I have recived a smoothie maker [smile]........

I've got a Nutribullett which I use a lot but do find that it piles on the calories as I tend to put honey, yoghurt and nuts etc into the smoothies, so I'm no longer using it every day.

Thanks Texan, I certainly don't want to put weight on so clearly need to be careful about what I use as well as the total quantity.

I don't have a recipe book with my machine and whilst there are recipes on the internet I was hoping for someone, with experience in making smoothies, to give me some hints.
I can't do anything complicated as that would just floor me, don't have much energy. I need to get a bit of weight off before surgery but it is difficult as I am not very mobile so the amount of exercise I can do doesn't really cut it. DH has to do the cooking so am hoping to give him a bit of a break but am already rocking somewhat when I think about having a go!
I guess I need to know what basics are good to keep handy but which won't go off too quickly. I want to go high protein but low carbs.
My machine is a Breville and includes a grinder for nuts and seeds.

I just chuck in any fruit that I have around with a leaf of kale and some benecol. I find a bit of ginger is rather good; and if I am out of fruit I use tinned.

You don't really need a recipe book; you can just use whatever you wish.

I noticed today in Tesco that they're selling 'smoothie mix' tubs of chopped up fruit and a bit of greenery for £2.00 a go - what a rip-off!

There are lots of Nutribullet recipes on utube. It's amazing how you can put spinach etc in the smoothie and you can't taste it. I buy walnuts from Holland and Barrett as they're better value than the ones for sale at the supermarket.

Thanks everyone, guess I'll just chuck something in and hit the button then!

Then have a quick taste and add something else if you need to make it sweeter/less sweet. Bananas are a good base - fairly bland, but they soak up any over-acid fruits.

I bought some Spirulina last time I went in Holland and Barrett just to see what it was like.
Don't do it! It's a frightening green and you are worried all the time that you will get it on the worktops etc., particularly if putting it in soup.
Nothing to do with Nutribullets, but it's the sort of thing you could think of putting in smoothies to give you a boost.

I, too bought some and just put a tiny amount in my Nutriblast; I've decanted some of it into a small jar. As it was in the penny sale I have two large packets and it will probably last about 50 years at this rate. I did read a review saying that some of it can be contaminated so I was a bit wary of it after I'd read that. Whilst cleaning out a cupboard the other day I found some dried fruit that I'd forgotten about so I'm putting that into my smoothies at the moment to sweeten them. Todays will be dried fruit,banana, apple, broccoli, walnuts and cucumber, along with cinnamon, honey,coconut oil, a bit of milk and green tea [it's a good way to take green tea as, no matter how well intentioned I am I never drink it]. I usually put some bio yoghurt in as well but I've ran out till I go shopping.

Synonymous IMO if you're trying to lose weight I'm not sure if smoothies are the way to go.

As Tegan says, it's very easy to go overboard on the calories when liquidizing foods and also liquids are digested more easily so you may not feel satisfied and snack to compensate!

I got a Nutri Ninja, same sort of thing, as I wanted to get more fruit and veg into my diet. I want to put on weight so I use things like avocado, banana, nuts, full fat yogurt etc. I always include kale in whatever combination just because it's good for you and you can't taste it. Thinking of adding protein powder too as I'm vegetarian.
I agree you don't need a recipe book really. Just use what you fancy, but if in doubt there are plenty online.

Surely you do not need protein powder because you are a vegetarian. Nuts and yogurt have lots of protein.
I think it was on Trust me I'm a Doctor, or it might have been How to Lose Weight Well, that protein powders were debunked. You can only absorb so much protein a day. Any more makes expensive urine.

Thanks for the advice durhanjen. I saw that orogramme too but I thought it said if you get enough protein then it's a waste of money. As I don't have the nuts and yogurt all the time, nor eat cheese or eggs every day I thought I'd benefit from some easy to use protein. I will give it some thought though and do some research.

I've just acquired a Salter Nutripro which had the most 5-star ratings on Amazon and so far it has performed well. I've stocked up with frozen fruit and some almonds from Aldi. If I leave the fruit to thaw overnight I can just add yoghurt, switch on and have a smoothie in seconds for breakfast. I haven't had the courage to try the vegetable smoothies yet.

Vegetable smoothie= cold soup?

I needed to put on half a stone and found my Nutribullet was excellent for this! I blitz spinach, water and a fresh orange and then add frozen fruit and banana. I also ate lots of smoothies made with almond milk, yoghurt and frozen fruit. I then eat breakfast too. Now I have got to the right weight, I may have to ease off a bit!!

Have a look at this link from the Oh My Veggies! blog about vegetarian ideas for smoothies

18 ideas for smoothies

Thank you so much for all the input, I think I will have to be very controlled if I am to lose weight!
I have a fair few health issues so was looking for something really easy to make a quick meal and save DH from having to do absolutely everything.
'It' is still sitting in the cupboard all new and shiny!
I will do it!

That wheatgrass one is the colour of any food you put spirulina in, Wilma!

No; it's greener than that!! I was wondering tonight what would happen if I rinsed my hair in spirulina solution ....

How did I know you meant the green one dj?

Must admit I would want to make fruit smoothies all the time and end up eating loads of calories. If I was active enough, I might get away with smoothies, but personally I don't find them good for helping me lose weight. Maybe I was never very adventurous with my combinations, I don't feel full for long enough. There can be a lot of prep time too, so that didn't work for me either - again narrowing down my choices.

Good luck Synonymous

You'd make a mess of your basin, Tegan. You'd end up looking like the wicked witch of the west.
I did the same as you and have two bags of it. They say take 5-15g a day, so is it better to take the 15g and use it up quickly?
I am scared of the grandkids getting hold of it. My granddaughter loves art. She could paint some lovely pictures with it.

Have you ever done that thing where you put food colouring into milk and add washing up liquid so all the colours swirl around? Has to be full fat milk, though; I tired it with semi skimmed and nothing happened . [this has got nothing to do with smoothies has it ]...

Marbling?
Used to do it with oil and water with the kids when they were little. I'll let my sons do it with their kids in their own houses. My youngest son remembered it.