9 Unexpected Ingredients to Add To Your Morning Smoothies

If your garden is overflowing with zucchini and you just can’t stand to make another loaf of zucchini bread, slice up your harvest and toss it all in the freezer. Then, each morning, throw some frozen zucchini into your blender. You won’t taste it, but it can replace ice in making your smoothie cold and creamy while adding a wide range of vitamins and minerals.

Even cauliflower haters can enjoy this vegetable in their smoothies. When frozen, and then blended with fruits, the cauliflower won’t change the flavor of your smoothie. Instead, it’ll add a good amount of vitamins C, K, B6 and folate, plus fiber, while being lower in calories.

For healthy fats, and to use up that avocado on the counter before it spoils, add this unique green fruit to your smoothie. The avocado flavor disappears when mixed with other ingredients, but this adds an amazing, buttery texture to your smoothies.

Dates are like nature’s caramel. Add them to a smoothie for a richer, sweeter flavor similar to caramel or maple syrup. They pair especially well with peaches or bananas and some sea salt!

A baked sweet potato is an excellent addition to any smoothie. This root vegetable adds creaminess and an earthy sweetness, which tastes great with other ingredients, like bananas, peanut butter and/or dates. Plus, sweet potato is a great source of fiber and Vitamin A.

Toss in some either canned or cooked white beans. They won’t alter the flavor much, but they’ll add plenty of creaminess to the texture and can help you meet your daily fiber goals.

It’s no secret that cottage cheese has been having a moment. Now, it can be a star in your smoothie. Swap yogurt with some cottage cheese for a big protein punch and plenty of creaminess.

For a plant-based smoothie, or simply to get more protein, add in silken tofu to your smoothie. Like Greek yogurt or cottage cheese, this ingredient adds protein and makes for a silky-smooth morning beverage without altering the flavor.

If you want a photo-worthy smoothie, add beets. Steam or roast beets, then store them in the fridge to cool down. Once chilled, beets add thickness and a deep, purple color to your smoothie. But most importantly, they’ll bring a good amount of folate, manganese and fiber to your smoothie, making it healthier while also making it look and taste amazing.