Anyone have any homemade smoothie tips or tricks?

Ever since I bought a Ninja blender for Christmas my family and I have been making smoothies pretty much every day. I am far from an expert either, but here are some tips/tricks, and things I have learned so far:

Equipment (consider buying if you don't have):

• Reusable straws - I bought some wider (12mm) stainless steel ones and they are perfect for even the thickest of smoothies. Just be sure to rinse them out immediately after you're done drinking, since they get harder to clean if the smoothie dries out on/inside them. I also throw them in the dish-washer once a week or so, just to sterilize them.
• Thermos & double-walled tumbler - I tend to drink my smoothies rather slowly, so having a good-sized, high-quality thermos for on the go, and a double-walled tumbler for use at home, made a huge difference in my enjoyment of them. Room temperature smoothies are super gross!
• Chest freezer - If you have space for it, it's really handy to have one so you can buy frozen fruit/veg in bulk when it's on sale.

Technique (will depend on personal preference):

• A 2:1 Fruit/veg to liquid ratio makes for my ideal smoothie consistency, but yours may be different. Some fruit/veg has more liquid in it which thins the smoothie out, and frozen fruit/veg also tends to make it thicker, so you will have to adjust your mixes as needed.
• Worth keeping in mind is also that you don't need to make your smoothie all in one go! If the consistency isn't right, add some more liquid, frozen fruit/veg, or ice as required then blend it again until you get what you're looking for. Can also adjust the taste after the fact too by adding more spice, yogurt or whatever.
• Speaking of, I often add some ice (or even just water) to my smoothies anyways, since pure fruit+juice ones are way too sweet for me.
• Don't be afraid to try freezing your own fruit/veg. If something is getting close to being overripe or expiring, peel it, cut it up, throw it in a freezer bag, and freeze it for later. Some fruits/veg take better to freezing than others though (see below). p.s. Coating fruit in a bit of lemon or lime juice can help prevent oxidation/blackening.
• Also don't be afraid to experiment! I have made some pretty awful smoothies in the last few months, but some really awesome ones too. Not every one is going to be a winner, but eventually you will get a feel for what works, what doesn't, and where your tastes lie so you will be able to get more consistent results.
• Make sure to record the recipes (include proportions!) you like best.

Ingredients (will depend on personal taste):

• Bananas - We regularly buy bunches of bananas, especially when they're on sale, wait until they're on the verge of being overripe, then peel, halve, and freeze them. They are a great way to bulk up your smoothies. Can also help cut down on the sweetness of pure fruit smoothies too.
• Avacado - Also great for bulking up your smoothies and adds a nice creamy texture to them. Also helps cut down on the sweetness. Unfortunately doesn't freeze so well though, as their texture gets weird, IMO.
• Beans - Don't knock it 'til you try it! Adzuki/red bean paste is especially great, but even soy (whole or tofu), chick, white and black beans work surprisingly well in a lot of smoothies too.
• Rice - Cooked rice works surprisingly well in smoothies too. For leftover rice, I just pour some boiling water on it first to rehydrate it, then strain it and let it cool before using in my smoothies.
• Nuts & Seeds (whole or butter/paste) - A little goes a long way. Peanuts, cashews, almonds, walnuts, pecans, and tahini (sesame paste) are all that I have tried so far, but I liked them all. Whole nuts also benefit from a hot water bath before use too, since it helps reduce their grittiness when blended. And just a fair warning, the processed/stabilized nut butter varieties don't work well here, since they make the smoothie coat your mouth in an incredibly unpleasant way.
• Protein powder - I am a bit on the fence with this one, even though my parents like it. IMO it can make your smoothie feel a bit chalky, go super frothy, and whey powder also adds a not-so-great taste too. It's also kind of expensive. So I personally much prefer nut butters and beans for added protein.
• Carrots, Bell Peppers, and Beets - All add a nice vegetal earthiness and low-key sweetness to your smoothies. Texture of them (and most veg, TBH) can be not great though, so I am honestly considering getting a juicer at this point too, so I can juice them first before adding to my smoothies. They all freeze well though.
• Melon & Squash - Cantelope, Honeydew, and Butternut squash (roasted) are my fav. Add a nice texture and low-key sweetness. All freeze incredibly well too.
• Juices & Milks - Orange, pineapple, apple, etc. Soy, oat, almond, cow, coconut, etc. Use whatever you like best. p.s. Despite being a dairy drinker, I actually dislike cow milk in my smoothies for some reason though, and much prefer using coconut milk or yogurt instead.
• Coconut milk - I use this in almost every smoothie so figured it deserves its own spot. We tried several different brands, and while a bunch of them were cheaper and/or much more appealing in texture/consistency (prob from additives/stabilizers), those ones also tended to be blander. The brand we settled on was a slightly more expensive "organic" one that was far uglier looking, with tons of congealed coconut oil clumps in it even at room temp, but was also far more concentrated in flavour so we needed to use less of it per smoothie.
• Vanilla - A little goes a long way here too. Tried a bunch of these as well. Pure extract is okay, but we settled on a high-quality, Madagascar Bourbon paste instead.
• Herbs & Spices - Don't forget these. They can make a huge difference in how good your smoothie is. Cinnamon, cardamom, mint, ginger, nutmeg, clove, and turmeric are what we seem to use most. Some work better for sweet/fruit smoothies, and others for savoury/veg ones. p.s. Buy fresh ginger, freeze it, then just chop off a nob whenever you need it.
• Booze - Kinda goes against the whole "health" thing but frozen cocktails are awesome! Pina Coladas are my weakness these days, especially now that I have a high-powered blender capable of making them in seconds. :P

If you consume dairy, whey protein is awesome. It easily adds protein and has texture changing effects (it can make a smoothie foamier / thicker). Research your supplements before you add them, because they vary in purity. Some natural mixes got in hot water a few years ago for having higher than expected heavy metal contents. I prefer Biochem brand.

Frozen fruits are awesome though they can lead to smoothies that are too thick to blend. I always keep frozen bananas (bought whole, ripened, then peeled and put in a freezer safe plastic bag) and various berries in our freezer. If you have a hot water heater (like a Zojirushi) mixing some near boiling water in can work for fast thawing. Otherwise, let your frozen ingredients sit a little bit to warm.

People say to mix in enough liquid to blend smoothly, or cover with liquid, but that comes at the cost of diluting the flavors. I try to add as little liquid as I can, but enough to blend well.

Prepackaged pre-washed ingredients like shredded kale are awesome for easily adding in nutrients. I also like to throw in a carrot for sweetness.

Frozen juices from concentrate (the kind in cylinders in the frozen aisle) are a cheat for getting the standard smoothie flavors like you'd find at a commercial smoothie shop -- though like name brand OJ, keep in mind you're tasting some engineered flavors rather than fresh ones. But it can be easy and tasty and also mask some other veggies you're hiding in.

Similarly, if you're blending nutrient rich veggies, make sure you include a source of sweetness. Sugar and acidity can significantly change the flavor profile of a smoothie from nasty to tasty. I'm not afraid to add sugar or agave syrup if a smoothie is lacking sweetness. Apples are a great choice for this -- super sweet and they blend well.

Ovaltine is another nice cheat: adds chocolate and malty flavors and acts as a sweetener, while also adding vitamins. Ovaltine + whey + frozen banana + soymilk is an excellent easy and consistent recipe with a ton of protein and nutrient density.

Real peanut butter can be amazing in smoothies. It gives them a thick, velvety consistency and adds protein -- this is my wife's favorite by far. She likes a mix of frozen blueberries, yogurt, whey protein, peanut butter, and a banana. It makes a thick rich purple smoothie that tastes like a super intense PB&J.