Smoothies are great. They’re an easy way of adding protein and fruit (and even some veggies) to your diet. You can whip them up in just a few minutes, and they make a fantastic breakfast to take on the road. All you need is a decent glass blender, fruit, sweetener and a bit of yogurt to juice.

Here are some tips to help you get started:

Whatever you put in your smoothie, use this basic formula.

• 1 cup frozen fruit
• ½ cup of yogurt, milk or fruit juice (or a mixture of these)
• ¼ cup water or ice
• 1 tsp sweetener

Once you’ve got this down, you can start being more creative.

• Use good common sense. Some fruits don’t go well in smoothies; as a result, you never see them included in smoothies sold at cafes. You know, fruits like apples, grapes, melons and more. Don’t use these. You might be tempted to try cooked pumpkin or sweet potato in your smoothie. They’re in season right now, and they sound promising. But they’re not.

• Here are some fruits that work well in smoothies: bananas, berries, strawberries, mangoes, passion fruit and pineapple. Try mixing different kinds of berries if you like. Raspberries, blueberries and blackberries are good. Blueberries aren’t great as the sole fruit in your smoothie – mix them with other berries for best results.

• Strawberries and banana go well together. Peach smoothies are lovely and peach pairs well with mango. Tropical fruits often go well together too.

• Fresh coconut pulp is great in smoothies if you can get your hands on some. Note: Not the dried coconut in a shell that you’ll find in your local grocery store. Use coconut meat from coconuts that look like this.

• You don’t have to use dairy milk or yogurt. Try soy yogurt, soy milk, almond milk or coconut milk. Coconut milk is wonderful in smoothies with tropical fruits like pineapple and mango. Orange juices and passion fruit juice blends are also great in smoothies. A small amount of pomegranate juice is a nutritious addition to your berry smoothie.

• Integrate fun flavorings into your smoothies. Try a dash of vanilla. Or try a drop of orange flower or rose flower water (available at Middle Eastern groceries). A tablespoon of peanut butter is wonderful in a banana smoothie. Stir a teaspoon of chocolate syrup into your strawberry smoothie.

• Add ¾ cup of packed raw spinach to your smoothie. This is a wonderful way of getting your kids to consume more green vegetables. It’s also great for picky adult eaters.

• Keep in mind that spinach is an exception to the rule. Most foods that sound like they would be terrible in a smoothie are. In other words, don’t go adding pureed chickpeas for extra protein.

• Experiment with your sweeteners. Try honey, but acai sweetener also tastes great. You may find that you don’t need any added sweetener if you’re using sweetened yogurt or soy milk.

• Consider adding nutritional protein powders. You can add a small amount of protein powder or wheatgrass to your smoothie if you like, but milk works just as well. And it doesn’t risk giving your smoothie an off flavor.

• Fresh herbs can be delightful in sweet beverages like this. Add a loose handful of fresh basil leaves to a pineapple smoothie, and you’ll notice the kick. Basil with tropical fruit is a revelation. You’ll love it.

• Remember to be creative. Try new things. Experiment with new ideas. Don’t restrict yourself to a recipe.

What are some of your favorite smoothie ingredients?