Have you ever wondered how to make your smoothies ultra thick and fluffy but just end up with a flat fruity liquid? Stay tuned for my top fluffy smoothie tips!
As I write this, I’m currently at home, in my comfy clothes, and with a mouth full of stitches. Okay, that sounds dramatic but, with all seriousness, I did just get my wisdom teeth removed. I know the thought of dentists and teeth weirds some people out so go ahead and skip to the bottom if you’re just here for the recipe.
Ever since November of last year, I knew 2018 was going to be the year I would get my wisdom teeth removed. My dentist has been telling me they were surfacing and close to pushing on my other teeth. So, after my last dental check-up, I just bit the bullet and made an appointment.
I’ve never had cavities or any big problems with my teeth so I can’t say I had too many concerns going in. Obviously the pain was concerning. Also, the fact that I would need to take some days off of work for recuperation was concerning (since I’m currently on my first year probationary period). Though, the real fright came the day of my wisdom teeth extraction when I got some news sprung on me.
While I was prepared to get all four of my teeth pulled out, I was not prepared for was the information my dentist gave me that day. Apparently, my two bottom teeth were literally grazing the top of a very sensitive nerve canal in my jaw. Basically, my dentist said, if the nerve gets damaged during the extraction, I could end up with numbness for a few weeks, months, or even a lifetime.
Perfect timing to break this to me, doc.
The chances were super slim. Apparently 99% people who have that occur will regain feeling within six months. So, I mean, my wisdom teeth were still wreaking havoc in my mouth… I figured I just needed to go through with the procedure as planned.
Thankfully, I’m here three days later and I’m okay. My cheeks are super swollen but I hardly have pain so that is good. I was even able to eat some solid (but soft) food today! Yay!
Let’s keep up the spirit of celebration by talking about this Sweet and Fluffy Smoothie Bowl, yeah?
Sometimes a drinkable smoothie is good. Sometimes a thick frozen puree is calling my name. And sometimes, I’m craving a fluffy cloud for breakfast. Anyone else?
If you have trouble getting your smoothie fluffy, use these ingredients:
Frozen banana – a usual suspect in smoothies but undeniably the best creamy and naturally sweet addition.
Chia seeds – add a tablespoon to your smoothie liquid (milk or water) to soak before adding the rest of your ingredients. Trust me. The soaked chia makes ALL the difference.
Ground flaxseed – follow the same method for the chia seeds for an easy, nutritious way to add body to a smoothie.
Frozen mango – serves to add thickness and fluff, and sweetness, just like banana.
Frozen cauliflower – the trendy fruit-free smoothie thickener. When mixed with other berries, spices, or flavored powders, it will remain unrecognizable in your smoothie. Try my Sweet Potato Cinnamon Peach Smoothie!
Frozen zucchini – you’ve seen me use this in previous smoothies like my Green Banana Tahini Shake and Zucchini Smoothie Bowl. I love using this light and easily digestible vegetable to give my smoothie some body.
Protein powder – it’s hard to get a fruit-only smoothie to be fluffy but add in some protein powder and suddenly it becomes a thick shake-like texture.
And for a new fluffy smoothie ingredient discovery of mine…oat milk!
Oat milk – make your own by soaking half a cup of dry rolled oats in 2-3 cups of water. Blend and strain as you would nut milk (reserve the oat pulp for overnight oats!). The starchiness from the oats releases into the water which helps add incredible thickness to any smoothie.
This list of ingredients is not comprehensive but it does include my go-to choices for making a delicious, thick smoothie. Tinker around with whichever ingredients sound good to you. Mix one or two with your favorite fruit or greens and let me know what you think!
If you want a little inspiration for how to combine some of these fluff-boosters then look no further.
The addition of Minimalist Baker’s Rawnola, bee pollen, and ground flax make this breakfast bowl a real treat.
- 1 cup oat milk
- ¼ cup frozen cauliflower
- ½ cup frozen mango
- 1 tbsp frozen banana
- 1 scoop vanilla plant-based protein powder
- Optional toppings: frozen blueberries, Minimalist Baker’s rawnola, bee pollen, ground flax
- Add ¾ cup of the milk and frozen goods to the blender. Process until everything is nice and smooth.
- Add the protein powder and, if needed, the remaining milk to the blender.
- Let the blender run for at least a minute. The longer it blends, the more the ingredients get whipped (aka FLUFFY).
- Once your smoothie is sufficiently fluffed, pour it into a bowl and add whatever toppings you like. I’ve been loving rawnola and bee pollen lately but coconut or fresh fruit would also be good! Enjoy!
Thanks so much for reading! I am living off of pureed soups and smoothies these days but you definitely don’t need to have your wisdom teeth pulled out to enjoy this baby. If you give it a try—or if you try using any of my favorite fluff-boosters—let me know what you think! xoxo