Nuts are one of the most common smoothie ingredients, but you should tread lightly before adding them to yours. Almonds, pecans, walnuts, and other types of nuts can do wonders for your smoothies, but here are three things you should keep in mind about them.
Blending Nuts
You might struggle to blend raw nuts with a classic blender. If your blender isn’t powerful enough, raw nuts might damage the blades so it’s important to soak or skin them before blending them. Also, keep in mind you’ll have to pulse several times before the nuts are fully chopped.
Extra Fat
Adding carbs and protein to your smoothies is easy, but fat is a different story. By adding nuts to the mix, you’re making sure your smoothies contain enough fat to keep you full for long, but don’t go overboard because nuts are also packed with tons of calories.
Nut Substitutes
If you don’t have a powerful blender and soaking your nuts feels like too much trouble, you can replace them with several substitutes. Nut butters are always a great idea, but be careful before buying them and make sure they don’t contain added oils, sodium, and sugar when checking their label.
