inexpensive smoothies??

[kfillmore]

Anyone have some yummy recipes for smoothies that are not too much $$? 

What I mean is that liquids are expensive, not to mention produce a lot of trash. I usually use almond milk. We don't eat soy and limit dairy but those are expensive too. 

thanks!

[Shantimama]

I only buy yogurt when it is on sale, otherwise I just use bananas to thicken our smoothies. I buy frozen berries in bulk packages to keep the cost down.

I don't really have a recipe for smoothies, just a dollop of yogurt (for the dairy eating members of my family only), a scoop of frozen berries, a banana and some orange juice. I usually make a dairy free blender of smoothies, pour out for those who prefer it that way and then blend in the yogurt for the others. If no one is looking I add some ground flax seed but if dh or the kids see it go in, they don't like the taste. They don't complain about the taste when they don't see me add it so I have to time things well. 

[mommy212]

I usually make a 'base' out of yogurt, almond milk and flax oil and then add 1 banana if it's for me and LO, or 2 for Dh, LO and I. Then I add about 2/3-1 cup of whatever fruit I'm feeling- usually strawberries and blueberries, or peaches, raspberries, etc. If your store carries them (or you can buy in bulk and freeze it yourself) buy the big bags of berries or your favorite fruit, it lasts us a long time and really is much cheaper. You can also buy the almost-too-ripe bananas for super cheap, as long as you freeze them the same day. Mango lhassi is really good too if you can find cheap fresh mango- it's not great with frozen.

mango lhassi:

1 fresh ripe mango, diced

2 cups or more almond milk

1-4 tbls honey (or 1/2 a banana, but it will change the taste/texture)

Blend and enjoy! You can also add cardamom for an interesting taste

[SundayCrepes]

I put a couple fresh bananas in the blender (to make it easier for my blender, also because they are cheaper than mangos) then i throw in a bunch of frozen mangoes that I get from Trader Joe's. About a cup of unfiltered peach juice and two cups of rice milk. If I have leftover coconut milk I'll put that in before the rice milk then add the rice milk. 

You can make your own almond milk. Mix a cup of blanched almonds (the slivers are about $2.50 for half a pound at Trader Joe's) and blend with water in blender. Depending on how thick you want it determines how much water. I know some people add vitamins and such, others don't.

I used to add some frozen spinach and raw eggs. I told my son I was putting in green polkadots. That worked for awhile then he didn't want it any more.

[sunnygir1]

You can make your own almond milk in the blender by blending up a handful of raw almonds and some water, then strain it.

You also could just use juice or water for the liquid and add a little nut or seed butter or oil (flax, coconut, whatever) or avocado for some fat/protein.  Bananas are generally cheap.

You can buy whatever fruit is cheap at the time and you can always just prep it (peel, core, chop, whatever) and freeze in small batches for future smoothies.

I don't have a recipe either, I just throw stuff in, and add a little lemon juice or sweetener to deepen the flavor if needed.

[tbone_kneegrabber]

we buy our almond milk in bulk on amazon (we "subscribe& save" and get it a case at a time)

we buy frozen fruit from trader joes mostly

a big hit around here is a kale smoothie

kale

coconut milk

pineapple or pineapple juice

squeeze of honey

ice

[Arduinna]

I make almond milk in the vitamix, and I used to make rice milk in my old blender. For smoothies I mainly use frozen fruit and juice but I boycott bananas in smoothies I just can't do them anymore. I overdid it with them years ago and I can't stand them anymore in smoothies. I will add a small amount of yogurt sometimes if I'm going for more of a lussi type, but I prefer mine lighter and thinner texture.