Smoothies are known for being just that—smooth, creamy, and delicious. We tend to assume that all smoothies are healthy for you, but as with all yummy foods, it completely depends on what type and which ingredients you choose. The good thing about smoothies is that you can truly make them your own, and change it up based on your dietary needs and taste preferences. If you are vegan, paleo, gluten free, or are following any other diet, you are sure to find tons and tons of smoothie recipes that are even more delicious than the traditional ones. One group we hear from a lot is the dairy-free group. Whether you are lactose intolerant, gluten free, or simply do not like yogurt, a lot of folks out there ask about making smoothies without using yogurt. If you or anyone you often eat with is not a yogurt-eater, then smoothie shops can seem a little daunting at first. Never fear—there are tons of delicious smoothie options out there for anyone who cannot (or prefers not to) eat yogurt. Keep reading to learn about how to make a smoothie without using yogurt and for some recipes with substitute ingredients that may surprise you.

Using Yogurt Substitutes

The best way to choose a yogurt substitute for your favorite smoothie recipe is to start with your other ingredients first. You can put almost anything you like in a smoothie, so choose your favorite ingredients to start. Some of our favorite starters include fresh strawberries, spinach, and ginger. Anything you like can work here-fruits, veggies, herbs, etc. Each of these ingredients will have its own unique properties, especially once you start mixing them together. So if you mix a couple favorite fruits and frozen berries together, you may decide that your smoothie needs a little more creaminess, or if you already threw in some liquids, then you may need some thickening. Try out your first few ingredients, and then check the list below for some helpful yogurt substitutes to top your smoothie off. Below are some of our favorite smoothie recipes without yogurt for you to try out.

Non-Dairy Yogurts

Non-dairy yogurts have been popping up all over the place lately, with soy or almond milk as a base instead of dairy. Find these in the natural section of your favorite grocer. These may be slightly tougher to find in a big box grocery store than their milk counterparts, but should be readily available at a health foods stores, too. These will probably be the most similar alternatives to traditional yogurt, but are definitely not the only option if you are interested in being a little more creative when whipping up your favorite smoothie recipe!

Flaxseeds

Flaxseeds are an amazing thickening agent found in a tiny little seed. They can be used to thicken many things like pasta sauces, oatmeal, and yes, smoothies. While flaxseeds are often sold whole, you must grind them or crack them before eating in order to reap the all of the benefits that are packed inside. And the benefits are plenty—high fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and protein, to name a few. If you’d rather not grind the seeds yourself, we do offer flaxseed meal to save you a step! These are fairly absorbent, so after grinding them, add small amounts at a time to your smoothie until you have reached the desired consistency. Flaxseeds add a mild nutty flavor to your smoothie.

Chia Seeds

[caption id="attachment_1160923" align="alignnone" width="770"] sarahbakesgfree.com[/caption] Chia seeds can be eaten whole, so they are a perfect ingredient to throw in a smoothie at any point. They have a neutral flavor and can be a good counterpart to almost any fruit or vegetable smoothie base. Be careful with chia seeds, however, as they have extremely high absorbency levels, so you will not need very many to significantly thicken up your smoothie. We recommend chia seeds when you are using juices or coconut water as a base in your smoothies. Chia seeds add their own nutritional value as well, due to their high fiber and omega-3 fatty acid content!

Nut Butter

This one is a very common smoothie ingredient, although not quite so obvious at first. Peanut butter is full of protein, healthy fats, and potassium, as well as being delicious. A little bit of peanut butter, almond butter, or cashew butter can go a long way in your smoothies, both as a thickening agent and as a delicious flavor. Try a nut butter smoothie with bananas or apples for a perfect taste combo! Just make sure to use a nut butter without any added preservatives or unhealthy ingredients!

Avocado

Avocado is much the same as nut butter—chock-full of healthy fats and all natural. And really, who doesn’t love avocados? You can put a whole avocado into a smoothie if you want, and it will definitely add some creamy texture when blended up. Try out our Avocado Lime Smoothie recipe for a little flavor fiesta full of healthful greens, topped with a little bit of mint for freshness!

Nutritional Powders

A lot of nutritional boosters and powders can serve as thickening agents as well. Whether you are seeking a protein boost, fiber boost, or any other kind of boost, you can utilize these powders to create the right yogurt-free consistency in your smoothies. Most of these nutritional boosters just need to be mixed with water, so add them to your smoothie with the right amount of liquids and drink up! Plus, it will be way tastier to get your protein powder with a kick of fresh strawberries, right? This Orange Goji Smoothie also uses a tiny bit of wheatgrass powder (full of all kinds of friendly vitamins) as a slight thickening agent! [caption id="attachment_1160921" align="alignnone" width="770"] godairyfree.org[/caption]

Bananas

Bananas have a surprisingly creamy texture, especially when frozen! If you cannot eat ice cream, many recommend frozen banana bites for a similar texture, and this works just as well in smoothies too! Bananas are already a top smoothie ingredient, so if you have a banana in yours already, feel free to just ignore the yogurt ingredient line altogether—the banana has got you covered! Our Mango Matcha smoothie combines unique flavors with matcha green tea powder, mangos, and a banana for that creamy texture. Try this mango smoothie out with the recipe above and you will never go back to yogurt! It may seem like yogurt is the most common ingredient in smoothie recipes, but there is no reason that it has to be. No matter what your reasoning for avoiding yogurt, there are many healthy and delicious alternatives that you can use to still achieve a perfect smoothie. We encourage you to try any and all of the substitutes mentioned above and let us know in the comments below what combinations were your favorite. The key to a good smoothie is the proper balance of ingredients, and you can truly make your own perfect combination out of a endless options—even if none of those include yogurt! Whether you go for a banana smoothie, a mango smoothie or one with peanut butter, there are many ways to thicken and flavor your morning beverage. We can't wait to see what you come up with.

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