Smoothies are glorious snacks and provide you a way to fill up with all the fruits and veggies you need in a day.
Smoothies are a fantastic summer drink, and some people even use fresh veggie smoothies to detox their bodies. For one, I love a smoothie cleanses, and it is one of my preferred ways to do meal replacements. I feed this to my kids when they want snacks between meals, and I hide loads of veggies in them. However, if you’re like me, you’ve never required a blender. To this day, even with two kids, I don’t feel like I need one!
I use this tool to create on the go smoothie bowls for my busy schedule and make pretty drinks with hidden veggies for my kids to drink. It takes a few minutes to come up with something utterly delicious, suitable for all ages.
Note: Using a food processor, you can make your own smoothie cleanse! Keep reading to see my favorite recipes that even my kids love.
How to Use a Food Processor for Smoothies?
Both a blender and a food processor work in similar ways, but it all depends on your preference. I prefer a food processor because it does much more than blend. Though there are some fancy blenders out there, all they really do is chop ice up a different way.
There are so many unique benefits to a food processor.
- Texture- This is one of the biggest reasons I love creating smoothies with a food processor. Blenders are meant to turn everything into a liquid. A food processor will still do that as well; however, it will leave a thicker texture.
- Less Liquid- I am a huge calorie counter, and one of the biggest things I struggle with is the amount of liquid that must be put into a blender. This is always the most fattening part unless you’re using a water base. Which my kids hate. A food processor allows you to use more veggies and fruits than liquids and ice.
- More Than Smoothies- The best part of a food processor is that it can do any form of cutting and grating. If you need a smoothie bowl, it does it instantly, if you need pizza dough, or sliced carrots, it is no problem for this fantastic machine.
Need keto-friendly frozen dinner ideas? Check out our article “Quick and Easy Keto Frozen Meals for Success!”
The Best 3 Detox Smoothies (recipes)
I love cleanses, but I am not a huge fan of prepping, so I use three recipes, all of which I can make in the morning and drink throughout the day.
I choose 5 simple recipes; I make one giant batch in the morning and slowly consume it throughout the day and even take it to work with me.
Apple Ginger Smoothie
- 1/2 cup water (or orange juice for kids)
- 1 green apple
- 1/2 cup frozen pineapple chunks
- 1/2 frozen banana
- 1/2-inch fresh ginger, peeled and minced
- 1 cup fresh spinach
- small handful fresh cilantro
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
I love doing this smoothie in a food processor because it involves very little liquid. The frozen fruits add in the coldness that we love and crave, and they replace the ice you would need to add into a blender.
Red Detox Smoothie
- 1 small red beet, trimmed and peeled
- 1 large apple, cored
- 1 stalk of celery
- 1 cup carrot juice
- 2/3 cup frozen sliced peaches
- 1-inch piece of ginger, peeled and sliced
This smoothie I love because my kids and I crave beets. Not everyone likes them; they have a very earthy flavor that some can’t get around. However, my kids and I? We LOVE them.
Occasionally if I feel like my kids need extra veggies, I add some spinach in there. This is a good detox recipe the whole family can get behind.
Banana Honey Smoothie
- 1 banana
- 2 Tbsp honey yogurt (I like Greek yogurt for this)
- 1 Carrot
- 1/2 c. Frozen pineapple
- 1/2 c. Orange juice (if you’re like me I freeze canned pineapple and use that)
- 1/2 c. Water
Now the beauty of a food processor is that there is very little prep work needed. In fact, the most I do is cut the veggie in half once and stick it right in. However, you will want to make sure there is enough room in your processor. If there isn’t, it can explode out the sides or top of the machine.
Note: If I am making smoothies for the whole family, or for a 12-hour day, I split it into two batches.
Conclusion
Using a food processor for smoothies changed my life. I find them easier to clean than a blender, the smoothies come out with a better texture, and I don’t have to buy any extra gadgets, I already have everything.
What are some of your favorite smoothie recipes? Try your next one out in a food processor and compare the experience!
