If you’re a Green Monster, it’s safe to say that you have likely been on the smoothie wagon for a while now. After all, smoothies and their love child, the smoothie bowl, are one of the most convenient nutrition packed on-the-go meals ever invented. You can throw questionable leftover fruit and veggies from your fridge and somehow come up with a delicious sweet concoction every single time. If you’re not on board with smoothies yet, maybe it’s time for you to reconsider it, especially if you want to be on top of your health game.

As you know, having a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and greens is the way to keep our body fueled up with the micronutrients — vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants — it requires to maintain our brain health, ensure proper digestion and a strong immune system as well as prevent diseases.

That said, having smoothies on the regular can often become repetitive. If, like us, you’re experiencing a smoothie rut (yes, that’s a thing!) or simply want to jazz up your mornings, here are five easy ways to take your smoothie to the next level health and taste wise with recipes from the Food Monster App.

1. Add Healthy Fats

While fruit smoothies are great for a quick pick-me-up, they generally don’t keep us full for very long. If that’s something you’ve dealt with too many times and you’re not in the habit of adding healthy fats to your smoothies yet, it’s time you try. Not only will they satisfy your hunger for longer periods of time because of the calorie content and positive stabilizing effect on your blood sugar but healthy fats also help in the absorption of many vitamins and minerals. Adding avocado, hemp seeds, chia seeds, nut butters, or coconut milk to your next smoothie means the vitamin A, vitamin E, and vitamin K found in those delicious fruits and greens will be delivered to your body more efficiently.

Want smoothie ideas that feature your favorite plant-based fats? We’ve got you covered! Avocados lovers, check out this Avocado Seed Smoothie, pictured above, and this Raw Avocado and Cacao Smoothie Shake. If nut butters are more your thing, you have to try out this Peanut Butter and Jelly Smoothie, this Nutty Cherry Smoothie, and this Dark Chocolate, Peanut Butter and Banana Blizzard. This Blueberry Hempseed Protein Smoothie Bowl, this Berry Chia Smoothie With Cacao Drizzle, and this Berry Coconut Smoothie Bowls are also great options packed with healthy fats.

2. Boost it with Superfoods

At this point, everyone and their uncle has heard about superfoods. Whether you buy into the hype or not, there’s definite benefits to adding foods high in antioxidants into your smoothie and that’s exactly what superfoods are. Some great ones to include in your next smoothie would be maca powder, mesquite, goji berries, acai, spirulina, and raw cacao. These superfoods all score high on the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) scale which is the tool used to measure the amount of antioxidants found in food.

If you’re new to using superfoods, start by adding only small quantities into your smoothies and make sure to only use one at a time. Pairing your superfoods with fruits that are on the sweeter side is also a good idea while you get used to their taste. Even if you can only tolerate a very small amount of antioxidant-rich superfoods, getting them right at the beginning of your day will improve your energy and focus. Not to mention the incredible benefits for your health in the long run. We’re talking preventing neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and a host of other chronic diseases.

Start reaping the health benefits of superfoods by making this delicious Tropical Turmeric Smoothie, pictured above, this Blueberry Açaí Super Smoothie, and this Cacao Maca Energizing Smoothie. You can also try this Blue Spirulina Smoothie Bowl and this Superfood Raspberry Smoothie.

3. Bulk it Up

For busy people who don’t have time to cook or simply don’t want to, smoothies are the perfect solution. However, while they are naturally fiber-rich from all the fruits they contain, they are still what you could consider a light meal or snack. Thankfully, with a few simple add-ons, smoothies can be as filling as any meal.

If you’ve been looking for ideas to bulk up your next smoothie without resorting to fats, we suggest adding oats or starchy vegetables such as cooked sweet potato or pumpkin. Including a protein source such as silken tofu or nut butter is also a good idea. Along with the extra carbs and fiber of vegetables, adding protein to your smoothie will make you feel full longer and help with your blood sugar levels.

Not sure how to make a good smoothie with veggies? Check out this Pumpkin Protein Smoothie, pictured above, and this Sweet Potato Pie Smoothie as a starter. Other delicious bulky smoothies we suggest you try include this Superfood Protein Shake, this Chocolate Strawberry Almond Protein Smoothie, and this Pumpkin Pie Green Smoothie Bowl.

4. Add New Flavors

If you have more of a savory tooth but would still like to reap the health benefits of having fruit every morning, adding fresh herbs and spices such as ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, cardamom, or even cayenne might give your smoothie the kick you need. Even if you have a sweet tooth, experimenting with new flavor combinations can’t hurt. Especially considering that many spices that go well in smoothies have many benefits. Did you know, by example, that cardamom and coriander are great for digestion while turmeric has powerful anti-inflammatory properties?

Curious about what flavor combos you should try next? We suggest giving this Orange Sweet Potato Smoothie, pictured above, a try, along with this Ayurvedic Rose Smoothie, this Peachy Ginger Green Monster Smoothie, this Green Strawberry Basil Banana Smoothie, and this Banana Bread Smoothie With Pecans, Nutmeg and Carob Syrup. You might also want to check out these 7 Healing Spices to Add to Your Smoothie for Good Health and these 22 Amazing Smoothies to Kick Start Your Day who feature a bunch of delicious smoothies with exciting flavor profiles.

5. Switch Things Up

This tip may seem obvious but let’s be honest, we’ve all been guilty of being afraid to try new things at one time or another. Whether you’re self-admittedly too attached to your old PB & Chocolate Smoothie combo or not, switching things up in the smoothie department won’t do any harm. In fact, you might discover new favorites that will catapult your taste buds and your health to another level (here’s to hoping)!

Have you been afraid to try this new ‘cauliflower in your smoothie‘ trend or simply have not gotten on the green smoothie bandwagon yet? Wherever you’re at right now on your health journey, there’s always room for improvement. Starting off with trying what intrigues us or slightly scares us is, in our opinion, a great way to grow as a person. Why not take the leap in the smoothie world?

If you’re looking for crazy ideas, why not add cauliflower, zucchini, or even beets into your next smoothie? Since we’re coming in into the cold season, you might also want to try making your first hot smoothie. Did you know that hot water with a handful of medjool dates, a banana, and a hint of vanilla tastes just like a latte?

Want more ideas to switch things up? Give this Green Goddess Golden Milk Smoothie, pictured above, this Red Beet, Pear, Orange, and Apple Smoothie, and this Deep Blue Sea Blend smoothie a try.

Recommended Reading and Recipes

Looking for more smoothie and breakfast inspiration? Check out any of these articles:

• Smoothie Ice Cube Concentrates for Make-Ahead Breakfast
• The Anatomy of a Filling, Healthy Green Smoothie: What to Use and What to Skip
• 6 Ways to Add Clean Protein to Your Smoothie Without a Powder
• The Best Order of Ingredients to Make a Superfood Smoothie
• 7 Healing Spices to Add to Your Smoothie for Good Health
• How to Make Smoothie Prep Jars to Save Time
• 22 Amazing Smoothies to Kick Start Your Day

If you’re looking for more tips and tricks and healthy breakfast ideas, then we highly recommend downloading the Food Monster App, which is available for both Android and iPhone, and can also be found on Instagram and Facebook. The app has more than 10,000 plant-based, allergy-friendly recipes, and subscribers gain access to new recipes every day. Check it out!

Lead image source: Raspberry and Blue Spirulina Smoothie