos (there are many on the market now) to keep your smoothie colder for longer. If you have a refrigerator at work, you can place your smoothie in there to stay fresh, too!
Vincent Stevens is the senior content writer at Dherbs. As a fitness and health and wellness enthusiast, he enjoys covering a variety of topics, including the latest health, fitness, beauty, and lifestyle trends. His goal is to inform people of different ways they can improve their overall health, which aligns with Dherbs’ core values. He received his bachelor’s degree in creative writing from the University of Redlands, graduating summa cum laude. He lives in Los Angeles, CA.
