Making a healthy smoothie is usually a quick and easy way to get all your nutrients first thing in the morning. However, we sometimes snooze our alarms, get distracted, or run out of a crucial ingredient and can’t put together a smoothie in time. Here are a couple of tips and tricks to help take some stress off those busy days and ensure that you still get to enjoy a nutritious smoothie – great for a grab-and-go breakfast, snack, or meal replacement!

Make-Ahead Smoothie Bags and Jars

Build a smoothie in a small freezer-safe, zip-lock bag, reusable storage bag, or jar with your favorite smoothie ingredients! It doesn’t take long to put together, and you can include this step for your meal prep day. Simply add the ingredients, minus the liquids, and store in the fridge or freezer until ready to use. All that’s left to do is to pour the contents into your NutriBullet or Magic Bullet Cup, add your liquid of choice, and blend. Pick a new recipe each week to keep things fun and exciting!

These make-ahead smoothies will come together in no time! You can even take your smoothie bag or jar to work. Whether you decide to store your prepped smoothie ingredients in the fridge or freezer, using frozen fruits and vegetables works just fine for both. Frozen produce tends to be the most cost-effective choice. You can always throw a few ice cubes into your smoothie if you like it colder.

Build a Smoothie in Your NutriBullet or Magic Bullet Cup

Save even more time by building your smoothies directly in your NutriBullet or Magic Bullet Cup. This is great for busy people and those who don’t want to wake up early to make their breakfast. If you decide to go this route, you can add the liquid in the cup and store the prepared smoothie in the fridge with the blade on. All you have to do is blend the smoothie and you’re ready to go! We recommend adding liquid within an hour of blending for optimal freshness.

Freeze Over-Ripe or Older Produce

Frozen bananas are super sweet and make for a creamy frozen addition to your smoothie. Slice up over-ripe bananas and freeze them in a freezer-safe, plastic bag. You can also use the frozen bananas to make “nice cream” for a luxuriously creamy and healthy ice cream alternative.

Avocados freeze great, too! Cut them into ¼ slices and freeze in plastic bags. This will make your smoothie creamy and cold without needing ice. You can also use frozen avocado slices to create a rich and creamy chocolate avocado pudding – yum!

Cauliflower and broccoli florets freeze well and can serve as a hidden vegetable in any smoothie. Simply cut your broccoli or cauliflower head into florets, and store in the freezer until you’re ready to use. They’re also perfect for soups!

Yellow squash and zucchini are great veggies to add into smoothies, too, and you can’t taste them at all. They’re great for kids or for those wanting to sneak veggies into their smoothies. Chop them into cubes, or slice them and store. These blend up well to make delicious soups, as well.

If you want to reduce carbon footprint, try investing in some reusable storage bags and containers to store your frozen produce in and eliminate excess plastic usage. You can also reuse plastic bags a few times by thoroughly rinsing and reusing them for your next batch of smoothie prep.

Nutrient-rich smoothies are excellent for helping you power through your day and getting you closer to your health goals. With some planning and prepping, you’ll never miss a smoothie again!